Winter 2016 / Issue 37
Beijing Forum Meet this Year’s 39 Unearthed Documents and Ancient Chinese Civilization 08 Rhodes Scholarship Winner from PKU NEWSLETTER｜ PEKING UNIVERSITY WINTER 2016 / ISSUE 37 Campus Trends: 41 Live Streaming PEKING UNIVERSITY Contents
WINTER 2016 ｜ Issue 37
Spotlight
Foreign Minister of Iran Speaks at PKU 02 PKU Guanghua School of Management Fashion Show 05 Meet this Year’s Rhodes Scholarship Winner from PKU 08
Column
The Entrepreneurial Spirit of PKU 12 What Do You Think of When You Think of Chinese Music? 14 Yenching Academy’s Social Innovation Forum: Bridging China’s Education Gap 17 Sharing Korean Culture in China: Korean Education Center of PKU 23
Editorial Board People
Advisor: Li Yansong, Vice President for International Relations Professor Zhang Jiping: The Beauty of Mathematics 27 PKU Professor Ying Luo on Life, Family, and Research 29 Chair: Xia Hongwei, Director, Office of International Relations Vice-Chair: Yan Jun, Zheng Ruqing, Wang Yong, Kang Tao, Zhou Manli Campus Coordinator: Luo Ling, Eric A. Schafer CREATIVEGG Designer: Campus Trends: Live Streaming 31 Second Job Fair for Foreign Students in China Held at PKU 33 Editorial Team Int'l Collaboration Chief Editor: Wang Runjian
Deputy Chief Editors: Huang Fangyuan, Wei Yuchen Vice Premier of China and PKU President Attend Sino-German Forum 35 Copy Editors: Anthony Ng, Derek Tong, Ji Caixuan, Jonathan Ly, Veeresh Kanduri Building World Class Universities: An Institutional Perspective 37 Spotlight & Voice: Zheng Zihui, Ou Kun Peking University and UCL Agree to a Joint MBA Program 39 People & Column: Liu Xiya Academic & Cover: Lin Zixi, Zhang Yixuan Voice International Collaboration & Giving: Li Ruoxue, Xin Yuan Unearthed Documents and Ancient Chinese Civilizaton Campus: Zhong Xue, Tan Yi Qian 42 Former Pakistan Prime Minister and PKU Leadership Discuss Sino-Pakistani Education Cooperation 44 The Peking University Newsletter is a publication for alumni and friends of Peking Interview with University of Toronto President Meric Gertler 46 University and is produced by the Office of International Relations (OIR). Please feel free Interview with Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General Iqbal Riza 49 Professor Liu Haifang and African Studies at PKU to send us suggestions or ideas so that we can improve this publication. 50 Academic Contact Us Researchers from PKU Invent a New Technology for Transforming Viruses into Vaccines 53 Address: Office of International Relations Rethinking Humanities and Humanistic Values of Education in Our Age 54 Peking University, 100871 PKU Professor’s Article Published in Diplomatic History 56 Beijing, P.R. China What does “Culture” Mean Today? 57 Phone: (+86) 10-6275-7453 Fax: (+86) 10-6275-1240 Giving Email: [email protected] Cao Xueqin Arts Development Fund Launched at PKU 59 Newsletter Online Gridsum Donates to Establish PKU Law School Research and Talent Training Work Development Fund 60 President of Sino Group and Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation Huang Zhixiang Named as an Honorary The Newsletter can be read online at: www.oir.pku.edu.cn/En/ Trustee of PKU 6 1 The views expressed in this publication are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of International Relations or Peking University.
NEWSLETTER｜ PEKING UNIVERSITY WINTER 2016 / ISSUE 37 Spotlight
Iran, Ayatullah Khamenai, during in terms of super power relations was hoping to turn the temporary President Xi Jinping’s visit to Iran and super power rivalry. And all victory into a permanent insti- he said “Iran will never forget Chi- players, all activities in the inter- tutionalized global supremacy. nese cooperation during the sanc- national scene have to one way or Almost annually, the U.S. had tions.” other form and conform to that one major military operation. You The visit of the Foreign Minis- system.” remember thinking about Iraq, ter of Iran, Javad Zarif, to China The collapse of the Soviet Un- thinking about Somalia, thinking has some special importance for ion made the situation worse for about Sudan, Kosovo, and Yugo- both countries. Especially after the the world as it was interpreted by slavia. And then when we have for- changing situation of the Middle the U.S. as their victory, “After mer president Bush who engaged East and the election of the new the collapse of the Soviet Union in two major wars in Afghanistan U.S. president, both countries are and the Eastern Bloc, there was a and Iraq. All of us know they didn’t becoming even closer. misperception in the West. That go there to liberate the people but misperception was that the West they went there to institutionalize China-Iran Relations had won the Cold War. It was a bad their supremacy under the illusion illusion. A bad illusion from which that they could in fact become the The Foreign Minister started his we continued to suffer for almost greatest hegemonic power.” speech by highlighting the close 30 years.” The hegemonic intentions and relations of Iran and China, “We Under this bad illusion, and the waging of war on other countries Foreign Minister of Iran Speaks at PKU have a History of close relations, a desire of capturing the resources of made the world and even the U.S. > Ghulam Mustafa history of cooperation, of under- the rest of the world, the U.S. tried more insecure. “What have they standing between Iran and China, to institutionalize its hegemonic gained? Is the U.S. more secure and now we are working for a bet- power and started military opera- today because of its invasion of ter future with promises of engage- tions, “If you look at the history in Afghanistan and Iraq? Is anybody ment and participation together for the 1990’s, you can see more secure today? Everybody is ran’s Foreign Minister Javad in understanding the point of view strong trade and economic ties but collective action in areas of mutual that the United States less secure.” Zarif visited Peking University of different societies, cultures, lan- also have a common vision to build interest.” Ion the 6th of December, 2016. guages, and religions of the world. relations with countries of the After meeting with Lin Jianhua, This is the reason that the first ever world. Why China and Iran rela- Hegemonic Rule the President of Peking University book written by any Chinese profes- tions are important for the Middle and Ning Qi, the Dean of the PKU sor on Shia Muslims is by a profes- East was explained by Professor Wu To elaborate how the world was School of Foreign Languages, he sor of Peking University, Professor Bingbing in the following words, ruled in the past, he started by de- addressed a large gathering attend- Wu Bingbing. In order to deeply “Iran has great influence in Central scribing the rule in the era of two ed by more than 20 foreign ambas- understand the China-Iran relation- Asia and the Middle East and this super powers, “The international sadors, many professors, faculty ship and to give a more comprehen- means Iran can be an important system from basically members, and students from differ- sive view of the topic, I interviewed partner of China. Due to sanctions the end of the Second ent universities. Peking University Professor Wu Bingbing. During the on Iran, its infrastructure doesn’t World War till the has a major role in providing an interview, I asked Professor Wu match the needs of its people, and demise of the East- understanding of the world and about the history and future of Chi- here China is playing a role.” ern Bloc was very part of that mission is to help Chi- na-Iran relations and have included The effort of China to help Iran rigid. Everything nese people better understand the excerpts from the interview below. during its sanctions was warmly was basically de- Middle East. The university believes Iran and China not only share a lauded by the Supreme Leader of scribed and defined
02 NEWSLETTER｜ PEKING UNIVERSITY WINTER 2016 / ISSUE 37 03 Spotlight
costs of others, that is an illusion, and I think that the slogans we are hearing from Washington are sim- ply the reiteration of the illusion of the 1990s that brought about so much disaster for the world. The sooner people wake up, the sooner they will realize that this illusion will not get us anywhere.” Appreciating the role of China in the transitional phase he elaborat- ed, “China is a global player in the He appreciated the role China future and decision itself, “As history transitional phase and has continu- is currently playing is based on a is no longer made by the two super ously played a very important role win-win strategy, in which every powers, this gives all of us a promis- in shaping the future of the world, country gains according to its ing future which puts responsibility and we believe that we can work share, “I am very happy that at the on the shoulder of every single indi- together to achieve that.” foundation of the Chinese global vidual but also gives us a lot of free- Regarding his strategy of having approach represented by the new dom of action in a lot of challenges success in the transitional phase, initiative by President Xi is the One on the road ahead of us.” “In a global society, we can’t create Belt, One Road initiative, lies very He also shared his vision how coalitions against this or that. We fundamental requirements of the the relations in the countries can need to build networks. Networks globalized world. That is, we need be built in the world, “We can’t of connectivity. Networks of coop- positive sum games.” have anything other than positive eration. Networks of common use. sum games. The perception or the Networks of common objectives. The Current Era illusion that you can win at the Networks that serve a common expense of others will lead to a humanity. Networks that recognize Javad Zarif seems to be very hope- negative sum game. You either win that we sit in the same boat in trou- ful for the current era. He thinks that together or loose together. We can’t bled waters. We either sail together now the states could make their own have greatness of one country at the or sink together.” PKU Guanghua School About Dr. Mohammad Javad Zarif Dr. Mohammad Javad Zarif has many years of experience in different posts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the of Management Islamic Republic of Iran. He was the Deputy Minister for Legal and International Affairs for ten years. He was also the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations in New York for five years. During his career as a dip- lomat, Dr. Zarif has been selected several times as a Distinguished Director at the national and organizational levels. Dr. Zarif has taught for more than two decades at the university level. He is a visiting lecturer at the School of Interna- tional Relations in Tehran and a member of the academic staff of the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences at the Univer- Fashion Show sity of Tehran. > Jonathan Ly
