Emily Matson
@emilymatson.bsky.social
460 followers 420 following 60 posts
Historian of 20th century China, 东北 (Manchuria), WWII. Georgetown University and GWU. Penn-US China fellow. CFR term member. Speaks/writes español, 中文, 少し日本語, немного по-русски.
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emilymatson.bsky.social
I'm excited to share that my first monograph, "China's Date Debate: How Manchurian Scholars Rewrote World War II," is available for preorder through the University of Michigan Press, China Understandings Today series!

China’s Date Debate press.umich.edu/Books/C/Chin...
China’s Date Debate
China’s Date Debate is an in-depth investigation of the Chinese Communist Party’s remapping of China’s World War II timeline from eight years (1937-–1945) to fourteen years (1931–1945). Instead of the...
press.umich.edu
emilymatson.bsky.social
Thanks to the Sigur Center for Asian Studies for this animated shot of me discussing my research on World War II in China and Manchuria on Friday, September 26th! @gwu1821.bsky.social
emilymatson.bsky.social
Very happy to be this panel’s discussant and excited to see everyone in Vancouver in March! @asianstudies.org
emilymatson.bsky.social
I had a great time giving a talk about World War II memory, Manchuria, and my new book at the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, Sigur Center for Asian Studies on Friday! Thanks to Daqing Yang and Mike Mochizuki for the invitation! @gwu1821.bsky.social
emilymatson.bsky.social
Big congrats to my graduate student in Georgetown University's Department of History, Enrico Osvaldi, for passing his comprehensive exams yesterday! It was a privilege to participate as one of the examiners for his subfield on nationalism in China and Japan. @georgetownuni.bsky.social
Reposted by Emily Matson
jwassers.bsky.social
If you are in DC, this upcoming event on Friday reflecting on WWII in the Asia Pacific 80 years on should be special (no better keynote speaker imaginable for this than Carol Gluck) sigur.elliott.gwu.edu/2025/09/10/9...
[9/26/2025] World War II at 80: War Generations, Society, and Memory in the Asia Pacific
At the Elliott School of International Affairs
sigur.elliott.gwu.edu
emilymatson.bsky.social
Next Friday at the Sigur Center for Asian Studies! @gwu1821.bsky.social
Reposted by Emily Matson
penn-us-china.bsky.social
Great audience (with outstanding questions!) for our third cohort fellows @kyleichan.bsky.social, Yingyi Ma, @carlminzner.bsky.social, & Elsa Kania tonight at JF Books
emilymatson.bsky.social
I was interviewed by Chinese media outlet Guancha about my research on China’s WWII and Unit 731. The article came out a few days ago: m.guancha.cn/EmilyMatson/...
m.guancha.cn
emilymatson.bsky.social
Looking forward to attending this next Wednesday as part of our Penn Project D.C. week agenda!
penn-us-china.bsky.social
Many thanks to JF Books for hosting this event in Washington, DC next week featuring 4 of our current Project Fellows (Yingyi Ma, @kyleichan.bsky.social, Carl Minzner, & Elsa Kania) previewing the U.S.-China policy recommendations they are developing through our Project. Full details below:
emilymatson.bsky.social
Sorry to miss! Is there a recording?
emilymatson.bsky.social
With China set to host a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end, now’s an excellent time to preorder my book “China’s Date Debate: How Manchurian Scholars Rewrote World War II”! press.umich.edu/Books/C/Chin...
China’s Date Debate
China’s Date Debate is an in-depth investigation of the Chinese Communist Party’s remapping of China’s World War II timeline from eight years (1937-–1945) to fourteen years (1931–1945). Instead of the...
press.umich.edu
Reposted by Emily Matson
bcbrews.bsky.social
#VJDay80 Eighty years ago today the war in Asia ended, or did it?
- docs.google.com/document/d/1...
The Japanese sign the document of surrender on 2 September 1945 on board the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
emilymatson.bsky.social
“(WWII is) a really important part of the Communist Party’s legitimizing narrative as the leader of the Chinese people,” said Emily Matson, a scholar of modern Chinese history who teaches at Georgetown and George Washington universities.” apnews.com/article/chin...
China's military parade is a show of strength from a country devastated in World War II
Yang Huafeng, a 92-year-old Chinese army veteran, recalls the modest military presence at the founding of communist China in 1949.
apnews.com
emilymatson.bsky.social
@georgetownuni.bsky.social grad students - Dr. Denise Ho's fall seminar "ASST5083/HIST6383: From Pearl River Delta to Greater Bay Area" examines the history & politics of the South China region - topics include diaspora & migration, urbanization & industrialization, revolution & politics!
emilymatson.bsky.social
Thanks so much! Akira Iriye's work, including his 1987 classic "Origins of the Second World War in Asia and the Pacific" book, is great.
emilymatson.bsky.social
For sure! 😁 Rogaski's book is incredible, and I just got my copies of Seeley and Hirata's books. I need to get copies of Pulford, Song, and Xie's as well. I expect all of them to be terrific!
emilymatson.bsky.social
Thank you so much, Maura! I'd also love to know the other titles in your stack of books on Manchuria - I'm always looking to read more on the region! :)
emilymatson.bsky.social
I'm excited to share that my first monograph, "China's Date Debate: How Manchurian Scholars Rewrote World War II," is available for preorder through the University of Michigan Press, China Understandings Today series!

China’s Date Debate press.umich.edu/Books/C/Chin...
China’s Date Debate
China’s Date Debate is an in-depth investigation of the Chinese Communist Party’s remapping of China’s World War II timeline from eight years (1937-–1945) to fourteen years (1931–1945). Instead of the...
press.umich.edu
emilymatson.bsky.social
It was so kind of Rana Mitter to give my research and forthcoming book on China’s WWII and the 14-year war a mention in this recent episode of Pekingology on “History, Memory, and the Party.” It’ll be out with the University of Michigan Press next June! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
History, Memory, and the Party
Podcast Episode · Pekingology · 07/24/2025 · 41m
podcasts.apple.com
Reposted by Emily Matson
penn-us-china.bsky.social
We are delighted to invite applications for our new Program Manager position! This is a full-time position, with benefits, @upenn.edu. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis through Friday, August 29. The full job posting is available on our website at:
global.upenn.edu/future-of-us...
emilymatson.bsky.social
Honored to have had the incredible opportunity to engage with outstanding Chinese academics on timely issues related to US-China relations at Tsinghua University in Beijing the other week.
neysunm.bsky.social
Each year, the centerpiece of our @penn-us-china.bsky.social fellows’ visit to Beijing is a 2 day workshop at Tsinghua University. This year’s discussions were simply outstanding. Many thanks again to my friend Da Wei for hosting us, and also this year to Prof. Wang Jisi for his keynote remarks