A Study of “Han Traitor”: Discourses from the Dynastic Era to the Formation of the Nation-State

Abstract

This article discusses the origin of the term “Han traitor” (汉奸 Han jian) in history. It finds that the term was largely absent during most of the history in imperial China. Its first appearance occurred in the early Qing dynasty, or the later seventh century. Yet its meaning was rather different—“Han traitor” then meant those Han Chinese unwilling to follow the Qing policy in establishing rule over the Miao minority group in South China. Yet from the mid-nineteenth century when China suffered from the imperialist aggression, the term began to register a strong nationalist tone. It was used by the nationalists to refer first to those Chinese who supported the Qing dynasty and then to those who collaborated with the Japanese in World War II.