04 NEWSLETTER｜ PEKING UNIVERSITY WINTER 2016 / ISSUE 37 Spotlight
and students of Peking University, them. I personally recruited peo- team and all the volunteers who are? What could be better than to ple in the canteens at lunch time, helped, we managed with great ef- show the world we are not only everyone being out, there was a fort to have all the different teams scholars but also have our own wide pool of models which could ready for the big day. We recruited sense of fashion? potentially fit the requirements of 20 make-up and hairdressing ex- After discussing this idea with our designers. Despite the layers perts who managed to take care the ambassadors at our first meet- of the winter clothes, I could spot of the models, we had a choreog- ing, I gathered a team of MBA am- who would fit and directly asked rapher who taught and trained bassadors and students in Peking them for their WeChat and whether our models to walk properly on a University to launch this crazy idea they would be interested in joining runway, we had our designers and of the “Peking University Guang- the project. also other choreographers putting hua School of Management Fashion Having our models ready was our models together, reorganizing Show first edition” just one month one part but would high-end de- the fitting with our volunteers and after the Beijing Fashion Week. sign represent the identity of our the distribution of the models be- We fixed the date of December 1st students, would it be enough? Fol- tween the performances and all the and had one month to organize lowing several suggestions of our runways and collections displayed. everything from scratch without teachers and other classes, we also We also had our DJ, DJ Sern, curate any previous experience in fashion included other parts to the fashion and match songs with the chore- show management. show such as the sports section, the ographies of every collection and Thinking about high-end fash- school ‘uniform’ section, and the performance. ion and runways just like what can business section. As we are in the On the big day, the pressure be observed in Paris, Milan, or Lon- Guanghua School of Management, went higher and higher. Our spon- don, we managed through our own having a ‘business suits’ collection sor Hosaka Spring of Fashion came personal connections to recruit was also of great importance to us. to support us and attend our major very single day is an adven- were chosen as Guanghua School designers from the Peking Institute Also, we had to take into consid- rehearsal with everyone. After two ture and the 1st of Decem- of Management MBA Ambassadors, of Fashion but also one ‘Floral Art’ eration the fact that Peking Univer- intensive days of preparation and Eber 2016 was an incredible and some of our core missions are designer from Peking University. As sity is a diverse higher education in- one whole afternoon of rehearsal, and epic adventure for many Pe- to promote the MBA program of the designers of Peking Institute of stitute with worldwide talents, and our show began at 7pm with bright king University students. That day the Guanghua School of Manage- Fashion had very specific require- we had to have a proper balance of lights. More than 400 students marked the entry of Peking Univer- ment as well as enhance the global ments regarding the measurements Chinese and international models came to see the show and more sity into the small circle of univer- image of Peking University and the of their models, we launched an to represent us. Therefore, not only than 80,000 people viewed it live sities or higher education institutes city of Beijing as a whole. on-campus recruitment of models did we have international models via NetEase, not including the oth- who organize fashion shows even As a Frenchman, fashion is part exclusively in Peking University. in the runways but we also included er media outlets, Time Out Beijing, though they do not have any fash- of my lifestyle. I believe fashion in Recruiting models on-campus international performances with for instance. ion institute or specific courses re- general defines not only one per- was one of the most entertaining beautiful dances from Russia and Thanks to all of our organizing lated to the fashion industry. son’s identity but also the identity moments of that month of prepa- Thailand, amazing songs from members and a month of intense My name is Jonathan Ly, and I of a population, its diversity, and ration. Through our recruiting South Africa, energetic choreogra- work, this event turned out to be a am the Project Leader of the first its state of mind. campaign, we received dozens of phies from South Korea and Colom- new highlight for Peking Universi- Peking University and Guanghua Therefore, what could be better applications from students of all bia, and a Japanese runway show. ty. I personally look forward to at- School of Management Fashion than organizing a fashion show to the divisions of Peking University, Once we had all these different tending next year’s edition and see Show. show the world who we, students of organized an audition and also visions in mind, we had to coordi- how the new generation of students A month ago, my team and I Guanghua School of Management recruited students wherever we met nate everything and thanks to our will take the lead.
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ne of the greatest pleas- Ni, and is crucial to his own telling ures of studying at PKU of the story of how he arrived at Ois that you walk around this point in this life. campus knowing that in your midst Just one of the many reasons are some people of unparalleled, Xu Ni was eligible for the Rhode’s prodigious genius. Erudite human Scholarship was that he has both beings who in years, months, and set up and helped run branches of maybe even days to come will do major medical exchange programs things that many throughout the here in China, which includes the world might only ever dream of International Federation of Medi- doing. This year’s Rhodes Scholar cal Students Association (IFMSA) here at Peking University is one of and its Standing Committee on Re- those amazing people who are well search Exchange (SCORE), as well on their way to making profound as It Gets Brighter China (or 总会变 changes in not just Chinese socie- 好 in Chinese). According to Xu Ni’s ty, but global society as well—his own telling of the story, the found- name is Xu Ni. ing of SCORE was possible because Born in Guizhou to parents he took advantage of a chance, he from Shenyang in the Northeast- saw a poster advertising an IMFSA ern part of China, Xu Ni moved to conference in Tunisia and thought Beijing at the age of six to attend it would be “a good chance to travel school. He is now at Peking Univer- with friends”. During his stay at the sity’s School of Medicine, has also conference as a general delegate, he taken a “gap year” at Oxford Uni- found that China lacked these in- versity and has attended a three- stitutions for international research week research program this past exchange and so he felt he “had summer at Yale. Somehow through the responsibility” to found these he wanted, so he ended up testing In fact, he wanted to be a brain all of this, he still managed to find organizations. Upon his return to into the elite humanities program surgeon similar to those he saw Meet this Year’s the time to study Eng- China and after a bit of research, he instead. He found that, in fact, he in medical dramas on television. lish—it’s no wonder this founded SCORE China and became had a knack for this area of study He explained, “So, I wanted to get is Peking University’s the National Officer of Research as well. In fact, he realized that he in touch with a neuroscientist… Rhodes Scholarship Winner Rhodes Scholar of 2017. Exchange. After four months, he could find a way to synthesize his as a sophomore.” However, there At 23 years of age, Xu Ni was also elected Vice President of knack for humanities and his love was one problem with this plan, from PKU has already accomplished a great IMFSA. for science through medicine. Had the school assigns supervisors for deal, and yet he maintains an air Xu Ni also attributes his decision he not ended up in the humanities research training programs and > Carson Ramsdell of prudence and modesty that one to study medicine to chance. His program, his direction in life may they assigned Xu Ni a geneticist. might not expect from someone of high school entrance examination have been different. “So I tried to contact a bunch of his stature. In fact, Xu Ni credits a scores were good enough to get into When he came to PKU, he start- neuroscientists, but they are all lot of his successes and accomplish- the Second High School attached ed out studying medicine, but he full.” Here, ‘chance’ came back into ments in life to chance. This was to Beijing Normal University, but didn’t necessarily want to be a play, and his neighbor told him one of the concepts that kept com- couldn’t quite make the cut to get scientist and do research, he just there was a professor, “he had just ing up in my conversation with Xu into their elite science program that wanted some practical experience. come back from the U.S., and his
NEWSLETTER｜ PEKING UNIVERSITY WINTER 2016 / ISSUE 37 09 Spotlight
