ABSTRACT
Sinological research in communist Poland suffered many serious setbacks that came mainly from non-academic sources and were systemic since the communist system tended to place limits and restrictions on administrative and organizational arrangements and academic content. Paradoxically, the Cold War era also offered a great opportunity to introduce Polish experts, hobbyists, and common readers to Chinese culture and history. As a graduate of sinology at the University of Warsaw, and a person with 50 years of experience in academic, journalistic, and governmental work related to China, Bayer provides a reflection on the state of sinological studies in Poland in the communist era. The author begins with his own “memoir,” where he reflects on political, ideological, and economic limitations faced by the students and practitioners of sinology based on his own experience. He then describes the careers and research of three generations of Polish sinologists from the Cold War period, outlining their most important scholarly achievements.
