The Portrayal of China's Image in Jade Snow Wong's Fifth Chinese Daughter

Wenhui Shi; Xiaoying Hu

doi:10.70088/ry98c456

Authors

Wenhui Shi School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China Author
Xiaoying Hu School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70088/ry98c456

Keywords:

Jade Snow Wong, Fifth Chinese Daughter, China's image

Abstract

This study takes Jade Snow Wong's novel Fifth Chinese Daughter as its research object. Employing the methods of close reading and textual analysis, it examines China's image in the work and the impacts of such portrayal from four perspectives: Chinese-style family education, traditional Chinese festivals, major traditional Chinese rituals, and Chinese food culture. The analysis concludes that Chinese culture exerted a profound influence on Jade Snow Wong's growth. By documenting the life of Jade Snow, a Chinese-American girl, before she turned 24, the novel narrates the protagonist's growth story and explores self-discovery and self-identity in the process of personal development. Throughout the protagonist's growth experience, numerous images related to China subtly shaped her personality, and influenced her cultural identity. Therefore, this study's analysis of China's image in Fifth Chinese Daughter holds practical significance for further research on Jade Snow Wong and her works.