research focused on neuropathic clinical research and work with pa- shave, brush his teeth…he was just positive interaction with mental groups, one for depression and one pain.” Xu Ni says, “I think it’s kind tients. So, he decided to do a three- waiting for the new treatment.” illness socially and culturally. This for Asperger Syndrome. of practical, so I said, ‘Why not try week summer clinical neuroscience Oddly enough, this man had suf- is where opportunity comes in. It is on this journey from testing neuropathic pain!’” This ended up research program at Yale, where he fered from chronic pain, and was There is plenty of room to move into the high school humanities leading to a first-author publication would be researching ketamine as now suffering from depression. A forward in the field of mental track, to having the chance to re- in the Journal of Neuroscience. an anti-depressant. This is where transition in illness that mirrored health in China. As Xu Ni himself search neuropathic pain, to his cur- A major reason Xu Ni won this Xu Ni discovered fulfillment: “In Xu Ni’s very own transition in says, “There are a lot of negative rent work in the field of psychiatry year’s Rhodes Scholarship is due to that ketamine research program, I research. By the end of the three attitudes toward mental health in that Xu Ni primed himself to win a his work with mental illness and started to take care of one patient weeks of treatment, this man had China. That’s why we wanted to 2017 Rhode’s Scholarship, and it’s improving conditions for people with treatment refractory depres- begun to recover. This story and start ‘It Gets Brighter China’,” Xu Ni no wonder that he was chosen out suffering from mental illness in sion from the beginning to the the feeling of helping another per- says, “we want to raise awareness of the many students who applied. China. Here too, Xu Ni says his end—for three weeks.” He contin- son recover, the feeling of fulfill- and provide education for the gen- Xu Ni is not just studying this field involvement in the field of mental ues, “When I first saw him, he was ment has stayed with Xu Ni until eral public—get them to seek help.” for the sake of studying, or even things done that makes him a illness and interest in psychiatry like a beggar; he now. He clarifies, “I want to be part China’s branch of ‘It Gets Bright- for the sake of finding a good job perfect candidate for the Rhodes inadvertently happened over time. d i d n ’t of this positive transformation for er’ was founded by Xu Ni for this afterwards. He’s doing it to help Scholarship. It is what makes him According to Xu Ni, “I think it patients, and I also want to harness very reason. He wanted to use the people, and he discovered that this one of the people of our gener- wasn’t a ‘one-night decision’, its the power of medical innovations.” model set up in the UK’s version of was what he wanted to accomplish ation that is going to not only more about several pieces com- The challenge of and opportu- this noble organization (“sharing on his journey to deciding to study change China, but also the world. ing together, and then one day nities in the field of psychiatry personal narratives”) to do that psychiatry. This shows through “In the future—I’m writing the everything crystallized, I knew right now also add to the same work here in China, but with some of his most recent work— proposal now—I want to build I wanted to be a psychiatrist. allure of this field of re- a twist. He wanted to implement a using “the power of art to raise up a kind of community for peo- I think my reasons are search for Xu Ni. He public awareness campaign as part awareness” of mental illness. “For ple interested in psychology and four-fold: first, personal explains that the mental of ‘It Gets Brighter China’. “It’s part my part, I want to combine that psychiatry, because in China, we experience; second, per- health challenges in of my specialty, so we deliver some with public education, so I’m col- currently lack professionals to de- sonal fulfillment; third, China right now are professional knowledge, to fight laborating with a very big compa- liver such services. So, I want to the challenge; and fourth, something that he ny, My Therapist start these communities and con- the opportunity.” Xu Ni goes wants to help enact ( 简单心理 ).” He nect them with specialists.” He on to explain that his personal positive change in. He continues, “With has big ideas and wants to show experience with chronic illness says, “Mental health I want to be part of this their help, we will the people in this communities (ulcerative colitis), witnessing is highly stigmatized positive transformation for try to reach the that “you are not alone, you are his grandmother’s struggle with in China right now.” patients, and I also want to general public not the only one who wants to depression and the fact that he’s He cites various cul- harness the power of medi- through WeChat.” study this. You will meet other a talkative guy have all come tural sources for this cal innovations. This sort of work people with the same ideas… together in his decision to study from media to the learned that Xu Ni man- and we can encourage people of psychiatry. “I think psychiatry fear of mental illness from ages to not only younger generations to study psy- is the perfect combination of a very young age in China, accomplish, but chology and psychiatry.” In this neuroscience and getting to know and he feels that “our current also balance with way, Xu Ni is set to change the people more deeply. medical education does not stigma, and also, we receive a lot his studies is what sets Xu Ni apart face of psychology, psychiatry, Over the summer, Xu Ni was allow for better social accept- of emails and feedback from the from other people. It is this drive and the understanding of men- a bit lost as to which direction he ance of mental illness.” As platforms, so we started some peer to help people achieve better tal health in China. He finishes, wanted to take his PhD research, such, there is plenty of room support groups.” So far they have understanding of mental health, “I think the Rhodes Scholarship is but he knew he wanted to do to move forward to more already started two peer support along with his ability to get both an honor and a responsibility.”
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Culture Festival held in October low-cost, which would be a substi- of the university are developing displayed the rich diversity of the tute for buying one’s own bike. He new innovative programs like the students on campus as well as their started his business on the campus Sports Management Center of wide imagination. Year over year, of Peking University and then with Guanghua School of Management more countries join this annual the money he managed to raise as launched early December 2016 to major event. Not only do interna- well as the current support of GSR help its students further develop tional and Chinese minorities stu- Ventures, a major venture capital their creativity, many entrepre- dents set booths with traditional firm in China, he succeeded in neurs in Peking University are food and drinks, as well as pictures implementing his bike-sharing on the verge of coming out and of their homes, but they also per- system all over China. launching their projects. Let’s see form songs, dances, or popular But this alumnus, Dai Wei, is how things will end and who are social and cultural rites on stage. not the only entrepreneur on cam- going to be the next generation of Burundi distinguished itself this pus. As the several departments Peking University entrepreneurs. year for its traditional drums dance combining martial arts and gym- nastics skills with a great rhythm. These two parts show how stu- dents can innovate and launch themselves into traditional or novel projects with an ‘out of the box’ thinking style by utilizing the abundant resources and strong The Entrepreneurial Spirit of PKU network Peking University offers. > Jonathan Ly Nevertheless, the entrepreneur- ship spirit goes even further in Pe- king University as some students are real entrepreneurs, building businesses all over China. very single day, Peking been rich in new activities. ganized the structure and events of Dai Wei, founder of OFO is one University students show I personally founded and or- the Greedy Tongues, a student un- example of student and entrepre- Etheir entrepreneurial spirit. ganized with a team of MBA Am- ion gathering students sharing the neur who managed in two years to Not only do students join bassadors and other students of same desire to learn more about roll-out a great business. When he creative projects offered by the the Guanghua School of Manage- other languages and cultures. Also, was studying in Peking University, different departments of Peking ment the first fashion show of the a group of LGBT foreign students he lost five bikes in five years, basi- University but they also renew or business school and first fashion has launched in partnership with cally one every year. build projects from scratch such show ever held in Peking Universi- a group of LGBT Chinese students From this experience, he came as student unions, activities on ty. A fellow undergraduate student a movie-watching session with a up with the idea of a bike-shar- and off campus, businesses with of the School of Economics, Frank selection of LGBT-related movies. ing system where people would or without external partners, and Jin, organized the first Venture Peking University has also been be able to have access to bikes for even start-ups. Capital pitching competition of renewing activities with even more on-campus transportation. The In fact, this first semester for Peking University. Ani Grigoryan creativity this year. This year’s bikes would be used via WeChat or the 2016-2017 academic year has from the Yenching Academy reor- Peking University International the OFO phone app and at a very
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there is a small but rich collection sicians like SUBS. However, the of Chinese rock that sprouted up of Chinese artists that exist out- younger generation of musicians during the early eighties and has side of the mainstream and try to obviously isn’t just making punk. been growing ever since. Musi- weather a climate that is not nec- There is an indie rock scene throb- cians like Cui Jian and Dou Wei (of essarily always very supportive of bing and undulating underneath Black Panther) pioneered a style them, all while pushing musical the streets of the dust covered cities that would not only introduce but boundaries in this great country I’ve that has started to and will con- also popularize this form of music made my home for this era. tinue to boom. Including better in China, especially amongst the I’ll start from my roots. Grow- known bands like Hedgehog ( 刺 youth of the time. Now bands like ing up, I always loved punk. Every 猬 ) and Carsick Cars ( 晕车的车 ), those mentioned above are carry- morning my journey to school as well as lesser known bands like ing on the tradition and adding would begin on the bus listening Glow Curve ( 发光曲线 ) and Streets their own unique touches to this to bands like Minor Threat, Black Kill the Strange Animals ( 街道杀死 traditionally very Western form of Flag, the Descendants (you get the 奇怪的动物 ) this scene includes a music. Take for example, Second idea), and my journey home would seriously wide range of styles and Hand Rose ( 二手玫瑰 ). They com- end the same way. It was a ritual. often seems to stress experimenta- bine a traditional form of folk sing- Then last year, in Changsha, I hap- tion. Chui Wan ( 吹万 ), a psychedelic ing (and dancing) from the North- pened to be walking home from a band from Beijing, is one