Yu. V. CHUDODEEV. SOVIET TRAINEE IN CHINA. FUDLIN UNIVERSITY INTERNSHIP DIARY ENTRIES (SHANGHAI) In 1985-1986, Moscow: IV RAS, 2014, 346 p.

This is a book created in the genre of diary entries, which is still not very common in the Russian literary community, and which acquire special value because they are written by an eyewitness to the events and a well-known Russian sinologist. They are perceived not just as memories, but as a kind of scientific analysis performed by an expert in the East. The special significance of this work is given by the fact that it is devoted to the mid-1980s, i.e., a very complex and ambiguous period in the history of the USSR, China, and Russian-Chinese interstate relations, which, in general, does not seem to have received sufficient scientific understanding, including among domestic Sinologists. Nevertheless, this period is extremely important for understanding the current situation in China, as well as the specifics of the formation of Russian-Chinese relations in their current state. At the same time, it is interesting that the book does not just give an idea of that time on the basis of some official, for example, statistical data, but is a certain "inside view", that is, it is not just an idea of that time. an assessment of that time in terms of changes that were just beginning or were already gaining momentum, in Chinese society itself, in the views of various people, sometimes far from science and politics, who make up this society.

The author draws attention to the fact that the mid-1980s was in many ways a turning point, both for China and for Russia. It was around this time that China began to create the successful, rapidly developing, and unquestionably authoritative modern state that we are seeing now. And during this period, Russia began to transform in the direction of its current state. Yu. V. Chudodeyev's book allows us to feel how much the perception and attitude of the peoples of the two countries towards each other changed at that time, emphasizing the increasing "reorientation", even if often only externally, of Chinese society towards the West, primarily the United States.

Among the "advantages" of this book should be noted its richness of information, including specific facts concerning certain historical events, the names of cultural figures, political figures both in China, Russia and other countries. Of real interest are the author's assessments and attitudes of Chinese people, both specialists and ordinary people, to various significant events in recent history.

I would especially like to mention the undoubted "journalistic" talent of Yu. V. Chudodeev. Outstanding observation skills, attention to detail, and professional sinological knowledge that allows you to correctly evaluate what you see... All this helped the author to draw a very vivid portrait of China of this period, reflecting various, sometimes opposite, phenomena of Chinese life. The author notes:

"Today's China has appeared to us as a complex, contradictory, sometimes even grotesquely caricatured picture: in all the splendor of its rich culture and at the same time

darkness, ignorance and lack of culture; traditions and their complete denial; kindness and prudence; politeness and rudeness.

You can't say anything - the changes are huge. [ ... ] But at the same time - a huge sea of problems, both inherited from the past and born of changes. The impression is that we have witnessed a unique process of introducing a huge country to the modern world, a complex, multi-faceted and painful process " (pp. 246-247).

The author's description of various Chinese attractions, historical sites, and natural sites is of great interest. Many of these regions are still not very often visited by tourists. At the same time, much has changed in China over the past almost 30 years. The appearance of some places is being transformed, and the significance and concept of certain cultural objects are being revised. The changes in Chinese society are even more noticeable. One way or another, China is experiencing the impact of a globalizing world. The Chinese, at least educated, residents of large cities, representatives of the wealthy strata of the population, adopt, to one degree or another, Western manners, views, and lifestyle. But at the same time - and this work makes it very clear - the Chinese are still Chinese: the basic elements of Chinese civilization and culture do not disappear. And in fact, China remains a China that seeks to find the best strategy for itself in the world around it.

Many of the aspects noted by the author, which were formed and manifested at that time, are still relevant today and are important for understanding modern China. The author repeatedly notes the interest that ordinary Chinese showed in foreigners, and the disappearance of this interest when it turns out that the foreigner is a native of Russia. Such phenomena are still fully taking place today, which, among other things, does not indicate an increase in Russia's authority in Chinese society.

