In the postnational era, the demand to rethink national borders and embrace inclusive sentiments of shared interests and belonging is prompting scholars to explore new avenues of research. This introductory essay positions the research project The Mediterranean through Chinese Eyes (MeTChE) within the context of recent scholarship on Sino-Western exchanges and aims to provoke debate on a new approach that integrates Chinese Studies and Mediterranean Studies. The MeTChE project seeks to understand how China perceived the Mediterranean as a transcultural space during the Imperial era, specifically from the Song to the Qing dynasties. Three key questions guide this preliminary investigation: why should we embrace the concept of a “transcultural” Mediterranean? What are the conventional methods used in researching Chinese sources on the Mediterranean, and why is a fresh approach necessary? Finally, is it appropri- ate to discuss a “transcultural” perception of the Mediterranean from the Chinese perspective? The analysis of Chinese sources on the Mediterranean reveals a rich tapestry of cultural inter- actions and exchanges. Valuable insights come from geographical works, maps, travelogues, and diplomatic accounts that shed light on how China viewed the Mediterranean. Among the notable authors are scholars such as Kang Youwei and Xue Fucheng, whose writings serve as case studies in this essay, as they weave ancient Mediterranean civilizations and historical figures into their accounts. Examining their works from a transcultural perspective allows us to move beyond traditional national identities, exploring the interconnectedness and complexity of historical relations between China and the broader world. Simultaneously, by acknowledging the Mediterranean as a space of converging yet fragmented identities, we recognise its role as a place of coexistence and hybridity, blurring cultural differences and national boundaries.

Renata vinci (2024). Why Should We look at Chinese Sources on the Mediterranean from a Transcultural Perspective?. In R. Vinci (a cura di), Navigating the Mediterranean Through the Chinese Lens: Transcultural Narratives of the Sea Between the Lands (pp. 11-24). Firenze : Firenze University Press.

Why Should We look at Chinese Sources on the Mediterranean from a Transcultural Perspective?

Renata vinci
2024-01-01

Abstract

In the postnational era, the demand to rethink national borders and embrace inclusive sentiments of shared interests and belonging is prompting scholars to explore new avenues of research. This introductory essay positions the research project The Mediterranean through Chinese Eyes (MeTChE) within the context of recent scholarship on Sino-Western exchanges and aims to provoke debate on a new approach that integrates Chinese Studies and Mediterranean Studies. The MeTChE project seeks to understand how China perceived the Mediterranean as a transcultural space during the Imperial era, specifically from the Song to the Qing dynasties. Three key questions guide this preliminary investigation: why should we embrace the concept of a “transcultural” Mediterranean? What are the conventional methods used in researching Chinese sources on the Mediterranean, and why is a fresh approach necessary? Finally, is it appropri- ate to discuss a “transcultural” perception of the Mediterranean from the Chinese perspective? The analysis of Chinese sources on the Mediterranean reveals a rich tapestry of cultural inter- actions and exchanges. Valuable insights come from geographical works, maps, travelogues, and diplomatic accounts that shed light on how China viewed the Mediterranean. Among the notable authors are scholars such as Kang Youwei and Xue Fucheng, whose writings serve as case studies in this essay, as they weave ancient Mediterranean civilizations and historical figures into their accounts. Examining their works from a transcultural perspective allows us to move beyond traditional national identities, exploring the interconnectedness and complexity of historical relations between China and the broader world. Simultaneously, by acknowledging the Mediterranean as a space of converging yet fragmented identities, we recognise its role as a place of coexistence and hybridity, blurring cultural differences and national boundaries.
2024
Settore ASIA-01/F - Lingue e letterature della Cina e dell'Asia sud-orientale
Settore ASIA-01/H - Storia dell'Asia orientale e sud-orientale
Renata vinci (2024). Why Should We look at Chinese Sources on the Mediterranean from a Transcultural Perspective?. In R. Vinci (a cura di), Navigating the Mediterranean Through the Chinese Lens: Transcultural Narratives of the Sea Between the Lands (pp. 11-24). Firenze : Firenze University Press.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10447/670610
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