Esperantism and the Transnational Avant-garde: Exploring Orienta Kuriero (Eastern Courier) and Esperanto Resistance Literature in Hong Kong
Refereed conference paper presented and published in conference proceedings
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AbstractEsperanto in China and among the Chinese diaspora had a strong association with anarchism during the 1910s and 1920s. Subsequently, there was a resurgence of the Esperanto movement in China, which coincided with the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War where Esperanto gained widespread recognition as a potent instrument of resistance against war and imperialism on a global scale. In response, numerous magazines rapidly emerged, utilizing Esperanto for international propaganda against Japanese imperialism. Among these publications was Orienta Kuriero (Eastern Courier 東方使者, 1938-39), which was launched in 1938 in Hong Kong, then a British crown colony, and led by Ferenc Braun (1896-1992). Notably, Braun was one of the few Hungarian Esperantists actively involved in the Chinese resistance movement against Japanese, bringing unique political and aesthetic perspectives to the Esperanto anti-war magazine in comparison to other publications directed by Chinese Esperantists at the time.
The paper argues that Orienta Kuriero holds a vanguard position as a nationalist anti-war magazine in the realms of literature and politics within the context of Esperantism and cosmopolitanism. First, the paper examines how the magazine distinguishes itself from the prevalent nationalist anti-war magazines in China through its distinctive editorial strategy, which takes into account the perspective of “China, East Asia, and the World”. This approach prompts readers to reassess their perspectives and delve into a deeper contemplation of the intricate complexities surrounding the Second Sino-Japanese War. Second, the paper explores how Orienta Kuriero sought to achieve a transnational and transcultural literature of resistance. This objective was accomplished through the skillful juxtaposition of editorial illustrations that surpassed the conventional European avant-garde aesthetics, and the inclusion of translations and transcriptions of anti-war literature sourced from China, Japan, and Korea during the wartime period. Furthermore, the paper critically examines how Orienta Kuriero, as an anti-war magazine utilizing Esperanto, a neutral global language, provided an alternative lens through which to reconsider the intricate connections and tensions between nationalism and cosmopolitanism.
The paper argues that Orienta Kuriero holds a vanguard position as a nationalist anti-war magazine in the realms of literature and politics within the context of Esperantism and cosmopolitanism. First, the paper examines how the magazine distinguishes itself from the prevalent nationalist anti-war magazines in China through its distinctive editorial strategy, which takes into account the perspective of “China, East Asia, and the World”. This approach prompts readers to reassess their perspectives and delve into a deeper contemplation of the intricate complexities surrounding the Second Sino-Japanese War. Second, the paper explores how Orienta Kuriero sought to achieve a transnational and transcultural literature of resistance. This objective was accomplished through the skillful juxtaposition of editorial illustrations that surpassed the conventional European avant-garde aesthetics, and the inclusion of translations and transcriptions of anti-war literature sourced from China, Japan, and Korea during the wartime period. Furthermore, the paper critically examines how Orienta Kuriero, as an anti-war magazine utilizing Esperanto, a neutral global language, provided an alternative lens through which to reconsider the intricate connections and tensions between nationalism and cosmopolitanism.
All Author(s) ListConnie Ho-yee Kwong
Name of ConferenceHarvard-Lingnan Symposium (2): The Avant-Garde X, Hong Kong, and the New South
Start Date of Conference04/12/2023
End Date of Conference05/12/2023
Place of ConferenceHong Kong
Country/Region of ConferenceHong Kong
Year2023
Month12
Place of PublicationHong Kong
LanguagesEnglish-United States
KeywordsEsperanto, Avant-garde, Resistance Literature, Colonial Hong Kong, Orienta Kuriero