All this suggests that in the modern world, interstate relations should be built not only on "friendship between peoples" (which, apparently, the author and his colleagues expected to meet in China in the years under review), but also on the principles of business partnership based on the priority of national interests while respecting the interests of the partner state. And building mutually beneficial cooperation is impossible without understanding each other's internal historical, cultural, civilizational and other features. It is in this regard that Yu. V. Chutsodeev's book seems to be of exceptional importance, since it represents the view of a specialist in Sinology on the relevant realities, allowing the reader to look at this Far Eastern country in a largely different way.

At present, interstate contacts at various levels between China and Russia are expanding. A certain increase in income and overall well-being of people in both countries contributes, in particular, to the growth of tourism (both from Russia and China), contacts in the field of culture, education, etc. At the same time, relations in the field of business may not yet reach the level of interaction that would be interesting, for example, for our country.

Probably, among the reasons for this state of affairs, one can note the lack of knowledge and, moreover, understanding of Chinese realities by the Russian society. In this regard, the work of Yu. V. Chudodeev can undoubtedly help, since many aspects described in it have not lost their relevance.

I will note one more point. Recently, there has been a particular increase in interest in the history of domestic Sinology. It seems that this work will become another bright page in the history of modern Russian Oriental studies.

Separately, I would like to mention the "Japanese Diary" presented by the author as an appendix to this book. We are talking about the diary entries of Yu. V. Chudodeev about a research internship at the Japanese University of Ritsumeikan (Kyoto) in 1991 - "Japan through the eyes of a Russian". This is a relatively small, but very capacious work, full of the author's impressions, his reflections on what he saw. A lively language of description, attentiveness, the ability not just to "look", but "see", openness to the perception of new things, sincere interest in the country, the possibility of fairly informal communication with people-all this allows the author to create a fairly accurate image of Japan at that time, which could have been formed by a foreigner in such a short period of stay in this country. At the same time, Yuri Chudodeyev's diary is not just an intourist's impression of an exotic country. This is a thoughtful look of a professional scientist, a knowledgeable orientalist, who can see the commonality and differences of cultures, political and historical paths of two key states of the Far East-China and Japan. And, I must say, these differences, noticed by Yu. V. Chudodeev in many aspects,

they turn out to be quite significant. Even taking into account the "breakthrough" China has made in recent decades on the path of transformation into one of the world's leading powers, many of its features and differences, including from Japan, remain. As the author points out, "Japan and China share a common culture, but not a common destiny" (p.305).

Interestingly, "Japanese Diary" allows you not only to feel the differences between China and Japan in approximately the same period, but also to clearly feel the contrast between Japan and Russia at that time. I must say that until now, the obvious external well-being of Japan, the thoughtfulness and comfort of many spheres of life, and the high level of culture often set up Russians who come to Japan (sometimes quite justifiably) not in favor of the native country. How should "Japan be seen through the eyes of a Russian", who, as the author, was there almost at the time of the collapse of his own country!..

The author's account of meetings with Japanese sinologists makes these diaries particularly important, especially for Russian colleagues in sinology. Unfortunately, there are very few specialists in our Chinese studies who are familiar with the research and scientific achievements of foreign colleagues, and especially Japanese ones. Meanwhile, as the author points out, "Japanese Sinology is the strongest in the world" (p.302). Perhaps it would be useful for our specialists to "adopt" the experience of Yu. V. Chudodeyev and expand scientific contacts with their Japanese colleagues.

Thus, there is no doubt that on the pages of Yu.V. Chudodeyev's "Japanese Diary" almost any reader and orientalist, or simply interested in the Land of the Rising Sun, will find a lot of useful and interesting things.

The book is beautifully designed and decorated with a number of photographs, including the author's photos of the period under consideration, which contribute to the clarity of the subjects presented in the work.

Yu. V. Chudodeyev's book is of undoubted interest to specialists, and it will certainly be useful for Russian citizens who cooperate with the Chinese in the field of business, who want to go to China on a tourist trip or for the purpose of obtaining education, as well as for all those who would like to get to know and understand this amazing country as much as possible.

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