“Us” through the Eyes of the “Other”: China as a Mirror of Russian Identity in A. P. Chekhov’s Prose and Letters

Abstract

This article examines how A. P. Chekhov employs the image of China in his prose and correspondence as a means of reflecting upon Russian self-identity. The author demonstrates how the representation of the “other” (Chinese culture) enables the writer to artistically comprehend the phenomenon of “us” (Russian identity). In Chekhov's early prose, Chinese images primarily serve a comic function through the use of ethnic stereotypes. In his mature works, their meaning becomes more complex: the “Chinese” element functions as a marker of estrangement or spiritual emptiness and, at times, as a measure of humanity that allows for a critical assessment of Russian reality. Chekhov's letters reveal an evolution from stereotypical perceptions toward a recognition of China's cultural distinctiveness. The article concludes that Chekhov employs the image of China as a kind of magnifying glass: by gazing intently at the “other,” the writer perceives the contours of “us” and the universal human more clearly, while simultaneously debunking the myth of Russian national exceptionalism.