discovering history in china (chapter 2)
TRANSCRIPT
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(Chapter 2)
Author: Paul A. Cohen
Present: Stephanie Lei
Phoenix Kuan
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Introduction
The author reveals the trend existed in the western -particularly American - historians of China in 20th century,which they used the tradition-modernitypolarity of
modernization theory as a framework to interpret theprocess of recent Chinese history
Thus the industrialized westerns presence in China hadshifted China from traditional into modern societyHe is querying some assumptions of thisWestern-
centered historical view
But history is the intersection of people and matters, thisoversimplified view can hardly clarify the facts of history
How is the appropriate point to the Chinese history?
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About the Author
Paul A. Cohen (Chinese name:) Famous American historian, Edith Stix
Wasserman Professor of Asian Studiesand History Emeritus at WellesleyCollege
Currently an Associate of the FairbankCenter for Chinese Studies at HarvardUniversity
Research interests: 19th-20th century
China and American historiography onChina
Always shows that the questions mostAmerican historians have asked aboutthe China past
Famous books:
Speaking to History: The Story ofKing Goujian in Twentieth-CenturyChina, Berkeley: University ofCalifornia Press, 2009.
China Unbound: EvolvingPerspectives on the Chinese Past.London; New York: RoutledgeCurzon, 2003.
History in Three Keys: The Boxersas Event, Experience, and Myth, NewYork: Columbia University Press,
1997.
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Structure
The 19th century western view of China
Joseph Levenson and the Historiographyof the 1950s and 1960s
Redefining the Tradition-Modernity
Polarity
The residual grip of the 19th century
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The 19th centurywestern view of China
The application of modernization theory of western historiansplayed an increasingly important role in 19th century
History was considered as a linear process
They thought that the following were irreversible andinevitable
Modernized and globalized process of Industrial Revolution
Emergence of democracy and Capitalism
Change of scientific thoughts and economic growth
China which is the most advanced countries in the orient stillresisted to change both at that time and the past
Western historians had a prejudice of barbarian against the
Chinese modernized historical process
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Joseph Levenson and
the Historiography of the 1950-60s 20th century, the concept of grand narrative was
widespread in many American historical and social works
Cohen had chosen Joseph Levenson as the remarkableAmerican historian representative of China study in 1950-60s
Levenson tried to explain the problems of the Chinese
historical modernization from a Chinese standpoint
Levenson thinks that China began to change by the hugetransitions in the West of 18-19th century; in spite of hetried to get rid of this prejudice
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Joseph Levenson and
the Historiography of the 1950-60s (cont)Many famous historical works of mid-20th century, were
still dominated by the perspective assuming that withoutthe Western presence, the East Asian past still underwent
only change within tradition, not transformation
Levenson took over this model of thinking; however, hefocused on the comprehensive western impact to theinternal China (pp. 71-76)
Hence, he assumed that the west had promoted the drasticchange of China and had weakened its old order
So, Chinese revolution was the response to Westernconstant questions
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Redefining the
Tradition-Modernity PolarityIn 1965-70's, the traditional hypothesis of the
distinct "Tradition-Modernity" polarity was
thoroughly challenged by the scholarsA new, more complicated pattern had suggested
for the relationship of Tradition and Modernity
Cohen criticizes Weber and Levenson hadmisunderstood the Confucian China; neithertheir followers, Metzger nor Elvin's argument,because the lack of evidence, was comprehensive
enough
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The residual grip of the 19th century
Early 1970s, some studies said that domestic changestaking place in Chinese society long before the Westernpresence, China didn't functioned by the effects of the
developed Western
However, they cant help comparing between Traditionand Modernity
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The residual grip of the 19th century (cont)
The problems are
Tradition and Modernity are not two completely oppositesystems, excluding any intermediate possibilities
Cohen also cites "the assumption of the conservation ofhistorical energy" of Hexter and Tipps, to prove thisWestern-centered view is indefensible
Different traditions cant be generalized by the
oversimplified concept Suggestion: give up this methodology of modernization
theory for historical analysis, in place of another lessWestern-centered mode will be more suitable
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Conclusion
Cohen suggests the scholars afterward have to abandon theold thinking mode to reflect Chinese history. He had
proposed a relatively objective approach at the fourthchapter, which underlines in two sentences.
"Chinese problems set in a Chinese context. These problemsmay be influenced, even generated, by the West. Or theymay have no Western connection at all. (p. 154)
But either way they are Chinese problems, in the doublesense they are experienced in China by Chinese and that themeasure of their historical importance is a Chinese, ratherthan a Western measure. (p. 154)
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Conclusion
Instead of the clear boundaries of comparison of time. In short,we observe into the interior of China, assay and seek for theproblems derivatively, not persist in treating them from Western
perspective. Besides, we can take advantage of subdividing the path of study
- for instance, from the regional, special and provincial centeredstudies - rather than imposing uniformity on all enterprises.
We believe that either the Tradition-Modernity dichotomy or
"China-centered" view is still stuck in the Impact-Responsepattern. The more accessible way to Chinese history we think isthat putting the Western questions on one side firstly, look ateach side from others' perspectives, and ultimately examine ourown view by western or others questions. Herewith the
researches become more objective.
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Critique
As A. Feuerwerker had indicated in his review of Cohen'sbook that Cohen laid too much stress on someone likeLevenson who "knew little about China". While Cohen
applied the deductive method into Chinese historiography,we could find out that he tried to collect few historicalevidences to set up his own theory according to his ownneeds.
He missed the opposite examples which may make hisarguments become unreliable. Therefore, the trustworthinessof his arguments is questioned by other scholars.
In addition, he challenged and intended to get rid of theexisting traditional framework and encouraged others to
reflect which method they should use.
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Critique
Human being make their own history, vise versa, country also. But,for another viewpoint, if we only talk about China history withoutany compare, or special review on countrys development,
thats nothing worth to discuss, and it is hide comparsion ineverybody mind set.
Examples as follow:
1. Cohen emphasizedHistorian should use the Chinese angelof view to see the Chinese matters nature. Actually, Portugal,
Dutch or United Kingdom had been continuing the trading withChina since Ming Dynasty, and China was affecting by the othercountries culture in many years ago. In the logical thinking, itdoesnt have Simplex(things) in the world, thats why weobjected to Cohens thinking.
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Critique
2. Xi Ning Reform in Song Dynasty ()Thisreform was a big chance to change China economic into acapitalism system. Wang An-shi was the first person who
understandThe initial concept of Capitalism() in the early era, if some of the reform policies success atthat time, it would be earlier than Renaissance. The mainreason of failure was not Wangs suggestions not goodenough, but the old bureaucrat system was one of the big
problem, so, it was not saying that China no chance changed byitself, but the old system was not fit for any other newevolution.
Qing Miao Fa()
Shi Yi Fa()
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Critique
3. Most of the Shengyuan () under the ChinaImperial Examination () system since fromHan Dynasty, however, it caused most of studentsnever focus on the Deliberation, and thisexamination was banned until the primary stage intwenty century. That was one of the big reasons whyChinese society doesnt have any famous philosophers
or scientists appear during thousands of years. In thiscase, it was very difficult to develop a new examinationor system better than Western countries.
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Thank you