Alexey A. Maslov

Russian Freemasonry in China - an extremely interesting phenomenon, it was markedly different from the Masonic lodges of the Western Diaspora of Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Hong Kong. There was no specific “Russian” Masonic lodge in China, Freemasonry among the natives of Russia in the 1920-1930's turned into an arena of political struggle and mutual accusations, the opposition of conservative, monarchist, socialist and other ideas. It also turned out to be closely connected with moral and esoteric quests, intertwined with Roerichism and mysticism. Another feature was that, unlike Westerners, Russian Freemasons have never raised the question of the possibility of participation of the Chinese in the activities of the lodges, or on cooperation with the Chinese administration. Russian Freemasonry and the parallel anti-Masonic movement lived their own, active, but closed life. Accusations of Freemasonry were a traditional way of settling scores between various Russian groups, and the term “Freemason” became a formula for accusations of the worst sins. The Sungari Lodge in Harbin was founded on the wave of the opening of new Masonic organizations across northeast China on July 5, 1928, and operated for twelve years. In opposition to Freemasonry among the Western diaspora, which was not painful to discuss, was not politicized and did not serve as an arena for clashes between various groups, Russian Freemasonry in China was closely related to the search for new meanings of transformation of society, the discovery of “friends” and “enemies”, and it reflected the deep debate in the Russian émigré environment.

The Institute of Asian and African Studies has been a leading institution for decades in the training of specialists across a broad spectrum of knowledge related to the development of Asia and Africa. IAAS serves as both a symbol and a reflection of the evolutionary trajectory of Soviet and Russian Oriental Studies. The Institute’s primary function is the preservation of classical Oriental Studies traditions, while concurrently addressing contemporary needs, providing in-demand, scientifically rigorous training, expanding its program offerings, reinforcing its position as a leading center for Asian and African Studies expertise, fostering robust academic and applied collaborations, and fulfilling Russia’s national development objectives.