English Lessons: The Pedagogy of Imperialism in Nineteenth-Century China

by James L. Hevia

Inserting China into the history of nineteenth-century colonialism, English Lessons explores the ways that Euroamerican imperial powers humiliated the Qing monarchy and disciplined the Qing polity in the wake of multipower invasions of China in 1860 and 1900. Focusing on the processes by which Great Britain enacted a pedagogical project that was itself a form of colonization, James L. Hevia demonstrates how British actors instructed the Manchu-Chinese elite on “proper” behavior in a world dominated by multiple imperial powers. Their aim was to “bring China low” and make it a willing participant in British strategic goals in Asia. These lessons not only transformed the Qing dynasty but ultimately contributed to its destruction. Hevia analyzes British Foreign Office documents, diplomatic memoirs, auction house and museum records, nineteenth-century scholarly analyses of Chinese history and culture, campaign records, and photographs. He shows how Britain refigured its imperial project in
China as a cultural endeavor through examinations of the circulation of military loot in Europe, the creation of an art history of “things Chinese,” the construction of a field of knowledge about China, and the Great Game rivalry between Britain, Russia, and the Qing empire in Central Asia. In so doing, he illuminates the impact of these elements on the colonial project and the creation of a national consciousness in China.

Genres: History, China

416 pages, Paperback

First published November 24, 2003

Reviews

[Jessica Zu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty cool book that turns the whole field of China studies upside down by tearing up what we think we know about imperialism. A total post-colonial deconstruction of the West and China. It would have been a much better work if were paired with the British in India (which was the great laboratory of imperial practices ) and see how the pedagogy were learned through design, try and error, and reflections. the students are the Chinese, but the British themselves occupy both roles as teachers and learners (not students, notice the power differential here). The writing could have been more refined in alluding things back and forth and guiding the readers to connects the dots. But overall, it's an awesome book. It confuses me at times because of too much assumptions of the reader's knowledge around these events.

[Patrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Combines a wikipedia-level account of the second Opium War and Boxer rebellion with a single idea of D & G's - that imperialism consists of the "oscillation between deterritorialization and reterritorialization." If you think this single phrase can't possibly be applied to every aspect of Sino-European interaction between 1840 and 1990, here's proof that it can be done.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

English Lessons is a fascinating look into relationships between China and Western countries. I recommend paying attention to the terminology in the introduction, as this is written in an academic style and the definitions of colonialism and imperialism are extremely important to understanding the book. Readers unfamiliar with this period of history will find Hevia's introductions to each section helpful. The parts of the book on the significance of the looting of the Summer Palace and distribution of photographs of the Forbidden City to the way European and American countries viewed China were particularly compelling to me.

[Jeremy Hurdis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hevia always seems to provide very careful attention to his historical objects. I would like to have seen more in this book about how capitalism emerged out of the British actions in China, especially the forced entry through the Opium Wars and the subsequent commodification of such things as land and imperial treasures. Nonetheless, Hevia does provide an interesting account of the material and philosophical domination that Britain imposed on Qing China.