discovering history in china (chapter 2)

8/3/2019 Discovering History in China (Chapter 2)

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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

discovering history in china (chapter 2)

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