Chinese People: Family, Nation, and the World

We are pleased to announce the official publication of the book Chinese People: Family, Nation, and the World — Letters to Young Scholars: “Looking Up at the Stars, Reaching for the Horizon” (Overseas Chinese Edition) by LI Xiaojiang, published by Global Century Press (London), 2024. pp.306.

Book Information

Title: Chinese, Homeland, and the World—Letters to Young Scholars Who “Look Up at the Starry Sky and Strive for the Distant Future” (Overseas Edition)
Series: Three Eyes Transcultural Studies Series, Vol. 6
Author: LI Xiaojiang
Language: Chinese (with English information)
Publisher: Global Century Press
Publication Location: London
Pages: 306

ISBN Numbers:

• Hardcover: ISBN 978-1-913522-91-9
• Paperback: ISBN 978-1-913522-90-2
• Ebook: ISBN 978-1-913522-92-6

🔗 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24103/TETE6.cn.2024

About the book

This profound work, written in the form of five letters to young scholars, explores themes such as academia, national identity, and women’s autonomy. In these letters, Professor Li responds to an invitation from the Oxford China Forum, addressing the challenges and biases faced by Chinese scholars in Western academia. She calls for academia to transcend cultural and national boundaries, advocating for the pursuit of truth from a global perspective. At the same time, she examines the impact of globalization on both personal and national identities, offering an in-depth analysis of the uniqueness of Chinese culture—particularly within the historical and geographical context of Chinese agrarian civilization. The letters also explore the phenomenon of ‘border-crossing survival,’ highlighting how Chinese people, especially intellectuals, seek broader living spaces beyond national borders in the context of globalization and adopt cross-cultural ways of existence. Furthermore, Professor Li critiques Western-centric feminism, arguing that its theories are not universally applicable to non-Western societies. She emphasizes that women’s liberation should consider the cultural diversity of different countries. Through these letters, Professor Li encourages young scholars to uphold rational thinking in both their academic and personal journeys, and to bravely pursue truth and self-realization.

Additionally, the book includes 10 related appendices, covering the circumstances and motivations behind the writing and publication of the letters, the author’s historical position in the field of Chinese women’s and gender studies, and representative articles by domestic and international scholars about the author’s research. These appendices aim to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the author’s academic achievements and social contributions.

About the author

Professor LI Xiaojiang is a pioneer and foundational figure in Chinese women’s studies. She established the first Women’s Studies Research Centre (1985), the first Gender Studies Centre (2000), and the first Women’s Cultural Museum (1992-2002) at universities in mainland China. She also served as the chief editor of the first ‘Women’s Studies Series’ (17 volumes, 1987-1992) and led the 20th-century Chinese Women’s Oral History Project (1992-2003). She has been a visiting scholar at McGill University’s Department of Anthropology in Canada, the National Museum of Natural History in the United States, the Department of History at Northeastern University in the United States, Harvard University’s Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, the Nara Women’s University in Japan, and a distinguished professor at the Gender Studies Institute of Ochanomizu University in Japan.
LI Xiaojiang is a scholar with a deep academic foundation and a multidisciplinary perspective. Over four decades ago, she pioneered and led the ‘Women’s Studies Movement’ that emerged in China, introducing feminist theories from abroad and promoting the popularization of women’s and gender studies education, as well as the development of these academic disciplines in China. Her work has had a wide-reaching impact both domestically and internationally. Her notable works include Exploring Eve (1987), Sexual Divide (1989), Toward Women: A Documentary on Women’s Studies in the New Era (1995, Japanese edition 女性へ向かって, translated by Yoko Akiyama, Akashi Shoten, 1995), Academic Issues in Women/Gender Studies (2005), Women’s Utopia (2016), The Knot of Japan (2017), and The Gender of History (2024), among others. LI Xiaojiang has also edited a number of important volumes, including Selections from Foreign Feminist Movements (1986), The Mystery of Chinese Women: Essays on Chinese Women’s Studies (1988), Research on the Stratification of Chinese Women (1991), Gender and China (1994), Reproduction: Tradition and Modernization (1997), The Women’s Studies Movement: The Chinese Case (1997), and others. In addition to the series mentioned above, she has also edited six other series, including ‘Gender and China’ (1997-2000), ‘Gender Forum’ (2000-2022), ‘Gender Studies’ (2004-2008), ‘Let Women Speak for Themselves: Oral History of Chinese Women in the 20th Century’ (4 volumes, 2003), and ‘Qian-Kun: A Collection of Gender Studies Historical and Literary Documents’ (2019-2024).

LI Xiaojiang is also an intellectual with profound thought and a strong sense of social responsibility. Her philosophy extends beyond academia, emphasizing the importance of cross-cultural exchange and a global perspective. She advocates for the social responsibility of intellectuals to promote justice and rational progress in public affairs both in China and globally. Her representative works include Post-Fable: A Deep Interpretation of Wolf Totem (2010), Post-Utopian Criticism: A Deep Interpretation of Wolf Totem (2013 Revised Edition; English edition Wolf Totem and the Post-Mao Utopian: A Chinese Perspective on Contemporary Western Scholarship, Brill, 2018), Dialogue with Wang Hui: Modern Chinese Issues—A Glimpse of Academic Trends and Mirrors in Mainland China (1990-2011) (2014), and Chinese People: Family, Nation, and the World — Letters to Young Scholars ‘Looking Up at the Stars, Reaching for the Horizon’ (2024).

