HNU Yuelu Academy and the Centre for Manuscript and Text Cultures (CMTC) of the Queen’s College, Oxford,collaborated to hold an International Symposium on Materiality of Knowledge in Chinese Thought: Past and Present, between September 3 and 5. It was held at Yuelu Academy. More than 20 experts and scholars from Chinese and foreignhigher learning institutions participated, including University of Oxford; Harvard University; University of Pennsylvania; Williams College; University of Virginia; University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); University of Oslo; Hong Kong Baptist University; City University of Hong Kong; Wuhan University; and, HNU.

Christoph Harbsmeier, professor emeritus at the University of Oslo and a distinguished expert in Chinese linguistics, commented the symposium “greatly successful, for our happy discussion about the core issues of philosophy of life, and fruitful mutual learning”.

The symposium opened at the Minglun Hall of Yuelu Academy on September 3. Associate professor Dirk Meyer from the Queen’s College, and associate professor Yang Daichun also vice dean of Yuelu Academy, spoke on behalf of the two hosts.

Dirk Meyer spoke highly of the academy’s educational tradition, which shares a lot in common with the Queen’s College, and expected for more exchanges and cooperation.

Yang welcomed the guests, and briefed Yuelu Academy’s discipline development, talent cultivation, and international academic exchanges.

During the three-day symposium, the participants had thorough discussions on materiality and knowledge production, treatment, and interpretation of ancient and modern Chinese thoughts. Some Yuelu Academy teachers and students and international students attended.

Linda Walton (L), professor of Portland State University, and Christoph Harbsmeier (R)

Christoph Harbsmeier from University of Oslo, and Linda Walton from Portland State University gave insightful comments on the reports delivered at the symposium.

During the discussions on September 5 afternoon, the participants exchanged views on interaction between humanities and digital humanities, definition and interpretation of materiality, and conference proceedings.

Xiao Yongming, dean of Yuelu Academy, delivers a speech.

At the closing ceremony, Prof. Xiao Yongming, dean of Yuelu Academy, expressed gratitude to the participants from afar. He remarked that, this symposium is thehighest international standard conference that Yuelu Academy has held in recent years. It is an attempt to expand the academy’s international vision, and broaden international exchanges and cooperation. Yuelu Academy, a Chinese culture research center, expects continuous concerns and supports from the participants. In the future, Yuelu Academy will become a center for international research and exchange on Chinese culture.