Chieko Nakajima’s book Body, Society, and Nation: The Creation of Public Health and Urban Culture in Shanghai takes a unique approach to the study of Shanghai’s development, departing from the broad-based research conducted by previous scholars. While numerous aspects of the city’s history have been extensively covered, Nakajima’s work focuses on an essential component of urban culture—the body. Through the lens of public health, she examines the connotations and significance of the body, city, and nation, providing readers with a nuanced understanding of the intricate interplay between individual well-being and broader societal narratives. Nakajima’s research aims to explore the complex relationship between the concepts of a “healthy body,” a “civilized city,” and a “strong nation,” believing in the reciprocal causation that exists between them. She claims that the residents of Shanghai defined “health” in various ways and attempted to improve their society and nation by striving to make their bodies cleaner and healthier. Her aim is to discuss the diverse implications and meanings associated with the body and health.
