The Discourse of Race in Modern China

The Discourse of Race in Modern China examines the development and evolution of racial thinking in China from the 19th century through the Republican period. This scholarly work analyzes how Chinese intellectuals and leaders engaged with Western racial theories while developing their own concepts of identity and difference. Dikötter traces the historical emergence of racial categorization in Chinese society, from traditional cultural divisions to modern scientific racism. The book covers key periods including the late Qing dynasty, the May Fourth Movement, and the rise of Chinese nationalism, documenting how racial ideologies intersected with politics and culture. Through extensive research of primary sources in Chinese, the work reconstructs debates and discussions about race among scholars, reformers, and political figures. The analysis includes examination of scientific writings, political tracts, and popular media from the period. The book reveals the complex interplay between indigenous Chinese concepts of identity and imported Western racial theories, highlighting broader questions about modernity, nationalism, and the global circulation of ideas about human difference.

Readers value the book's detailed research into how Chinese society developed racial concepts both before and after Western influence. Multiple reviewers note its effectiveness in dispelling the notion that racial thinking in China came solely from Western imperialism. Positive comments focus on: - Clear documentation of primary sources - Analysis of Chinese race discourse in relation to nationalism - Examination of how traditional Chinese ideas merged with Western scientific racism Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style - Limited coverage of post-1949 period - Some repetition across chapters Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (32 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (8 ratings) One reader on Goodreads notes: "It fills an important gap in understanding how racial categories developed in China." An Amazon reviewer critiques: "The writing can be dry and jargon-heavy at times, though the content is valuable." The most frequent recommendation is to pair this with other books on modern Chinese history for fuller context.

Race and Racism in Modern China by Yinghong Cheng This work examines Chinese racial consciousness from the 1950s through contemporary times, tracing the evolution of racial ideology under Communist rule.

The Construction of Racial Identities in China and Japan by Frank Dikötter The text analyzes the historical development of racial identity formation in East Asia through comparative studies of China and Japan.

Yellow Peril: An Archive of Anti-Asian Fear by John Kuo Wei Tchen, Dylan Yeats The book documents the history of Western racial perceptions of Asians through primary sources and cultural artifacts spanning two centuries.

Race in Modern Chinese History by James Leibold This study explores the role of racial categorization in Chinese nation-building and its impact on ethnic minority policies.

The Discourse of Race in Eastern Europe by Marius Turda The work presents the development of racial thinking in Eastern Europe from the nineteenth century through World War II through examination of scientific and political texts.

🔖 Frank Dikötter wrote this groundbreaking work while teaching at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, before becoming Chair Professor of Humanities at the University of Hong Kong 📚 The book was one of the first comprehensive studies in English to examine how the concept of "race" evolved in modern Chinese thought and culture 🌏 The research reveals that Chinese intellectuals actively engaged with Western racial theories in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often adapting them to fit traditional Chinese cultural frameworks 📖 Dikötter's work demonstrates that contrary to some assumptions, racial thinking in China wasn't simply imported from the West but had deep roots in traditional Chinese concepts of cultural and physical differences 🎓 The book explores how Chinese thinkers used the concept of "yellow race" (huangzhong) to position themselves within the global racial hierarchy, particularly in relation to both "white" and "black" races