Abstract: As a transitional zone between China and the West,Nanyang (“南洋”，Southeast Asia) is an important space for modern writers to develop their literary imagination.For European writers,the modern era is an imperial expedition to Southeast Asia; For Chinese writers,Nanyang is a composite periphery where China meets the West.The emotional intertwining of European imperial colonization and the remnants of the Chinese all under Tianxia not only refers to China’s anxiety of modern transformation in its desire to integrate into the new world order,but also implicitly reveals its historical imperial myths that are difficult to be resolved.The Nanyang in the perspective of modern Chinese literature is destined to be a literary geographic space where Chinese civilization and Western civilization conflict,where ancient and modern empires collide,where internal and external regions interact,and where Asian and European ethnic groups mingle.