Cohen Chinese Historical Review

Paul A. Cohen is the researcher of the John K. Fairbank Center for East Asian Research. And he is one of the most excellent scholars in American China Scholarship. In 1980s, Professor Cohen was critical of three built-in approaches. the impact-repose approach, the tradition-modernity approach, and the imperialism approach o Then he described the new approach "China-centered approach". The new approach was highly praised by other scholars in American China Scholarship. Today, most of the production was basic on the "China-centered approach" since it original appearance. But gone with the developing of the scholar, the localization of the "China-centered approach" has emerged. Mr. Cohen began to rectify and reinforce it step by step.Beside of the "China-centered approach", there is still other important research in Pr. Cohen's career. The study of modern Chinese history is the most outstanding. Early in 1950s, when Pr. Cohen was a graduate student at Harvard, he has started to deal with the question of Christianity. Differs from the approaches Chinese historians have tend to follow, Pr. Cohen paid more attentions to comprehend and estimate the role what the missionary played during the modern Chinese period. Although there is still the influence of the impact-repose approach in these articles, Pr. Cohen has succeeded in extending the scope of his research.After that, though dealing with the case of "wang T'ao", Cohen has studied "these new coastal reformers" and described the distinct cultural environment during the Late Qing.Inl997, "History in Three Keys: The Boxers as Event, Experience, and Myth" has published. In this book, Pr. Cohen not only expressed his "post-modern" history concept, but also showed the new perspective on the Boxers. In order to describe the nature and the humanity of the Boxers, Pr. Cohen made a special effort in cultural contrast and extending the scope of "Other". Africa, Europe and other part of the world has been included. New methods of have been handled in, antliropology, sociology, comparative religion and psychology and so on.Pr. Cohen is concerned with the realistic problem besides the history. "Nationalism" is the example. He said, "in the final decade of the twentieth century, the problem with respect to the remembering of national humiliation assumed yet another guise". But these patriotic intellectuals were really interested in the nationalism as lasting emotion.Deeply thought, what Cohen concerned is the relation between China and the West. With the "China-centered approach", Pr. Cohen could approach the truth of the Chinese history. But there are still plenty of the values of west cultures. It is more important for us to grasp the difference and the values of other culture.