March 26, 2012

The new exhibition ‘The Vigour of Life: Figure Paintings by Wang Hongxi and Pan Baozhu’ will start on 30 March 2012. Ms Chik Kwok-wah, renowned calligrapher and Director of the China Calligraphy Association, Professor Cheng Pei-kai, Director of the Chinese Civilisation Centre, City University of Hong Kong and the two artists Mr Wang Hongxi and Ms Pan Baozhu will officiate at the opening that day.

Wang Hongxi (1937-) is a member of the Chinese Artist Association, and Shanghai Arts Association, and visiting professor at the Shanghai University of Engineering Science. Besides figures, Wang paints landscapes and he is a calligrapher and poet. He pays special attention to traditional cultural contents, but also incorporates aspects of Western art in his work. Many of his paintings convey the magnificent vastness of the ocean which is a reflection of his childhood living on the coast. His works have been on display at many exhibitions in China and abroad, and are collected in art galleries and museums.

Pan Baozhu was born into a scholarly family in 1943, and she has been painting from a young age. She is consultant at Juntao Art Institute, member of the Art Association of Houston and visiting professor at the Shanghai University of Engineering Science. In recent years she has been painting figures and flora, focusing on the expression and bearing of human beings. She paints religious figures such as Buddha and Guanyin, and Chinese historical women including Li Qingzhao and characters from the Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber. Her works have been on display at local and overseas exhibitions and published in catalogues.

The exhibition runs from 31 March until 13 May 2012 at the CityU Gallery, 6/F, Amenities Building, City University of Hong Kong. For enquiries, please call 3442 2477.

Written by: Audrey

March 20, 2012

This week Professor Fu Jie, Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Fudan University, will give two talks in the Centre’s Research Seminar Series. The first one which will be held on Wednesday 21 March is on ‘Ding Fubao and A Forest of Glosses on the Shuowen Jiezi’ and the second on Thursday is on ‘Qian Mu and Oracle Bone Text.’

Professor Fu’s main research interest and expertise is in Chinese literature, as can be seen from his major Chinese language publications which include: Resonating to a Beautiful Sound (2001), The Complete Works of Jiang Liangfu (2002), Collected Works on the History of Chinese Literature in the 20th Century (2001), and A Hundred Quotes from the Analects (2007).

What his two talks have in common is that they are both on two great Chinese scholars: the exegete, physician and polymath Ding Fubao (丁福保, 1874–1952) and the historian, educator and philosopher Qian Mu (or perhaps better known as Ch’ien Mu in Wade Giles transcription) (錢穆1895-1990). And both talks focus on their contribution to the study of ancient Chinese writing.

The talks will be held at the Centre’s meeting room. Medium of language is putonghua. For more information, check out the website. Those interested are requested to register with Ms Shirley Ha by email ciha@cityu.edu.hk or phone 3442 2477. All welcome.

Written by: Audrey

March 14, 2012

Every week the Chinese Civilisation Centre contributes an article to the Chinese language newspaper Wen Wei Po. The topics of the articles include Chinese culture, heritage, history, literature etc. Given the pro-PRC nature of the newspaper, the contents should not contain sensitive issues or anything provocative.

Some of the articles are written by teaching staff of the Centre who share their latest research results, but most are accounts of the lectures by visiting scholars. Take for instance the article of 26 February 2012, which is based on the lecture ‘Between Loyalty and Treachery: Yan Song and Emperor Jiajing’ (see online version  忠奸之間：嚴嵩與嘉靖皇帝) by Lee Cheuk-yin, Professor at the National University of Singapore. This is an interesting historical probe into whether the Grand Secretary Yan Song was as evil and cunning as he is usually depicted.

Another recent article which was published on 4 March is ‘Behind the Glamour: Cultural Significance of Qing-dynasty Imperial Dress’ (see online version 華彩的背後－清代宮廷服飾的文化內涵) based on a lecture by Yan Yong, Research Fellow at the Palace Museum. This is very informative about the robes of the emperor, and the rules on what he should wear on which occasion and why.

If you are interested in the newspaper, please visit: Wen Wei Po. For more background information on this and other media in Hong Kong, you may wish to read ch. 5 ‘Media Structure and Regime Change in Hong Kong’ by Chin-Chuan Lee, in The Challenge of Hong Kong’s Reintegration with China, edited by Ming K. Chan (Hong Kong University Press, 1997).

Written by: Audrey

March 8, 2012

Professor Chen Fukang, Research Fellow and PhD supervisor, Institute of Language and Literature, Shanghai International Studies University is at the Chinese Civilisation Centre to give three talks in the Centre’s Research Seminar Series.

On Monday, Professor Chen held his first talk on ‘Zheng Zhenduo and the Collection of Historical Documents’, and continued yesterday with a second lecture ‘Zheng Zhenduo and Efforts to Salvage China’s Cultural Heritage.’ Zheng Zhenduo (1898–1958) was an intellectual who was mainly active in the academia, and well-known for his contribution to Chinese literature and archaeology.

Besides extensive knowledge about Zheng Zhenduo, Professor Chen is extremely familiar with literary sources, e.g. during the lecture he cited quotes from letters. As he explained, he found some of these primary sources in the national library of Taiwan and based on his experience he was able to decipher some of the more cryptic names in the documents.

So while learning about Zheng Zhenduo, the lectures are also a good inspiration for new ideas in methodology and approach. Professor Chen’s third and last lecture will be held tomorrow, Friday 9 March 2012 at 3:30 pm. The topic is ‘Zheng Zhenduo and Research into Classical Chinese Literature’. Be sure not to miss it.

Written by: Audrey