New sources for studying far eastern modernism. 1925-1940s

Abstract

The aim of the article is to introduce little-known sources that can help reconstruct the cultural landscape of Manchuria during the Interbellum period. A review of publications from the 1925-1940s provides an insight into how modernism penetrated into the culture of Japan and Manchukuo. The first part of the article is devoted to Bruno Taut's stay in Japan, and the second part shows examples of Manchu post-constructivism. It is concluded that cultural transfers to the Far East proceeded via two ways: from Germany through Russia to Japan and China, and from the United States to Japan and on to Manchuria. Architecture is interpreted as a "soft power," which subtly forms a loyal attitude toward the recipient country.

Keywords

• post-constructivism
• manchuria
• bruno taut
• worker settlements
• dairen
• qingdao