The Manchurian Myth: Nationalism, Resistance, and Collaboration in Modern China
by Rana Mitter
On This Page
Description
A powerful element in twentieth-century Chinese politics has been the myth of Chinese resistance to Japan's seizure of Manchuria in 1931. Investigating the shifting alliances of key players in that event, Rana Mitter traces the development of the narrative of resistance to the occupation and shows how it became part of China's political consciousness, enduring even today. After Japan's September 1931 military strike leading to a takeover of the Northeast, the Chinese responded in three major show more ways: collaboration, resistance in exile, and resistance on the ground. What motives prompted some Chinese to collaborate, others to resist? What were conditions like under the Japanese? Through careful reading of Chinese and Japanese sources, particularly local government records, newspapers, and journals published both inside and outside occupied Manchuria, Mitter sheds important new light on these questions. show lessTags
Member Reviews
This is an excellent analysis of the Japanese occupation of Manchukuo, which Mitter uses as a window into nationalism, resistance and collaboration. His primary argument is that the myth of Manchurian resistance was largely manufactured by exiles from Manchuria in China proper. They appealed to the nationalist urban elites to inspire resistance to Japanese aggression . Mitter argues that the construction of the myth of resistance helped contribute to the Chinese nationalism both during the war and afterwards.
Mitter uses three groups of Chinese to analyze the Japanese occupation: collaborators, resistors and expats supporting resistance from abroad. This third group plays a crucial role in constructing the myth of resistance in show more Manchukuo, but Mitter makes an interesting case for the fluidity of occupation and the response to it by the two other groups. Only for the external group did occupation maintain a concrete form.
Mitter's most interesting conclusion is that there was a positive side to Japanese occupation. External forces are generally required for the growth of nationalism. Mitter suggests that the Japanese occupation provided a trope for nationalist to establish unity.
This is a very interesting book. Mitter's analysis is useful both for understanding of China and for delving into nationalism on a broader scale. show less
Mitter uses three groups of Chinese to analyze the Japanese occupation: collaborators, resistors and expats supporting resistance from abroad. This third group plays a crucial role in constructing the myth of resistance in show more Manchukuo, but Mitter makes an interesting case for the fluidity of occupation and the response to it by the two other groups. Only for the external group did occupation maintain a concrete form.
Mitter's most interesting conclusion is that there was a positive side to Japanese occupation. External forces are generally required for the growth of nationalism. Mitter suggests that the Japanese occupation provided a trope for nationalist to establish unity.
This is a very interesting book. Mitter's analysis is useful both for understanding of China and for delving into nationalism on a broader scale. show less
Members
- Recently Added By
Author Information
7+ Works 997 Members
Rana Mitter is University Lecturer in the History and Politics of Modern China at Oxford University, and a Fellow of St. Cross College.
Common Knowledge
- Important places
- Manchuria
- Important events
- Japanese invasion of Manchuria, 1931
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 13
- Popularity
- 1,775,427
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.00)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 3
