Meaning of Riverscape:A Comparative Study on the Hudson River and Haihe River Writings
The river is not simply characterized of its natural traits,but more of its metaphorical meaning,and its historical,national and spiritual implications.Riverscape is one of the key topics in literary geography.Its regionalism,fluidity and mediality have made it a unique object in landscape writing with regional and national meanings.The Hudson River is known as"the Rhine"or"the Sacred River"of the United States for its shipping value and picturesque scenery;as one of the water systems of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal,Haihe River is also characterized of beautiful scenery and important economic and cultural value.In the major historical processes of national independence and economic and cultural development of China and the United States,both rivers played an irreplaceable role and thus became unique symbolic national and ethnic landscapes.Through presenting the landscape of Haihe River and the Hudson River,as well as the coastal customs,historical changes,and economic development of different periods,Chinese and American writers and artists express the general public's love and attachment to their homelands,cultivate regional culture and consequently as the national landscapes,the two rivers have become the effective ways to foster the sense of place and local identity.More significantly,as part of the imagination of a national community,the two rivers become indispensable symbols for presenting national and ethnic characteristics,important media for national identity,national memory,and cultural construction,and important carriers for strengthening national emotions,enhancing national identity,and expressing national spirit.