Archive for category: News Letter

On 25 May 2023, Prof. Zhu Shoutong, Director of Centre for Chinese History and Culture of the University of Macau, Prof. Liu Jun of Nanjing University, Prof. Cheng Guojun of Shaanxi Normal University, Ms. Mona, President of the Association of European and Chinese New Literatures, Ms. Chen Ruilin, a writer and critic living in the United States, and Prof. Gao Yexing of Xi’an Technical University visited the International Institute of Asian Studies of Leiden University in Leiden, the Netherlands.

Martina van den Haak, Director of the Institute of International Asian Studies, warmly welcomed the visitors. She introduced the history of the Institute, its main functions and the academic journals, newspapers and books it publishes. She said that the International Institute of Asian Studies (IIAS) is the leading institute for Asian studies in the Netherlands which aims to promote the research and teaching for Asia in the fields of humanities and social sciences. The Institute regularly organizes academic conferences and exchange activities across disciplines and regions to help people understand Asia more comprehensively and to re-examine ‘Asian Studies’ in the context of globalization. Prof. Zhu Shoutong of the University of Macau thanked Martina for her introduction and explained the purpose of the visit. The two sides then exchanged views and discussed the various subject areas of Asian Studies, especially the themes, perspectives and research approaches of Chinese literature research, as well as the possibilities of future research collaboration. Both sides have expressed their desire for further in-depth collaborative research.

After the conference, Ms. Martina took the visitors on a guided tour of the Institute’s branches and offices, introduced the research staff and presented them with The Newsletter, the main academic publication of IIAS. After a group photo, the visit was successfully concluded.

On 24th May 2023, the “Literary, History and Geography Quiz Competition” co-organized by Macao Base for Primary & Secondary Education in Humanities & Social Sciences, Colégio Diocesano de São José, Cinta Escola and the Centre for Chinese History and Culture of the University of Macau was successfully held in the auditorium of the school . Director of the Editorial and Publishing Division. Prof. Yeung Siu Kwai, watched the competition and acted as a judge.

（Speech by Principal Wong）

First of all, the participants, teachers and students prayed, and then Principal Wong Kin Man delivered a speech. Principal Wong introduced Colégio Diocesano de São José, Cinta Escola and thanked the Centre for Chinese History and Culture for their support and the significance of this competition in promoting Chinese history and culture. Afterwards, Principal Wong presented the flag of Colégio Diocesano de São José, Cinta Escola to Professor Yeung and took a group photo together.

(Principal Wong presented the flags of the five schools of Colégio Diocesano de São José, Cinta Escola)

In his speech, Prof. Yeung Siu-kwai introduced the work of the Centre for Chinese History and Culture and pointed out that general knowledge of literature, history and geography is the essence of the thoughts of ancient scholars, and that an understanding of literature, history and geography will enable students to stand on the shoulders of giants to understand the world.

（Speech by Professor Yeung）

At the beginning of the competition, six teams consisting of senior students entered the final round. The competition was novel and diversified, consisting of compulsory questions, scenario questions and scrambled questions. The questions covered astronomy, geography, history, literature and other aspects, which were very colourful. The competition was intense, with all teams showing strong on-the-spot response and rich knowledge reserves, and it was hard to distinguish which one was better. At the end of the competition, the champion, first runner-up and second runner-up were decided, and the prize-giving ceremony was held, in which Professor Yeung and teachers of the school presented the prizes to the winning teams.

Teachers and students of Colégio Diocesano de São José, Cinta Escola gained a lot through this activity. The competition not only aroused students’ interest in literature, history and geography and motivated them to learn, but also enabled them to deepen their understanding of their hometowns, the motherland and the society, laying a solid foundation for them to become high-quality talents who love the country, love Macao and have all-round development.

(Group photo of Prof. Yeung and other judges with the awardees)

In order to protect mother language and promote linguistic diversity, the Language and Culture Day organized by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Macau was held on 28^th March 2023 with the theme of Love Mother Language and Embrace World Culture. There were not only an opening ceremony including multi-country traditional culture performances, but also language and culture workshops, cultural knowledge scavenger hunt and other activities. On the opening ceremony, students and teaching staffs from different countries participated in various performances to showcase the unique culture of different regions, attracting more than 200 UM students and staffs taking part in the activities. Performances on the ceremony covered both traditional and popular songs, dance, music as well as folk shows with a wide range of languages including Cantonese, English, Portuguese and Japanese, which impressed audiences a lot.

