Homeland Consciousness in Chinese Maritime Island Science Fiction

Abstract: Chinese maritime island science fiction is an essential part of the genre, reflecting China’s historical sea-land worldview, which is deeply rooted in land-based politics and cultural identity. As a subcategory of Chinese science fiction literature, it constructs a knowledge landscape cent...

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Main Author: Yuqin Jiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Island Studies Journal 2025-04-01
Series:Island Studies Journal
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.24043/001c.133250
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author Yuqin Jiang
author_facet Yuqin Jiang
author_sort Yuqin Jiang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract: Chinese maritime island science fiction is an essential part of the genre, reflecting China’s historical sea-land worldview, which is deeply rooted in land-based politics and cultural identity. As a subcategory of Chinese science fiction literature, it constructs a knowledge landscape centered on the dynamic interplay between the mainland, the ocean, and the islands. This landscape is fundamentally anchored in a profound homeland consciousness. This homeland consciousness in Chinese maritime island science fiction manifests in three key narrative modes: (1) Political mode. The homeland consciousness serves as the driving force behind the use of advanced technology to safeguard national security and enhance state power. (2) Cultural mode. The homeland consciousness is envisioned as both a cultural homeland and an imagined utopia, explored through the dialectical relationship among the mainland, the ocean, and the islands. (3) Cyclical mode. The homeland consciousness embodies China’s deeply ingrained cosmological belief in the cyclical harmony of heaven and humanity, where the longing for and protection of homeland remains an enduring theme. The homeland consciousness in Chinese maritime island science fiction both engages with and transcends the conventional binary of islands and continents. It integrates oceanic islands into a new dialectical cultural framework, where they are not only the frontier guardians and pioneers of home, but also its philosophical embodiment. This perspective provides a fresh foundation for establishing a new island poetics.
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spelling doaj-art-c629f3bb27894b4085ba8f9e72d046a22025-08-20T02:15:40ZengIsland Studies JournalIsland Studies Journal1715-25932025-04-0120110.24043/001c.133250Homeland Consciousness in Chinese Maritime Island Science FictionYuqin JiangAbstract: Chinese maritime island science fiction is an essential part of the genre, reflecting China’s historical sea-land worldview, which is deeply rooted in land-based politics and cultural identity. As a subcategory of Chinese science fiction literature, it constructs a knowledge landscape centered on the dynamic interplay between the mainland, the ocean, and the islands. This landscape is fundamentally anchored in a profound homeland consciousness. This homeland consciousness in Chinese maritime island science fiction manifests in three key narrative modes: (1) Political mode. The homeland consciousness serves as the driving force behind the use of advanced technology to safeguard national security and enhance state power. (2) Cultural mode. The homeland consciousness is envisioned as both a cultural homeland and an imagined utopia, explored through the dialectical relationship among the mainland, the ocean, and the islands. (3) Cyclical mode. The homeland consciousness embodies China’s deeply ingrained cosmological belief in the cyclical harmony of heaven and humanity, where the longing for and protection of homeland remains an enduring theme. The homeland consciousness in Chinese maritime island science fiction both engages with and transcends the conventional binary of islands and continents. It integrates oceanic islands into a new dialectical cultural framework, where they are not only the frontier guardians and pioneers of home, but also its philosophical embodiment. This perspective provides a fresh foundation for establishing a new island poetics.https://doi.org/10.24043/001c.133250
spellingShingle Yuqin Jiang
Homeland Consciousness in Chinese Maritime Island Science Fiction
Island Studies Journal
title Homeland Consciousness in Chinese Maritime Island Science Fiction
title_full Homeland Consciousness in Chinese Maritime Island Science Fiction
title_fullStr Homeland Consciousness in Chinese Maritime Island Science Fiction
title_full_unstemmed Homeland Consciousness in Chinese Maritime Island Science Fiction
title_short Homeland Consciousness in Chinese Maritime Island Science Fiction
title_sort homeland consciousness in chinese maritime island science fiction
url https://doi.org/10.24043/001c.133250
work_keys_str_mv AT yuqinjiang homelandconsciousnessinchinesemaritimeislandsciencefiction