A005: Constructing Memories: The Making of Song Historical Sources

Organizer(s)

• HC

  Hiu Yu Cheung

  Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
• MC

  Ming-kin Chu

  University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Chair(s)

• 

  Charles Hartman

  University at Albany, SUNY, United States

Paper Presenter(s)

• HC

  Hiu Yu Cheung

  Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
• MC

  Ming-kin Chu

  University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
• JS

  Jaeyoon Song

  McMaster University, United States
• 

  Zoe Lin

  Ithaca College, United States

Discussant(s)

• 

  Ari Levine

  University of Georgia, United States

Session Abstract: Borrowing two concepts--"archived memory" and "historiographical operations"--from the French philosopher Paul Ricoeur, the proposed panel investigates the construction of “memory" in Song history and historiography. Ricoeur conceptualized “archived memory” as written records and the making of “archived memory” as what he has called “historiographical operations.” Taking Ricoeur’s conceptions of archived memory and historiographical operations as the point of departure, this panel offers a platform for historians and scholars from other disciplines to rethink the relationship between history, politics and memory in traditional Chinese historiography. Through the examination of various Song and Yuan written records, such as memorials, the collected sayings of scholars (yulu 語錄), historical writings, and stone stelae, the four papers in the panel explore the construction of different forms of “memories” and the implications of these processes. Ming-kin Chu discusses the transition from personal memories to canonized historical accounts regarding two twelfth-century literati elites. Hiu-yu Cheung examines the stigmatization of an early daoxue scholar and the construction of his archived memories. Jaeyoon Song analyzes the Korean literati’s efforts to produce a simplified, dichotomous, pedagogical understanding of history through "smuggling" historical knowledge and historiography from Song China. Zoe Lin’s paper explores the making and using of stone stelae as carriers of collective memories of local communities. In summary, these four papers focus on various historiographical operations through which memories were constructed, distorted and manipulated. Hence, the panel sheds new light not only on historiographical studies, but also on our understanding of the very meaning of historical memories.

Presentations:

• The “Black Sheep” of the Early Daoxue Community: Testimonies and Archived Memories Surrounding Xing Shu’s 邢恕 Historical Image
  

  Paper Presenter: Hiu Yu Cheung – Chinese University of Hong Kong
• From Communicative Memories to Canonized Historical Accounts: A Study of the Memories of Li Gang and Wang Boyan regarding the Southern Song Restoration
  

  Paper Presenter: Ming-kin Chu – University of Hong Kong
• History as Statecraft: Lü Zhong’s 吕中 (fl. 1240s) Critique of State Activism
  

  Paper Presenter: Jaeyoon Song – McMaster University
• Carved in Stone: Stele Building, Public Memories, and Local Politics in Southern Song China
  

  Paper Presenter: Zoe Lin – Ithaca College