@article{ART003337138},
author={Song In Ju},
title={The Manchurian Gold Rush : Global, National, and Local Perspectives},
journal={Journal of Manchurian Studies},
issn={1738-3668},
year={2026},
number={41},
pages={135-169}
TY - JOUR
AU - Song In Ju
TI - The Manchurian Gold Rush : Global, National, and Local Perspectives
JO - Journal of Manchurian Studies
PY - 2026
VL - null
IS - 41
PB - The Manchurian Studies Association
SP - 135
EP - 169
SN - 1738-3668
AB - This study offers a preliminary analysis of the gold rush in Manchuria from the mid-19th to the early 20th century, examining it across global, national, and local levels. At the global level, the paper moves beyond Western-centered narratives of gold rushes to analyze how gold mining in Manchuria functioned within the expansion of the global gold standard and broader transnational gold rush dynamics.
In this context, Manchuria emerged as a contested arena amongimperial powers— including Russia, the Qing dynasty, and Japan—each of which accelerated industrialization and nation-state formationthrough the expansion of gold mining.
At the national level, the paper highlights how gold mining in Manchuria was closely tied to state-building and frontier governance in East Asia. The Qing dynasty reinforced border defenses and restructured administrative systems through mining initiatives, while Japan, after the Manchurian Incident, pursued the formation of an independent economic bloc centered on gold development.
At the regional level, the Manchurian gold rush is analyzed as a driving force behind rapid socio-economic transformations in frontier society. Gold mining stimulated population influx and urban growth, while also giving rise to groups such as (gold bandits). Centered on mining zones, commercialization advanced rapidly and significantly reshaped the demographic and economic landscapes of the remote borderlands.
In conclusion, the Manchurian gold rush functioned as a critical driver of modern transformations in East Asia. By examining this phenomenon across global, national, and regional dimensions, this paper provides an integrated account of how Manchuria experienced and mediated broader historical change.
KW - Gold Rush;Manchuria;gold mining;Qing dynasty;Russia;Japan;gold standard
DO -
UR -
ER -
Song In Ju. (2026). The Manchurian Gold Rush : Global, National, and Local Perspectives. Journal of Manchurian Studies, 41, 135-169.
Song In Ju. 2026, "The Manchurian Gold Rush : Global, National, and Local Perspectives", Journal of Manchurian Studies, no.41, pp.135-169.
Song In Ju "The Manchurian Gold Rush : Global, National, and Local Perspectives" Journal of Manchurian Studies 41 pp.135-169 (2026) : 135.
Song In Ju. The Manchurian Gold Rush : Global, National, and Local Perspectives. 2026; 41 : 135-169.
Song In Ju. "The Manchurian Gold Rush : Global, National, and Local Perspectives" Journal of Manchurian Studies no.41(2026) : 135-169.
Song In Ju. The Manchurian Gold Rush : Global, National, and Local Perspectives. Journal of Manchurian Studies, 41, 135-169.
Song In Ju. The Manchurian Gold Rush : Global, National, and Local Perspectives. Journal of Manchurian Studies. 2026; 41 135-169.
Song In Ju. The Manchurian Gold Rush : Global, National, and Local Perspectives. 2026; 41 : 135-169.
Song In Ju. "The Manchurian Gold Rush : Global, National, and Local Perspectives" Journal of Manchurian Studies no.41(2026) : 135-169.
