Weeks 3 & 4
Week 3: Articulations of Nationhood and Feminism in the Diaspora
Why do you think that both Liang Qichao and He Zhen developed their politics in China while they were away from the country? Have you experienced something similar, where travel, or moving away shifted your self-identification? Why do you think their views on nationalism diverged, even though they were reading many of the same texts and thinking about similar questions about the modern world and China’s place in it?
- Liang Qichao and He Zhen developed their political views while they were away because they needed an audience who would take them seriously and actually listen to their ideas. According to Rebecca E. Karl, “many Chinese activists…went to raise funds for their respective efforts to overthrow or reform the dynastic state” (54). Qichao, for example, went to Hawaii so he could raise money and share his ideas with an audience who would actually listen. People in China were less accepting of Qichao’s radical ideas. The dynastic system had worked for the past few centuries. Why change it now? Qichao also thought he could create relationships with Hawaiians and use them to his advantage (“networking”). He was more successful in befriending locals than people with actual influence or power, however.
- I have experienced something similar while traveling for pleasure, but also revisiting the orphanage I was adopted from. I am a victim to the one-child policy in China, which I thought was very relevant to this week’s readings. This is my story: I was adopted from China and raised as an American. When I was in middle school, my family and I went back to China. This made me ask the question, “Who am I?” I realized that I could identify as both Chinese and American. I could also relate my experiences of racial discrimination and identity crisis with the Asian-American and adoption community respectfully
- Qichao and Zhen’s views on nationalism diverged because their concepts of nationalism came from different places. Qichao’s came from Hawaii, while Zhen’s came from Japan. Zhen was also an anarchist feminist which influenced her view on nationalism. For example, Zhen believed that women’s working conditions were “poor in all societies with an unequal distribution of wealth” and didn’t believe that the creation of a nation-state would be able to fix class issues.
Week 4: Anti-imperialism and exploitation
What do you think prompted so many Koreans into direct action against Japanese colonial rule?
Koreans were influenced by President Woodrow Wilson and the underground movement (“March First Movement of 1919 (Korea)”), which prompted them to take direct action against the Japanese. But why did Korea choose to declare independence? Why now?
The “Declaration of Independence (March 1, 1919)” argues that the Korean people have suffered under Japanese rule and that gaining independence will help them regain their dignity. It begins by stating that “[Koreas] have suffered the agony of alien suppression for a decade, becoming a victim of the policies of aggression and coercion” (par. 2).
The document goes into detail about the injustices that the Korean people have experienced: coercion, racial discrimination, distribution of false information, and creating a divide between the two nations. Furthermore, it points out that becoming an independent nation-state will help Korea fix its problems, provide a sense of nationalism, and create a brighter future for its children. The declaration also mentions shame and a loss of dignity if the country remains under foreign control (par. 3).
In addition, the Koreans blame themselves for not being strong enough to rise up against colonial rule. They believe that the Japanese are victims and that gaining independence will be beneficial for both countries. Korea will be able to develop its economy, infrastructure, etc. On the other hand, Japan will be able to re-establish its relationship with China and the rest of the world.
The Taki Seihi Company is an example of a business that took advantage of Japanese colonial rule and the suppression of Korean workers. Taki Seihi and Taki Kumejiro, the company’s presidents, bought land in Honam Plain, built a large plantation, and employed tenant farmers who were constantly in debt. The Japanese government motivated people like Seihi and Kumejiro to buy land by giving them state subsidies and encouraging land acquisition.
We can connect this example to some of the other concepts we learned: settler colonialism (settlers replace the indigenous population), racial capitalism (privately-owned companies use minorities to make a profit), and extra-coloniality (the creation or destruction of relationships due to the nature of colonialism).
How much of it do you think was the language of the March 1, 1919, Declaration of Independence, and how many were other factors that Shin mentions? Answer this question by thinking about what might prompt you into action at some moments and not at others.
The “March First Movement of 1919 (Korea)” by Gi-Wook Shin is a historical analysis of the independent movement and was made in response to the “Declaration of Independence (March 1, 1919)”. I believe both documents contain language that encouraged Koreans to take action, but the second document may have had a bigger impact because of its appeal to emotion.
Have you ever felt compelled to act in ways that surprised you?
Yes, I have felt compelled to act in ways that surprised me. But I have never acted on that thought. Recently, there have been a lot of social movements (Black Lives Matter Movement, Stop Asian Hate, etc.). Even though I agree with what these movements stand for, I have not actively participated in any protests. I have only spread awareness by signing petitions and reposting on social media. The violence towards Asian-Americans, in particular, struck a chord. Because although I don’t share their experiences as an adoptee, I can relate to the racial discrimination that Asians face on a daily basis.