Between Chaos and Liberty: Chinese Uses of the French Revolution of 1789
-
Egas Moniz Bandeira
Abstract
This chapter traces the trajectory of one of the most emblematic events of modern history, the French Revolution of 1789, in Chinese political debates from late Qing to contemporary times. It shows that the French Revolution has been appropriated and used by Chinese actors-intellectuals, politicians, students, and others-in the light of their own historical experiences and for widely varying discursive objectives. It has been referenced in China both for the ideals it espoused and for the bloodshed and instability that it brought about in late 18th century France. Thus, it has not only served as an inspiration and a point of comparison for China’s own revolutions, chiefly the republican revolution of 1911, or as a democratic inspiration for Chinese intellectuals. Representations of the French revolution as an event of chaos and brutality have just as often been used by revolutionists to search for more suitable revolutionary models, as well as by conservative intellectuals and governments to debate reforms designed to prevent instability and political strife. Ultimately, the chapter shows that landmark events such as the French Revolution are far from being exclusive memories of the West. The French Revolution has not only been used in revolutionary contexts as a stimulus for democratic political reforms, but also-and this might have been its most frequent use since the late Qing-to debate policies designed to prevent instability and political strife. Ultimately, the chapter shows that landmark events such as the French Revolution are not only emblematic events of European history. They have also accordingly become crucial elements of Chinese memory, and their diverse Chinese uses have become local refractions of global elements of collective memory.
Abstract
This chapter traces the trajectory of one of the most emblematic events of modern history, the French Revolution of 1789, in Chinese political debates from late Qing to contemporary times. It shows that the French Revolution has been appropriated and used by Chinese actors-intellectuals, politicians, students, and others-in the light of their own historical experiences and for widely varying discursive objectives. It has been referenced in China both for the ideals it espoused and for the bloodshed and instability that it brought about in late 18th century France. Thus, it has not only served as an inspiration and a point of comparison for China’s own revolutions, chiefly the republican revolution of 1911, or as a democratic inspiration for Chinese intellectuals. Representations of the French revolution as an event of chaos and brutality have just as often been used by revolutionists to search for more suitable revolutionary models, as well as by conservative intellectuals and governments to debate reforms designed to prevent instability and political strife. Ultimately, the chapter shows that landmark events such as the French Revolution are far from being exclusive memories of the West. The French Revolution has not only been used in revolutionary contexts as a stimulus for democratic political reforms, but also-and this might have been its most frequent use since the late Qing-to debate policies designed to prevent instability and political strife. Ultimately, the chapter shows that landmark events such as the French Revolution are not only emblematic events of European history. They have also accordingly become crucial elements of Chinese memory, and their diverse Chinese uses have become local refractions of global elements of collective memory.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Acknowledgements V
- Contents VII
- Introduction: Politicized Histories in Modern China 1
- From Renaissance Heroine to May Fourth Female Paragon: Laura M. White’s Recreation of Romola (1863) in her Chinese Translation Luanshi Nühao (1923) 23
- Globalized Memories: Creating a Historical Space for Medical Pioneers in Modern China 49
- The Social and Political Lives of G. William Skinner and Chinese Society in Thailand 85
- Between Chaos and Liberty: Chinese Uses of the French Revolution of 1789 119
- Imagining the Future from History: The Tang Dynasty and the “China Dream” 149
- May Fourth Memories: PRC Media Representations of a Historical Moment, 1959 and 1989 173
- Notes on Contributors 193
- Index 195
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Acknowledgements V
- Contents VII
- Introduction: Politicized Histories in Modern China 1
- From Renaissance Heroine to May Fourth Female Paragon: Laura M. White’s Recreation of Romola (1863) in her Chinese Translation Luanshi Nühao (1923) 23
- Globalized Memories: Creating a Historical Space for Medical Pioneers in Modern China 49
- The Social and Political Lives of G. William Skinner and Chinese Society in Thailand 85
- Between Chaos and Liberty: Chinese Uses of the French Revolution of 1789 119
- Imagining the Future from History: The Tang Dynasty and the “China Dream” 149
- May Fourth Memories: PRC Media Representations of a Historical Moment, 1959 and 1989 173
- Notes on Contributors 193
- Index 195
