Doing What Could Not Be Done: The Way of Comparative Literature in Memory of Professor Yue Daiyun

Professor Yue Daiyun and comparative literature as a modern discipline in China she founded have remained closely intertwined with China’s modernization journey, sharing its destiny through every historical tide. The trials and transformations of her era forged the ethos of her character – a profound patriotism intertwined with an unwavering embrace of historical fate. From its inception, comparative literature in China emerged not merely as an academic pursuit but as a philosophy of praxis. As is demonstrated by her life practice, comparative literature operates through four interdependent principles: self-reflection and cross-cultural understanding, pluralistic dialogue, temporal synthesis bridging past and future, and the unity of theoretical insight with practical engagement. This framework positions comparative literature not merely as an academic field, but as a dynamic, self-renewing discipline that navigates China’s cultural identity while steering its modern trajectory through critical reflection and transformative practice.