Chinese images and motifs in the works of V. Nabokov

The article explores the phenomenon of the presence of Chinese images and motifs in the works of Vladimir Nabokov, which constitutes a unique phenomenon in both Russian and world literature. Although direct references to Chinese culture in the author's works are much rarer than those to Western culture, they carry deep symbolic meaning and reflect the multifaceted artistic world and thinking of the author. The author analyzes various works of Nabokov in which elements of Chinese culture can be found: from the novel "King, Queen, Knave," which features Chinese curiosities, to "Lolita," where the influence of the Chinese concept of the double is traced. Special attention is paid to the writer's use of principles of Chinese aesthetics, such as the play with reality and fiction, the principle of dual reading of the text, and the concept of the complementarity of opposites. The work also examines the influence of Chinese philosophy on Nabokov's creativity, manifested in the use of concepts of yin and yang, the idea of emptiness, and principles of organizing space and time. Both general scientific and special methods of artistic text analysis were employed in the research. The methodological basis of the study consists of intertextual analysis aimed at revealing the connections between the author's texts and the Chinese literary tradition, as well as a cultural-historical approach that allowed for an examination of the features of the reception of Chinese culture in the context of the era and the writer's personal experience. The scientific novelty of the research lies in identifying the features of Nabokov's artistic method, which integrates the philosophy of different countries around the world. Particular emphasis is placed on Chinese images and motifs in the works of this author. As a result of analyzing Nabokov's creativity, the author found the following. First, Chinese motifs in Nabokov's work form a cohesive picture that manifests itself at different levels of the text: from individual artistic details to deep philosophical concepts. Second, despite the lack of direct experience in communicating with China, Nabokov virtuously integrated elements of Chinese culture into his artistic world, creating a unique synthesis of Eastern wisdom and Western rationalism. The conducted research on Chinese motifs in Nabokov's prose has allowed for a deeper understanding of the universality of the writer's creative method and his ability to transcend cultural boundaries.