East Asia seen from Spain: China and Japan through the Revista Comercial Mercurio (1901-1937)

Abstract

Introduction: At the beginning of the 20th century, the interest that East Asia, or what at that time was known as the Far East, aroused in Western nations was mainly of an economic and strategic nature, and the image that these countries projected of the Asian continent depended precisely on the international situation. Methodology: This research aims to contribute to the study of the Spanish vision of China and Japan, two of the most relevant nations, and for this purpose we have selected the Revista Comercial Iberoamericana Mercurio as the main object of study. Mercurio, founded in Barcelona in 1901, was a commercial and mercantile publication whose objective was to promote relations between Spain and the American continent. Results: After completing our research, we have concluded that this magazine also showed interest in Asia. Throughout this article we will analyze the image that Mercurio transmitted about China and Japan during the first decades of the 20th century. Conclusion: We have been able to prove that the image of China and Japan reflected in Mercurio was subject to changes caused by certain events, such as the Russo-Japanese War, the Asian migration or the Chinese Civil War.