This bachelor thesis examines the use of nationalist elements in Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company (NBTC) advertisements in the Shenbao newspaper between 1919 and 1937. Changes in the political...Show moreThis bachelor thesis examines the use of nationalist elements in Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company (NBTC) advertisements in the Shenbao newspaper between 1919 and 1937. Changes in the political climate and the resurgent competition with other tobacco companies played a role in the decision of the NBTC to engage in the nationalist sentiment that prevailed in society. Taking into account the relative novelties of nationalism, factory manufactured tobacco, multinational companies, competitive rivalry, print media and advertisements in print media, this examination sheds light on how a 'domestic' tobacco company uses nationalism in its advertisements and what kinds of language, signs and symbols are used to get across the 'domestic' image of the company. Due to the complicated historical origin of the NBTC, one might question whether the NBTC can be regarded as a domestic company that produces 'National products'. Before the advertisements are examined, background information about various subjects is provided to get familiarized with important economic developments, the political stage and nationalism.Show less
This thesis examines and compares the laws concerning marriage and divorce in the Qing dynasty and the Republican period. It also looks at the May Fourth Movement that happened during the...Show moreThis thesis examines and compares the laws concerning marriage and divorce in the Qing dynasty and the Republican period. It also looks at the May Fourth Movement that happened during the Republican period and how it influenced the formation of the laws concerning marriage and divorce in that period. Finally it will also look at what the impact of these laws were on the position of women.Show less
This thesis analyses the ideas that shaped the new generation of Chinese diplomats that came to power in the early 20th century, and links this to the Shandong Question and the Treaty of Versailles...Show moreThis thesis analyses the ideas that shaped the new generation of Chinese diplomats that came to power in the early 20th century, and links this to the Shandong Question and the Treaty of Versailles. It argues that the emerging nationalist sentiments, combined with the idea of Social Darwinism played a crucial role in China's behaviour at the Paris Peace Talks, because the diplomats were heavily influenced by these ideas.Show less
This thesis examines the reasons behind missionary attitudes that rejected ideas of reform that were proposed by the Lazarist missionary Frederic Vincent Lebbe. It tries to establish how certain...Show moreThis thesis examines the reasons behind missionary attitudes that rejected ideas of reform that were proposed by the Lazarist missionary Frederic Vincent Lebbe. It tries to establish how certain missionary attitudes may have taken shape under the conditions in which the churches in China operated in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century and it will also take into consideration the organization of the Catholic mission churches themselves.Show less
Research master thesis | Asian Studies (research) (MA)
closed access
As influential Chinese Constitutionalists, Liang Qichao and Yanfu were the earliest to introduce and interpret Jean-Jacques Rousseau during the late Qing dynasty. They offered most of the...Show moreAs influential Chinese Constitutionalists, Liang Qichao and Yanfu were the earliest to introduce and interpret Jean-Jacques Rousseau during the late Qing dynasty. They offered most of the interpretations of Rousseau’s thought among intellectuals during the late Qing period mainly by writing articles in the late Qing newspapers. This determined Rousseau’s image and interpretations of some modern Western concepts during this time. This thesis will analyze their interpretations of Rousseau and understandings of some modern political concepts in their articles related to Rousseau in the late Qing newspapers. This will be done as a means to decode how Rousseau and some modern political concepts were interpreted by constitutionalists at the beginning of his introduction. On the whole, Liang Qichao experienced two stages in introducing and interpreting Rousseau's thought. In the first stage from the period of 1899 to 1903, Liang Qichao applauded Rousseau’s thought. However, from the 1904 to 1910 period of the second stage, he started to question and even oppose Rousseau’s thought (this was especially after his visit to America in 1904). Differing from Liang Qichao’s perspective, Yanfu criticized Rousseau during the beginning of his contact with The Social Contract. Yanfu denied Rousseau’s thought as "studies without roots" (无根之学). Meanwhile, he further argued that Rousseau's thought was just dangerous fantasies. Under the political crisis of the late Qing government and missions of saving the state, race, and Confucianism of Chinese intellectuals, Yanfu and Liang Qichao, as Constitutionalists, treated the thought of Western thinkers as tools for saving China from the crisis. Although they held different attitudes towards Rousseau in the beginning, they both eventually criticized Rousseau’s thought as both dangerous and unrealistic. In chapter one, research motivations will be proposed. Next, the literature review of the thesis will be discussed, including the literature review on the research of modern Chinese thought, as well as Rousseau’s role in modern Chinese thought. Then, research methods and sources will be addressed. Chapter two proposes two features of Nakae Chōmin’s translation, namely, Nakae Chōmin’s translation in the Chinese historical context and the tendency toward revolution; from fighting against the tyrant to fighting against the monarchy. In chapter three, Liang Qichao’s interpretations of his approval of Rousseau from 1899 to 1903 will be discussed. Later, chapter four argues Liang Qichao and Yanfu’s critiques of Rousseau from the 1904 to 1910 period. Finally, a conclusion of the thesis will be provided.Show less
Research master thesis | Asian Studies (research) (MA)
open access
