Peripheral No More: Western Historiography of the Jiajing Wokou Crisis, 1975-Present

Abstract

This paper examines the Western historiography of the Jiajing wokou crisis (1540s-1567 CE), and what this means for the broader Western discussion of non-Western histories. I argue that, through the Western discussions of the crisis, there is a clear trend with modern, 2005-onwards, discussion: scholars are beginning to de-colonize and de-imperialize the narratives of old. My analysis of the historiography of three key factors of the crisis—identity, causation, and reasons for decline—showcases a growing push away from Eurocentrism. The findings reveal that Western scholars have begun to reanalyze previously held notions of Eastern history, in this case Chinese maritime history, and debate whether scholars can analyze complex Eastern history under a “Western gaze”; and, if possible, how this can be done. The analysis of recent scholarship shows that efforts to remove Eurocentric vocabulary—“piracy”—is a step in the right direction, as it removes the assumptions that come along with such diction.