The "Transnational Experience" In San Francisco Chinatown From A Three-dimensional Mirroring,1860s-1920s

To investigate Chinese's complicated history in another nation is not only related to the international image of today's Chinese,but provides an opportunity for those who would like to introspect their own plight as well as in search of favorable reformation.This thesis therefore chooses four correlative but distinctive texts,and inspect how Chinese with different identities and purposes described and reflected their "transnational experiences" in typical West Coast Chinatown.These contents make up a period of socio-cultural history about Chinatown in the upheaval ages,and arouse the discussion about "adaption and choice" issue in "transnational experiences".Introduction:To introduce the purposes,methods and meanings of the research,and summarize the related academic achievements briefly.The First Chapter "Convex Glass":To demonstrate the grand historical background of 19 century's West Coast,and then enlarge the perspective with the"Convex Glass" to analyze the traveling background,social life and family education of San Francisco Chinatown at that time in depth.At last,to reveal the historical and social reasons for the "transnational experiences" in the four texts.The Second Chapter "Reflective Mirror":To choose the Diary of a Chinese Diplomat(1867)by Zhang Deyi and Travel Notes of the New Continent(1903)by Liang Qichao and analyze these two texts.The two authors had not intention to integrate into the San Francisco Chinatown's social life,however,they were concerned about their compatriots' society and life in another nation with the responsibility of literati,and thought of their own nation with a "Reflective Mirror".While distinctive purpose for traveling as well as personalities shaped the San Francisco Chinatown as "cultural landscape" and social sample" separately in their texts.The Third Chapter "Polygon Mirror":To choose the The Lucky Ones(2010)by scholar Mae Ngai and On Gold Mountain(1995)by writer Lisa See and analyze these two texts.The two authors are both ethnic Chinese,and in their texts they respectively investigate the Chinese American families Tape Family and See family around one century ago,explore the "adaption and choice" issue happened in San Francisco Chinatown's and Los Angeles Chinatown 's Chinese Americans in the turn of that century.To choose Los Angeles Chinatown as "the other sample" is aimed at contrasting with San Francisco Chinatown at that time,and deepen the influence that"transnational experience" brought to the Chinese Americans those days,even the ethnic Chinese scholars later.Epilogue:To conclude the social-cultural values of the four texts in San Francisco Chinatown's history,then reflect and discuss how "transnational experience" cause the" adaption and choice" issue.