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Paper short abstract

This paper examines the writings of Ukrainian Promethean activist Stepan Levynskyi in Manchuria under Japanese rule. Newly found texts show how he combined political work with close observation of everyday life, revealing how empire shaped homes, families, language, and cultural interaction.

Paper long abstract

This presentation examines the published and newly discovered unpublished works of the Ukrainian writer and political activist Stepan Levynskyi (1897–1946), a participant in the Promethean movement and a representative of Ukrainian nationalist organizations in the Far East. Levynskyi was not only involved in political and émigré networks but also actively supported Ukrainian cultural initiatives, including the financial backing of the Map of Green Ukraine and linguistic contributions to a Ukrainian dictionary.

His writings offer valuable evidence on Manchuria under Japanese rule, viewed from the perspective of a politically engaged Ukrainian émigré. Unlike many contemporary observers who focused primarily on diplomacy and military affairs, Levynskyi paid close attention to the domestic sphere and everyday life. His essays and reports describe homes, families, markets, schools, hunting activities, and urban streets, and they show how Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Ukrainian communities interacted in daily practice.

The paper will analyze how Levynskyi combined political engagement with observation of ordinary life, demonstrating how occupation and empire were experienced through family relations, customs, language, food, and gender roles. Special attention will be given to his newly identified manuscripts, which broaden our understanding of his intellectual biography.

By situating Levynskyi within the Promethean network in East Asia, the presentation will reassess his role as both political actor and writer, and will highlight his contribution to documenting the social history of Manchuria during the Japanese occupation.