band that east called, “Er Ren Zhuan” (二人转) What Do You Think of late night shao kao session with a has gained international attention with modern rock and the results couple friends and ran into some for their novel and eclectic style of aren’t half bad. Good enough in fact When You Think of Chinese Music? punks. Turns out, they were in a music that defies classification. A that they have won and been nomi- band called SMZB ( 生命之饼 ) that growing audience inside China and nated for their fair share of awards, > Carson Ramsdell could well be considered one of international attention, coupled with most recently, in 2014 they won the staples of Chinese punk. Along a knack for innovation is causing this best band for their album “Stealing came to China for the first time guistic chops I need to dig deeper period of time is that statements with artists like He Yong ( 何勇 ), older once nascent scene to flourish. the Show” ( 一枝独秀 ) from Modern in 2014 after studying Mandarin into the world of Chinese music. like, “All Chinese music sounds the bands like Brain Failure ( 脑浊 ), and Punk and Indie rock, however, Sky. Ifor a year and a half in the Unit- This article was tough to write. same” or questions like, “why is even newer bands like SUBS ( 杀 are just two branches of a tradition There are also other people tak- ed States. When I arrived in August A couple of failed attempts at in- there no good Chinese music” are 不死 ) and P.K. 14 (post-punk that of that year, my Chinese commu- terviews, research that just made thrown around in conversations I will include here), these bands nication skills were still limited. me more and more confused and a amongst foreigners residing in Chi- comprise a scene that provides nec- However, after two long years of bad case of writer’s block all came na too often. From this little plot essary contrast to the mainstream, working while simultaneously stud- together in one massive, discon- of land upon which I stand now, it popular musical culture, because ying Chinese, I managed to arrive certing conglomeration of a you’re- seems absurd that someone would sometimes even grit and dust can at Peking University and get into never-going-to-finish-this kind of think that, but the thing is, I used be refreshing. its Chinese as a Second Language feeling. I honestly still don’t quite to feel that way, too. I felt that way These alternatives to main- School. Since my arrival in China, know how to start this article, or until I dug, sifted, and mined my stream music in China, especially and subsequently at PKU, my love in which direction it should go, so way through all but microscopic the older generation of musicians for this language, culture, society, I’m just going to move forward by corners of the Chinese internet like He Yong, whom I just men- people, and its music has grown by reflecting on my own experience and started to unearth music that tioned, and also people like Cui leaps and bounds. And now, after of living and listening to two and a resonated with me from the digital Jian ( 崔健 ; considered the “father” studying Chinese at PKU, I feel I half years of China. dust that it once hid behind. It was of rock in China), opened up doors have sufficiently garnered the lin- One thing I’ve noticed over this in this way that I came to find that for a younger generation of mu-
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ing a more traditional side of music in new directions. Yang Zhongguo Yenching Academy’s ( 杨众国) is one such artist and he even managed to make a rather pecu- Social Innovation Forum: liar appearance on Chinese nation- al television, on a show called “Sing Bridging China’s Education Gap My Song” ( 中国好歌曲 ) where he > Eun Seo Kim experimented heavily with very traditional elements of Chinese music, using vocal warping over simple melody to create a song rich in texture that hinted at traditional Chinese music while managing to be very progressive. With all this experimenting hap- sound similar too as has been com- pendent music, with bands such as pening in Chinese music, people monplace in the past, because they Chui Wan, Carsick Cars, Hedgehog, from outside of China are beginning simple don’t sound like very much and Nova Heart. to pay more attention to Mainland that has come before. This is histor- Chinese music, and art in gener- Chinese music, some bands have ically unprecedented. al for that matter, is not some kind managed to make decently sized Until now, China hasn’t really of stagnant well that is still being waves outside the country. Two exported much of its pop-culture pumped from after all these years. such bands, Nova Heart and Chui overseas, especially to the West. This While traditional forms of music Wan ( 吹万 ), are good examples of may be one reason why foreigners in still inform many modern Chinese groups who have recently done so. China might not be so thoroughly bands, music has modernized Coming from very different loci exposed to the diversity of Chinese along with many other aspects of on the musical spectrum, these music and might not know all of the country. Although this article two have caught the attention of the many options out there when focused on one aspect of modern media outlets such as Der Spiegel seeking out Chinese music that they Chinese music, independent rock, rom November 24 to 26, by the selection committee and an urban areas. I have attended the and NPR. Both bands could be like. Oddly enough one of the piec- there is a plethora of bands that the inaugural Yenching external jury of experts. There were forum and have interviewed dele- described as innovative at the very es of pop-culture that seems to be work in a wide variety of genres FSocial Innovation Forum two delegates from Yenching Acad- gates during the course of the three least, they cannot simply be com- primed for sharing overseas is inde- from hip hop, to rock, to metal, to (YSIF) took place at Peking Uni- emy of Peking University and over days from the opening ceremony to pared to Western bands that they folk. This pool of bands, groups versity. The forum aims to bring five students from Peking Universi- the ride back to the airport. and artists continues to grow every young innovators from China and ty and many different nationalities year and is not only changing the countries from around the world were represented. The delegates Day 1 face of Chinese music, but in the to discuss social problems facing were divided into small groups and coming years will likely help to China and formulate innovative given a complex social problem Upon their arrival in Beijing, change the face of music elsewhere solutions. The theme for this year’s to resolve three weeks prior to the the delegates attended the opening as well. Right now, the pop era of YSIF was ‘Bridging China’s Educa- forum. These issues ranged from ceremony followed by a seminar. Chinese music is just beginning to tion Gap’ and around 35 delegates migrant children’s access to educa- The first seminar featured Profes- wane, and in the lack of light that were selected based on their expe- tion, lack of educational resources sor Scott Rozelle from Stanford is left behind, interesting things are rience and passion for making a for disabled students and educa- University and Professor Ha Wei happening. difference in the education sector tional disparity between rural and from Peking University. Profes-
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Each presented their unique back- has co-founded a technology based cipal that we talked to demonstrat- need and they are going to imple- grounds and how they became educational charity. Finally, Mo is ed. She had great leadership skills, ment it as you wish.” involved in NGOs. In response to a PKU student studying philoso- she had great presentations skills The delegates also shared the delegates’ questions, the panelists’ phy at Peking University and is the and she could have been doing any projects they were working on in- replies included that as an NGO CEO of Symposium for Advocating other job but instead she chose cluding providing services, build- leader it is a great environment and Global Education (SAGE), a newly to forsake all that and take an ex- ing a community for those with time to expose yourself to commu- started public benefit program in- tremely low salary for the pure sake special education needs, and im- nities in need as there is great pub- itiated to bridge the gap between of helping these children when no proving training for administrative lic consciousness. They also men- Chinese education and various one else cared. So, that for me was staff in migrant schools. We also tioned the challenges of accessing modes of foreign pedagogical inno- very inspirational and very hope- discussed the long-term impact and funds in China and the impact of vations. He was passionate about ful for the future because there are the legacies of the forum. Although the new NGO law and emphasized improving conditions in migrant people like that.” a three-day gathering of bright a greater need for corporate social schools based on his own personal Ted was also grateful for the minds from all over the world may responsibility by Chinese firms and experience in migrant schools. The opportunity and was encouraged not change things on the ground the importance of cultivating sup- delegates were very inspired by by the practitioner panelists. “Now- immediately, Johannes appreciated port networks. In direct contrast to their site visit to the migrant school adays, large enterprises have this the insightful feedback he received their previous site visit, the dele- as they got a rare glimpse of China huge desire to encourage and recruit about his initiative from experts. gates visited PKU affiliated primary which is hard to experience as a young innovators to help them with “You also have to have a little school in the afternoon. foreigner and got to witness the their social impact… and they want bit of faith that people go on and perseverance of people who devote someone that is young and enthu- remain committed to something Panel Interview their lives for educational equality. siastic about these topics to lead like social improvement over the Phillip mentioned the most memo- …to share ideas with people who long-run. There are no guarantees At the end of the second day, I rable part of the forum. genuinely care about it [educational for that. However, I also see that had a chance to have a panel discus- “I think one thing I liked to add equality] and right now they are other people have that faith and sor Rozelle presented interesting School in the outskirts of Beijing. sion with three delegates, Johannes about