The Mediterranean through Chinese Eyes. An Analysis Based on Geographical and Travel Sources from the Song to Qing Dynasties (960–1911) (MeTChE)

Abstract / Presentazione del progetto:

This project investigates the Chinese perception of the Mediterranean from the Song era to the Qing dynasty (960–1911) in geographical works and travelogues. written during the last four imperial dynasties. In particular, it aims to assess through which channels and to what extent the Mediterranean came to be described and perceived as a “transcultural space” in China in the concerned period. To do so, investigators will collect, classify and analyse, in a diachronic perspective, occurrences of the toponym(s) of the Mediterranean and related excerpts from the selected corpus of Chinese imperial sources by means of a quantitative and qualitative analysis, adopting methods suggested by a transdisciplinary branch of comparative literature known as Imagology.

Obiettivi del progetto

Searching for representations of common traits that gather the Mediterranean civilisations, instead of dealing with single countries and national identities, this research’s main objects thus are to:

1. identify to what extent the Chinese perception of the Mediterranean Sea reflected the idea of plurality and transculturality,
2. trace back the origin of the formation of such impression in previous geographical sources (Arabs and European) along the history of Sino-Mediterranean interactions; in doing so, it also proposes to: 
3. build a preliminary platform of knowledge on Chinese impressions of the Mediterranean in imperial time to be shared with the international scholarship, 
4. enhance the understanding of the historical background for the present economic, political and cultural relations, as to promote a positive dialogue between the two poles of the Eurasian continent.

Durata prevista del progetto:

•  10/2023 - 10/2025

Settori ERC di riferimento:

• SH5_3 Philology; text and image studies
• SH5_8 Cultural studies, cultural identities and memories, cultural heritage
• SH6_13 Gender history, cultural history, history of collective identities and memories, history of religions

Responsabile / coordinatore scientifico:

• Renata Vinci, PA, Università degli Studi di PALERMO, renata.vinci@unipa.it

Collaboratori / gruppo di ricerca:

• Miriam Castorina / RdT b / L-OR/21 / 0000-0001-8384-7925 / Responsabile unità di ricerca FORLILPSI 
• Valentina Pedone / PA / L-OR/21 / 0000-0002-2617-6886

Partner del progetto:

• SICARI Daniele, PA, Università degli Studi di PALERMO, daniele.sicari@unipa.it;
• ALMONTE Victoria, RdT B, Università degli Studi della TUSCIA, victoria_almonte@unitus.it;
• CASALIN Federica, PA, Università degli Studi di ROMA "La Sapienza", federica.casalin@uniroma1.it

Sito web del Progetto

https://www.unipa.it/progetti/china-mediterranean