E. Elena Songster - Panda Nation: The Construction and Conservation of China’s Modern Icon

Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the Universitys objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and certain other countries.

Published in the United States of America by Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States of America.

Oxford University Press 2018

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted by law, by license, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reproduction rights organization. Inquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the address above.

You must not circulate this work in any other form and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Songster, E. Elena, author.
Title: Panda nation : the construction and conservation of
Chinas modern icon / E. Elena Songster.
Description: New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2018] |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017052752 (print) | LCCN 2018001326 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780199393688 (Updf) | ISBN 9780199393695 (Epub) |
ISBN 9780199393671 (hardcover : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: PandasChinaSymbolic aspects. | PandasChina
Political aspects. | PandasChinaConservation.
Classification: LCC QL737.C27 (ebook) | LCC QL737.C27 S6394 2018 (print) |
DDC 599.7890951dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017052752

To Matt and our wonderful children, Dylan, Clara, and Liam

AS THIS PROJECT progressed and extended, it involved more people and accumulated more debt in gratitude. Many acknowledgments end with appreciations to the family; I will begin there as they are the people most directly affected by this project and my work on it, good, bad, and otherwise. I could not ask for a better partner in life than my husband Matt Diffley. I am especially appreciative of his focus on our family and our three wonderful children, Dylan, Clara, and Liam. These kids have brought us true joy. And each in his and her own way has reminded me of the broader world and shown me things I would only be able to see with their assistance and individual perspectives. Matts incredible support for my work and career manifests itself in a multitude of ways and has pulled him to many places, from Sichuan to San Diego, and from OK-City to Oaktown, even while navigating his own career in medicine.

The person next closest to this project in recent years is Susan Ferber. Her excellent editing, guidance, and shepherding have all made this a better book, and her persistent faith in this project and periodic panda cartoons helped me see it through to the end.

The giant pandas home is in China. It was there that this project bloomed, and it is to the people in China who became part of this story that I am most indebted. It was a true honor to work with Pan Wenshi. I not only learned a tremendous amount from his broad knowledge and experiences, but also from watching him make things happen around him. In addition to becoming a central part of this story, he facilitated my work with introductions, insights, and an intrepid spirit. I am particularly indebted to Zhong Zhaomin for generously sharing his time and story. He continues to be an inspiration to me. Thank you to Wang Dajun for giving expert guidance to and through Wanglang and for introducing me to the people who work there, to L Zhi for providing the bookends for my research with insightful interviews and continuing to be a patient consultant. I am deeply grateful to all of those who offered time to share their personal histories in interviews and conversations. Wang Menghu, Qing Jianhua, Jin Jianming, Hu Tieqing, Feng Yunwu, and Feng Wenhe all generously shared their time and perspectives. A tremendous thank you to Chen Youping and Jiang Shiwei for accommodating me so hospitably at Wanglang, sharing their experiences with me, and for their particular kindness and generosity on my return trip many years later. I am also very grateful to Hu Jinchu for his prolific publications, important historical role, and for kindly sharing his knowledge. Thanks also to Zhu Xiaojian and Long Yu for thoroughly responding to my many inquiries, to Wang Hao for bringing the project back to its origins, to Binbin Li for continuing the narrative, and to Yin Lijie, Yuan Yan, and Juan Li for all and various kinds of help.