The Chinese chameleon revisited : from the Jesuits to Zhang Yimou / edited by Zheng Yangwen.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Zheng, Yangwen

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

China--Historiography.

China.

Historiography.

Physical Description:

vi, 338 pages : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

Newcastle upon Tyne : Cambridge Scholars Pub., 2013.

Summary:

By examining how the Middle Kingdom has been portrayed by foreigners and the Chinese themselves, this volume advances a new perspective in our reading and interpretation of the Chinese past by placing these "producers" and "presenters" of China in the spotlight The chapters probe how these figures produced or presented the country, cross-examining their backgrounds and circumstances. Their gaze upon the Middle Kingdom was dictated by religious and political conviction, but also particularly by the consumers of that gaze. Like invisible hands, "producers" and "consumers" of China continue to constrain representations of the country, looming larger than the literary, artistic or journalistic works they produce. This volume also addresses scholars of Europe and America who have overlooked what Western writers on China reveal about their own contexts - which is indeed often; more than they reveal about their ostensible subject As such, the Middle Kingdom serves as a convenient mirror to reflect European and American anxieties and ambitions. Book jacket.

Contents:

Part I

Chapter 1 The Edifying and Curious Letters: Jesuit China and French Philosophy / Marie-Julie Frainais-Maitre Frainais-Maitre, Marie-Julie 34

Chapter 2 Sight and Sound: Representing the Chinese Language, 1630-1740 / James St. André André, James St. 61

Chapter 3 Hearing is Believing: Music of China or China as Music / Anna G. Piotrowska Piotrowska, Anna G. 85

Part II

Chapter 4 "A Mighty Change Must Pass Over": W. A. P. Martin's Crusade / Henna-Pdikka Pennanen Pennanen, Henna-Pdikka 108

Chapter 5 The "Rise" of Japan and the "Fall" of China after 1895 / Benjamin Elman Elman, Benjamin 143

Part III

Chapter 6 Sentimental Educators: British and American Women's Writing on China / Daniel Sanderson Sanderson, Daniel 174

Chapter 7 "Alors la Chine?": The Journey of Parisian Intellectuals to China in 1974 / Catherine Dossin Dossin, Catherine 200

Part IV

Chapter 8 The Grand Narrative: China's "Media Strengthening" in Africa / Karita Kan Kan, Karita 230

Chapter 9 Filming China: Zhang Yimou's Shifting Visual Politics / Felicia Chan Chan, Felicia 261.

Notes:

The name of the author is also in Chinese.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [284]-324) and index.

ISBN:

1443844675

9781443844673

OCLC:

828620829

Publisher Number:

99954081626