On Susan Naquin’s China Studies

Susan Naquin’s,as representatives of Chinese Studies in America,whoseextensive academic research,and profound argument,in particular on the study ofChinese folk religion is unique.In her nearly40years of academic career,SusanNaquin has always tried to investigate lower people’s religious beliefs,and lifestyles asher perspective to study Chinese history, and she maintains a high degree of concernwith the details of Chinese history.The perspective of her research has greatsignificance for us to reflect on our history and reality.Past studies on the SusanNaquin’s was just on macro generalization or specific issues which is outlinedconsiderations,yet on overall Chinese Studies described and effective carding andmore completed comment is efficiently sort.In my paper, the body structure is divided into the following chapters.Chapter one introduces Susan Naquin’s life and her major works.The authordescribes the reasons that Susan Naquin took her road to study China, and herstudying and teaching at the university, as well as her positions held areintroduced.Simultaneously,The major works of Susan Naquin’s in each each period,has divided into three categories according to the content,including Folk ReligiousStudies,Chinese Social Research and Urban culture and folklore,which can have athorough understanding about further academic research on Susan Naquin.The second chapter focuses on the main content of Susan Naquin’s ChineseStudies.I will dissertate Susan Naquin’s Chinese Studies research by contentcategories and in the form of topics, and then show the essence of Susan Naquin’sacademic thought.In the study of civil religion,by interpreting the Millennium eschatological thinking, to understand their motives and ideological roots of WhiteLotus rebellion in Qing Dynasty, and to reveal Chinese folk religious activities rebellioninherent relationship with farmers.Through the activities of religious sects research tounderstand the internal structure and composition of the members of society, SusanNaquin concerned about the relationship between urban life and religious activities,which can pry Chinese society as a window at that time.On Ming and Qing SocialResearch,she recognizes the rapid population growth of this period as driving force ofeconomic development and also its performance at the same time.However, the Qinggovernment did not deal with the relationship between commercialization andurbanization, and there would not absorb excess labor during this critical period,whichalso foreshadow the decline of the Qing government in the19th century.The third chapter, the author attempts to summarize the characteristics of SusanNaquin’s China Studies and the significance of her research.In her ChinaStudies,Susan Naquin particularly emphasises on the use of new historical data, ofthese historical files,which have the Qing Dynasty’s archives, rebels’ confessions,local history, a variety of stone inscriptions, etc.Facing the multitude of historicalfiles,Susan Naquin has a strong ability to manage it well.In the thinking ofhistorians,Susan Naquin is more profoundly affected by the Annales school, and thethought of "new social history" of Hobsbawm. This chapter also locates SusanNaquin’s academic status in the larger context of Chinese Studies overseas,emphasizing her status and significance.In the epilogue, the author will study the characteristics of Susan Naquin main ideas and summarize China Studies.