The Mirror Image of Sino-Western in America’s First Work on Travel to China

Abstract

Abstract American travel writing on China, The Journals of Major Samuel Shaw, the First American Consul at Canton With a Life of the Author, not only reflects the image of China in the mid-Qing dynasty from a Western perspective, but also presents the self-conception and identity construction of early Americans. Shaw’s understanding of China prior to his arrival in China was influenced by public opinion, his community, and his reading experiences, leading him to approach his observations of China through a complex filter of romantic imagination and grandiose expectations, and commercial incentives, as well as malicious misinterpretations. While in China, his idealized vision of the Chinese market was tempered by his critical stance toward the Qing government and legal culture, which were closely linked to American interests. Shaw’s journals deconstructed the image of China as a utopia and marked an important turning point in the history of American perception of China. This study explores the trajectory of this transition and reflects on the discursive construction of American national identity in the process, tracing Samuel Shaw’s evolving perceptions of China and his influence on American politicians, businessmen, and the general public.