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Rise, Characteristics and Evaluation of Chinese Climate Fiction in the Anthropocene

Author(s)

Shiya Yang, Lifu Jiang*

Affiliation(s)

College of Foreign Languages, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China *Corresponding Author.

Abstract

This study examines the evolutionary trajectory and social-governance characteristics of Chinese Climate Fiction (Cli-Fi) against the backdrop of the Anthropocene. Through historical periodization and textual analysis of representative works spanning 1900 to present, the research identifies six developmental phases: Sprouting (1900-1949), Popularization (1949-1975), Downturn (1976-1990), Revival (1991-2000), New Development (2000-2010), and Prosperity (2011-). The analysis reveals that Chinese Cli-Fi predominantly employs protagonists in climate-vulnerable settings to articulate three core concerns: social stratification (class rigidity, wealth disparity, family disintegration), environmental justice (ecological power struggles), and identity reconstruction. While demonstrating patriotic collectivism and technological optimism, the genre proposes mitigation strategies through institutional innovation and international cooperation. However, critical limitations persist in mechanistic understanding of climate crises and psychological depth in human-nature interactions. The findings suggest that Chinese Cli-Fi serves as both social-governance allegory and ideological vehicle, blending collectivist values with emerging global ecological consciousness, yet requires deeper engagement with scientific realities and humanistic dimensions to achieve transnational relevance.

Keywords

China; Cli-Fi; Anthropocene; Environment

References

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