 | The Language of Nation-State Building in Late Qing China: A Case Study of the Xinmin Congbao and the Minbao, 1902-1910 Subjects: Area Studies; Humanities; Language & Literature; Language Teaching & Learning; Asian Studies; Media & Film Studies; Language & Linguistics; Chinese Studies; Discourse Analysis; Media & Communications; Applied Linguistics; Languages of Asia; The Language of Nation-State Building in Late Qing China investigates the linguistic and intellectual roots of China's modern transformation by presenting a systematic study of the interplay between language innovation and socio-political upheavals in the final decade of the Qing Empire. This book examines the formations, internal tensions, and promotion of such macroconcepts as 'nation people' ( guomin 国民), nation ( minzu 民族), society ( qun 群), state ( guojia 国家) and revolution ( gemin 革命) as novel ideas borrowed from Europe but mediated through Meiji Japan. Using corpus-based discourse analysis of the full-text corpus (4.2 million words) of the two most influential periodicals Xinmin Congbao (新民丛报) and Minbao (民报), this book scrutinises the multi-faceted formulations of these concepts and their impact. It underscores the adaptation and appropriation of European post-enlightenment values to the socio-political conditions of late Qing society. The analysis centres on the epic debate (1905-07) between these two periodicals that offered two distinctive visions of future China. Comparable to the 18th century great debate between Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine on the French Revolution, the Chinese debate has hitherto attracted little scholarly attention outside China. Yet, the debate not only turned the tidal wave of the public opinion against the Manchu monarchy and contributed to its downfall in 1911; it has given rise to a radical current of intellectual thinking whose ramifications have been keenly felt throughout 20th century China. This book represents the first study in English on this press debate that contributes significantly to the intellectual foundation of modern China. This book will be useful and relevant to academics, postgraduate students and final year undergraduate students in the field of Chinese Studies, and anyone interested in the role of language in shaping modern intellectual history. Qing Cao is Associate Professor in Chinese Studies and Director of the Centre for Comparative Maternities at the School of Modern Languages and Cultures, Durham University |
