A Daoist Reading of Hao Jingfang’s Vagabonds

Abstract

This chapter provides a close reading of Chinese science fiction writer Hao Jingfang’s debut novel Vagabonds (Liulang cangqiong, 2016) from a Daoist perspective. After an introduction to Hao Jingfang’s writing as the first Chinese female winner of the Hugo Award and the novel Vagabonds, the chapter moves to discussion on why Daoist philosophy and cosmology still matters in contemporary China. Regina Kanyu Wang argues that Daoist concepts like qi, ziran, and the yin-yang paradigm is important to understand the novel, especially the Mars ecosystem transformation project. The chapter concludes with observations on what ecofeminism can do to inspire a Daoist reading.