History Three Tones: As Events, Experiences, and Myths of the Boxers

Author: (USA) Kwang-ching Wu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: Through the analysis of the Boxer Rebellion, the author explores the relationship among the history people experience, the history written by historians, and the mythologized history. He argues that the latter two approaches have greater persuasive power and influence on ordinary readers. As the Boxer Rebellion as an event represents a special interpretation of the past; as the Boxer Rebellion as a myth, it represents a special interpretation of the present carried by the past, still exerting a profound influence on the present. What is history? How should history be viewed? What is the interactive relationship among the history people experience, the history written by historians, and the mythologized history? This book takes the Boxer Rebellion as an example to explore and explain the above questions: The first part is the historical facts of the Boxer Rebellion as depicted by historians, primarily narrative in nature; the second part examines the thoughts, feelings, and actions of various Chinese and foreign participants in the Boxer Rebellion, highlighting how their perspectives on the events unfolding differed greatly from those of later historians who reconstructed history. The third part critiques the various myths about the Boxer Rebellion that emerged in China in the 20th century. The author believes that among the three approaches to understanding history, the latter two have greater persuasive power and influence on ordinary readers. As the Boxer Rebellion as an event represents a special interpretation of the past; as the Boxer Rebellion as a myth, it represents a special interpretation of the present carried by the past, still exerting a profound influence on the present.