Analysis of Hakka Male Characters in “LiShan Farm”

• Main Authors: HUANG,MEI-ZHEN, 黃美貞
• Other Authors: FAHN,RUEIH-LIRNG
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2017
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/89584022043813734532

碩士 === 國立聯合大學 === 客家語言與傳播研究所 === 105 === The public generally regard Hakka women diligent, frugal, hardworking, capable, restrained, dedicated and sacrificing while Hakka men stingy male chauvinist who were lazy about house chores. With the evolution of society, is the traditional view regarding Hakka men different from the current viewpoint of the general public? Do stereotypes about gender remain? Do Hakka men know about and agree with these negative images? Have they ever tried to clarify or rebut these negative images? Do their traits of different generations vary as time changes? This research explored Hakka male characters through the three aspects of “Hakka image,” “traditional Hakka male image and male movement,” and “existentialist feminism”. By content analysis and text analysis of “Li-Shan Farm” by Zhong Li-He, a Hakka writer in the 1950s, the image of traditional Hakka men under the gender differences in the patriarchal system was studied. Then, character personality and personal features were first analyzed based on their attitude, actions, monologue, and dialogues in the novel followed by further exploration of their behavior attitudes and underlying causes. This study identified that the image of Hakka male characters changed during the process of historical development. The male characters depicting Hakka men in the 1950s in the novel by Zhong Li-He revealed certain features. For example, Hakka men were not always male chauvinists or patriarchal. Their so-called masculinity was majorly resulted from family education in addition to the deep-rooted social entrusted gender concept. Besides, Hakka families emphasized cultivation and studying whereas this study found that not all Hakka people carefully followed the concept of farming when sunny and studying when raining. In the novel, the character Rao Xinhua also believes that every trade had its master and one can succeed no matter in what industry as long as he worked hard. Additionally, the author Zhong Li-He described his own critics against the society at that time through the story of Liu Zhiping, the leading character of the novel. This study also noticed the harmonious relationship between Rao Xinhua and the mother land and nature, which showed the simple and honest image of Hakka men. Moreover, the description of Rao Xinhua also gave insight into fate and the meaning of life. The lives of Hakka people near the mountains were colorful and persevering because of the hardship encountered in life. Even in the face of setbacks, they did not succumb to fate but embraced bigger hope in their lives. The meaning they endowed life with penetrated the entire period of their existence, determining their value of existence. This spirit highlighted the nobility and greatness of the essence of human existence. In the traditional authoritarian system, the environment had certain influence on the formation of character modality and value system, breaking the homogenous concept of the image of Hakka people upheld for a long time. Therefore, we could view Hakka culture from more diverse perspectives and the meaning of Hakka culture also broadened. Hakka men and women have been gradually changing among generations and under the flourishing study of Hakka culture. The traditional public impression of Hakka men had been exaggerated. In this study, the analysis of Hakka male image in the long novel, Li-Shan Farm, by Zhong Li-He provided much evidence that many inherent stereotypes should be re-examined. We should also set aside our preconceived concept of gender and only if we lived together in harmony could the two sexes move toward true equality.