Dafu Yu

沉沦

"沉沦" by Dafu Yu is a novella written in 1921. The story follows a melancholic Chinese student living in exile in Japan, trapped between isolation and longing for connection. Struggling with sexual desire intertwined with feelings of national shame, he retreats into solitude among nature. His internal conflict between individualism and collectivism intensifies as he encounters Japanese women and grapples with his homeland's weakness. Driven by impulse and desperation, his journey leads toward a devastating conclusion by the sea.