The conceptual sphere of "Russia" in Feng Jicai essays

The article studies the meaning and structure of the conceptual sphere of «Russia» by literary imagology methods. As both a literary and nonfiction genre, the account has some specific characteristics that influence the concepts, thus forming a complex nation’s perception. Research actuality of studying Chinese perceptions of Russia and Russians is not only a desire to know the image of our country created by a neighboring country, but also to understand China and to build relations with it. The conceptual sphere of a nation is believed to include three concepts - «Nation as the Other», «Nation as the Self» and «Nation as the Alien». The concept consist of core themes (or images) and peripheral layers (or attitude toward facts about a nation). Feng Jicai is a one of the most popular contemporary Chinese writers, and many of his essays have been translated into Russian. The theme of Russia and the Russian people is a constant one in his essays, especially the Russian national character and Russian culture. Here we analyzed his essays «Alek and his country house», «Russia in a time lapse», books of essays «Nineteen days in Russia» and «Listening to Russia». The analysis of conceptual sphere of «Russia» in his accounts revealed understandable units that interpret the facts about Russia and contain stereotypes about Russia and Russians. These facts were referred to basic images (Russian national character, Russian culture and Russian house) and then combined with three concepts («Russia as the Other», «Russia as the Self” and «Russia as the Alien»). We found that the most constant characteristic of a Russian is a binary opposition «healthy / handsome / talented people - and their disordered life»: Russian genius as well as ordinary people that Feng Jicai contacted all have this ambivalent characteristic. Russians in the frame of «Russian as the Other» concept are described as religious people that live in harmony with nature. The culture traditions of the «Other» are described as rich and even prior to «Self». The negative characteristics that contradict traditional Chinese culture, such as abruptness, unpunctuality, irresponsibility, and abuse of alcohol belong to the concept of «Russia as the Alien». These characteristics belong to deep-rooted ethnic stereotypes. However, the author also draws some characteristics (both of material and non-material culture) that bring Russians and Chinese together and therefore the author’s individual attitude is aimed to find a way for contact and mutual understanding between cultures.