Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s2.t10.8

v2.c10.s2.t10.8

Like many of her contemporaries, it is under the direct influence of Tagore that Bing Xin began to write. When she read Tagore's short novels, "she found out that a novel could be philosophical," and this aroused in her an interest for writing novels. At that time, she did not know much about modern poetry and was doubtful, and thus, did not want to try writing poems in the modern style. As she said in the 'Foreword' of *Many a Star*, she began to write poems by imitating Tagore's *Stray Birds* to express her "fragmented thoughts." Many of her short poems have a philosophical meaning. Although these poems do not have much significance now, nevertheless, these poems are considered to be a beneficial try and a good beginning. Her new-style