EdUHK Hosts the International Symposium on Li Bai and Tang Poetry and History
The Department of Chinese Language Studies (CHL) of The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) recently hosted the Singing under the Meandering Moon: International Symposium on Li Bai and Tang Poetry and History. Invited speakers from Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, Japan, the United States, and Europe gathered at the Tai Po campus to delve into the life, works and thoughts of the renowned medieval Chinese poet Li Bai.
The two-day Symposium featured six thought-provoking keynote speeches and 22 outstanding presentations. Among the keynote speakers were prominent scholars in Li Bai studies, including Professors Paul W. Kroll (University of Colorado), Lee Fong-mao (Taiwan Chengchi University, Taipei), Chen Shangjun (Fudan University, Shanghai), Stephen R. Bokenkamp (Arizona State University), Xue Tianwei (Xinjiang Normal University) and Kawai Kōzō (Kyoto University).
Focusing on Li Bai, the six esteemed scholars addressed a variety of topics, such as his inimitable writing style, his pursuit of transcendence, his poems considered spurious, his friendship with and poems gifted to the Daoist priest Yuan Danqiu, his unique worldview as an inspiration to the modern world, and his literary construction of an otherworld beyond human perception. By weaving historical overview and close reading into the discussion, the speakers gave a comprehensive analysis of Li Bai, both the man and the works he left behind. The symposium also included nine panel discussion sessions, speaking on themes such as emotional expression in writing, geographical and spatial dimensions, musical references, Taoist connections, regional characteristics family background and life experiences, political ideals, poetic techniques, and the influence of Li Bai's work over time.
In a recorded opening address, Professor John Lee Chi-Kin, President of EdUHK said, “The teaching and research of Li Bai’s poetry, combined with the global and intercultural pedagogy emphasised across the local education system, will enhance our students’ understanding and transmission of cherished Chinese culture.” He highlighted EdUHK’s commitment both to advancing the educational sciences through research and innovation and excelling in academic fields such as linguistics and cultural studies, reaffirming its dedication to promoting traditional Chinese culture.
Professor Pamela Leung Pui-wan, Acting Dean-cum-Associate Dean (Quality Assurance and Enhancement) of the Faculty of Humanities, expressed in the opening address her high hopes of global advancement of studies of Li Bai and the continued development of sinology through the cross-cultural dialogues fostered by the Symposium. In his closing remarks, Professor Timothy Wai Keung Chan, Head of Department of CHL, and convenor of the Symposium, concluded that he was confident the Symposium had fulfilled its general purpose by facilitating a meaningful dialogue among scholars from diverse academic traditions worldwide.
The day before the Symposium, a research seminar was held, titled ‘Approach and Methodology in American and Japanese Sinological Studies’. Professor Bokenkamp and Tsuchiya Masaaki from Senshu University, Tokyo gave a historical overview of American and Japanese sinology, respectively, highlighting their distinct scholarly traditions and setting the stage for the Symposium ahead.
—Ends—
EdUHK Hosts the International Symposium on Li Bai and Tang Poetry and History
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