Places of Memory in Modern China: History, Politics, and Identity

Review "The concept of the politically charged 'site of memory' inspires college courses and academic conferences, but this is the first volume to focus entirely on the phenomenon in China."Shana J. Brown, University of Hawai'i, Manoa, Journal of Asian Studies Vol. 72 Number 1 (Feb. 2013)"Places of Memory in Modern China exemplifies the methodological flexibility offered by memory theory. For these reasons, I enthusiastically recommend the volume for scholars in Chinese studies, historians of 'modern' China, and students of collective memory more generally."Todd M. Goehle, Frontiers of History in China Vol. 8 Issue 3This excellent volume of collected essays represents the maturation of memory studies in the field of modern Chinese history.Vera Schwarcz, Monumenta Serica 61 (2013) Product Description In the last decades, the scholarship on issues of national and cultural identity of China has been constantly on the rise. This edited volume aims at addressing these issues by applying Pierre Noras approach of places of memory (lieux de mémoire) to the Chinese context. The volume assembles a number of articles that focus on the most significant places of memory in modern and contemporary China, ranging from Qin Shihuangs Terracotta Warriors to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The genesis and nature of these places are discussed in detail by combining approaches of both cultural and historical sciences. In addition, issues of cultural memory and politics are addressed in order to question the ideological construction of these places. From the Back Cover In the last decades, the scholarship on issues of national and cultural identity of China has been constantly on a rise. This edited volume aims at addressing these issues by applying Pierre Nora s approach of places of memory ("lieux de m moire") to the Chinese context. The volume assembles a number of articles that focus on the most significant places of memory in modern and contemporary China, ranging from Qin Shihuang s Terracotta Warriors to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The genesis and nature of these places are discussed in detail by combining approaches of both cultural and historical sciences. In addition, issues of cultural memory and politics are addressed in order to question the ideological construction of these places. About the Author Marc Andre Matten (Ph.D. 2007, University of Bonn, Germany) is Assistant Professor of Contemporary Chinese History at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany. He has published extensively on the issues of Chinese nationalism and national identity, including The Borders of Being Chinese – On the Creation of National Identity in 20th century China (German, Harrassowitz, 2009).