3rd ‘Jiangsu-Hong Kong-Macao’ Forum on Classical Literature and Culture “Literary Ability and Classical Texts: The Sinicization and Canonization of Chinese Literature” Successfully Held

/in , , /by

From 10-11 May, 2025, the third “Jiangsu-Hong Kong-Macao” Forum on Classical Literature and Culture was successfully held at the University of Macau. This forum was organized by the Centre for Chinese History and Culture and the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at the University of Macau, in collaboration with the Jiangsu Ancient Literature Society, Nanjing University’s School of Literature, and the Department of Chinese and History at City University of Hong Kong. Experts, professors, and young scholars from various universities and academic institutions in Jiangsu, Hong Kong, and Macao gathered to engage in in-depth discussions on classic themes of Chinese ancient literature and culture.

The Jiangsu-Hong Kong-Macao Literary Forum was jointly initiated by scholars from the three regions, consistently adhering to the academic interest of fostering friendships through literature while embracing diversity. It serves as an important academic platform in the field of ancient literature. The first forum in Hong Kong discussed “Literature and Peace: Institutions and Literature in Han and Tang-Song Dynasties,” while the second forum in Nanjing explored “Classics and History in Chinese Ancient Literature.” This year’s forum in Macau focused on “Literary Ability and Classical Texts: The Sanitization and Canonization of Chinese Literature,” with academic collaboration continuing to deepen.

During the opening ceremony, Prof. Zhang Yan, Director of the Centre for History and Culture at the University of Macau, welcomed the attendees on behalf of the hosts. Prof. Zhang Jian, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Macau, encouraged young scholars to inherit the humanistic concerns of literary classics and promote the future of Chinese scholarship. Prof. Xu Jie, President of the Jiangsu Ancient Literature Society, recited a poem, hoping that the meeting would create a new academic atmosphere that integrates tradition and innovation, gathers academic wisdom, and continues the legacy of literary traditions.

This forum featured five keynote speeches and two panel discussions, with discussants participating in each session. On the first day, the first keynote address interpreted the multiple aspects of classical texts, with four scholars discussing topics such as character evaluations in the “Analects,” innovative interpretations of Han dynasty calendars, comparisons of variant texts from the Han dynasty, and the influence of Buddhist scripture translations on regulated verse. The second keynote focused on the historical dialogue between literature and socio-cultural contexts, with six scholars exploring the multifaceted effects of literary creation on order construction, classic interpretation, and genre evolution.

In the afternoon, the third keynote address concentrated on the clash between social change and literary theory. Six scholars examined the construction of Ming dynasty poetry history, the “discourse on arts” trend, the interactions between scholars and merchants, and the “celebrity effect” related to lyricists, revealing the deep connections between social mechanisms and literary canonization and theoretical innovation. The fourth keynote address addressed the reconstruction of dimensions in meaning, literature, and history, with four scholars discussing the Neo-Confucian implications in “Peony Pavilion,” the canonization process of anti-Japanese wartime lyric collections, political metaphors in “Dream of the Red Chamber,” and the centennial evolution of traditional novels, presenting new interpretations in a cross-temporal context.

The first day concluded with presentations by doctoral students from the Department of Chinese at the University of Macau. The first group focused on the multidimensional interpretation of historical texts, examining Han dynasty poetic citations, the origins of poetic theory, the rituals of Liu-Song dynasty inspections, and the interplay between literary works and institutional and intellectual histories. The second group highlighted the literary landscape of cross-border flows, discussing literary writings of Ming-Qing immigrants in Guizhou, poetry and prose from overseas travels, cultural memories in operas, and sensory narratives in novels, revealing the rich cultural dimensions and text production mechanisms of literary creation across time and space.

On the second day, the fifth keynote showcased methodological breakthroughs in tradition and innovation. Six scholars discussed topics ranging from the meanings in the “I Ching,” poetics criticism, to the issue of “poetry history,” demonstrating the cross-domain tension between classic interpretation and digital humanities through the evolution of historical narratives, inscription version studies, and large language model experiments in poetics.

