Thinking “Development” Differently: Focusing on the Lexical Change and Exchange in Japan and China

Abstract

There are substantial debates over China's current domestic development policy and foreign development assistance projects. However, in what context was the concept of “development” (“kaifa” in Chinese) perceived in China? What kind of social background has narrowed down the meaning of “kaifa” into the implying utilization of natural resources and industrialization? Plenty of studies reconsider development by exploring its meaning as an English word, but few uncover the intellectual resources that were involved in exploring “kaifa.” Against such a background, this article will try to provide a context that is different from the west-centric developmental theories and concept studies, by unraveling the history of lexical change of “kaifa” to comprehend present-day China. This research is based on literature investigation of studies and databases of Chinese classical works and newspapers.

The major conclusions can be summarized as follows: The current understanding of “kaifa” in China is similar to that in Japan, which was established until the 20th century. What prompted its establishment was the efforts of Chinese and Japanese intellectuals to modernize China by placing modernization-related concepts. The nuance that existed in the historical process of “kaifa,” such as disclosure of the original value and facilities that something/someone owns, has been diluted owing to its current usage. Since the middle of the 20th century, “kaifa” has started to signify exploitation and creation, and the subject of “kaifa” is shifting to the authority's side. Thus, exploring the historical meaning of “kaifa” can successfully describe a context that is dissimilar to the conceptual construction of development in English, and show how developmental ideas circulate across East Asia. To gain an insight into China's development, future research might need to focus on clarifying the applications and varieties of development-related concepts and their general social background.