Revolution of the heart : a genealogy of love in China, 1900-1950

This book is an engagingly written critical genealogy of the idea of "love" in modern Chinese literature, thought, and popular culture. It examines a wide range of texts, including literary, historical, philosophical, anthropological, and popular cultural genres from the late imperial period to the beginning of the socialist era. It traces the process by which love became an all-pervasive subject of representation and discourse, as well as a common language in which modern notions of self, gender, family, sexuality, and nation were imagined and contested. Winner of the Association for Asian Studies 2009 Joseph Levenson Book Prize for the best English-language academic book on post-1900 China Revolution Of The Heart Is A Genealogy Of The Idea Of 'love' In Modern Chinese Literature, Thought, And Popular Culture. It Examines A Wide Range Of Texts, Including Literary, Historical, Philosophical, Sociological, And Popular Cultural Genres From The Late Imperial Period To The Beginning Of The Socialist Era. Lee Traces The Process By Which Love Became An All-pervasive Subject Of Representation And Discourse, As Well As A Common Language In Which Modern Notions Of Self, Gender, Family, Sexuality, And Nation Were Imagined And Contested--jacket. Pt. 1. The Confucian Structure Of Feeling. The Cult Of Qing -- Virtuous Sentiments -- Pt. 2. The Enlightenment Structure Of Feeling. The Age Of Romance -- The Micro Politics Of Love -- The Historical Epistemology Of Sex -- Pt. 3. The Revolutionary Structure Of Feeling. The Problem Of National Sympathy -- Revolution Of The Heart. Haiyan Lee. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 337-352) And Index. Frontmatter Acknowledgments (page ix) Abbreviations (page xi) Introduction: What's Love Got to Do with It? (page 1) PART ONE ǀ THE CONFUCIAN STRUCTURE OF FEELING 1. The Cult of Qing (page 25) 2. Virtuous Sentiments (page 60) PART TWO ǀ THE ENLIGHTENMENT STRUCTURE OF FEELING 3. The Age of Romance (page 95) 4. The Micropolitics of Love (page 140) 5. The Historical Epistemology of Sex (page 186) PART THREE ǀ THE REVOLUTIONARY STRUCTURE OF FEELING 6. The Problem of National Sympathy (page 221) 7. Revolution of the Heart (page 255) Conclusion: The Intimate Conflicts of Modernity (page 298) Notes (page 311) Character List (page 331) References (page 337) Index (page 353) This book is an engagingly written critical genealogy of the idea of "love" in modern Chinese literature, thought, and popular culture. It examines a wide range of texts, including literary, historical, philosophical, anthropological, and popular cultural genres from the late imperial period to the beginning of the socialist era. It traces the process by which love became an all-pervasive subject of representation and discourse and representation as well as a common language in which modern notions of self, gender, family, sexuality, and nation were imagined and contested.