Politics and Manchukuo Museums, Past and Present: Jie Lu MRP Defence

On April 14, History Master's student Jie Lu will defend her Major Research Paper: "Politics within Manchukuo Museums and their Current Studies."

The defence takes place in 2020 MacKinnon Extension at 1:00pm. All welcome!

abstract: This paper first analyzes current studies of Manchukuo museums. By comparing Chinese, English and Japanese examinations in this field, this paper indicates strengths and limitations respectively in these three scholarships. Based on such literature analysis, this paper argues current studies of Manchukuo museums are isolated and unbalanced because both Chinese and Japanese scholars are limited by political stances. As a result, this paper conducts two case studies of Manchukuo museums to suggest new perspectives for scholars to investigate this field. In the case of Manchurian Natural Resources Museum, through the investigation of museum pamphlets that were published before and after the establishment of Manchukuo (1932), the case study demonstrates that this museum had different political natures in different periods and hence this museum deserves to be further investigated with periodized methodology. The case study of the Manchukuo National Central Museum argues recent Japanese investigations only place this museum within Manchukuo contexts. In fact, by exploring the museum journal Jihō, this case study points out that both museum exhibitions and contents of Jihō were affected by contemporary political changes in the Empire of Japan. Therefore, this case study suggests that Manchukuo museums can be regarded as evidence to investigate imperial Japan's politics. By understanding political issues within Manchukuo museums and their current studies, this paper contributes to museological studies because Manchukuo museums, as direct products of the Japanization process of Western modernity, are excellent examples of the combining of Western and Asian museologies. In a broader context, this paper urges enhanced Sino-Japanese relations and cooperation in the study of their wartime experiences.