migrant school we visited telling us that society has your back maybe it is reasonable to have it… findings from his Rural Education Many delegates were charmed by Hallermeier, Guangning “Phillip” was the pure altruism that the prin- and they will give you resources you I was inspired by the fact that one Action Project and argued that in the students and were impressed by An (安广宁) from the U.S. and “Ted” order for China to avoid the ‘middle the speech given by the principal of Mo Chen ( 陈沫 ) from China to dis- income trap’ the quality of human the migrant school and her passion cuss their takeaways from the forum capital must be improved and one for giving migrant children a fair and got to know more about these of the best ways to achieve this chance. delegates in depth. Johannes is a may be through an intervention to Yenching scholar from Germany promote the cognitive development Day 2 and he has been involved in educa- of children at a young age. Profes- tion related initiatives in Peru and sor Wei gave a thorough analysis of The second seminar featured the German education ministry. He the gaps within China’s education education practitioners including was excited about opportunities to system including the resource dis- Steve Hwang, the executive direc- get feedback for ideas he currently parities in urban and rural schools tor and founder of ABC Bridge for has about psychological counsel- and Rural Education Finance Re- Children International, Andrew ling. Phillip is a student at Cal Tech form spanning over 20 years since Shirman, the CEO and founder of and said he was touched by his 1980. The following afternoon, the Education in Sight, and Pan Jing, parents’ efforts to grant him great delegates visited Tongshin Migrant the CEO of Teach Future China. educational opportunities and also
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of the panelists gave feedback to us it very nicely. every day, her efforts and her sweat believe that this is the most valu- ost of Peking University, Professor I got to interview the audience that his company is running a sim- “Number one is exposure to the and tears to increase the access to able takeaway we can have that if Li Chenjian; Associate Dean of members, forum organizers, and ilar model where they incorporate problems. Number two is poten- resources these children have. That we are able to keep in contact with Yenching Academy, John Holden; delegates on their impression of the other people and their energy and tial to solve the problems. Num- really inspired me and basically these people… I think that together and Michelle Wang from Handicap forum. Thomas Werkmeister from work and contribution for a certain ber three is literally the people. communicated to me that I too we can certainly make a dent in the International. The judging panel the Yenching Academy comment- amount of time into their organiza- What I mean by exposure to the can make a difference regardless of problem. asked some challenging questions ed, “The number of problems is tional structure but they also know problem is without visiting China what background I come from. If I The panelists also shared new but also offered comments on ar- really large and there is a lot of po- that these people go again and the and seeing the plight of migrant want to make a change, I have the things they have learned from eas of improvement. The winning tential to improve on the education only thing that they want to make workers, there is no way I would potential to make a change, and I the forum and their own take on team’s solution was titled: ‘Bring in China. I think it was interesting sure is that those people in the have known that there exists such think the most important aspect how to solve the problems at hand the Wings: Creating Community to see also how different people future still remain committed to a inequality. I think being a nation is the people. I think change starts including improving local govern- Among Parents, Alleviating Spe- from different regions of the world social cause and follow up on the of such a large scale, you tend to on a small scale. You don’t say I am ance, different pedagogical meth- cial Needs Problems in China’ and address these problems. I saw a lot ideas that they got to know at some stereotype or you tend to group the going to implement this solution ods, de-stigmatization, and incor- sought to create a social network of great ideas, but I also saw taking point.” plight of all the students in one cat- and then you automatically solve poration of new technology. Before using technology to connect fami- some ideas that work in certain On the other hand, Ted was con- egory, you don’t segment it further the problem. I think it starts with we wrapped up the interview, they lies with children with special ed- countries and just trying to imple- fident that his project on migrant so just acknowledging that these individuals extremely passionate also shared their future steps in- ucational needs. A project tackling ment them in China… I think it is schools will continue to go forward problems exist and seeing them about one thing who are leaders in cluding Ted’s plan to launch his autism was awarded the most in- important to do further research and be implemented in the next with my own eyes was eye opening their community who inspire other own educational blog for people to novative, a book sharing project to to really elaborate on what is the few years as his team has personal for me. In regards to potential to people and educate them about communicate openly about their aid grandparents in rural areas was problem and how do we get from connections with migrant schools. solve these problems, listening to the issues that various communi- educational experiences. considered the most sustainable this problem to a viable solution.” This conference provided him with the panelists, one of which was ties face. I honestly believe that and laboratory schools modelled One of the organizers of the forum, a “reaffirmation that whatever you a former Goldman Investment some of these people will become Day 3: The Competition on charter schools won the best Nastia Ilyna also raised a similar are believing in is going to work banker turned non-profit CEO, and diplomats, leaders in government, delivery award. Other innovative point, “They are going to under- and you just want to keep on do- seeing that there are real people CEOs, and leaders of non-profits, Total of seven groups presented solutions included training mi- stand what are the peculiarities of ing that from the bottom of your making real impacts on these prob- and I believe these people have the their innovative solutions to spe- grant school staff, offering career Chinese education and hopefully heart.” lems, was very encouraging. For potential to change the world be- cific problems ranging to public mentorship schemes, and raising they will learn and take these pro- When it came to the significance example the migrant school prin- cause they are going to be the ones audience and a panel of distin- awareness of vocational schools. jects home, and they are not just of this forum, Phillip summarized cipal, how she sacrificed her time who are leading the world. And I guished judges including Vice Prov- After the final competition, going to die and pass away but they
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are going to live on and they are from around the world to focus in grounds of the delegates here. But going to keep working on them and an intense program on education- I think it is equally important that perfecting on them.” Many other al challenges and opportunities because people come from differ- interviewees replied that they got in China is a great thing. It has ent contexts where they may not a firmer grasp of the educational brought up a lot of wonderful ide- completely understand the context inequity in China and was inter- as, analytical perspectives that are on the ground and what it means ested in the issue of education gap fresh and these ideas will carry to have identity to have a migrant Sharing Korean Culture in China: because they thought many of the through in the lives of participants worker, what it means to be dispos- problems and solutions in China who are at the beginning of their sessed and marginalized in urban Korean Education Center of PKU could be adapted and applied in careers. So the long term impact is China…they also deeply and truly > Lee Jae Young their own countries. A media prac- going to be very, very big.” He also understand the lived experiences of titioner and social entrepreneur gave his advice to budding social the people who they are trying to from Botswana, Sharon Tshipa, innovators, “Passion and persis- help. So, it is not just a savior com- expressed her motivation to hold a tence. You need both and you need plex whereby you have people from similar social innovation forum in some courage, you need to network across the world who know better her home country and as a delegate and you never give up.” than the Chinese people do for expressed her gratitude for the ex- There was some critical feed- solving their own problems.” He perience. “They [YSIF] have given back, too. Wang Sibo ( 王思博 ), a also provided some concrete pieces me a bank of solutions that can be New York resident with experience of advice in improving the forum applied back home, and also I have teaching in charter schools, com- further by introducing pre-reading given them something.” mented that his biggest feedback and post-forum reports so that del- Yenching Academy’s Associate revolves around cultural respon- egates are fully aware of the unique Dean Jiang Guohua emphasized siveness. “I really think that it is situation in China and is more ac- the importance of helping the un- first of all wonderful there are so countable. derprivileged and John Holden many delegates from so many dif- I also got to briefly catch up with described the significance of the ferent backgrounds, that we have the interviewees from the night be- forum as ‘Getting the right people such rich diversity in the back- fore. Johannes and Ted were grate- ful for the judges’ feedback, and they thought they could improve their ideas further and were also enlightened by conversing with the judges after the competition. As the forum came to an end, the delegates were saying their goodbyes, and I joined three delegates and we talked about higher education reform on our way to the airport. Dropping the delegates off at the airport and exchanging hugs, I felt hopeful that there were people out there who will keep on fighting to advance the ideals they believe in.
