Based on transnational France-Asia approaches, this book studies Asian cultures once steeped in French civilisation but free of a colonial mode in order to highlight the transliterary examples of cultural transfer. This book is a pioneering study of the Francophone phenomenon within the context of cultures categorised as non-Francophone. Espousing a transcultural approach, Francophonie and the Orient examines the emergence of French heritage in the Far-East, the various forms of its manifestation, and the modes of its identification.Several thematic signposts guide the diverse pathways of the research. Firstly, the question is posed as to whether colonisation is the ultimate coat of arms for entry into Francophonie? Secondly, the book raises issues relative to Asian Francophone works: the emergence of literatures with French expression from Asian countries historically free of French domination. Finally, the study reconfigures the Asian Francophone heritage with new paradigms (transnational/global studies), which redefine the frontiers of Francophonie in Asia.

Mathilde Kang was born in Shanghai, China. She has received her education in Québec in Canada and has taught French and Francophone Studies at various universities in North-America and elsewhere. The multicultural course of her life and her strictly French language education have led her to an interest in studying cultures made up of several mixed influences. Her main interest is the spreading of French culture outside Europe.Née à Shanghai et scolarisée au Québec, Mathilde Kang a jusque récemment été Maître de conférences à l'Université de Technologie Sydney. De parcours multi-culturel, assorti d'une formation purement francophone, elle se montre prédisposée aux études impliquant des cultures d'horizons divers et plus particulièrement la migration de la culture française vers d'autres continents.

IntroductionFor a Francophonie of cohabitationSome historical remindersThe direction of Francophone StudiesThe difficulty of a standard definitionThe transcultural as a methodologyFrancophonie in the East or in Asia?Francophone by root vs. Francophone by cultureFrancophone literature vs. non-Francophone literatureDelimitations of the corpusThe overall planI France at the gates of Cathay1. Macau and Canton: the first European fringesCatholic missions as a touchstoneThe first Europe-Asia maritime lineCanton, Pondicherry's replacementDrawing up the ConcessionsThe beginning of the French Eastern Empire2. The intrinsic links between China and Indochina Indochina as a springboard and the preparationsThe France-China-Indochina maritime lineChina as the rear base of Indochina3. The ramifications of the French presenceThe French presence in JapanThe French presence in KoreaIs there a Francophonie in the East?II The affirmation of the French presence in Asia1. The "Paris of the East"The France-Shanghai lineChristian proselytism in ShanghaiThe French Empire in the Middle KingdomThe emblems of a culture of cohabitationFrench commerce in ShanghaiShanghai: a mixed cityThe establishment of the Aurore UniversityThe contribution of the secular elitesShanghai: a city of white people2. Guangzhouwan: the colonies' colonyThe discovery of the placeThe ceding of GuangzhouwanThe management of the site and the conditions of FrancophonieFrench as an official language3. Modes of colonization in AsiaThe concession: a toned-down form of colonialismThe loss of sovereignty as a markerMacao: from trading post to classic colonyAsia, a Francophonie of cohabitationIII: French offshoots: the case of China1. Genesis of the first Francophones in AsiaThe first penetrations of French cultureThe conditions for the emergence of the Francophone milieuThe Work-Studies movementThe circulation of French books in AsiaThe ecclesiastical world: an important seamSome publishing houses in ShanghaiThe secular publishers2. Francophone manifestationsThe first translations of French worksThe coming of a co-habiting readershipLiang Zongdai and Shenchen: landmarks of Chinese FrancophonieJing Yinyu: a faded star of Chinese FrancophonieChen Jitong: the first Francophone diplomat3. The gestations of a literature of cohabitationJapan as springboard and intermediaryThe era of translated literatureThe New Literature of CohabitationIV: The birth of a literature of cohabitation1. Colonial literature vs. literature of cohabitationThe literature of cohabitation: a new paradigmWhat is literature of cohabitation?Zeng Pu and the generation of cohabitation authorsA key novelThe genesis of the novelSai: a jewel of cohabitationElements of cohabitation2. Pastiches of French masterpiecesThe transfer of Madame Bovary to ChinaThe circumstances surrounding the release of RidesPastiche characteristicsThe limits of translationThe pastiche of Jean-Christophe3. Literatures of French expressionThe Chinese corpus as sampleCollections on the LevantJapanese literature of French expressionV: France-Asia crossings: the case of the French corpus1. A literature of the intimate nourished by the EastThe birth of a literature on the EastThe French "self" from the EastThe Levant in French-language journals and newspapers 1840-1940On publishing houses and their collections2. The oriental "self" in Loti and ClaudelMadam Chrysanthème in AsiaThe displaced French "self"Loti: creator of the Oriental womanFrom the Spanish Golden Age to Chinese legendsCinderella and "the forgotten slipper"From embroidered shoes to satin shoesThe archetype of Bouvier et Tisserande3. The Oriental fortune of Comment Wang-Fô fut sauvé The unknown oriental genesis of the workConclusionTowards a Francophonie of cohabitationThe history of France in AsiaAsia as a Francophone zone?Where is Asian Francophone literature going?Studies announcin