Pressestimmen
Thoroughly examining Qing dynastic travel accounts and maps of Taiwan, Teng has written a splendid analysis of changing Chinese perceptions of Taiwan and its indigenous peoples from the late 17th century on, culminating in Taiwan's becoming a province of China in 1887...This book should be read by anyone interested in early Taiwanese history or in better understanding the current views about Taiwan held by Chinese in both the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China. Those interested in discourses about the nature of imperialism or in how depictions of indigenous native peoples are manipulated to suit colonizers' needs will also find this book worthwhile.--V. J. Symons"Choice" (02/01/2005)
Kurzbeschreibung
Until 300 years ago, the Chinese considered Taiwan a 'land beyond the seas', a 'ball of mud' inhabited by 'naked and tattooed savages'. The incorporation of this island into the Qing Empire in the 17th Century and its evolution into a province by the late 19th Century involved not only a reconsideration of imperial geography but also a reconceptualisation of the Chinese domain. By viewing Taiwan-China relations as a product of the history of Qing expansionism, the author contributes to our understanding of current political events in the region.