22 NEWSLETTER｜ PEKING UNIVERSITY WINTER 2016 / ISSUE 37 ince 2005, the Korean Ed- Cheong, the newly appointed main Chinese students, but as time ucation Center of Peking instructor for the beginner course passed, the influence of this center SUniversity has been ardu- of Korean Education Center; and reached a lot of students interested ously working on sharing Korean Yannong Guo, a student from PKU in Korean culture. Its scale expand- language and culture. The center who attended to several courses for ed rapidly, and in 2001, the society was founded to fulfill the increasing three semesters. was operated with a total of two demand of Korean language due to hundred students. This year, 164 growing cultural influences of Korea History students who wish to discover more in the international society. on Korean culture came together. The Center currently is com- Nahyeon Jeong, now a senior in For efficient training of language prised of twenty-three teachers of the Department of Chinese Lan- skills, the center first divided stu- Korean nationality. Approximately guage and Literature, devoted her dents into a group of two: beginner 170 students from countries includ- three and a half years to this center. course and intermediate course. In ing China, Japan, Singapore, Thai- She witnessed the development of 2014, the center renovated its struc- land, Egypt, and Macedonia assem- the center, and herself participated ture, created an advanced course ble at the Teaching Building No.2 that focuses on critical thinking in organizing most of the major to the students. This activity be- the last ten years. Under the phi- mester. The center classifies the of PKU every Saturday, and take and debating in Korean. events which takes an integral part came one of the major events that losophy of ‘genuineness’, the center students into three categories: be- courses depending on their current Even though its nature takes ac- in the activities of the center. She the Korean Education Center holds. strives to develop within the global ginner course, intermediate course, Korean comprehension level. count on education, the center also explained the history of how the Ms. Jung noted that the center is trend of Korean language emerging and advanced course. Each course The official activity of the Ko- focuses on constructing friendly re- Korean Education Center devel- about to introduce annual language as a cultural icon. has different aims and goals set rean Education Center came to its lationships with Chinese students oped in a chronological order. exchange programs with Chinese for their curriculum. The beginner end on December 3. This writer and international students of di- The Korean Education Center students in PKU. It is expected to Activities course focuses on comprehension interviewed key members who verse cultures. Through building re- was established in 2005 by a few improve the relationship between of vowels and consonants of Ko- operate the center: Jyunghoon ciprocal relationships with Chinese Korean PKU students under the Chinese and Korean students. Every semester, the activity of rean characters; the intermediate Kang, current president of the Ko- idea of ‘introducing the beautiful societies, the Korean Education the Center starts by promoting course gives lectures on basic gram- rean Education Center; Nahyeon Center functions as a pioneer in Korean language through educa- Philosophy newly designed programs in major mar and practical dialogues; the Jeong, former president of the Ko- tion to foreigners’. At first, there international cooperation between universities in Beijing. Students not advanced course interacts with stu- rean Education Center; Jongwhan were only few teachers and some students. Jyunghoon Kang, the incumbent only from PKU, but from universi- dents through advanced grammar In 2012, the Center operated a president of the Korean Education ties including Tsinghua University, and discussions on current affairs. podcast radio channel designed to Center mentioned ‘genuineness’ of Renmin University of China, and Students can arbitrarily select the teach Chinese students Korean via education is what makes the center Beijing Language and Culture Uni- courses they wish to take. Students the internet. In 2013, the center different from other societies versity, assemble at the Teaching also have meetings with teachers participated in the Festival of Deli- which deal with Korean languages. Building No.2 of PKU, further- and students from other groups af- cacies held by PKU. Since 2014, the Since Korean natives are teaching more, office workers or exchange ter class. Korean Education Center has been the language, he mentioned that students also come to learn Korean. For establishing a more systemat- conducting associated acts with its Chinese students can discover Ko- Although the students are from ic operation, teachers of the Korean cooperative partner Chinese-Kore- rean culture reflected through lan- diverse backgrounds, their reasons Education Center write the text- an Cultural Exchange Association guage, and this provides a genuine for coming to PKU is the same: to books used for classes on their own. of PKU, and annually opens the opportunity for students to expe- learn Korean and experience Kore- Additionally, for a more accurate Korean Culture Salon. The salon rience Korean culture. He believes an culture. delivery of Korean to international puts its aim to sharing Korean tra- that this was the power that operat- There are a total of nine or ten students, teachers gather and study ditional and contemporary culture ed the Korean Education Center for classes every course in each se- advanced Korean on a weekly basis.
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comprehending ions on her learning experiences. the information She reminisced on her experiences that he delivered, meeting a Muslim student from and he was moved Malaysia and a Chinese teacher by the passion of who taught during the workdays the students who and then came to the Center every came to the Center weekend to study. She found it very to learn Korean interesting that even though these e ve r y we e ke nd . students are of different national- Students reached ities, occupations, and religions, the level of reading but they gathered together with the Korean characters purpose of learning Korean. She by themselves, and was very happy to meet new peo- those who studied ple, and she said this is one of the harder than others most precious experiences that the could speak simple Korean Education Center provided, The center does not only focus sentences. besides learning Korean. She is ex- Professor Zhang Jiping: on teaching the Korean language, Mr. Jung mentioned that tremely willing to come again and but also on extracurricular activ- through this experience, he fig- start her fourth semester with the The Beauty of Mathematics ities, which enables students to ured out the appropriate method Center. > Fu Fenju experience Korean culture. Thus, of teaching Korean to people of the center provides various oppor- diverse origins, and he found out Future Plans tunities for students to participate the sequence of instruction which s a Chern Medal Award ard Dagobert Brauer is a widely ap- What hid silently behind this in the Korean Culture Salon, field could enable students to under- Mr. Kang expressed that the laureate from the School plied and important international great achievement was his long- trips, and other diverse kinds of stand more efficiently. Korean Education Center is ad- Aof Mathematical Sciences, mathematical research. In 1987, term persistence. At that time, cultural activities. He noted that the reason why so vantageous in that it is powered Peking University (PKU), Professor instructed by his advisor, group Professor Zhang read almost every many students come and take the by both Chinese and Korean Zhang Jiping mainly works on finite representation theory founder in page of every related book and Comments course takes account of their pure students, which makes it easier groups and modular representation China Professor Duan Xuefu and magazine in the library at PKU. It’s interest in Korean language. He be- to come up with fresher contents theory. He has made substantial Professor Zhang became the first worth mentioning that Professor Jongwhan Cheong shared his lieves that learning Korean should involving dynamic cultural ex- contributions on some important in the world to solve the famous Zhang looked through almost 500 comments on what he has learned not be a difficult process, in that changes. He is planning to make topics such as defect groups of Brauer’s Problem by providing suf- bimonthly algebra magazines in through his experience as an as- the students might lose attention to associated activities with the PKU blocks, finite linear groups, and ficient and necessary condition of less than two years. sociate instructor of the beginner Korean while studying. He wished Korean Students Association, Puig’s conjecture. He develops sys- p-Block of defect 0 when he was a In 1989, Professor Zhang was course during the last semester. He learning Korean to be one of the Chinese-Korean Cultural Ex- tematically the arithmetical theory Ph.D. student, which surprised the invited by Professor Thompson was not that worried about the con- students’ hobbies, so that they change Association, or other Chi- of finite groups which is successful- group theory circle and won him to give lectures in the U.S. and tent of the course that he had to de- would not get stressed out while nese-Korean translation circles in ly applied to differential geometry high praise internationally. The became Professor Thompson’s liver, but was more worried about studying. PKU. He wishes to cooperate with and algebraic number theory and Fields Medal laureate John Griggs postdoc. Professor Thompson had breaking the ice and connecting Yannong Guo, a student who at- the newly elected board of the is very useful to solve some long Thompson and other famous group defined an important subgroup Z with the students. However, he was tended the programs of the Korean Korean Education Center, thus standing open problems. theory scholars wrote congratulato- (J (P)) whose name is the same as astonished by students who were Education Center for three consec- make a significant and meaning- Modular representation theory ry messages to hail his work as an Professor Zhang’s initials in his ear- actively participating and fully utive semesters, shared her opin- ful development of the society. built by group theory master Rich- outstanding example. ly work. Encouraged by Professor
