Since the Xi leadership, the Communist Party lays significantly more emphasis on the importance of history and its education, which is reflected in the party’s overall discourse, institutional...Show moreSince the Xi leadership, the Communist Party lays significantly more emphasis on the importance of history and its education, which is reflected in the party’s overall discourse, institutional changes and the compiling of a new series of unified textbooks. Education is key in the national socialization process, and can be utilized for fostering patriotism. This study is concerned principally with the discursive construction of a key period in Chinese history in the new junior high school textbooks: the “century of humiliation”. Through combining one of the approaches within the critical discourse analysis school and ethnographic research methods, this study dissects the discourse within in the textbooks and examines the transmission process of the discourse in the classroom environment. Furthermore, the research also analyses the contextual environment in which the textbooks arose, taking into consideration the broader official discourse and relevant recent trends. This study reveals the applied discursive strategies and demonstrates their significance in creating a historical truth.Show less
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
The Earth Gods' Parade is an important religious event held in Lantern Festival in Lunar New Year in Shezih region, Taipei City. The event constitutes and reflects the region's unique cultural...Show moreThe Earth Gods' Parade is an important religious event held in Lantern Festival in Lunar New Year in Shezih region, Taipei City. The event constitutes and reflects the region's unique cultural identity. However, the upcoming urban development plan proposed by Taipei City Government under Wen-je Ko in 2015 is going to affect the region and the event's future. While the parade is ignored in the urban plan, some local residents and activists nominate the event as Taipei City intangible cultural heritage. This research attempts to analyze how a place’s Intangible Cultural Heritage constitutes and reflects the place’s cultural identity. The research also portrays different roles of the Earth Gods' Parade in the conflict of new urban development plan.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
China consists of an enormous geo-body, with different geographical, cultural, and linguistic differences. Hence, many differences exist within its population, which consists of fifty-five...Show moreChina consists of an enormous geo-body, with different geographical, cultural, and linguistic differences. Hence, many differences exist within its population, which consists of fifty-five minorities and the Han majority. Although the state creates space for the acknowledgement of internal differences, it also continuously emphasizes China’s unity. This has led to a paradox of unity in diversity. Prior research on cultural diversity within China has mainly focused on minority nationalities, giving less attention to the Han as they are often deemed ‘invisible’. This research will however focus on the Han as it aims to answer the question: “How do Han students identify themselves in the paradox of unity in diversity?” by examining what the sense of belonging of students from Shandong University is built on. The data will show that self-identification of the students is simultaneously vertically and horizontally related, depending on the role of the ‘Other’: identities exist in tandem with each other, while they can also gain preference. Furthermore, through the constant emphasis on ‘national’ and ‘hometown’ identities ―one representing unity, the other diversity― it becomes evident that the paradox of unity in diversity is an integral part of the students’ self-identification.Show less
Presentation of the topic As a consequence of its vertiginous development in the last decades, China has gained a new position as an international superpower. Economic development has led to...Show morePresentation of the topic As a consequence of its vertiginous development in the last decades, China has gained a new position as an international superpower. Economic development has led to drastic social changes which had an impact on the official conception of Chinese Identity supported by the government. After the Maoist era and the reforms conducted under Deng, the old communist ideology did not suit Chinese people anymore. The government has had to find new discourses on which to base the national community. Contemporary China’s nationalism engages repeatedly with China’s glorious past and the unique value of Chinese traditional culture. Through such themes, the government aims to build a connection between contemporary Chinese society and Chinese history, in an effort to fill the lack of ideology which followed the Maoist era. Moreover, in contemporary times China’s international image has changed too; it is now one of the most powerful economies in the world, but lacks of international cultural influence. This study will investigate whether Chinese domestic cultural governance is meant to have an impact on an international level, and how such an objective would be achieved. This research will focus on the formulation and implementation of cultural governance under the president Xi Jinping, approaching the subject in a threefold analysis: theories on Chinese identity and nation-building, international network building and cultural investments under Xi Jinping, and exemplifying case studies in the Shandong province (The Confucius Temple and Kong’s Manson in Qufu, and the Shandong Province Museum in Jinan). Research Questions The questions this research seeks to answer are: how is cultural governance formulated and implemented in Contemporary China? What are the theories behind Chinese nation-building strategies that engage which traditional culture? How should the governmental support to Chinese traditional culture be interpreted? Who is the audience for such narrative and what does it aim for? How does this discourse reflect on a local level, such as the Shandong Province?Show less
Cosmetic surgery in China has become particularly popular in the last decade. The country has faced a great economic development, which has led to the birth of the new Chinese consumer. Consumption...Show moreCosmetic surgery in China has become particularly popular in the last decade. The country has faced a great economic development, which has led to the birth of the new Chinese consumer. Consumption is particularly tied to self-representation and identity. To complete their identity through their appearance, individuals consume cosmetic surgery. For this reason, the beauty industry has developed new means to attract future clients: online advertising. Since few of the previous studies deal with the online aspect of cosmetic surgery in China, this dissertation aims to analyze how the new agents of advertisements (in this case websites) are used to compel clients. By employing discourse analysis to two cosmetic surgery platforms: Yuemei and Soyoung, the research demonstrates how the main means of these websites’ advertising are the users themselves.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