Research on Intercultural Relations among America, China and Japan at the Centennial Exhibition of 1876

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25590035
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: International relations
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Fukuda Shuhei 大阪大学, グローバルコラボレーションセンター, 特任研究員 (50434585)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: フィラデルフィア万博 / 国際的地位 / 世界秩序像 / イデオロギー / 科学技術 / メディア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This project firstly considers the Centennial Exhibition of 1876, concerning the importance for the participation of foreign countries. While many countries participated in the exhibition, this project focuses on China’s and Japan’s participation. Comparisons of the exhibits from China and Japan were viewed with considerations of “progress.” At that time, Japan was valued as “progressive” and China was valued as “unprogressive.”While Japan was considered “progress” during the exhibition, she was also regarded to be the lesser race.

This project secondly focuses on Machinery Hall, one of the main pavilions at the exhibition, and the machinery exhibited at the Hall. America's exhibits, particularly its machinery, attracted much attention at the exhibition. America's machine technology ---- symbolized by a Corliss engine ---- contributed much to the elevation of the country’s international status, which was the purpose of the exhibition.

Free Research Field

国際関係論