The Lost Keychain?: Contemporary Chinese-Language Writing in Indonesia

Since it constitutes an autonomous and identifiable oeuvre with considerable internal coherence, the most respectful approach to the substantial body of Chinese-language writing in Indonesia is to examine it on its own terms. While both a Chinese-language and an Indonesian literature, it is not well-served if read as one subordinate to broader categories; nor does it map convincingly to current ideas about Sinophone literature. Rather, the themes and social practice of this oeuvre demonstrate not only a distinct negotiation of Chinese identity generally but also the role of Chinese-language literary expression in Reformasi-era Indonesia specifically.