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Thompson, Professor Zhang began with his modest academic com- PKU Professor Ying Luo on nearly 20 years of hard work in this munication manners. Under his area and eventually in 2008 proved influence, many Germany scholars Life, Family, and Research new criteria of p-nilpotent, which were amazed at Chinese culture, > Ghulam Mustafa opened a new dimension for the famous mathematician Professor study of finite groups and modular Bertram Huppert even began to be representation theory. Between interested in movable clay printing 1992 and 1993, Professor Zhang invented by Bi Sheng in the North- rofessor Ying Luo is work- cooperated with puig conjecture ern Song Dynasty (960-1127) and ing as an Assistant Profes- proposer Professor L. Puig in Par- conscientiously researched it. Psor in the Department of is and successfully completed his As for teaching, Professor Biomedical Engineering in PKU. work in a year — paring general sit- Zhang often prepares lessons over- She is currently working on devel- uation down to case of single group night. The advanced algebra course oping polymer capsules that could to accelerate the process of proving group in which he served as course be used to treat type 1 diabetes. Puig Conjecture. Persistence in more than 40 papers in world- moderator not only focuses on im- This method has the potential to academic research often means class scientific journals and had parting basic knowledge, but also replace the traditional way of tak- abandonment in other ways: He been commented and excerpted emphasized comprehensive train- ing insulin injections for treatment. had been unable to spare time to by Mathematical Reviews Science ing that includes analysis, geome- I interviewed her to ask her how visit the long-admired Eiffel Tower, Citation Index (SCI). Many mathe- try, algebraic methods to deal with young researchers can do meaning- for example. During his rare leisure maticians around the world are us- problems. He often talks with his ful research. time he just came out of laboratory ing Professor Zhang’s theory and students and tells them that there and wandered along the Seine Riv- methods to promote theoretical is no authority before learning, Q: Would you like to share with during my studies was very ambi- Q: What do you consider to be er for a moment, looking at distant research and solve critical prob- everyone may succeed as long as us your career history? tious and energetic, her dedication your biggest achievement in re- magnificent Notre Dame de Paris, lems. they seriously try. He dedicatedly to work, and her way of research search? then re-invested into his work new With abundant knowledge of delivers his duty as a teacher and A: I started learning chemistry impressed me a lot. After the com- initiation and driven by new ideas. mathematics, Professor Zhang always highlights the significance and molecular imaging at Peking pletion of my PhD, I did my post- A: I don’t think that I have reached As per his words, “it doesn’t mat- once pointed out that under dif- of mathematics in our daily life, University in 1992. After the com- doctoral research at MIT. the point I can call it an achievement. ter visiting monuments earlier or ferent cultural background, each “Mathematics is omnipresent. pletion of my bachelor’s degree, I am still in the process of exploring later, but the opportunities for the country’s mathematics research When you travel in the world of I enrolled in master’s degree in Q: When did you decide to things and asking questions. One development of mathematics for a has its unique characteristic: human-computer interaction, it’s the U.S. in polymer science and come back and what was the main of the thing I am very proud of my person are hard to come by.” Now, “Hungarian specialize in com- the most meticulous and profound engineering. There, I felt that my reason behind the decision? student is making a device like a he still regards his time in Paris as binatorics; French and German mathematical logic that support interest is more in the application capsulation device for treating dia- the most fulfilling and beneficial mathematical study are good at this exchange; when you want to field of sciences from which we can A: After completing my postdoc- betics. We proposed the idea of using days of his life. abstraction with rigorous logic, gauge ups and downs of the stock bring solutions to problems that toral research in the U.S., it was al- the electrospun fibers to develop a Professor Zhang had been suc- and Chinese traditional mathe- market, it’s superb knowledge of affect people’s lives. I met many most nine or ten years since I left my capsule. It is a device to encapsulate cessively to University of Chicago, matical research is somewhat short mathematical finance that help friends there then I decided to work home. The family needs, especially the cell so that the cell can contain Ecole Normale Superieure, and the in logic and system, but far-sighted you find clear status quo. Anytime in biomedical engineering and uti- as parents get older in age, were a big the insulin. The cells detect the blood University of Cambridge for work, with philosophical style.” During and anywhere, mathematics is like lize the knowledge of polymers to part of my decision. It is not enough sugar level and produce insulin ac- and then to several famous univer- his time of being a research fel- a magnet extending its invisible solve the problems of humanity. So to think about just your own chil- cordingly so we relieve the patient sities in Europe and the U.S. as a low in Hamburg, Professor Zhang magnetic field to all aspects of I did my PhD in biomedical engi- dren, you also need to think about form insulin injections so it’s a con- guest professor. He has published made a lot of German friends life.” neering in Toronto. My supervisor your elders who raised you. cept in exploration.
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Q: How would this insulin-con- A: I think that you think big and work with other labs, so I always taining capsule work differently you should not be afraid of doing encourage them to find people from traditional insulin injec- big things. Because the bigger the around them working in related tions? question, the more important the fields to find good research papers Campus Trends: discovery you’ll probably find. But that are close to their work. Then Live Streaming A: Traditionally, we have relied I understand that its more diffi- with hard work they can achieve on chemical drugs to control the cult, its more challenging to solve big goals. Because most students > Tan Yi Qian sugar level in the blood. But if big questions. Usually, when PhD are not married, so they don’t have you introduce something into the students come into the lab, I advise family responsibilities. You really body there are two options either them to start with a less risky pro- need to work on your project 24 the body doesn’t react to it, which ject so through its experience they hours a day. means it can stay in the body like a can learn how to do experiments, prosthetic equipment, like an artifi- how to write research papers, and Q: As a scientist and a mother, cial joint or device like pacemakers. how to ask questions. And through how do you manage your work The second behavior of the body their experience they can find some and your family life? is that it treats it like a foreign in- interesting and important ques- vader and then it is repelled by the tions to start a second project. In A: Time management is an im- immune system. The cell we use first two years, it needs that they portant part of a successful life. The to treat diabetics is very simple. As lay ground for the big problem. time when you feel energetic you long you have cells that are func- should focus on work then when tional, you can treat them like in Q: In achieving big goals, what you want to relax try spending time the case of type 1 diabetes, which contributes to getting big results? with family so you can relax and is widely effecting young people. reenergize yourself. It’s like when So the concept is quite simple. But A: I think collaboration is very you are single, you go shopping, ex- s China’s online live-stream- for ICF. The International Culture this is Yong Chang’s first try at live to fulfil the idea is quite hard. critical, especially for small labs, ercise, or perhaps read a book. But ing platforms have seen re- Festival is a day where tourists streaming. Yong Chang modestly like in my field of biomedical when you have the responsibility of Acord levels of engagement flood into PKU and embrace cul- remarks that it is probably due to Q: Research is a challenging engineering. It’s an interdiscipli- your family, you shift all this time in the past year, Peking University tural diversity with the students. how prestigious Peking University task. What is your advice to young nary area, and we work on very to your family. (PKU) had been quick to launch its With cultural music playing in the is in China. As many Chinese have researchers to achieve big goals? hard questions, so it’s important very own live-streaming program background and students putting this hallowed dream of studying at to collaborate with Q: What would be your advice with Net Ease Education. Despite up captivating performances, the Peking University, and those who other researchers in to the young researchers of PKU? it being the first year PKU had live- atmosphere boasted a fragrance of aren’t, are still interested in how related fields. How streamed the International Culture delicious international cuisine as life in Peking University would to implement the A: It’s a good time, everybody Festival (ICF), the live broadcast international students showcased be. As such, it is easy to draw in material into the knows it’s good time of scientific had attracted over 50 thousand the cultural diversity of their home thousands of viewers just with the body needs lots of research in China. There are so views in just two hours, as viewers country. This was all captured un- name of ‘Peking University’ alone. medical, biological, much more opportunities for the from all over China delved into der the lens of Wang Yong Chang as But from then on, it will be up to and material knowl- students then 10 years ago. So, for live moments both mundane and he walked his viewers through ICF the host to keep them watching, edge, equipment, the new generation, there is lot of momentous, all punctuated by a with his mobile phone. which Yong Chang does a splen- and experience. opportunities, and I want to tell 26-year-old’s humor. The broadcast was a huge did job of engaging his audience So it is very chal- them to think big, don’t be afraid. Wang Yong Chang, a fourth-year success, as the views totaled a with timely responses through lenging. Definitely I think that if you work hard, you undergraduate student was chosen staggering 50 thousand, which real-time comments posted during students need to can find a way to do big things. as one of the two live-streamers is pretty impressive considering the broadcast.
