Research master thesis | Asian Studies (research) (MA)
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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
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
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
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
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
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
Since the beginning of the PRC, the government has vigorously influenced the identity of its citizens, by both controlling and stimulating the Muslim aspect of its citizens’ identities. The various...Show moreSince the beginning of the PRC, the government has vigorously influenced the identity of its citizens, by both controlling and stimulating the Muslim aspect of its citizens’ identities. The various outcomes of these actions range from cooperation with the state to the recent separatist stances from Chinese Muslims towards their government. This thesis investigates the factors that influence the teaching of the ‘Islamic-Chinese’ identity, such as the development of state education for Muslims; Muslim private education; the influence of study abroad; the legal framework on religious education; the influences on employment prospects; and the influences of globalization. This thesis argues that both in response to and accommodated by the Chinese government’s utilitarian approach to Muslim Chinese, from the 1980s onwards the Muslim Chinese communities created a more “Muslim” identity in ways (unforeseen and) uncontrollable by the government.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
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
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
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
This thesis explores how education policies had influenced the developments of different identity formations in colonial and postcolonial Taiwan and Hong Kong. Based on findings about and analysis...Show moreThis thesis explores how education policies had influenced the developments of different identity formations in colonial and postcolonial Taiwan and Hong Kong. Based on findings about and analysis of education policies that had connections with identity formation, this thesis tries to argue that, firstly, education policies caused different identity formations (Japanese colonial, Chinese and Taiwanese identities) in colonial and postcolonial Taiwan, while education policies contributed to the formation of one single identity, the Hong Kong identity, in colonial and postcolonial Hong Kong. Secondly, consequences of the introduction of education policies on identity formations in Taiwan and Hong Kong were different.Show less
Where it seems that the ideological narrative a political party or entity takes forms the base for the support it gets, since 1978 and onwards the CCP has shown it is possible to change this...Show moreWhere it seems that the ideological narrative a political party or entity takes forms the base for the support it gets, since 1978 and onwards the CCP has shown it is possible to change this ideological narrative without losing legitimacy as a ruling power. This thesis covers the changing ideology of the CCP from 1949 up till now, and offers an explanation on how the Party has been able to legitimize its shift from being a socialist state up till the end of the 1970's, to currently being one of the most capitalist countries in in the world.Show less
This thesis analyzes the main factors which are contributing to the popularity of cosmetic surgery among Chinese women, focusing on social contexts, such as marriage and finding a job,...Show moreThis thesis analyzes the main factors which are contributing to the popularity of cosmetic surgery among Chinese women, focusing on social contexts, such as marriage and finding a job, globalization and its outcomes such as the influence of mass media and South Korea. To understand these factors this thesis dives into the concept of beauty by understanding what it means to be beautiful in China throughout history and who ultimately defines it. It is argued that there has been a change of beauty standard in China, meaning that the steps of obtaining beauty changed from applying make-up and wearing certain hairstyles and clothes to a whole new high level which can now only be obtained by cosmetic surgery. A number of factors are ‘defining’ the beauty standard of today, which is globalization, which can be seen as mass media and the popularity of South Korea, and China’s beauty economy which also contributes to higher standards in personal and professional success.Show less
