Building a career in and out of East Asia: 19th century American experts S. W. Williams and W. E. Griffis

• 발행기관: 한국아메리카학회
• 저자명: Henna-Riikka Pennanen
• 간행물 정보: 『미국학논집』제45집 1호, 371~398쪽, 전체 27쪽
• 주제분류: 인문학 > 기타인문학
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2013.05.31

영문 초록

During the 19th century, the Americans gradually reconceptualised the "Far East" as the "Near West," and a growing number of them crossed the Pacific Ocean in order to find their fortune in the East Asian countries. Two such Americans were Samuel Wells Williams (1812-1884) and William Elliot Griffis (1843-1928), who ultimately attained a position as pioneering and renowned specialists on Sinology and Japanology. This paper explores the ways in which Griffis and Williams built their careers in East Asia, and out of East Asia, in the context of general professionalization of sciences in the United States. The paper also accounts for the images of China and Japan they represented. These images were largely informed by the prevailing notions of history, civilizing mission, progress, American exceptionalism, science and objectivity, and motivated by political, national and religious interests. As experts on things Chinese and Japanese, Griffis and Williams significantly increased the knowledge available for their relatively ignorant American audience, shaped the images and opinions of their readers, and contributed to the scientification of Chinese and Japanese studies. Furthermore, they unceasingly reminded the Americans of the overall importance of the neighbouring East Asian nations and promoted a future for the United States as a Pacific power.

목차

Building up expertise

Representing the United States and the new neighbours

Motives in writing the masterpieces

In Conclusion

Work Cited

Abstract

키워드

19th century History East Asia United States Sinology Japanology civilizing mission American exceptionalism