A Study Of The Evolution Of The Western Perception Of China In The Context Of Lntercultural Communication (5th Century BC To The 17th Century)

This study investigates the evolution of the Western perception of China from the 5th century BC to the 17th century,employing the concept of image as a research method.Grounded in the idea of mutual subjectivity,the research aims to identify the ruptures in Western understanding of China and analyze the cognitive changes over different stages.The focus is on the cognitive ruptures in Western historical perception and the individuals and events that contributed to the construction of China’s image at these rupture points.At a macro level,the study examines changes in the state of historical and cultural exchanges between China and the West caused by geographical and social barriers,as well as shifts in the Western societal context.It explores the key role played by different social and cultural contexts at various stages in shaping diverse images of China.At a micro level,the research focuses on individual cognitive stimulation and adaptation resulting from SinoWestern cultural encounters,exploring the role of individual factors in the process of shaping China’s image in the Western mind.Until the 17th century,guided by a potential cultural similarity strategy,the Western perception of China underwent transitions from a mythical land of silk to a realm ruled by the Great Khan,and finally to a grand cultural empire(the starting point of the Christianized image of China).The changes in the Western perception of China are closely related to the cognitive ruptures caused by geographical and social barriers in Sino-Western exchanges,as well as the changing actual context in Western society.Trade and religion emerge as two relatively stable factors that consistently influence Western observations and perceptions of China.The cognition of a foreign culture is a complex process.As a culture vastly different from the West,the Western perception of Chinese culture demonstrates a European "cognition of foreign culture" pattern—from subconscious strategies for handling foreign cultures,gradually developing into a deliberate effort to identify,understand,and interpret foreign cultures through one’s own cultural lens,and ultimately attempting to incorporate the other culture into its own knowledge system.This interdisciplinary study explores the transformation of images from historical,cultural,and social psychological perspectives,showcasing its interdisciplinary characteristics.The introduction of social psychology principles,especially in examining the impact of Western historical and cultural backgrounds on individuals in the process of image constriction,contributes to a better understanding of the complexities in intercultural communication.