Abstract details
| Abstract-ID: | 1309 |
| Title of the paper: | Body Politics and Transformation of Citizenship in the Hankow Horse Racing (1861-1949) |
| Authors: | Yu, C., Zhang, A. |
| Institution: | Beijing Sport University |
| Department: | Olympic Research Institute in China(ORIC) |
| Country: | China |
| Abstract text | Introduction Horse racing, as a symbol of colonial modernity, served as a tool for colonists to enforce bodily discipline through discipline, competition, and health. It also became a key field for shaping the body recognition and identity of Hankow’s citizens. During urban modernization, Hankow citizens used this activity to reconstruct local modernity, creating a unique path that both echoed and conflicted with European humantistic notions of the body. This study aims to reveal how Horse racing acted as a tool of colonial power and how it was transformed by locals into a practice of identity reconstruction in pursuit of modern citizenship. Methods This study use historical and comparative research methods, analyzing texts on Horse racing management and events from the Hankow Concession Gazette and Customs Reports. A comparison with 15th-century Florences Palio Races reveal the role of sports in shaping civil society across cultures. Results The Horse racing in Hankow epitomizes the intersection of colonial modernity and local modernization. As a colonial tool, it reinforces racial and class distinction through bodily discipline; on the other hand, the civic class adapts it as a cultural resource to construct modern identities. This duality highlights the complex interactions of“being disciplined” and“self-enlightenment” in Chinas modernization. Compared to European Renaissance civic sports, Hankow’s experience offers a critical perspective on non-Western societies’ passive yet creative roles in the transformation of modernity, and provides a case study for the multiple paths of global modernity. Discussion 1.Colonial logic of physical discipline: Horse racing in Hankow imposed Western“civilized body”standards on local citizens through strict schedules, spatial segregation, and behavior codes. The Hankow Club Regulations required Chinese attendees to dress appropriately and behave decorously, or they would be expelled, reflecting the colonial powers intention to divide social hierarchy through bodily control. 2.Reconstructing civic identity: In the 1920s, Hankow women began attending horse races and even participated in equestrian performances, provoking debate about the“new woman’s”body. Women’s Magazine recorded ethical criticism of women in Western riding attire, highlighting the conflict between traditional morality and modern body ideals. Local elites transformed horse racing into a symbol of national revitalization by organizing the Chinese Businessmen’ s Racing Association. 3.Dialogue with the Renaissance: Florence’ s Renaissance Palio horse racing centered on city-state honor, with citizens displaying courage and loyalty. In contrast, Hankow’s horse racing was intertwined with colonial modernity, with civic identity construction constantly navigating the tension between“Westernization”and“localization”. Both sports activities shaped public life, but Hankow’s case more strongly exemplifies active resistance within passive modernity. |
| Topic: | History |
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