China in the Russian Satirical Press During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905

Abstract

Russia’s defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905 and the Portsmouth Peace Treaty radically changed the balance of power in the Far East. It caused considerable damage to the image of the Russian Empire in the international arena and had a negative impact on Sino-Russian relations. However, one set of sources allows us to look at the well-known events from a different angle, and this has remained outside the attention of specialists in Sino-Russian relations. Russian satirical periodicals at the turn of the 20th century can serve as such a source, for it was during this period that more information about China became available to a wide range of readers in the Russian press. Along with the growing number of references to China, authors and readers inevitably began to form a unique and sometimes contradictory image of the eastern neighbor. This image, on the one hand, was directly related to current events in politics and international relations, and on the other could itself have a certain influence on the relations of the two empires at various levels. The Russo-Japanese War occupied a special place in the formation of Russia’s image of the East, in general, and of China, in particular. References to military operations on the Far Eastern fronts are found in virtually every issue of the 1904–1905 satirical magazines Budil’nik and Strekoza, which were popular at the time. Of course, the main “evil” for contemporaries was Japan, portrayed in extremely unsightly forms. However, China was not ignored either, especially since military actions partly took place on its territory. This article explores how China was seen by representatives of one of the most popular journalistic genres of those years.