Travel and Cultural Understanding: Comparing Victorian and Chinese Literati Travel Writing

Abstract

ABSTRACT European travel writings of the colonial period are now a well-studied field. Most of the studies are inspired by post-colonial theories such as those of Foucault and Said. Although the critical perspective found in these studies is valid, the lack of a cross-cultural perspective is quite obvious. This study looks at Victorian travel writing in China from both a critical and comparative cultural perspective. First, concepts from post-colonial criticism are used in the study of Victorian travel narratives with a special emphasis on differences in the definition of civilization between China and Victorian Britain. Secondly, Victorian travel writing is compared with traditional Chinese literati travel essays. It is hoped that by showing the similarities as well as differences between these two travel traditions a broader understanding of culture can be reached.