MCLC: identity building in non-Han empires in China--cfp

[Denton, Kirk]

MCLC LIST
From: Julia Schneider (Julia.Schneider at UGent.be)
Subject: identity building in non-Han empires in China--cfp
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Political Strategies of Identity Building in Non-Han Empires in China: A
Continuation of the Workshop “Ethnicity and Sinicization Reconsidered”

Call for Papers
 
 
Organizers:Francesca Fiaschetti (F.Fiaschetti at campus.lmu.de),
Institute for Sinology, LMU Munich University
Julia Schneider (Julia.Schneider at UGent.be),
Institute for Sinology, Ghent University

Date and Place:
June 18th–19th, 2012
Institute for Sinology, LMU Munich University, Kaulbachstraße 51a, 80539
Munich.
 

Deadline for Application:
April 8th, 2012
 
Number of Participants:
20-26 graduate students
 
Language:
English
 
Registration Fees:
€ 35,-
 

Speakers:

Prof. Hans van Ess, LMU University Munich (welcome address)
Prof. Evelyn Rawski, University of Pittsburgh

 
This workshop is especially aimed at post-graduate students of East Asian
and Central Asian history, sociology, anthropology, political science, or
ethnology (i.e. Sinology, Mongolian Studies, Korean Studies, Central Asian
Studies etc.).

Participants are asked to give a talk of no longer than 20 minutes.

 
Contents:

During times of foreign rule in China – i.e. the dynasties of the Tuoba
Wei (386–534), Khitan Liao (907–1125), Jurchen Jin (1115–1234), Mongol
Yuan (1271–1368) and Manchu Qing (1644–1912) to name only the largest and
most influential empires –, the emphasis of the awareness of the own
identity as well as the definition of otherness was a major device for
both conquerors and conquered people in dealing with each other. The
conquerors used these differentiations to legitimate their sovereignty.
Under the Northern Wei, Liao, Jin, Yuan and Qing emperors,
cultural-ethnical classifications were employed to divide their subjects
administratively, judicially and with regard to their social position.
Thus, ethnic and cultural inclusion or exclusion became leading criteria
to claim important official posts for the ruling elite. As for the
conquered people, holding up the differences between them and their
foreign rulers fostered revivalistic sentiments, which would eventually
lead to a restoration of their own power.

At the same time, processes of mutual cultural influence unavoidably
caused all parties to change in respects of customs, culture and social
structures. However, these mutual exchanges mostly did not blur the
dividing lines between the ethnic groups to such an extent that it
affected the hierarchy of government and social divisions.

At this workshop we aim to trace the various strategies of
cultural-ethnical differentiation employed by rulers and officials of
non-Han dynasties. How did they ensure their own distinction as the ruling
cultural ethnicity? Did they learn from each other and referred to
predecessors, that is, did they define their own identity within the frame
of certain cultural, historical and ethnical traditions? And how did they
position themselves in relation to the ethnic Han dynasties?

Application:

This Workshop will focus mainly on presentations by post-graduate
students. Please submit your abstract of max. 200 words and a one page CV
until April 8th, 2012 to:

 
Francesca Fiaschetti (Institute for Sinology, LMU Munich University),
F.Fiaschetti at campus.lmu.de

AND

 
Julia Schneider (Institute for Sinology, Ghent University),
Julia.Schneider at UGent.be
 
Successful candidates will be notified by April 15th, 2012.