本研究探討的主題-黃禍論述和形象乃是源自西方盛行於19世紀末和20世紀初期的著名文化現象。它經由日本思想文化界的媒介,進入中國思維世界。而晚清的中國思想文化界,可說是充滿各類國族集體記憶和認同論述交戰的激烈戰場。面對西方列強所主導之新的世界秩序,無論是維新派人士,或是革命派人士,均企圖藉由打造新的集體認同意識,來建構新共同體想像,以動員群眾達到其訴求的目標。因此在當時近代中國思想界之「優勝劣敗」、「黃白種戰」盛行的思維架構下,黃禍的意涵在近代中國的「再現」過程,尤其是本文所指出之「英雄化」黃禍意象的誕生,可說是近代中國知識分子,在「自我東方化」的過程中,如何挪用西方的東方想像符號,操弄或化約其意涵,進而將其轉化為打造新集體認同和集體記憶的重要因素的特殊歷史現象。對於許多汲汲營營打造共同記憶和集體認同者而言,他們所看到的黃禍,主要是一種由白人所「認證」的威嚇力量,而這樣能令西方人生畏的力量,正是近代中國知識分子夢寐以求之物;對於他們長期以來所抱持之「黃白對抗」的思維,甚至於可謂是有亡國滅種「焦慮」的心境。這樣的「黃禍」形象,不僅是在晚清時期強化自我集體意識;即使在當代,依然持續對於中國人的集體想像有著深遠的影響。
Yellow Peril discourse figured prominently during the period between the late 19(superscript th) century and the early 20(superscript th) century in the Western discourse of the Other. By way of Japan, it was introduced into China. At that time, Qing China was full of a variety of discourses aiming to construct new collective national identity of the Chinese people. Either reformers or revolutionaries were eager to appeal to new collective identity in order to mobilize people to support their causes. Under such circumstances, Yellow Peril was reinterpreted as a terrifying racial power of the Chinese people, a power now recognized by the West. In other words, in order to boost the national confidence of the Chinese people. a ”heroic” image of Yellow Peril was invented in China as an ”evidence” of the Westerners' recognition of China's potential power. Moreover, this dramatic development of cross cultural ”creative interpretation” of Yellow Peril discourse still has lasting impact on the modern Chinese consciousness in terms of the construction of collective national identity.