The Characteristics of Science Fiction in Jinghuayuan(Flowers in the Mirro)

The content of the novel Jinghuayuan (Flowers in the Mirro) in Qing Dynasty is rich and colorful, and its classification and characteristics are more diversified also. Mr. Lu Xun said that it belongs to a novel of natural science, and of talent and learning;Mr.Hu Shi called it a novel of woman problem, or of woman's rights, and so on. Besides, this novel describes some brilliant science fiction stories too, that includes the science fiction plants such as a giant rice which is eaten by a person and he isn't hungry for a year; a herb of Niekong which is eaten by a person and he can jump high and long very much; a solid food of the soybean flour for relieving famine which endures effect very long. They comprise the science fiction implements such as a leather costume which is put on by a person and she (he) can dive very long; a matchlock called Lianzhu (drumfire) which can fire continually and speedy; a flying vehicle which can carry passenger and cargo; and they comprise technologies of science fiction that people can move forward nearing ground instead of touching it; and people's heart and lung can be transplanted and mended by a medical skill. This paper investigates, interprets, annotates, analyses and comments those science fiction stories from the views of science, literature and history. It concludes: Jinghuayuan has got the characteristics and attributes of science fiction also, and is the first novel which carries on literary creation of science fiction in China.