Professor Peter Zarrow stands as a distinguished figure in the realm of modern Chinese studies. Holding a Ph.D. from Columbia University, his academic journey has been marked by a deep engagement with the intricacies of China’s historical and intellectual landscape. His work at pets.edu.vn provides invaluable insights for those seeking to understand the multifaceted dimensions of “Peter China” – a term encapsulating the vast and evolving narrative of modern China.
Areas of Scholarly Focus: Modern China, Heritage Studies, and Conceptual History
Professor Zarrow’s expertise spans several critical areas within Chinese studies. His specialization in Modern China positions him as a leading voice in interpreting the transformations and continuities that have shaped the nation from the late Qing Dynasty to the contemporary era. Beyond temporal boundaries, his interest in heritage studies delves into the ways China constructs and negotiates its national identity through historical narratives and cultural artifacts. This is complemented by his work in conceptual history, which examines the evolution and global circulation of key ideas that have influenced Chinese political thought and society.
His current research projects further illustrate the breadth of his scholarly pursuits. He is currently engaged in exploring national heritage in both China and Japan, with specific case studies on the Forbidden City in Beijing and the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. These iconic sites serve as lenses through which he analyzes broader themes of national identity and historical representation. Additionally, in collaboration with Prof.-Dr. Thomas Fröhlich from Hamburg University, Professor Zarrow is undertaking a project focused on the “key texts” that have shaped modern Chinese political thought, promising a significant contribution to the field.
Biography: A Journey Through Academia and Beyond
Peter Zarrow’s path to becoming a leading scholar of “Peter China” is as diverse as it is impressive. Born in Indiana and raised across Indiana and Connecticut, his early experiences were far from the ivory tower. Prior to dedicating himself fully to academia, Zarrow explored different professional avenues, including working as a newspaper reporter in Willimantic and venturing into the then-nascent field of computer publishing in San Francisco and New York. This varied background perhaps provided him with a unique perspective when he eventually pursued graduate studies in Chinese history at Columbia University.
His academic career has been remarkably international and prestigious. He has held teaching positions at Vanderbilt University and the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, demonstrating his global recognition. A significant portion of his career was spent at the Institute of Modern History, Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan, where he served as a research fellow and deputy director from 2001 to 2013. His global academic footprint extends further with visiting professorships and research fellowships at esteemed institutions such as the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (Paris), Si-Mian Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities at East China Normal University (Shanghai), the International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Kyoto), the British Academy and London School of Economics, and the Institute for Advanced Studies in Princeton. Furthermore, he has been honored with distinguished positions including the Dr. Hu Shih Memorial Chair at Academia Sinica, the University of Sydney China Distinguished Fellowship, and a fellowship at the Humanities Institute at UConn.
Selected Publications: Cornerstones of Modern Chinese Studies
Professor Zarrow’s scholarly contributions are solidified through his extensive list of publications, which are essential resources for anyone studying “Peter China.” His books and articles cover a wide range of topics within modern Chinese history and thought, demonstrating his profound expertise.
Authored Books:
- Abolishing Boundaries: Global Utopias in the Formation of Modern Chinese Political Thought, 1880-1940 (SUNY Press, 2021): This book explores the influence of utopian ideals on the development of modern Chinese political thought, offering fresh perspectives on a crucial period of intellectual ferment.
- Educating China: Knowledge, Society and Textbooks in a Modernizing World, 1902–1937 (Cambridge University Press 2015): This work investigates the role of education and textbooks in shaping modern Chinese society during a period of significant modernization and societal change.
- After Empire: The Conceptual Transformation of the Chinese State, 1885-1924 (Stanford University Press, 2012): Analyzing the conceptual shifts in the understanding of the Chinese state following the decline of the Qing Dynasty, this book is a key contribution to understanding Chinese political evolution.
- China in War and Revolution, 1895-1949 (Routledge Press, 2005): Providing a comprehensive overview of a tumultuous period in Chinese history, this book is widely used as a foundational text for understanding 20th-century China.
