Reimagining Heroes in Selected Asian American Literature Through the Lens of Wuxing

This study applies Chinese Wuxing theory to analyze heroes in Asian American literature, focusing on works by Maxine Hong Kingston, Chang-Rae Lee, and Viet Thanh Nguyen. It examines how the five elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—are manifested in character traits and interactions. The research investigates how protagonists embody and balance these elements when facing challenges and conflicts. The study explores how these qualities contribute to their narrative arcs by identifying predominant elemental traits in each character. This approach provides insights into how contemporary Asian American literature engages with and subverts traditional Orientalist discourses. The findings contribute to discussions on cultural hybridity, identity formation, and the deconstruction of stereotypes in literary representation while demonstrating the potential for cross-cultural analytical approaches in literary studies.