This paper proposes a new perspective to understand the local self-government movement during the late Qing New Policies era. On the one hand, this new perspective moves beyond the common practice...Show moreThis paper proposes a new perspective to understand the local self-government movement during the late Qing New Policies era. On the one hand, this new perspective moves beyond the common practice of interpreting the local self-government movement as failed state efforts to bridle the local elite by enlisting them into bureaucracy, and instead looks at it from the perspective of local society. On the other hand, it emphasizes the relations between local self-government institutions and other contemporaneous professional associations, like the chamber of commerce, education association, agriculture association, and the anti-opium bureau. To facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the local self-government movement, this paper examines the case in Jiaxing from 1905 to 1914. This period witnessed the whole process of the first wave of the local self-government movement from its start and preparation in the last years of the Qing to its abolition by Yuan Shikai in the Republic. A clear understanding of local power structure is indispensable for researching local self-government. Previous scholars generally draw a line between upper-degree elites and lower elites, urban elites and countryside-based elites, suggesting that there were serious conflicts between upper urban elites and lower elites during the local self-government movement. My research on Jiaxing shows provides corrective to this interpretation. Traditional degrees and lineage were still important, but they were no longer major factors for elite to form establishments, seek support, and construct identity. By participating in various professional associations, Jiaxing elites gradually began to organize themselves along with associations and take action in the name of these associations. The emergence of professional associations was a significant political development in modern Chinese history. They performed many local works independently and often advocated for public benefits, local self-government and a constitutional government, either alone or together with other associations. There were numerous examples of the close cooperation between different professional associations and local self-government institutions. It were the members of professional associations who first promoted and dominated the self-government institutions. For the Jiaxing elites, local self-government was merely one among the many organizations for them to participate in local affairs and exert influence. All these linkages and cooperation between different institutions and associations contributed to a power balance in Jiaxing society in the last years of the Qing dynasty. Public management functions were clearly delineated among various associations whose members were mainly New Policies activists who wished to make the country better and stronger by building local society. There were some peasant uprisings, but during this period the urban-rural conflict may not have been essential in Jiaxing. The 1911 Revolution changed this kind of balanced local power structure among local officials, self-government institutions, and professional associations. Magistrates gradually lost their control of local society, while local assemblies and executive boards became the major decision-making institutions in the first years of the Republic. The clearly delineated functions among self-government institutions, professional associations and local governments were disrupted. Eventually in 1914, Yuan Shikai abolished all of the local self-government institutions.Show less
What was the role of the first world war on Sino-German cooperation? Before the war their relations were unequal, and after the first world war, were China participated at the side of the allies,...Show moreWhat was the role of the first world war on Sino-German cooperation? Before the war their relations were unequal, and after the first world war, were China participated at the side of the allies, their relations and economic ties became stronger than the pre-war situation. What was the role of the war in this sudden change of stances?Show less
An analysis of how the politics of Japan during the 1930s and 1940s influenced the admission and treatment of both Jewish European and Chinese refugees in the Chinese city of Shanghai.
The Qing government made at the end of its reign far-reaching changes in regard to its emigration policy. By establishing diplomatic relations, offering education and reforming emigration policies,...Show moreThe Qing government made at the end of its reign far-reaching changes in regard to its emigration policy. By establishing diplomatic relations, offering education and reforming emigration policies, the late Qing strengthened ties with overseas Chinese.The changes made by the Qing led to a new kind of relationship between the state and its overseas subjects. I argue that the Qing government established a shift in the representation of emigrations as they were previously stateless outlaws but now represented as overseas Chinese citizens. Furthermore, I argue that the Qing state started policy changes and strategies that further developed during the Republican era.Under the Republican governments, generating support from the overseas Chinese became increasingly important.Show less
The textual discourse on women's education between 1989 and 1925 in China went through major changes. First of all women's magazines became a new genre within the textual discourse. Many...Show moreThe textual discourse on women's education between 1989 and 1925 in China went through major changes. First of all women's magazines became a new genre within the textual discourse. Many trailblazers, for instance Xue Shaohui, Liang Qiachao and others helped set up girl's schools. The definition of the “New Woman” changed from meaning educated to become a better wife and mother to educated and cosmopolitan for one's own sake. By using three case studies, I show how in the New Culture era female education became more important as well as more widespread. These case studies show how important female education was to the textual discourse and suggest that the textual discourse helped to educate women during 1989-1925 in China.Show less
The anti-Christian attitudes and events that occurred during the late Qing Dynasty and the Republican era demonstrated that Chinese people still did not consistently accept the presence of...Show moreThe anti-Christian attitudes and events that occurred during the late Qing Dynasty and the Republican era demonstrated that Chinese people still did not consistently accept the presence of Christianity in their country. In response to these hostilities Catholic and Protestant churches in China gradually changed; both believers and clergy of the Catholic and Protestant churches demanded indigenization of Chinese Christian organizations. This thesis will answer the question: How did the Catholic and Protestant churches in China indigenize between 1900 and 1940?Show less
This thesis aims to examine the link between feminism and nationalism by applying the case of Qiu Jin on to this debate, and to analyze her transformation into a radical reformist, focusing on the...Show moreThis thesis aims to examine the link between feminism and nationalism by applying the case of Qiu Jin on to this debate, and to analyze her transformation into a radical reformist, focusing on the social and political condition that contributed to her revolutionary activities.Show less
This thesis discusses the effects of the Great Leap Forward on China’s environment. This is accomplished by analyzing the changes that have occurred throughout China’s fauna and flora, in...Show moreThis thesis discusses the effects of the Great Leap Forward on China’s environment. This is accomplished by analyzing the changes that have occurred throughout China’s fauna and flora, in particular desertification will be studied in depth. Furthermore, the characteristics of China’s past and present environmental politics will be touched upon.Show less
