Museum Representations of Chinese Diasporas: Migration Histories and the Cultural Heritage of the Homeland

The first book to examine the recent surge in museums on Chinese diasporas in China, analyzing heritage-making beyond the nation-state and providing a diasporic perspective on cultural heritage. It sheds new light on the dynamic between China and Chinese diasporas through the lens of the museum and is of interest to scholars and students in museum and heritage studies, Asia, China, migration and diaspora, anthropology, history and culture.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 178 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Museum Representations of Chinese Diasporas is a groundbreaking work that delves into the recent surge of museums dedicated to Chinese diasporas in China. By examining heritage-making beyond the confines of the nation-state, the book offers a critical examination of China's engagement with its diverse diasporic communities. Through extensive fieldwork in over ten museums, as well as interviews with museum practitioners and archival study, author Wang provides a timely analysis of the complex ways in which Chinese diasporas are represented in the museum space of China, the ancestral homeland. Arguing that diasporic heritage is inherently ambivalent, the book introduces a diasporic perspective to the study of cultural heritage, opening up a new avenue of inquiry into the study and management of cultural heritage in China and beyond. Perhaps most importantly, Wang sheds new light on the dynamic between China and Chinese diasporas through the lens of the museum, offering a fresh and insightful perspective on this important relationship.

Museum Representations of Chinese Diasporas takes a transnational approach, highlighting the under-researched connections between heritage, mobility, and meaning in a global context. This cross-disciplinary work appeals to scholars and students in the fields of museum and heritage studies, as well as those interested in Asia, China, migration, and diaspora, anthropology, history, and culture. By examining the ways in which Chinese diasporas are represented in museums, the book offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of identity, culture, and belonging in a rapidly changing world. It challenges traditional narratives and encourages a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of the diverse experiences and contributions of Chinese communities around the globe.

Weight: 350g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367650735