Wu Dingliang (1894–1969) and the Statistical Definition of a Chinese Race

Bréard A (2022)


Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Book Volume: 37

Pages Range: 71-98

Journal Issue: 1

URI: https://journals.openedition.org/histoiremesure/15789

DOI: 10.4000/histoiremesure.15764

Abstract

In the early twentieth century, defining Chinese characteristics in quantitative terms allowed comparisons and provided scientific answers in the search for the relative position of the Chinese in the historical evolution of human beings and the origins of mankind that challenged earlier culturally defined notions of a Chinese race. By focusing upon the scientific work and network of Wu Dingliang 吳定良 (1894–1969), this contribution looks at the statistical construction of a notion of the Chinese race and complements the history of Karl Pearson’s (1857–1936) Biometric Laboratory in London, a history which has overlooked the circulation and nationally contoured fate of biometric knowledge and approaches to the notion of “race” on a more global scale, including China.

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APA:

Bréard, A. (2022). Wu Dingliang (1894–1969) and the Statistical Definition of a Chinese Race. Histoire et Mesure, 37(1), 71-98. https://doi.org/10.4000/histoiremesure.15764

MLA:

Bréard, Andrea. "Wu Dingliang (1894–1969) and the Statistical Definition of a Chinese Race." Histoire et Mesure 37.1 (2022): 71-98.

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