Chinese Fiction of the Cultural Revolution

Chapter 2. Physical Qualities

Chapter 2 Physical Qualities During the Cultural Revolution, the main value regarding the beauty of human beings was xinling mei [spiritual- literally 'heart' - beauty]. With relation to the restraints on sexual love, preference for physical or outward beauty was criticized as a sentiment of the bourgeoisie or petty bourgeoisie. This value was represented in CR literature. In CR novels, the 'spiritual beauty' of the main heroes is to a great extent related to their ideological qualities such as correct political standing, ideological consciousness and altruistic spirit. However, in spite of the stress laid on descriptions of 'spiritual beauty', authors were by no means careless in portraying the physical characteristics of the main heroes. This analysis is intended to show how the authors describe the heroes' physical appearance, which is one aspect of the manifestation of the heroes' 'loftiness, greatness and perfection', and what characteristics their exterior shows, indicating current aesthetic views on the physical portrayal of heroes. The description of the physical characteristics of the main heroes in CR novels is not simply for the sake of showing their physique and appearance. The authors intentionally tried to integrate the heroes' outward appearance with their inward character to create a 'unity'. Usually, authors adopted the method of description plus commentary, that is, the direct description of their constitution, features, expression, manner, style etc. was interspersed with the narrators' commentary on the symbolic significance of these elements and the impression they make on other people. Below are two examples, of which the former is a description of the hands of hero Liu Wangchun in The Mountains and Rivers 50 • Chinese Fiction of the Cultural Revolution Roar, and the latter a portrayal of the face and eyes of heroine Wulan Tuoya in The Daughter of Slaves. (1) Liu Wangchun clenched his hands. These were a pair of labouring hands, a pair of creative hands, a pair of sturdy and big hands, and a pair of strong and powerful hands. Looking at this pair of hands, Li Zhichuan almost shouted out his admiration. But looking at this pair of hands, Long Youtian [the villain] couldn't help being scared. Such hands could crush stones into pieces and push mountains down.1 (2) Her face glowed with a sun~tanned and rosy colour, and her forehead looked broad, which always gave a dynamic impression to people. Her eyes were not too big, but they were bright and piercing, and, with eyelashes moving, flashed with resourcefulness and bravery.2 In general, CR novelists' portrayals of main heroes' physical qualities follow some set characteristics and include a number of stereotyped words and expressions. I have enumerated below the five most prominent features. STRONG CONSTITUTION AND VIGOROUS AIR Expressions such as kuan jian kuo bei [broad shoulders and back], da shou da jiao [big hands and feet]' jiejieshishi [sturdy], zhuangzhuangshishi [sturdy], hei li tou hong [skin glows with sun~tanned and rosy colour], shengqi bobo/huhu [full of vigour], qiangjian youli [strong and powerful], shencai yiyi [glowing with health and radiating vigour], jingshen huanfa [be fresh with energy], and zhengzheng yinghan [a man of iron] are commonly used. Below is a portrait of Wei Gengtian in Mountains Green after Rain, in which his strong constitution and vigorous air are conspicuous: On the mountain road, a man in his thirties with a load on his shoulder ... was walking towards the village with vigorous strides. He was not too tall, but he was sturdy. A sweaty white shirt closely covered his broad and muscular chest. The muscles on his shoulders, glowing with sun~tanned and rosy colour, were like ripe litchis. A pair of dark blue trousers were rolled up to his knees, under which his shanks looked like two short stone posts. As his big feet trod on the stone road, his heavy footsteps sounded clearly. Wiping the sweat away from his face with a towel, he strode forward steadily. His face was glowing with ruddy health. Under his heavy eyebrows were big bright piercing eyes. The bridge of his nose was straight and his lips were slightly thick. The whole figure was likely to leave an impression of warm~heartedness and honesty. It was the Party secretary of Longrong Brigade.3 Physical Qualities • 51 During the CR period, the expressions jiankang mei [healthy beauty], laodong mei [labour beauty], and zhandou mei [martial beauty] were the terms in vogue to indicate physical beauty. It stands to reason...