October 29, 2008

It often takes a while to ponder over how to read China in the globalised context. More often than not any discussion on this is often either confined to how distinctive and special China’s past was, or how western’s ideas and practices have brought about sweeping changes to China. But Professor Bing Wong, director of UCLA Asia Institute and Professor of History, argued for locating China in world history in order to better consider how and why the study of China’s past matters to understanding its present conditions and future possibilities. His arguments might sound provocative to some, yet perhaps one can also draw inspiration from his remarks.

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Written by: hiuylee

It is often hard to find a definition for the word “identity”, perhaps it is especially so for many Hong Kong people who often seem to be caught in the middle whenever their identity is to be described. The perennial question on whether Hong Kong people treat themselves as Hong Kongers or Chinese ever since the 1997 handover, though, probably appears a bit hard to comprehend for many. Indeed, I often look at these categorisation with suspicion. Can one’s search for, or feelings of, one’s cultural identity be so easily described? The answer perhaps lies on culture. And I do believe singularity should not be the name of the day when it comes to cultural identity. For, culture is often in the making, on the move, and one which never be isolated from not only the society in which it was born but also other communities which came to interact with it. There is no need to arbitrarily impose an identity on a person. Rather, one should be willing to appreciate not only their own cultural traditions but also that of the others.

Written by: hiuylee

A decade has been passed since the Chinese Civilisation Centre (CCIV) was established at the City University of Hong Kong in 1998. For some, the term “Chinese Civilisation” may be an anti-thesis to modernity. Yet a deeper pondering over the issue will easily lead to different interpretations. For any civilization and culture to continue evolving and growing, there will always interaction with outside influences, and even challenges. It is a continuous process – the present and the future simply cannot be separated from the past. Thus, it is the goal of the centre to bring the treasures and values of Chinese civilization not only to the knowledge of our students but also for international appreciation as well. It is against this backdrop that this blog is launched. We believe in the importance of the exchange of thoughts should knowledge be developed and new ideas be inspired. It is hoped that this blog could act as a channel through which not only discussion of any topic of interest be enhanced but our cultural activities can also reach out to a wider audience.

Written by: hiuylee