Jewish Studies in China: The Rise and Development of Academic Discourse

Abstract

The Jewish studies in China have had a strong reality orientation since its beginning. After the Opium War, Chinese intellectuals committed to saving the nation began to pay attention to Jewish issues, and early Jewish studies had a strong warning effect. In 1930s and 1940s, Jewish academic discourse further developed benefited by the increased number of Jews in China under the influence of Nazi anti-Semitism. Since the Reform and Opening up, the Jewish studies in China have achieved rich results with new characteristics. There are also shortcomings such as one-sidedness and labeling, and the in-depth and scientific academic discourse still needs to strengthen.