The awareness and discourse surrounding the concept of “national character” originated in Meiji-era Japan, emerging alongside the rise of nationalism during the periods of the First Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War, and ultimately becoming established in the form of the Chinese character compound “国民性” (kokuminsei) as seen today. Around the same time, with the active translation and writing efforts of Chinese students studying abroad, this term was introduced into the Chinese language, taking the form of the single term “国民性” (guómínxìng) in modern Chinese. This term played a significant role in shaping the discourse on “national character” in 20th-century China. This book explores the evolution and dissemination of this term based on the background of intellectual history, shedding light on its contemporary meaning.
This book is part of the first volume of the “Xueheng Erya Library (Modern Conceptual History Series)” and consists of a preface, Chapters 1 to 4, a conclusion, an afterword, appendices, and an index, spanning 195 pages. Through this work, one can observe the exchange of modern intellectual and cultural ideas between Japan and China within the term “national character.” It also allows readers to understand how the English term “nationality” transformed from the Japanese “kokuminsei” into the Chinese “guómínxìng.” This book can be read not only as a Chinese language textbook but also as an educational and enlightening work.
