Echoes Across the — A Historical Review of American Chinese History Studies

Author: Chen Junjing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-05-01
Features: The book presented to the readers aims to describe and analyze the evolution of American Chinese history studies from the perspective of academic history. Why is it not titled "Sinology" or "Chinese Studies"? This requires an explanation of the concepts of "sinology" and "Chinese studies." A long-standing debate in academia revolves around the translation of "sinology" and the distinction between "sinology" and "Chinese studies." Broadly speaking, there are three main views:
1. Equating "sinology" with "Chinese studies";
2. Believing that while both "sinology" and "Chinese studies" refer to Chinese studies conducted overseas, they differ in the periods and content they encompass;
3. Opposing the translation "sinology" and uniformly referring to it as "Chinese studies."
Currently, a significant number of scholars are accustomed to calling overseas Chinese studies "sinology" and equating it with "Chinese studies." Wang Jinglun, in Walking into the Dream of the East—American Views of China, states: "Sinology (sinology) is also called Chinese studies (Chinese studies), as a field of study where foreigners research China. It originally developed and flourished in Britain, and after World War II, it rapidly expanded in the United States, making the U.S. the center of Western 'Chinese studies.'"①
Clearly, Wang Jinglun's assertion that overseas sinology originally emerged in Britain is a misinterpretation, as it overlooks the contributions of Italian and French missionaries during the missionary period to overseas Chinese studies. However, his proposition that "sinology is Chinese studies" is widely accepted by many scholars. In their view, sinology, as a field of study that systematically researches China's "language, literature, history, geography, philosophy, religion, and other aspects," as an "important component of Oriental studies," can also be referred to as "Chinese studies" (the Chinese Studies).
It should be emphasized that among the scholars who advocate "sinology is Chinese studies," a considerable number have noted the historical evolution of the content of overseas Chinese studies. On the premise of acknowledging the identity of the two concepts, "sinology" and "Chinese studies," they have distinguished the applicability of both in different historical periods.