Abstract: Autumn Leaves, a collection of Ouyang Tzu's novels, caused a literary battle in Taiwan after its publication. The group represented by the country writers criticized its theme and content, but a closer look at the text reveals that none of the novels is divorced from the theme of “the pursuit and exploration for the authentic self,” and the presentation of this theme proves that Ouyang Tzu is not simply transplanting Western techniques. Besides, the author's exploration and analysis of the characters' psychology also contributed to the development of Taiwan's modernism.

Key words: modern literature, modernism, Taiwanese novel