The Meaning of Text(s): Understanding Ming-Qing Literature and Culture

Overview

A text can be a poem, a novel, a painting, a chair, or a garden. When does the reading of a text begin, and where does it cease? In this digital age, does “mining” of texts reveal reading possibilities that are otherwise hidden? Bringing in texts of various kinds from late imperial China, this conference hopes to form an interdisciplinary discussion on recent discoveries of new texts, rereadings of canonical texts, expanded concept of texts, and on renewed approaches in exploring the meaning of text(s).

Detailed program

• 7:30 - 8:20 am Keynote speech
  Prof. Ellen B. WIDMER (Wellesley College)

• 8:30 - 10:30 am Conference presentation
  Prof. Paul VIERTHALER (The College of William and Mary)
  Prof. LING Xiaoqiao (Arizona State University)
  Prof. Paul VIERTHALER (The College of William and Mary)
  Prof. JIN Huan (HKUST) Prof. YANG Binbin (The University of Hong Kong)

About IAS Program on Chinese Creative Writing

Since fall 2013, HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study has launched the Chinese Creative Writing Program. Professor Liu Zaifu, the world-renowned literary critic and writer, has joined IAS as a Senior Visiting Fellow and director of this program. Each year IAS will invite 3-4 leading contemporary Chinese writers / scholars to join the Chinese Creative Writing Program, ushering HKUST students into the colorful world of contemporary Chinese literature. The program will explore the major issues and prospects of creative Chinese writing in a global age and seek to build HKUST as a major platform of such discourses in the higher education sector locally, nationally and internationally. It will also greatly enrich the academic and intellectual community of IAS by creating more exchange and interaction among top scientists in the world and top creative writers from China and beyond.

For more information, please visit the program website at http://ias.ust.hk/events/cwp.