From November 24th to 25th, an academic symposium on Chinese characters and the inheritance and development of Chinese civilization, as well as the 9th annual meeting of Macao Chinese Character Society, was held at Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai (BNU Zhuhai). The symposium was organized by Macao Chinese Character Society, organized by Phoenix School of BNU Zhuhai and sponsored by the Macao Foundation. The theme of the symposium was Chinese characters and the inheritance and development of Chinese civilization, and the aim of the symposium is to advance the inheritance and development of Chinese character culture and promote Chinese civilization through academic discussions and exchanges.
01 Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony was hosted by Prof. Qin Xiaohua of the School of Chinese Language and Literature of South China Normal University. Prof. Chiu Seng, the founding president and tenured honorary president of the Macao Chinese Characters Society delivered a speech online, eagerly urging the Macao Chinese Characters Society to stay focused and have broad horizons, have a global vision when promoting Chinese characters to the world, and stay tuned to the study of Chinese language newspapers around the world and how Chinese characters are being used in the world. Prof. Zhang Guiguang from the School of Chinese Language and Literature of South China Normal University, Prof. Dang Huaixing from the School of Chinese Language and Literature of Shaanxi Normal University, and Prof. Chen Xi, Director of International Education Affairs of BNU Zhuhai and Dean of Phoenix School and Incumbent President of Macao Chinese Character Society, delivered a speech respectively. They expressed their heartfelt wishes for the success of the symposium, emphasized the close connection between Chinese characters and Chinese civilization, and called for concerted efforts to promote the inheritance and development of Chinese character culture. The speakers pointed out that Chinese characters are pervaded with cultural connotations, including ethical, philosophical thinking and artistic aesthetics, and that the inheritance of Chinese characters is crucial to the cultural identity and confidence of the Chinese nation.
▲ Prof. Chen Xi, Director of International Education Affairs at BNU Zhuhai and Dean of Phoenix School and Incumbent President of Macao Chinese Character Society, delivering a speech at the opening ceremony
02 Experts’ lectures
Chinese characters are the treasures of Chinese civilization and the symbols of Chinese culture. Chinese characters have a long history and a profound cultural heritage. They are more than mere symbols, but the quintessence of Chinese culture. To inherit and develop Chinese characters is to inherit and develop Chinese civilization. The theme of the symposium, “Chinese Characters and the Inheritance and Development of Chinese Civilization,” precisely echoes the aim to promote the dissemination of Chinese characters and culture and to continue the glory of Chinese civilization through academic discussions and exchanges.
In the session of experts’ lectures, Prof. Zhang Guiguang from South China Normal University; Prof. Zhu Qixiang from the Department of Chinese Literature, Tunghai University; Prof. Chen Weiwu from Sun Yat-sen University; Prof. Dang Huaixing from Shaanxi Normal University; Prof. Song Jianhua from Feng Chia University; Prof. Xu Liping, a renowned Hong Kong scholar; Prof. Zhao Xueqing from Shaanxi Normal University, and Prof. Chen Xi from Beijing Normal University delivered speeches, respectively. The lectures covered a number of topics related to Chinese characters and Chinese civilization, including “Liu Shuxue” (the study of the Six Methods of Creating and Using Chinese Characters), bronze inscriptions and lesser seal script. The experts presented their research findings and ideas in the field of Chinese characters from different perspectives, providing robust academic support for the inheritance and development of Chinese characters and Chinese civilization.
▲ Speech by Prof. Zhang Guiguang, South China Normal University
▲ Speech by Prof. Dang Huaixing, Shaanxi Normal University
▲Site of the Symposium
03 group presentations
In addition to experts’ lectures, the conference also organized group presentations. The presenters were divided into different groups, and each group made presentations and discussions related to the conference theme. They covered the research areas of oracle bone inscriptions, bronze inscriptions, Warring States script, the Origins of Chinese Characters , theories of philology, Chinese character culture, and the teaching of Chinese characters in international Chinese language education. Scholars from different regions interacted proactively and had an engaged discussion. It is hoped that by sharing research findings and exchanging academic views, they would have more opportunities for cooperation and jointly promote the inheritance and innovation of Chinese characters and Chinese civilization.
