The yellow peril : Dr. Fu Manchu and the rise of Chinaphobia

A hundred years ago, a character who was to enter the bloodstream of 20th-century popular culture made his first appearance in the world of literature. In his day he became as well known as Count Dracula or Sherlock Holmes: he was the evil genius called Dr. Fu Manchu, described at the beginning of the first story in which he appeared as “the yellow peril incarnate in one man.” Why did the idea that the Chinese were a threat to Western civilization develop at precisely the time when China was in chaos, divided against itself, the victim of successive famines and utterly incapable of being a “peril” to anyone even if it had wanted to be? Even the author of the Dr. Fu Manchu novels, Sax Rohmer, acknowledged that China, “as a nation possess that elusive thing, poise.” And what do the Chinese themselves make of all this? Is it any wonder that they remember what we have carelessly forgotten–the opium wars; the “unfair treaties” that ceded Hong Kong and the New Territories; and the stereotyping of Chinese people in allegedly factual studies? Here cultural historian Christopher Frayling takes us to the heart of popular culture in the music hall, pulp literature, and the mass-market press, and shows how film amplifies our assumptions. A Hundred Years Ago, A Character Made His First Appearance In The World Of Literature Who Was To Enter The Bloodstream Of 20th-century Popular Culture: The Evil Genius Called Dr Fu Manchu, Described At The Beginning Of The First Story In Which He Appeared As The Yellow Peril Incarnate In One Man. Why Did The Idea That The Chinese Were A Threat To Western Civilization Develop At Precisely The Time When That Country Was In Chaos, Divided Against Itself, Victim Of Successive Famines And Utterly Incapable Of Being A Peril To Anyone Even If It Had Wanted To Be? Here, Sir Christopher Frayling Assembles An Astonishing Diversity Of Evidence To Show How Deeply Ingrained Chinaphobia Became In The West So Acutely Relevant Again In The New Era Of Chinese Superpower. Along The Way He Talks To Edward Said, To The Last Governor Of Hong Kong, To Sax Rohmers Widow, To Movie Stars And A Host Of Others; He Journeys Through The Opium Dens Of The 19th Century With Charles Dickens; Takes Us To The Heart Of Popular Culture In The Music Hall, Pulp Literature And The Mass-market Press; And Shows How Film Amplifies Our Assumptions, Demonstrating Throughout How We Neglect The History Of Popular Culture At Our Own Peril If We Want To Understand Our Deepest Desires And Fears. The Setting Of The Sun -- Sax And The Single Chinaman -- Charles Dickens And Princess Puffer -- At The Sign Of The Swinging Cymbal -- 'a Little Amusement ...' -- 'the Yellow Peril Incarnate In One Man' -- 'the World Shall Hear From Me Again'. Christopher Frayling. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. A hundred years ago, the fictional evil genius called Dr Fu Manchu appeared, described as'the yellow peril incarnate in one man'. Why did the idea that the Chinese were a threat to Western civilization develop at precisely the time when that country was in chaos, divided against itself, victim of successive famines and utterly incapable of being a'peril'to anyone? In this gripping book, Sir Christopher Frayling assembles an astonishing diversity of evidence to show how deeply ingrained Chinaphobia became in the West - acutely relevant again in the new era of Chinese superpower. Along the way he talks to Edward Said, to the last Governor of Hong Kong, to movie stars and a host of others; he journeys through the opium dens of the 19th century with Dickens; takes us to the heart of popular culture in the music hall, pulp literature and the mass-market press; and shows how film amplifies our assumptions, demonstrating throughout how if we want to understand our deepest desires and fears we neglect the history of popular culture at our own peril.Christopher Frayling is a former rector of the Royal College of Art and a renowned cultural historian. Cover......Page 2 Title Page......Page 4 About the Author......Page 5 Other Titles of Interest......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 Preface......Page 10 Introduction: The Setting of the Sun......Page 18 Chapter One: Sax and the Single Chinaman......Page 51 Chapter Two: Charles Dickens and Princess Puffer......Page 102 Chapter Three: At the Sign of the Swinging Cymbal......Page 156 Chapter Four: ‘A Little Amusement...’......Page 195 Chapter Five: ‘The Yellow Peril Incarnate in One Man’......Page 234 Chapter Six: ‘The World Shall Hear from Me Again’......Page 301 Notes......Page 348 Acknowledgments......Page 366 Index......Page 368 Copyright......Page 380