‘東北’인가, ‘滿洲’인가 ― 근대 동북 지역연구과제 설정의 가능성

Abstract

This study intends to examine some basic matters required in the process of setting a research agenda of northeast regional studies as a sub category of history of modern China. For this purpose, this article initially investigates the ambiguity of formation process of ‘Northeast’ concept and its concept category. Based on this initial sketch, the study argues the necessity of a categorical setting that is more open and dynamic without being subordinated by the concept of national state territory. Furthermore, it aims to reveal any conceptual entanglement between ‘Northeast’ and ‘Manchuria’ by pointing out the perspective of centralism hidden in the concept of ‘Northeast’ and also historical limitation in the ‘Manchuria’. This conceptual entanglement reflects the existence of a historical ‘layer’ in the regional history, and this study attempts to figure out the historical process of forming a ‘layer’ by defining it as ‘the decline of Manchuria and appearance of Northeast’. The modern city formation process in the north eastern region represented by Harbin clearly demonstrates the special character in the process of the appearance of Northeast as a modern space. This is another model of modernization different to those of Shanghai and Canton. Accordingly, the creation of Harbin and modern Northeast can be accepted as raising an issue against the writings of current Chinese modern and contemporary history which are linear and centralistic description. Here, the research task for the Northeastern region itself has reached a potential point to overcome the current modern Chinese history beyond a simple regional studies.