- Navigating the Mediterranean Through the Chinese Lens
- Edited by Renata Vinci
Why Should We Look at Chinese Sources on the Mediterranean from a Transcultural Perspective?
- Renata Vinci
- © 2024 Author(s) |
- CC BY 4.0
- DOI: 10.36253/979-12-215-0598-6.03
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 appropriate 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 interactions 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 civilisations 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.
- Keywords:
- Mediterranean; China; Perception; Transcultural; Travel Diaries,
University of Palermo, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0003-3841-5386
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Chapter Information
Chapter Title
Why Should We Look at Chinese Sources on the Mediterranean from a Transcultural Perspective?
Authors
Renata Vinci
Language
English
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-0598-6.03
Peer Reviewed
Publication Year
2024
Copyright Information
© 2024 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Bibliographic Information
Book Title
Navigating the Mediterranean Through the Chinese Lens
Book Subtitle
Transcultural Narratives of the Sea Among Lands
Editors
Renata Vinci
Peer Reviewed
Number of Pages
138
Publication Year
2024
Copyright Information
© 2024 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Publisher Name
Firenze University Press
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-0598-6
ISBN Print
979-12-215-0597-9
eISBN (pdf)
979-12-215-0598-6
eISBN (epub)
979-12-215-0599-3
Series Title
Studi e saggi
Series ISSN
2704-6478
Series E-ISSN
2704-5919