Sixi Education | Impressions of China in German Literature
Academic Lecture
Event Review
On the afternoon of January 24th, Professor Qin Wen from Nanjing University delivered a lecture themed "Images of China in German Literature", who guided the audience to explore the Oriental narratives and echoes of civilization hidden behind the texts.
In the Middle Ages, influenced by Marco Polo’s accounts, the image of China often appeared in German works as "silk people" or "Khan of Cathay". It was a material fantasy and mysterious symbol representing silk and porcelain. With the arrival of Jesuit missionaries in the East, this image broke away from pure illusion and became increasingly distinct in historical novels.
In the 18th century, amid the Enlightenment wave against feudal despotism, China became a model worthy of learning. Confucian moral theories and the virtues in Yuan zaju (traditional Chinese opera) were repeatedly praised. Yet the mirror image could also be distorted. After the 19th century, Germany’s colonial expansion and setbacks in missionary work in China turned China into an absurd and childish tyrant in satirical literature.
In modern times, against the backdrop of the overall spiritual crisis brought by World War I, China was rediscovered and objectively analyzed. The Great Wall became an implication of modern power structures and existential dilemmas, while the mainland region was constructed as an ethical testing ground in dramas. German literature no longer clung to the real China, but explored the in-depth propositions of human nature, power, morality and civilization through Oriental elements.
Professor Qin Wen’s lecture sorted out a thread of literary reception history. It also reminded us that the images of China in German literature are never just simple depictions of the East, but more reflections of the West’s own culture.