Contents

• General Preface / Lixing Chen and Xiangqun Chang ………. vii
• Preface 1 / Maria Jaschok ………. ix
• Preface 2 Origin / Tang Ling ………. xii
• Fuses ………. xvii

• Background of Academic Prejudice 1
• The Spirit of Academia and the Ideal University 6
• Diverse Perspectives and Independent Academic Pathways 8

• The Recognition of (Geopolitical) Nations and Changes in (Personal) Identity 13
• Kinship Identity — Ethnic Identity — National Identity 24

• “天下” (The World) as a Typical Chinese Concept 35
• What Soil, What Water, and What Kind of Human Affection Ultimately Chose “Chang’an”? 45
• Chinese History: Stability and Instability, Which One is the Norm? 53

• “Border-Crossing Survival” and the History and Characteristics of Chinese Border-Crossing Survival 64
• Challenges in Border-Crossing Survival from a Global Comparative Perspective and the Uniqueness of Academia 71
• Personal Experiences of Border-Crossing Survival and Women’s Choices 76

• Critique of Feminism and Self-Awareness 1
• Multiple Perspectives on Women’s History and Culture 6
• Patriarchy and the Gender System: Reflections 8
• Self-Realization of Modern Women and Future Visions 8

1. Invitation Letter to Professor LI Xiaojiang / LI Muzhe;  The First Reply Letter – What is Far Away / Ling Tang, President of the British Postgraduate Network for Chinese Studies………. 78
2. The Person Who Pioneered Chinese Women’s Studies Doesn’t Want to Be a Feminist / ZHANG Yue……. 97
3. I’d Rather Disappear Than Follow the Crowd / YANG Ruichun………. 118
4. Foreword to My Half-Century Connection with Women’s Studies / LI Xiaojiang ………. 121
5. Breaking Ground, Laying the Foundation, and Expanding Horizons for Chinese Women’s Studies — A Selection of Li Xiaojiang’s Works / SU Shouchun ………. 125
6. The Founding Project of ‘Women/Gender Studies’ — Compilation of Historical Materials and Venue Construction ……….132
7. Re-examining the New Era — The Case of Li Xiaojiang / [U.S.] Lingzhen Wang ………. 139
8. A Comparative Study of the Localization of “Women’s Studies / Gender Studies” in China and Japan in the 1980s / CHEN Chen ……….167
9. The Academic Theoretical Value of LI Xiaojiang’s Essential Feminism / CHANG Yiting, YANG Xia ……….185
10. Gently Weaving the ‘Modern’ into Tradition — A Reading of The Muse Who Walks Alone / LI Xiaojiang………. 209

Reviews

This book exemplifies the power of intellectual exchange, offering a rare dialogue between feminists across generations. The Letters is a revelatory collection that illuminates how contingencies of time and place shape intellectual expression and social significance. Through this correspondence, LI Xiaojiang and Tang Ling engage in an intimate and rigorous exploration of feminist thought, self-expression, and the interplay of personal and political dimensions. Their exchange demonstrates how scholarship is shaped by historical shifts and individual trajectories, offering profound insights into gendered social capital, constraints, and opportunities.

This work invites readers to reflect on the evolution of feminist discourse, cross-cultural encounters, and the challenges of transnational intellectual engagement. It highlights how intellectual generosity and critical curiosity foster knowledge-sharing and self-reflexivity, empowering readers to examine the intersections of ideology, identity, and agency. Writing itself emerges as an act of discovery, a dynamic process through which the authors negotiate meaning, probe moral ambiguities, and articulate visions for justice and equity.

By chronicling their evolving perspectives, The Letters underscores the importance of intellectual dialogue in shaping feminist scholarship and broader social transformation. It is an invaluable contribution to understanding the lived realities of Chinese women intellectuals within a global framework.

Summarised from Preface one, by Maria Jaschok 

This book highlights LI Xiaojiang’s profound impact as an academic scholar, independent intellectual, and critical thinker. It encapsulates her pioneering contributions to Chinese women’s and gender studies, showcasing her prolific research, interdisciplinary insights, and unwavering commitment to intellectual independence. Through her extensive body of work, she has shaped feminist discourse in China, emphasizing local knowledge and critical engagement with global theories.

The book’s collection of letters and appendices serves as both a historical record and an intellectual reflection, allowing readers to appreciate the depth and breadth of LI Xiaojiang’s scholarship. Her literary style, infused with a spirit of inquiry, makes her work accessible yet thought-provoking, bridging academic rigor with personal reflection. Her critical thinking extends beyond feminism, offering insights into political and philosophical debates, historical narratives, and cross-cultural dialogues.

Furthermore, the book underscores her independent approach to scholarship, which often diverged from mainstream trends. Her refusal to follow prevailing ideological currents and her emphasis on self-reflexivity and intellectual autonomy make her a unique figure in contemporary thought. This work not only preserves her intellectual legacy but also inspires future generations to engage in critical inquiry and uphold the spirit of independent scholarship.

Summarised from Postscript, by Xiangqun Chang

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