Aiming at allowing participants to deeply experience the charm of Chinese calligraphy art which is not only the expression art of Chinese culture but also the treasure of world culture, CCHC introduced the Chinese Ink Art Calligraphy Experience Workshop in the Day. In the workshop, participants actively gave full play to their imagination with calligraphy to create on the round fans and bookmarks, integrating their personal creativity and aesthetic taste. With help of calligraphy teachers, they independently completed many calligraphy works, from which they understood the infinite charm of traditional calligraphy culture, experienced the ancient charm of the brush writing, and felt the line art of Chinese aesthetics.

On March 21, 2023, the Centre for Chinese History and Culture of the University of Macao successfully hosted “The Inauguration Ceremony of the Second Chinese Culture Promotion Ambassador Team”. The guests present at the ceremony were Prof. Zhu Shoutong, Director of the Center for Chinese History and Culture, Dr. Cheang Neng Lan, Deputy Director of the Center for Chinese History and Culture, Prof. Sio Chio Leong, Director of Academic Research Division, Prof. Yeung Siu Kwai, Director of Editorial and Publication Division, and Ms. Kuan Siu Yin, Principal Administrative Officer.

During this ceremony, Prof. Zhu Shutong, Director of the Center, stated that the Chinese Culture Promotion Ambassadors are based in Macao, including Macao’s universities, middle schools and primary schools, and are open to the Macao society. The purpose of setting up the Chinese Culture Promotion Ambassador Team is to cultivate and deepen young people’s love for China and Macao, as well as to deepen their understanding of China and Macao’s history and culture, so that they can truly appreciate the characteristics and heritage of Chinese culture and Macao’s local culture. The reason for calling them ambassadors has a special meaning. Although the term “messenger” can also be used, the role of “messenger” is only responsible for conveying the consciousness of the main body; whereas “ambassadors” can not only convey the consciousness, but also incorporate their own initiative, so that they can further their studies and experience, and can promote Chinese culture and Macao’s local culture independently and proactively.

Prof. Zhu Shoutong delivered a speech

Dr. Cheang Neng Lan said that the activities of the Chinese Culture Promotion Ambassador Team are colorful. Internal activities include Chinese culture study courses, lectures, etc., aiming at improving the ambassadors’ knowledge of Chinese culture, which is more conducive to the dissemination and export of Chinese culture. The external activities involve exchanges between schools and study tours to the Mainland.

Dr. Cheang Neng Lan delivered a speech

During this event, the previous ambassadors were invited to share their experiences, encouraging and hoping that the new ambassadors would learn and enjoy the process. The new ambassadors also have a strong interest in Chinese culture and are looking forward to the commencement of the ambassadors’ activities.

Previous Ambassadors sharing their experience

Guests and Ambassadors

Group Photo

Liu Haisu Art Education Symposium and the 1^st General meeting of Liu Haisu International Art Research Association was jointly held by Centre for Chinese History and Culture (CCHC) of University of Macau and Liu Haisu International Art Research Association on 9 March, 2023 (Thursday), to review LIU’s artistic life.

Some guests attended the meeting in person, including Prof. ZHU Shutong, Director of CCHC, Ms. LIU Chan, daughter of LIU Haisu and a famous painter, Mr. WANG Haitao, Director of Lotus Times, Mr. SHI Yuxing, editor of A Drop in the Ocean (a memorial colum for LIU Haisu in Lotus Times), Prof. HE Zhihui, Professor of Macao Polytechnic University, Prof. TAM Sik Chung, Interim College Master of Shui Pong College, Prof. LEONG Lam Po, Director of Centre for Arts and Design, while Ms. WOO Shing Fung, the Vice-President of National Conditions Education Association (Macau) joined the discussion via zoom.

For the discussion, Prof. ZHU began by thanking all members of Liu Haisu International Art Research Association for coming and gave a brief introduction to LIU’ s achievements in culture and literature. When Ms. LIU Chan talked about her father, she expressed her admiration for him as a great painter who not only devoted himself to learning excellent western painting skills in order to bring a new atmosphere to the Chinese art circle but also was committed to promoting traditional Chinese painting to the world, while remaining an outstanding Chinese cultural heritage for young people. Thereafter, Mr. SHI Yuxing, Ms. WOO Shing Fung, Prof. LEONG Lam Po, Prof. TAM Sik Chung, Prof. HE Zhihui, Ms. MIO U Kit and student representatives discussed the deeds of Master LIU respectively.

In the end, Mr. WANG Haitao concluded the discussion with an expression of hope that Master LIU’s art could be promoted and inherited in Macao since he integrated Chinese and Western painting art and Macao is also a place of cultural exchange between China and the West. During the symposium, Prof. ZHU was awarded the Honorary Advisor certificate by President LIU Chan to be appointed as the first honorary advisor of Liu Haisu International Art Research Association.

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