Pan-Asianism

This first volume in a two-volume set provides the only comprehensive, Western-language history of Pan-Asianism through primary sources and commentaries. The book argues that Pan-Asianism, often—though unfairly—associated with the Yellow Peril, has been a powerful political and ideological force in modern Asia. It has shaped national identities and strongly influenced the development of international relations across Asia and the Pacific. Scholars have long recognized the importance of Pan-Asianism as an ideal of Asian solidarity, regional cooperation, and integration but also as an ideology that justified imperialist expansion and military aggression. Yet sustained research has been hampered by the difficulty of accessing primary sources. Thoroughly remedying this problem, this unique sourcebook provides a wealth of documents on Pan-Asianism from 1850 to 1920, many translated for the first time from Asian languages. All sources are accompanied by expert commentaries that provide essential background information. Providing an essential overview of Pan-Asianism as it developed throughout modern Asia, this collection will be an indispensable tool for scholars in history, political science, international relations, and sociology. Its accessible presentation makes it a valuable resource for non-specialists as well.Contributions by: Cemil Aydin, Yuan P. Cai, Peter Duus, Selçuk Esenbel, Jing He, Eri Hotta, Joël Joos, Kim Bongjin, Kyu Hyun Kim, Eun-jeung Lee, Matsuda Koichiro, Marc Andre Matten, Sven Saaler, Michael A. Schneider, Alistair Swale, Christopher W. A. Szpilman, Brij Tankha, Renée Worringer, and Urs Matthias Zachmann.

The first substantial compilation of materials on the topic in the English language . . . [which] not only fulfills the historiographical gap and teaching needs but also opens up further research into the subject. . . . The editors do not assume a coherent Pan-Asianism; rather, the strength of this collection lies in its acknowledgment of varieties, tensions, and changes within various voices of Pan-Asianism. . . . Each short chapter comes with an informative, easy-to-follow essay as well as translations of primary materials, making the collection ideal for undergraduate teaching. . . . Despite the sense of taboo around the subject of pan-Asianism, or rather because of it, carefully contextualized analyses of its history are highly important. Not only for teachers but also for any critical readers of Asian history and contemporary discussions of Asian integration, Pan-Asianism is a welcome and invaluable collection., These engaging tomes . . . offer a mint of scholarship on what has long been a troubling issue to decipher for students limited to the English language; namely, what is the deal with Pan-Asianism? . . . The question has long been of interest but few were the tools one could employ to gain insight or even access to more than mere cursory introductions. These books change the nature of that game [with] a two-volume set of fine translations covering the 19th and 20th centuries (with a bit into the 21st), focusing on a wide variety of well-known, and some lesser known, ideologues (Japanese and other) on the topic of pan-Asianism. . . . This is a set for any library and to serve as a reference on [researchers’] shelves. . . . These books bring an enormous span of disparate writings together, an exceedingly admirable goal even without the translations and introductions. . . . Each selection is preceded with a clear explanation from the translator, noting the significance and providing some background on the text itself. Sometimes the introductions or explanatory sections are longer than the actual translation, and that is fine because these volumes offer precisely that to the beginning reader an introduction. I can think of no better set of current volumes on the market that offer this wealth in terms of both coverage, depth of explanation, and then actual translation of primary text, to readers in English . . . . Saaler and Szpilman should be commended on being able both to corral an army of able and intellectually gifted scholars from around the world and get them to produce translations and introductions in this multi-layered collection of tracts from the last century and a half. . . . I can only imagine the effort put forward in producing this publication and the two volumes sit proudly on my shelf, already well-thumbed as I paw through them looking for insight., The publication of Pan-Asianism is a seminal event: until now it has been almost impossible to find translations on this strand of thought. . . . [I]n its scope and variety this easily is the best sourcebook on Pan-Asianism available in any language. Every academic library on Japan should stock this collection, and many scholars on modern Japan and Asia will benefit from owning it., Finally there is an excellent source book on Pan-Asianism, an ideology that has played an important role in Japan's regional interactions since the late 19th century. These two volumes are essential for any university or research library as they cover modern Asian history from the mid-19th century until the present. The set is an incredibly good value because it provides access to a comprehensive range of translated materials that encompass a number of languages. The contributors preface their translations with useful commentary that help readers understand the significance of what they are about to read, making this very useful for students and scholars. . . . A treasure trove of primary documents, some translated into English for the first time., [A] welcome addition to an on-going conversation and a substantial resource for both scholars and students. . . . [T]his two-volume collection of documents brings together prominent visions of Asia from across the region and over nearly two centuries, all carefully placed in historical and intellectual context by thoughtful introductions from a long list of contributing scholars. . . . [R]emarkable in part for its breadth: geographical, chronological and ideological.

Sven Saaler is professor of modern Japanese history at Sophia University, Tokyo.Christopher W. A. Szpilman is professor of modern Japanese history  at Teikyo University, Tokyo.