Chinese People’s Cognition of Western Women in Late Qing Dynasty—— Centered around Diaries of Chinese Travelers Abroad

After the Second Opium War,Chinese individuals who went abroad,especially diplomats,became among the earliest Chinese to personally experience the Western world in that era.In the diaries left by these Chinese overseas travelers,there is a wealth of descriptions,discussions,and even evaluations of Western women.Compared with Chinese women who were subject to many constraints,Western women differed not only in their attire,appearance and behavior but also in their approach to marriage,family status,education level,participation in social activities,and engagement in professions.These views and perspectives to some extent reflect the perception of Western women in the minds of Chinese people travellingabroad.The formation and evolutionof these views on Western women,accompanied by the absorption and acceptance of Western culture by late Qing Dynasty,despite potentialcommon cognitive biases and even misreading,to a certain extent,reflected the differences and gaps in social and cultural aspects between China and the West.This reflection is indicative of China’s journey towards modernization.