After in-depth discussions and intellectual exchanges, the forum concluded successfully. The closing ceremony was hosted by Professor Wang Sihao from the University of Macau, where Professor Xu Jie filled in a lyric lamenting the gathering of talents in Macau, stirring thoughts and preserving elegance, expressing hopes for academic inheritance and a new chapter in the future. Professor Zhang Jian echoed the opening remarks, encouraging young scholars to contemplate universal academic principles and take on the future of Chinese scholarship. We look forward to future “Su-Kong-Macau” forums on ancient literature and culture, working together to create new chapters in classical literary research.

 

 

 

 

Tea Aroma and Ink Charm Shine Together — The Centre for Chinese History and Culture organizes the “Ink Rhymes of Hou Kong Macao Sketching Works Exhibition” to celebrates International Tea Day at Mandarin House

/in , , /by

To celebrate International Tea Day on May 21 and promote local cultural heritage, the Macao Tea Art Professionals Association held an International Tea Culture Carnival at Mandarin House, themed “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Macao.” The event used tea as a medium to inherit and spread tea culture. The Centre for Chinese History and Culture participated by hosting the “Ink Rhymes of Hou Kong Macao Sketching Works Exhibition,” which is an important part of the tea culture carnival series. This exhibition combines the profound essence of tea culture with the creative inspiration of Macao artists, presenting a cross-disciplinary cultural feast to residents and tourists.

The ” Ink Rhymes of Hou Kong Macao” sketching exhibition showcased ink, watercolor, and sketch works inspired by Macao’s historical districts and natural scenery. One participating artist expressed, “This cultural feast, blending tea culture, artistic discussions, and intangible heritage preservation, showcases Macao’s unique urban landscape and cultural charm through exquisite art, presenting an artistic dialogue that transcends time and space.” Attendees noted, “Tea culture is an important carrier of Chinese tradition, and Mandarin House, as a symbol of the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures, is an excellent venue that connects the past and the future.”

The opening ceremony also featured performances of Portuguese folk dance, Cantonese opera, and kung fu tea, as well as workshops on “Calligraphy, Painting, and Tea Wine” and tea tasting. The Chinese History and Culture Center is committed to promoting Chinese historical culture. This collaboration with International Tea Day activities not only injects new artistic ideas into traditional tea culture but also deepens the public’s understanding of Chinese traditional culture through the historical context of Mandarin House, showcasing the charm of Macao’s diverse culture.

UM Centre for Chinese History and Culture Visits Escola Estrela do Mar

/in , , /by

As one of the inaugural member institutions of the Chinese History and Culture Promotion Base, Escola Estrela do Mar has maintained a close and productive partnership with the University of Macau (UM) Centre for Chinese History and Culture. To further strengthen collaboration and explore future initiatives, Dr. Cheang Neng Ian, Deputy Director of the UM Centre, led a delegation to Escola Estrela do Mar on the afternoon of Thursday, May 8, 2025. The delegation included Principal Administrative Officer Ms. Kuan Sio In, Administrative Officer Mr. Wong Keng Mang, and Administrative staff Ms. Tong Ho Kei.

During the meeting, both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on cultural event planning, teacher professional development, and student experiential education. Principal Kolbe Vong of Escola Estrela do Mar proposed co-organizing a “Chinese Culture Day” with the Centre, aiming to integrate more classical Chinese cultural elements and deepen students’ understanding of traditional heritage. Noting challenges in funding and venue logistics, he called for resource integration to advance the project. Principal Vong also emphasized enhancing teacher expertise, suggesting specialized training programs and requesting the Centre’s support in developing history and culture curricula to strengthen pedagogical capacity.

Dr. Cheang Neng Ian invited Escola Estrela do Mar to participate in the “Patriotic-themed Cultural Tours,” aligning with the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression to deepen patriotic education. He proposed a multi-school collaborative model to foster inter-school exchanges.

The visit has breathed new vitality into the partnership between Escola Estrela do Mar and the UM Centre for Chinese History and Culture. Both institutions jointly pledged to focus on cultural heritage preservation and educational practices, further deepening collaboration in youth cultural cultivation. They aim to collectively contribute to promoting China’s outstanding traditional culture and elevating the cultural literacy of Macao’s youth.