The slapped historian speaks

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Beijing Morning Post
October 9, 2008

Historian Yan Chongnian, who was slapped at a book signing by someone who reportedly took issue with his sympathy for the Qing Dynasty, has been a hot topic of conversation both on and off-line for the past few days.

Follow-up reports say that the attacker is facing a 1,000 yuan fine and 10 days in jail for the two slaps he delivered, but many netizens seem to have as little sympathy for the old man as for Sanlu milk powder. "Traitorous" quotes attributed to Yan circulating on BBSs continue add fuel to an already hot debate.

In an interview printed in the Beijing Morning Post today, Yan denied uttering those quotes, which include praise for the Manchu Kangxi Emperor as being "greater than any Han Chinese emperor," an assessment that Qing's "word prison" (文字狱), the imprisonment and persecution of dissenters, "ensured social stability," and poems bemoaning the downfall of Qing dynasty.

Here is translation of the interview.

Beijing Morning Post: Do you think it was an impulsive move?
Yan Chongnian: The coverage from some media saying that "a man charged up to Yan Chongnian" is untrue. He didn't rush, he was in line [waiting with readers to have their books signed]. He was also there listening to my talk and didn't ask any questions.

BMP: Have you considered suing him?
Yan: I was not at fault in the incident. I don't know him and don't bear any grudges toward him. I was physically attacked by him and I emotionally hurt. I went to the hospital for a medical checkup, and my blood pressure had been raised to 105/185. My reputation has also been damaged. I have every right to sue him, but I haven't decided yet.

BMP: How have you been feeling recently?
Yan: It is not just something that has befallen me; it is a sorrow for the spirit of society. Academic research and discussion should be protected by law, and so should the dignity and safety of researchers. At the level of an individual human being, each of us deserves respect. Without provocation - I cannot understand it.

BMP: Quotes circulating on the Internet, such as the "word prison" ensuring social stability and Han costumes having nothing to do with the national spirit, have caused lots of controversy. Did you say those things?
Yan: Let me make a statement here: I have checked up on all those quotes. I said none of them, they are pure fabrication. I has been critical of the "word prison" and never expressed any opinion about Han costumes. If someone insists that I said such things, please point out in which book and on which page, or in which one of my talks. The imprecision of the quotes is not scholarly at all.

BMP: A poem on the Internet commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Qing emperor's abdication claims to be your work and has been the target of criticism. There's also talk that you lied when you said you were Han Chinese.
Yan: I can clear that up. I never write poems. I can show you my ID and tell you assuredly that I am a Han Chinese. I correct these Internet rumors every time someone asks. Someone even faked my blog and cooked up discussions between me and someone else. I can assure you that I do not blog.

BMP: Do you think these online rumors are ridiculous?
Yan: No they are not. They should be dealt with seriously. Some of it is speculation and we cannot stop people from speculating. But fabrication is irresponsible behavior, and personal attacks, slander, and defamation must be punished by law.

BMP: Some say that you academic celebrities have the right to speak but readers have no channel to communicate their ideas to you. What do you think?
Yan: I have received thousands of letters from readers since 2004, and have held discussions on different occasions. Whenever anyone seriously brought up a different opinion, I would check out the facts. For example, when I was talking about the Kangxi Emperor, I said that Han, Manchu, Mongolians, and Daur all contributed to the victory of Yakesa Battle [a border conflict between the Qing and Russia in the 17th century], but then I was told by an old Evenki that their people (called Solon at the time) also helped win the war, so I told the publisher to add that to my book.

BMP: The netizens also criticize you for paying too many compliments to the Qing emperors.
Yan: My studies never denies the merits or neglects the wrongdoings of anyone. I praise what is good and criticize what is bad. For example, the Kangxi Emperor didn't reform the Eight Banner institutions, which were good during wartime but bad during peacetime. Kangxi himself studied the West, but didn't institutionalize it as a government function, leading to China's total ignorance about the West after the Qianlong Emperor. I also said on TV that the failure of Opium War pinned Daoguang emperor to the wall of shame forever. Are those compliments?

Those people, who probably haven't read my books at all or watched all the episodes of my show, act out of nationalist prejudice to take things out of context and even distort and fabricate. Those who disagree with my historical views are entitled to do so. But hitting me is not about academics.