Sinology
 National Traditions

Nations form a major part of the context in which Sinology is actually carried on. The organization of learning in general varies widely even between European nations. Also, national structures were in flux during almost the whole period in which Sinology came into being as a science. The support provided by nations for our science has thus not always been strong, and not always positive. WW2 in particular, though in different ways, was a global catastrophe for Sinology. Failure to appreciate the differences between national situations, and the effect of overriding political events, can easily compromise our understanding of persons and events.

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