After reading and diving into the rabbit hole about the current fate of the "Zheng He's Navigation Map", "YongLe Encyclopedia" and countless of other extremely significant Chinese historical artefacts, classics and relics, that is now scattered across the world (particularly in the Eight nation alliance nations i.e. Germany, Japan, Russia, Britain, France, the United States, Italy, and Austria-Hungary), we all know that these were undoubtably gained illegally from the plundering, looting, stealing and arson of China by European + American + Russian + Japanese military powers, but I found out that there is also a significant portion of these artifacts were stolen by "missionaries" of these countries and their respective "Sinologists".
Which really got me thinking: these imperialist countries were really evil to the core, like why would they even have "Sinologist" in the first place? that might seem like such a randomly specific subject to have, but it most definitely was not. That subject is in fact a very calculated and intentional one that is designed with very sinister motives. The whole purpose of a "Sinologist" was to understand more about Chinese culture, so they can know how to better destroy it, to "Christianize" it, to Westernize it, to revision it, or even to publish their own "interpretations" of it to spread the earliest form of Sinophobic and Orientalist propaganda. They go into the very fabrics of Chinese culture, so they know how to better start brainwashing and colonizing the minds of Chinese people, while also aiding the physical colonization. That was the original intention. This is especially so during the industrial revolution of these nations while also coupled with the fall of Qing, they looked at China with pure greed and condescension.
Even for "Chinoiserie", it might first be created out of appreciation and respect of such an exotically unattainable, sophisticated and high culture of China, but with the later shift in global power dynamics, this is later undoubtedly started to root in exploitation, colonization, cultural appropriation and an ingrained sense of degradation.
This is why for "Sinologist" of any era, even if some of them say they are "interested in Chinese culture and love China", which some of them might genuinely do, it is always to see it with an additional (and much needed) suspicion especially beyond the surface pleasantries. Because you may never know what their true intentions and motives are, and in many cases, it is not in a sincere and friendly way to say the least.
P.s. other imperial powers might be difficult, but since Japan eventually lost the war, I am surprised that ordering them to return all the artifacts they looted from China wasn't one of the conditions. Also speaking of Japan, they have tons of their agents studied Chinese culture and language extensively so that they can have spies entrenched deep into Chinese society many decades before the invasion of China. Don't underestimate the lengths some will go to just to achieve their evil objectives.
Which really got me thinking: these imperialist countries were really evil to the core, like why would they even have "Sinologist" in the first place? that might seem like such a randomly specific subject to have, but it most definitely was not. That subject is in fact a very calculated and intentional one that is designed with very sinister motives. The whole purpose of a "Sinologist" was to understand more about Chinese culture, so they can know how to better destroy it, to "Christianize" it, to Westernize it, to revision it, or even to publish their own "interpretations" of it to spread the earliest form of Sinophobic and Orientalist propaganda. They go into the very fabrics of Chinese culture, so they know how to better start brainwashing and colonizing the minds of Chinese people, while also aiding the physical colonization. That was the original intention. This is especially so during the industrial revolution of these nations while also coupled with the fall of Qing, they looked at China with pure greed and condescension.
Even for "Chinoiserie", it might first be created out of appreciation and respect of such an exotically unattainable, sophisticated and high culture of China, but with the later shift in global power dynamics, this is later undoubtedly started to root in exploitation, colonization, cultural appropriation and an ingrained sense of degradation.
This is why for "Sinologist" of any era, even if some of them say they are "interested in Chinese culture and love China", which some of them might genuinely do, it is always to see it with an additional (and much needed) suspicion especially beyond the surface pleasantries. Because you may never know what their true intentions and motives are, and in many cases, it is not in a sincere and friendly way to say the least.
P.s. other imperial powers might be difficult, but since Japan eventually lost the war, I am surprised that ordering them to return all the artifacts they looted from China wasn't one of the conditions. Also speaking of Japan, they have tons of their agents studied Chinese culture and language extensively so that they can have spies entrenched deep into Chinese society many decades before the invasion of China. Don't underestimate the lengths some will go to just to achieve their evil objectives.
