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Title:
The Wheel of Fortune Turns: Fengshui and Tourism in Modern China, 1890-1937
Abstract:
This study examines the interplay of fengshui principles and tourism in modern China through a close study of Mokanshan, one of the Four Great Summer Resorts during the Republican era (民國四大避暑勝地). Historically nameless and considered free from fengshui benefits, Mokanshan attracted foreign settlers in the late Qing dynasty, prompting locals to reinterpret the area’s geomantic significance. Through analyzing three developmental phases between 1890 and 1937, this research explores how traditional Chinese beliefs were challenged and reinterpreted in response to foreign influence and the demands for developing modern tourism, contributing to the great transformation of local sites like Mokanshan. The study argues that the evolving narrative surrounding Mokanshan reflects the ideological shifts in early tourism development and environmental understanding, with fengshui consistently adapting and maintaining its influence. Utilizing primary sources from Chinese and foreign archives, personal diaries, and contemporary newspapers, the research offers a nuanced understanding of how touristic activities intersected with local fengshui beliefs. It also examines the broader implications for local communities as they navigated the complexities of modernization and national tourism policies.
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