Revisiting China's Modernity: Ethnicity, Religion, and Nation

This book investigates the nature of Chinese modernity from the perspectives of social and intellectual history, revealing the ambiguity of nation as a modern concept and opening up a new possibility for the turn of Chinas national narratives. It explores the relationship between the Manchus and the Han Chinese, examines the transmission and reproduction of modern knowledge, and discusses how the supra-nationalist discourse of various religions succumbed to the homogenizing nature of the nation-state in modern China. The author combines the methodologies of social and intellectual history to depict a general picture of Chinese modernity and concludes that it is produced out of the combination of a forward-thinking viewpoint and a fantasy about the modern age, constituting an inevitable path to Chinas national liberation from the entanglement of ethnicity and cultural traditions.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 308 pages
\n Publication date: 14 December 2020
\n Publisher: Peter Lang Publishing Inc
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This book delves into the intricate tapestry of Chinese modernity, exploring its multifaceted nature from the perspectives of social and intellectual history. Drawing inspiration from Benedict Anderson's notion of "imagined communities," it sheds light on the ambiguity of the nation as a modern concept and presents a fresh perspective on the transformation of China's national narratives. The traditional definitions of nation, whether as an imagined community or an entity rooted in substantive cultural origins, fail to fully capture the complexity of Chinese society. In the Chinese context, pre-modern times witnessed the emergence of a distinct socio-cultural system, rendering the binary mode of nationality inadequate to interpret the rich tapestry of Chinese society.

To navigate this complexity, this work delves into the intricate relationship between the Manchus and the Han Chinese throughout the Qing dynasty. It examines the transmission and reproduction of modern knowledge, particularly that of race and nation, in the context of China's reactions to Western influence. Moreover, it explores how the supra-nationalist discourse of various religions succumbed to the homogenizing nature of the nation-state in modern China.

To present a comprehensive portrayal of Chinese modernity, the author employs a methodology that blends social history with intellectual history, eschewing the traditional East-West binary opposition. The book is organized into three parts, each offering a specific perspective on Chinese modernity. By adopting this approach, the author aims to avoid oversimplification and provide a holistic understanding of the complex phenomenon.

Through this comprehensive exploration, the book reveals that Chinese modernity emerges as a product of a forward-thinking viewpoint and a fantasy about the modern age. It constitutes an inevitable path toward China's national liberation from the entanglement of ethnicity and cultural traditions. This work offers valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of Chinese modernity and its profound impact on shaping the nation's history and future.

\n Weight: 455g\n
Dimension: 159 x 235 x 26 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781433168765\n
Edition number: New ed\n