The International Communication of Tang Empire and China’s National Identity Construction in Pre-modern Times

CHEN Yali, ZHANG Kun,ZENG Linhao

Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication ›› 2016, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (6) : 6-27.

PDF(1994 KB)
PDF(1994 KB)
Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication ›› 2016, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (6) : 6-27.

The International Communication of Tang Empire and China’s National Identity Construction in Pre-modern Times

  • Chen Yali is a lecturer at the school of communication in Jiangxi Normal University. Email:547935105@qq.com. This article is a phased objective of the major program of National Social Sciences Fund “A Research on Chinese National Image Construction in Cross-cultural Communications” (Project Number:11&ZD024). Zhang Kun is a professor in Journalism and Informational Communication School of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Email: zhangkun1962@163.com. Zeng Linhao, undergraduate student ,majored in Television photography and production, at the department of communication, Communication University of China.
Author information +
History +

Abstract

During the period of the Sui and Tang Dynasties in the Chinese history, the Chinese society had undergone a long-lasting and large-scaled intercultural communication with the outer world, which dramatically expanded Chinese people’s cultural and geographical visions and enriched their knowledge about other nations. In the light of the interactive communications among nation-actors, the international communication of the Tang Empire was a bidirectional process in which the Tang Empire spreaded its mainstreaming diplomatic rules and norms to the outside world and meanwhile adapted its actions and concepts with the international environment. Further, the national identity of the Empire and its imagination of “me--him” relationship were tested and adapted. On one hand, the Empire strengthened its national identity as the cultural community of Huxia, based on the positive meaning constructed by its dominance in a series of diplomatic realities. On the other hand, the Empire’s traditional self-identity as a Central Empire was gradually deconstructed by ineffectiveness of its dominant diplomatic norms and principles. In all, the international communication activities and the feedbacks from other cultural groups in the pre-modern times, which were the meaning sources constructing its social identity, provided the Tang Empire of China a triple prism to view itself more objectively.

Cite this article

Download Citations
CHEN Yali, ZHANG Kun,ZENG Linhao. The International Communication of Tang Empire and China’s National Identity Construction in Pre-modern Times[J]. Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication. 2016, 38(6): 6-27

Funding

This article is a phased objective of the major program of National Social Sciences Fund “A Research on Chinese National Image Construction in Cross-cultural Communications” (Project Number:11&ZD024).

PDF(1994 KB)

Accesses

Citation

Detail

Sections
Recommended

/