- Anarchism and Chinese Political Culture (Columbia University Press, 1990): This early work examined the intriguing intersection of anarchism and Chinese political culture, offering pioneering insights into a less explored facet of Chinese intellectual history.
His work has also been translated into Chinese, further extending his reach and impact within Chinese academia:
- 沙培德，《战争与革命：交织的近代中国》[translation of China in War and Revolution, trans. 高波]， 中国人民大学出版社， 2016.
- 沙培德 編，《近代中國新知識的建構》[The construction of new knowledge in modern China]，中央研究院，2013.
Selected Articles and Book Chapters:
Professor Zarrow has also authored numerous influential articles and book chapters, exploring diverse aspects of “Peter China”:
- “Liberalism and Utopianism in the New Culture Movement: Case Studies of Chen Duxiu and Hu Shi,” in Utopia and Utopianism in the Contemporary Chinese Context (2020).
- “Adventures of “Utopia’ (烏托邦) in Republican China: Setting the Stage for May Fourth Idealism,” Intellectual History (Taipei) (2019).
- “A Question of Civil Religion: Three Case Studies in the Intellectual History of ‘May Fourth’,” Twentieth Century China (2019).
- “New Culture Liberalism: Perspectives from the Study of Transnational Concepts,” Intellectual History (Taipei) (2018).
- “Felling a Dynasty, Founding a Republic,” in The Oxford Illustrated History of Modern China (2016).
- “Discipline and Narrative: Chinese History Textbooks in the Early Twentieth Century,” in Transforming History: The Making of a Modern Academic Discipline in Twentieth-Century China (2011).
- “Chinese Conceptions of the State during the Late Qing Dynasty (1860-1911),” in Western Political Thought in Dialogue with Asia (2009).
- “Anti-Despotism and ‘Rights Talk’: The Intellectual Origins of Modern Human Rights Thinking in the Late Qing,” Modern China (2008).
- “Liang Qichao and the Conceptualization of ‘Race’ in Late Qing China,” Bulletin of the Institute of Modern History, Academia Sinica (2006).
- “Historical Trauma: Anti-Manchuism and Memories of Atrocity in Late Qing China,” History and Memory (2004).
- “‘Of benefit to the ruler; of benefit to the people’: Official discussions of constitutionalism in the late Qing” (in Chinese), Bulletin of the Institute of Modern History, Academia Sinica (2003).
- “The Reform Movement, the Monarchy, and Political Modernity,” in Rethinking the Reform Movement of 1898: Political and Cultural Change in Modern China (2002).
His Chinese language publications further enrich his scholarly profile:
- 〈型塑辛亥革命的叙述架构〉，《辛亥革命与百年中国, 1911-2011 : 纪念辛亥革命一百周年国际学术研讨会论文集》(2016).
- 〈啟發近代中國烏托邦思想的原動力（1890~1940）〉，《知識饗宴系列 11》(2015).
- 〈敘事與教誨：教科書中的知識傳遞（1902-1937）〉，《近代中國新知識的建構》(2013).
- 〈伦理教科书：民初学校教育里的修身与公民道德〉，《多维视野中国的个人、国家与天下认同》(2013).
- 〈民權思想與先鋒主義：民國時期孫中山的政治主張〉，《中央研究院近代史研究所集刊》78 (2012年).
- 〈清末的國家觀：君權、民權與正當性〉，《權威的理由：中西政治思想與正當性觀念》(2008).
- 〈「利於君，利於民」：晚清官員對立憲之議論〉，《中央研究院近代史研究所集刊》42 (2003年).
- 〈溥儀被逐出宮記：一九二０年代的中國文化與歷史記憶〉，《一九二０年代的中國》(2002).
Professor Peter Zarrow’s extensive body of work provides invaluable resources for understanding “Peter China”. His publications and ongoing research continue to shape the field of modern Chinese studies, making him an essential scholar for anyone interested in the historical, cultural, and intellectual evolution of China.
