Saena Ryu

A Triangular Situation: Historiography of Yesterday, Cultural Nostalgia of Today in Korea Saena Ryu

Over the past decade, many scholars have predicted perpetual struggles among East Asian states-China, Japan and Korea. Due to the bitter historical legacy among the East Asian states, the rise of the nationalism seems to be inevitable. However, collective identity as one nation cannot be understood through the nature of international politics alone. Very little academic literature exists on the ever-present triangular tension in the context of the cultural imagination-the binary construction of the 'self' and 'the others.' This book, therefore, examines how Korea's collective memory and desire work together to create the 'oneness' as an autonomous nation. It is surprising how Korea's fervent desire for a sense of autonomous community and nation paradoxically consolidates her common and shared cultural heritage with China. Moreover, Korea's interactions with Japan during the colonial years have been an integral part of the creation and definition of Korea's self-knowledge. This book should be especially useful to professionals in cultural studies or East Asian studies, and anyone else who remains skeptical about peace and solidarity in East Asia.