Struggle and symbiosis

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The poet Haizi committed suicide in March 1989, just months before the tragic events of June 4th. Initially a relatively obscure figure, he is now celebrated as the "hero of poetry," embodying the idealism of the 1980s. This study explores the connections between Haizi's death and the pro-democratic movement, questioning why his work is viewed as representative of that era's idealism and what this reveals about post-1989 Chinese culture and society. It examines Haizi's ongoing canonization from 1989 to 2010, contextualizing his writings within the frameworks of modernism and world literature. The analysis highlights three key literary aspects that contribute to his canonization: the theme of minjian, which contests official historical and national narratives; the use of epic writing to forge a national canon; and the incorporation of Christian symbols and motifs, which resonate ideologically with the "Mao style" in depicting a "sublime" poet-hero. Grounded in E. Husserl's phenomenological concept of "sedimentation," this study reflects on the continuity and transformation within Chinese culture from the Maoist era through the 1980s and into the post-1989 period, particularly focusing on the nuanced interplay between literature and politics, and the relationship between intellectuals and the state.