Royal Asiatic Society Shanghai – Looting and Burning the Yuanmingyuan: The event of 1860, its Afterlife and Interpretation Today in China – 8/11/14
Posted: November 6th, 2014 | No Comments »RAS WEEKENDER
SATURDAY 8th November 2014
4pm for 4.15pm
Â
Tavern at the Radisson Xingguo Hotel
Looting and Burning the Yuanmingyuan:
The event of 1860, its Afterlife and Interpretation Today in China
Dr. Ines Eben v. Racknitz
The looting and burning of the Yuanmingyuan, one of the most splendid residences of the ruling Qing emperors, by allied British and French troops during the China expedition of 1860, is until today remembered in China as a symbol of humiliation and defeat. Whereas this act of vandalism in the so-called “Old Summer Palace†is hardly known in Europe, it became, along with the Boxer rebellion, a strong argument against “Western imperialism†during the history of the long 20th century in China.
The lecture will describe how this event became a part of a Chinese “cultural memoryâ€, discuss the “life of the ruins†at the fin de siècle, and describe the reconstruction work and situation today.
Ines Eben v. Racknitz studied sinology, comparative literature and religious studies in Leipzig, Beijing, Berlin and Stanford University. She graduated with an Magister Artium in sinology from Freie Universität Berlin. After working for Siemens in Shanghai and The Guardian’s correspondent office in Berlin, Ines continued her studies at University of Konstanz and graduated with a PhD in history.
Currently, she holds a post as a lecturer in the department of history at Nanjing University and ist the first foreign professor to teach Chinese history at Nanjing university. Her research interests are in late Imperial China, the Republic of China, and the history of China’s international relations. Her book about the China expedition of 1860 and the looting and burning of the Yuanming yuan appeared in 2012 in Germany.
ENTRANCE: Â Members 70 RMB – Non Members 100 RMB
Includes a glass of wine or soft drink
Priority for RAS members. Those unable to make the donation but wishing to attend may contact us for exemption.
MEMBERSHIP applications and membership renewals will be available at this event.
WEBSITE: Â www.royalasiaticsociety.org.cn
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