The evolution of Chinese characters from oracle bone script to various scripts such as lesser seal script, the official script and regular script has witnessed the historical changes of Chinese culture. Each script represents a different historical and cultural connotation. Chinese character culture is an integral part of Chinese culture and a unique world cultural treasure, and we should shoulder the responsibility to pass on this treasure to future generations. However, in the context of contemporary society, the inheritance and development of Chinese characters are facing new challenges, such as the impact of digitalization and cultural pluralism. Scholars believe that modern tools such as the Internet and mobile devices should be fully utilized to promote the culture of Chinese characters and provide diversified communication channels and resources. In the context of cultural pluralism, it is important to take initiatives to inherit and develop Chinese character culture and make it flourish through exchanges and cooperation among different regions.
▲ Lectures by Prof. Chen Weiwu and Prof. Zhu Qixiang
Macao Chinese Character Society always adheres to the ideas and practice of passing on knowledge, emphasizing the cultivation and guidance of young scholars, and encouraging young scholars to be creative in the study of Chinese characters and keep a good balance of innovation and inheritance, so that Chinese characters and the Chinese civilization will continue to develop with new vitality. At the same time, the Society also provides opportunities for learning and exchanges, allowing in-depth academic dialogues and interactions between young scholars and senior experts, which promotes communication between different generations and realizes the sharing and transmission of knowledge. At this symposium, five young scholars under the age of 35 were awarded the "Young Outstanding Academic Thesis" prize. They are Dr. Cai Yifeng of Sun Yat-sen University, Dr. Lang Wenjie of Beijing Normal University, Dr. Chen Zhengzheng of Henan Polytechnic University, Dr. Shen Yu of Tunghai University in Taiwan, and Dr. Tian Hui of Macao University of Science and Technology. Their achievements and efforts were recognized by the Society in the form of awards, and this practice of mentoring not only fulfills the mission of the Society but also inspires more young scholars to actively devote themselves to the study of Chinese characters, and contribute to the inheritance and development of Chinese characters and Chinese civilization, so that Chinese characters and civilization can be passed on to the next generation.
At this annual conference, Professor Zhu Qixiang and Professor Chen Weiwu were specially arranged to hold one session of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Chinese Characters and Civilization Lecture Series and Phoenix Lecture Series for the teachers and students of BNU Zhuhai and BNUZ. The lectures were hosted by Prof. Chen Xi. The theme of the lecture given by Prof. Zhu Qixiang was, "Two-Way Argumentation with Dual Attestation" and the theme of the lecture given by Prof. Chen Weiwu was, “Talking Through Pictures– Recalling the Instructions of My Teachers at the Age of 60.” In addition to the experts and scholars, many teachers and students from BNU Zhuhai and BNUZ attended the lectures. In a lively atmosphere, the experts conducted active interactions with the teachers and students present.
The inheritance and development of Chinese characters and Chinese civilization need more people's attention and participation. The study of Chinese characters is not only a kind of academic research but also a kind of cultural responsibility, and every Chinese descendant should take an active part in it so that Chinese characters can be more celebrated in the new era.
▲ Group photos of guests in attendance
The closing ceremony was presided over by Prof. Chen Xi. Prof. Chen Weiwu, Prof. Qin Xiaohua and Prof. Zhu Qixiang delivered a speech one by one, drawing a perfect conclusion to the symposium. The symposium brought together the wisdom of experts and scholars from Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao to explore important issues related to Chinese characters, which not only contributed to the inheritance and development of Chinese characters and Chinese civilization, but also laid a solid foundation for future research on Chinese characters and the inheritance of Chinese civilization. In addition, Macao Chinese Character Society and Phoenix School of Beijing Normal University provided strong support for the success of the annual conference by serving as the organizers. Phoenix School is looking forward to more academic exchanges and cooperation in the future to jointly promote the dissemination and revitalization of Chinese character culture and to make greater contributions to the inheritance of Chinese civilization.
Translator: Yan Li
Proofreading: Martin Wittenberg
