Empire to Nation: Early Chinese Nationalism and ‘Chinese’ Identity
As the Manchu Qing dynasty began to implode from a combination of imperialism
and of internal crises, numerous officials and intellectuals rallied to try and save the
system. Their efforts ranged from “conservative” responses—arguing that the way
out was a more rigorous return to past practices, to more radical calls for dynastic
reform—including democracy and constitutional monarchy. These rapidly
developing political responses had a deep impact on the direction of Chinese
nationalism, and on the move toward the creation of a Chinese nation.
Main Questions
--How does Liang Qichao define and describe the Chinese “nation”?
--How do Liang Qichao’s ideas differ from Zou Rong?
--How is race conceptualised and used by reformers to justify the need for reform?
--Did modern nationalism conflict with traditional (Confucian) values?
--How were new concepts of nation and race disseminated to “the people”?
Readings:
Henrietta Harrison, “The Creation of Modern Nationalism” in China: Inventing the
Nation Hodder Arnold, 2001, p.88-131. Available as scanned course extracts on
Library website or try link below.
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/main/electronicresources/extracts/hi/hi16
8/harrison_h_2001.pdf
Excerpts from Liang Qichao’s (note: also spelled Liang Ch’i-ch’ao) writings, in
DeBary, , Sources of Chinese Tradition vol.2 p. 287-298. available as scanned course
extracts on Library website or try the link below.
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/main/electronicresources/extracts/hi/hi16
8/debary_w_t_2000.pdf
Zou Rong, “The Revolutionary Army”
http://www.chss.iup.edu/baumler/zourong.html