Qing Colonial Enterprise: Ethnography and Cartography in Early Modern China

by Laura Hostetler

Laura Hostetler here shows how Qing China (1636-1911) used cartography and ethnography to pursue its imperial ambitions. She argues that far from being on the periphery of developments in the early modern period, Qing China both participated in and helped shape the new emphasis on empirical scientific knowledge that was simultaneously transforming Europe—and its colonial empires—at the time.

Although mapping in China is almost as old as Chinese civilization itself, the Qing insistence on accurate scale maps of their territory was a new response to the difficulties of administering a vast and growing empire. Likewise, direct observation became increasingly important to Qing ethnographic writings, such as the illustrated manuscripts known as "Miao albums" (from which twenty color paintings are reproduced in this book). These were intended to educate Qing officials about various non-Han peoples so they could govern these groups more effectively. Hostetler's groundbreaking study provides a wealth of insights to anyone interested in the significance of cartography, the growth of empire, or this exciting period of Chinese history.

"This book makes a significant contribution to existing scholarship by drawing attention to the importance of visual representation in relation to the process of empire-building. This is a carefully researched, highly readable, and visually appealing work."—L. J. Newby, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute

Genres: History, China

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2001

Reviews

[Jindřich Zapletal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main thesis of the book--that the Qing China exhibited colonial behavior to its neighbors and in many ways a colonial mindset more often associated with Great Britain and France--is well taken and it helped me understand the circumstances of 18th century in eastern Asia.

I think that the thesis can be supported much better though. The author spends a lot of time on metaphysics of cartography and ethnography. I would have loved to know more on the specifics--the cartographic expeditions, their observational tools, precisely how the Chinese cartographic tradition was incorporated into the Western techniques, methods and extent of dissemination of the resulting maps, who and how smuggled the piles of observational data from China so better versions of the Kangxi atlas were immediately published in the West etc. The book contains mostly general statements in this direction. Also, there is no military context to the maps and ethnographic albums, which I had to figure out myself and I found it highly relevant.

[Kit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hostetler makes a compelling initial claim for considering Qing as an empire in its own right, countering singular narratives of China as a victim or only responding to the "West." She also presents and connects a truly impressive amount of evidence and scholarship surrounding the development of ethnography during the Qing period. However, in reading this book, the presentation of evidence was so separate from the ultimate claims that I didn't feel convinced when they were returned to in the conclusion. I did come away from this book feeling very knowledgeable about the development of ethnography from the Ming to the Qing, especially as applied to the Guizhou province and the genre of Miao albums. I also came away with questions about the larger story Hostetler was trying to tell about Ming, Qing, and modern PRC, and their relationships to each other and the Euro-American nations.

[Jessica Zu · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this book! Miao album. oh well, the main argument is that Qing is a colonial power 'cause it used similar technologies of cartography and ethnography like its european contemporaries ... but I love the Miao album part the most!