Periodicals are important in historical study. This printed medium not only records historical events but also shapes the events periodicals record. Through magazines, intellectuals not only express their opinions or grievances but also spread ideas and messages to the reading public, which will form collective mentalities. Hence, magazines are a powerful tool to stimulate political and cultural changes or build up an environment for such changes....[ Read more ]

Periodicals are important in historical study. This printed medium not only records historical events but also shapes the events periodicals record. Through magazines, intellectuals not only express their opinions or grievances but also spread ideas and messages to the reading public, which will form collective mentalities. Hence, magazines are a powerful tool to stimulate political and cultural changes or build up an environment for such changes.

This thesis studies the relationship between magazines and anti-Japanese sentiments by examining images of Japanese imperialism in Eastern Miscellany (Dongfang zazhi, abbreviated as EM) during the Nanjing decade (1928-1937). It shows how Chinese intellectuals utilized images of Japanese imperialism presented in EM to arouse anti-Japanese sentiments. This research covers three areas. First, it studies images of Japanese imperialism presented in EM. It argues that the authors of EM presented various negative images of Japanese imperialism during the Nanjing decade but most of them did not reflect Japanese imperialism in reality. Some authors distorted or exaggerated actual events of Japanese imperialism so as to trying to heighten the anti-Japanese sentiments of the readers. The second area examines the modes of delivery of EM. This part shows that EM adopted many forms of presentation and searched ways to reach as many audience as possible. The third area demonstrates the impact of these anti-imperialism images in the intellectual world and examines how successful this magazine reached other sectors of the society. This thesis states that the circulation of EM helped build up an anti-Japanese atmosphere during the Nanjing decade, which provided the backdrop for the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in July 1937. Lastly, this thesis re-emphasizes the close relationship between magazine and politics in modem China.