| From the perspective of the spatial theory, this paper examines the writings on Nanjing by the Japanese poet Kaneko Mitsuharu. At the level of physical space, Kaneko repeatedly depicted cultural landscapes by using historical discourse, outlining the enchanting shadow of an ancient capital that, despite its desolation, still retained its splendor. At the level of psychological space, Kaneko confirmed Nanjing as a literary space intertwined with the spiritual world through an internalized perspective of the other. At the level of collective space, Kaneko's writings on Nanjing did not deviate from the social imaginaries held by Japanese people towards China at that time. His descriptions of Nanjing were not free from the set phrases, such as "Qinhuai River," "place of beauties" and "ruin and desolation," which were prevalent among Japanese literati during the Taisho period. |
