A Study on the Variations of the Image of Monk Han-shan in China, Japan and USA

Abstract

This article explores the cross-cultural dissemination of Han-shan’s image in China, Japan, and the United States, highlighting its transformations in various cultural settings. In China, influenced by Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, Han-shan evolved from an enigmatic recluse to a poetic monk. In Japan, through Buddhist transmission, he became a Zen symbol and was canonized through annotations and art. In the United States, during the era of the “Beat Generation,” he was reborn as a counter-cultural icon, leading to the canonization of his poems in English. The success of his image's spread lies in its inherent cultural openness and diverse cultural interpretations, offering insights into cultural symbol dissemination and literary translation.