Chapter 2 Gao Xingjian: My Viewpoint on Creation

I should say, no matter politics or literature, I don't belong to any sect, and I don't belong to any doctrine, including nationalism and patriotism.Although I have my political opinions and literary and artistic views, there is no need to be nailed to a certain political or aesthetic framework.In today's era of disintegrating ideology, I think there is absolutely no doubt about the advisable attitude for individuals to maintain spiritual independence. As a writer in exile, I can save myself only in the creation of literature and art.This is not to say that I advocate the so-called pure literature, the kind of ivory tower completely divorced from society.On the contrary, I regard literary creation as a challenge to society from individual survival, even if this challenge is insignificant, it is a gesture after all.

I fell in love with language when I won the freedom of expression for myself.I sometimes even play games with language, but this is not the ultimate goal of my writing.The game of language is often a trap for writers. If the game cannot convey the meaning behind it, which is usually difficult to express, no matter how clever and beautiful the game is, it will be an empty form of language in vain.I am looking for a new way of expression, □Because the conventional language restricts me, I cannot express my feelings very clearly. What makes literary creation so interesting lies in its individual originality and non-repetition.As a principle, it is easy to say, but in fact people often live in the shadow of others, especially when you sincerely appreciate certain writers or certain works.My experience is to keep as much distance as possible.

Exile in the West is not a bad thing for me, on the contrary, it provides me with more references.The "Shan Hai Jing Zhuan" that I completed abroad has put an end to the so-called nostalgia.The former is the feeling caused by the social reality of China, and the latter is the reflection on the origin of Chinese culture, both of which took years of hard work.Once a person is separated from the so-called motherland, there is a distance, and it is more calm to write.Chinese culture has melted into my blood, so I don't need to put a trademark on myself.I have cleaned up the positive and negative aspects of traditional Chinese culture by myself.What is important for a writer is to detach himself and create something, instead of living by selling his ancestors' inheritance.If I want to find out the difference from Western writers, I am afraid it is an attitude of contemplation. I adopt this attitude towards society and myself. Of course, it can also be said that it comes from the deep-rooted Chinese cultural tradition, which is different from the usual Psychoanalysis and experience employed.But the inaction of Laozi and Zhuangzi's philosophy and the birth of Buddhism are too negative. After all, I want to do something.

I regard literary creation as a way of self-help, or a way of life of mine.I write for myself, not trying to please others, nor trying to change the world or others, because I can't even change myself.What matters, for me, is that I speak and write, that's all.