The Boxer Rebellion in Siberian Pre-Revolutionary Press (The Eastern Review as an Example)

The article is devoted to the content analyses of materials covering Boxer rebellion in China, they were published in Irkutsk newspaper The Eastern Review, 1900–1901. Authors’ choice was motivated with three reasons. First, the newspaper covered Eastern Russian regions’ issues, as well as Russia’s policy in the Far East, where these regions were being involved. Secondly, Boxer rebellion was one of most important events at the turn of the XX century; it defined Russia’s strategy on its Eastern borders in terms of competition with Western European countries and Japan for economic and political influence in the Celestial Empire. Thirdly, Boxer rebellion in the Siberian regional press’s point of view was not studied properly, so it needs further research to understand a provincial newspaper activities process, never having experience in military operations coverage, these activities quite surprisingly required a new way of operation. We analyzed hundreds of texts on military actions in China, Chinese Imperial Court position, contradictions between allied powers, which took part in the suppression of the rebellion in view of of post-war establishment in the East. The main focus of the research was the transformation of the newspaper’s conception to meet the needs for military information; genres of published materials about the Boxer rebellion; information obtaining technology; the degree of its authenticity and objectivity. We also examined how editorial staff created Russia’s positive image as a disinterested peace-maker, though Russian geopolitical interests had been having lasting position on the Chinese territory. Mass-media development, usage of various methods to obtain information, inclusion of opinions of conflicting sides; responsibility before readers for coverage of events allowed the newspaper not only to display objective description of current events in China but also to forecast post-war development of the Far East.

Bestia Triumphans: Enrique Stanko Vráz in Beijing in 1901

This study focuses on a description of the Boxer Rebellion in Beijing, in the first months of 1901, written by E. S. Vraz during his second journey to China. Enrique Stanko Vraz (1860–1932) was a Czech naturalist and explorer, renowned for his travels to Africa, Latin America, and Asia, which he depicted in a series of books addressed to a broader public. His travelogue on Beijing during the Boxer Rebellion is particularly engaging, since it shows the country in the midst of great turmoil and chaos, just after the uprising had reached its climax. It is also extremely interesting from the ethnographical and anthropological perspective, because Vraz not only comments on the activities of the allied forces in China, but he also describes the Chinese people, their customs, Chinese culture and society, and in doing so develops an interpretation of the kingdom, governed by the dichotomy between ‘civilization’ and modernity, on one hand, and ‘barbarism’ and obscurantism, on the other. Vraz’s narrative therefore seems to be inexorably bound to an ethnocentric paradigm, so characteristic of travel writing at the beginning of the 20th century. I argue, however, that this statement is oversimplifying, and that Vraz’s text is self-aware of these antagonisms and therefore defies any straightforward reading.

Urbanizing Camels: Camels in Beijing, 1900-1937

This article investigates the history of camels in Beijing from 1900 to 1937. Since the Qing period, the camel living in the villages on the western outskirts of Beijing had become the beast of burden for carrying coal from the Western Hills to the city and stimulated interconnection between the urban and rural areas. The use of camels was scrutinized during the urbanization that followed the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. However, camels did not disappear. After Beijing lost its status as the political capital in 1928, camels were reimagined as a symbol of nostalgia and part of the city’s new identity to reconstruct Beijing as a cultural capital and tourist city in a global context. The article argues that the urbanization of camels in Beijing was not a deanimalized process; instead, it was reordering of the relationship between animals and the city beyond a utilitarian perspective to address social and cultural dimensions, it was also a process that preserved the past and accommodated the present.

Solovyov’s China and its influence on his contemporaries

The article examines the influence of V.S. Solovyov on the writers and poets of the Silver age. On the material of the works of Solovyov, related to the «сhinese theme»: the articles «Russia and Europe», «China and Europe», «Japan», «The enemy from the East»; the review of the first volume of works by E.E. Ukhtomsky; the poems «Panmongolizm» and «Dragon»;the tractate «The three conversations about war, progress and the end of world history»; the letter «About the recent events», – is evaluated his influence on D.S. Merezhkovsky's articles: «Yellow-faced positivists», «The coming ham», V.I. Ivanov's articles «Russia, England and Asia», «Inspiration of horror», V.M. Doroshevich's story «Goddess», V.V. Veresaev's story «Under the cedars»; «Chinese poems» and the articles of V.J. Bryusov. The political context of the works, the tradition of depicting China in Russian literature, literary and sinological works on this topic are taken into account. The comparative analysis of texts, the coincidence of a number of theoretical positions, and separate definitions and epithets are revealed. The numbers of Solovyov's positions are revealed, which are reflected in the works of Merezhkovsky and Ivanov: materialism and positivism of the Chinese, the «emptiness» of their philosophy, the denial of life and progress, the «yellow danger», the need for the Christianization of China (the last position in Merezhkovsky is not). Doroshevich's story, written at the height of the ikhetuan rebellion («boxer rebellion»), was influenced by the philosopher's eschatological prophecies. The negative image of China in the poetry of V.J. Bryusov is the textual confirmation of the influence of Solovyov, noted by modern literary criticism.

William McKinley and American Empire

Between 1897 and 1901 the administration of Republican President William McKinley transformed US foreign policy traditions and set a course for empire through interconnected economic policies and an open aspiration to achieve greater US influence in global affairs. The primary changes he undertook as president included the arrangement of inter-imperial agreements with world powers, a willingness to use military intervention as a political solution, the establishment of a standing army, and the adoption of a “large policy” that extended American jurisdiction beyond the North American continent. Opposition to McKinley’s policies coalesced around the annexation of the Philippines and the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion in China. Anti-imperialists challenged McKinley’s policies in many ways, but despite fierce debate, the president’s actions and advocacy for greater American power came to define US policymaking for generations to come. McKinley’s administration merits close study.

On the Influence of Taoism on Female Characters in Moment in Peking

<p>Moment in Peking is one of the most famous English novel of Lin Tangy. It was written when Dr. Lin lived in Paris from August, 1938 to August, 1939. It is modeled on the structure of A Dream in Red Mansions, and dedicated “To the Brave Chinese Soldiers”. It tells the vicissitudes of life and the feelings of gratitude and resentment of the Zengs, the Yaos, the News, from the Boxer Rebellion (1901) to the Anti-Japanese War. It showed the historical style and features of the changes of modern Chinese society. The book shaped hundreds of figures, including more than 50 women images. The author expressed in a unique angle to express his respect and admiration to women. Every woman has a different story, and distinct personality traits. (Wang Zhibo, 2006:4) Their personality is distinct, high status, even beyond men in some ways. Compared with the previous writers, the author has a detailed understanding of women, and his work is more closed to the real life, so as to achieve a new world. At that time, this had made a great progress, although flawed, but in spite of his flaws.</p><p>The author represents his Taoist thought through the whole novel, in terms of characterization, plot and etc. Taoist thought is not only the theme of the full text, but also determines the basic structure of it. The author in the book conveys details of Taoist thought and, reflects the Taoist thought on three levels, namely the Taoist chronological life, easy detachment of the outlook on life and the method of gaining liberation, and spiritual freedom.</p>