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Second Job Fair for Foreign Students in China Held at PKU > Zhao Zhujun
n December 3, 2016, the 20 different universities, including such as the China Railway Con- While Yong Chang encourag- of hosts: As long as you have crea- hosts hopefuls wishing to take a second Job Fair for For- Tsinghua University, Renmin Uni- struction Corporation Limited and es his fellow schoolmates to try tivity, commitment, business acu- share of the spoils. But while be- Oeign Students in China versity, and Beijing Foreign Studies PowerChina Resources Limited, as live-streaming if there is an oppor- men, and organization, then with ing a live-streamer certainly has took place at the New Sun Center University, to name a few. well as international corporations tunity to do so, he also cautions just a bit of luck and talent, you its perks, it is also a double edge of Peking University (PKU). The In total, there were more than 25 such as Canon. Furthermore, differ- them not to be too engrossed with might become the next internet sword. It could be detrimental to job fair was organized by the Chi- organizations and institutions that ing from the previous year’s job fair, their ‘overnight fame’. He further sensation. the mental health and life of the nese Service Center for Scholarly participated in the job fair, which many start-up companies, or com- explains that being a live streamer Vlogging and being a lives- live-streamers as they became un- Exchange (CSCSE) and was co-or- included state-owned enterprises panies that are currently in their is not only hard work, but one can- treamer are becoming increasingly true to themselves and start ‘living ganized by PKU. To facilitate and not expect to make it into a career, popular among students, as it for the broadcast.’ But then again, support the implementation of the or earn money from the get-go. not only uses a medium they are the yield one can get from being a “One Belt, One Road” policy, this Furthermore, it will also be hard to familiar with, but also satisfies live streamer is undeniable. It had job fair served to provide assistance stand out among China’s fast-grow- their desire to be known. Not only catapult many ‘presenters’ to over- to international students with their ing number of live-streamers. that, with the increasing numbers night fame and generates huge job-search endeavors in China. However, Yong Chang encourages of netizens, creators and brands profits for the host websites, as ad- There were about 2,500 inter- the students who really do have a are more than willing to throw vertisers seek to attach themselves national students in attendance at passion for being a live-streamer or their weight behind live-stream- to interesting, youthful content. It the job fair. Among them, many a host, to go for it. As China’s wide ing apps and platforms. This ris- all boils down to how much you’re came from different parts of China, audience allows for a great diversity ing industry gave birth to many willing to pay for the ‘prize’. and they represented more than
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initial development stages, such as On the recruiters’ side, a human students to better adapt to their VIPKID, also set up their booths resources officer stated that many post-graduation lives and to better at the job fair and accounted for a of the students who came to the job understand the visa options of the third of the total participating insti- fair were searching for part-time high-tech Zhongguancun Area. The tutions. In sum, the job fair listed jobs or internships, which diverges workshops provided prospective 450 job positions in fields ranging from what they are looking for: full- foreign employees insights about from infrastructure construction, time employees. In addition, she working in Chinese firms and en- trade, railway, internet and commu- said that many of the foreign student terprises, incorporating the Chi- nication technologies, education job-seekers, at this point, cannot be nese working environment, show- and training, financial services, determined to stay and work in Chi- casing the unique Chinese culture language translation, innovative na upon graduation, such potential in various working scenarios, and technologies, and many more. chance of leaving China increases the daily work routines, to paint a viv- When walking around the job difficulty of recruiting full-time em- id image of what it feels like to be fair, one can see students of diverse ployees who are foreigners. However, working in China. backgrounds discussing potential job the market nowadays calls for a larger Overall, the Second Job Fair for opportunities with human resources demand of internationalized people Foreign Students in China was a officers. When asked about their gen- to serve the workforce, hence, there success. There is, of course, room eral impressions of the job fair, many remains great work opportunities for improvement, and it is believed expressed that they were impressed for international students who are that as the accumulation of experi- by the neat organization of the job planning to work in China after they ence goes on, taking into consider- fair, and that they are thankful to graduate. ation the suggestions and feedback have been provided such a wonderful In addition to the booths set up provided by participants of the tunnel towards the workforce in Chi- by the organizations and institu- various sides, the Third Job Fair na. Nevertheless, a few international tions, the job fair offered two infor- for Foreign Students in China will Vice Premier of China and PKU President students also said that they have mation sessions entitled “From the demonstrate many new features expected a greater number of partici- Classroom to the Workplace” and and a bigger pool of participating Attend Sino-German Forum pating organizations and institutions the “New Visa Policy for Foreigners organizations and institutions, to > Derek Tong so to increase their chances of getting in the Zhongguancun Area”. These better serve the needs and demands hired. sessions were designed to help of the foreign students in China.
rom November 24-27, 2016, The Sino-German Forum for The Vice Premier of China, Liu the President of Peking Higher Education, Science, and Yandong, spoke at the forum. Liu FUniversity (PKU), Professor Innovation was held at the Free stated that since China and Germa- Lin Jianhua, attended and spoke at University of Berlin on November ny established diplomatic relations the Sino-German Forum for Higher 25, together with the 7th Hamburg 44 years ago, through joint efforts, Education, Science, and Innovation Summit: China Meets Europe. The both countries have established hosted by the Free University of former was hosted by Ministries of comprehensive and strategic part- Berlin (FU). During this trip, PKU Education of China and Germa- nership and have achieved increas- and FU signed an agreement for a ny and co-organized by the Free ingly closer cooperation in areas post-doctoral program between the University of Berlin and the China such as education, science, and two universities. Scholarship Council. technology. This cooperation has
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provided strong support to the de- dent Lin Jianhua of PKU also spoke advance learning and nurture a stu- velopment of both countries’ econ- at the forum. President Alt pointed dent’s character. Mankind is facing omies and to cultural exchanges. out that as higher education be- many challenges, and a university At present, China’s development tween China and Germany has had cannot solely promote technological faces the arduous task of reforms. a strong bond for a long time, the development, but it also needs to The Chinese government puts edu- exchange and cooperation in high- devote itself to humanity’s devel- cation and innovation at the heart er education and technology of opment. Over the past ten years, of development and regards talent these two countries has only grown research funds and the amount of cultivation as a priority in support- closer and more fruitful. Coopera- research published by PKU have both ing development. The government tion between the Free University of recorded a ten-fold increase, and the sees innovation as the first and Berlin and Peking University has a cooperation between PKU and FU is foremost driver of development profound history, while as strategic evidence of the benefits of Sino-Ger- and the “golden key” of breaking partners, thorough substantive co- man higher education exchanges and limitations in economic growth operation has been established in cooperation. and opening up future growth po- many sectors, such as sustainable During the meeting, more than tentials. Both China and Germany campus efforts. sixty presidents and administrators share the tradition of emphasizing President Lin Jianhua mentioned from Chinese and German uni- the importance of education and in his speech that Chinese higher versities opened their discussions promoting innovation, and it is education is greatly affected by the on topics of “Attaining first-class this complementarity nature of co- teaching methods in Germany. in academia” and “Challenges and operation between both countries Former PKU President Cai Yuanpei Opportunities for Sino-German that provides a huge potential for introduced the “German model” Universities under cooperation”. even more fruitful cooperation. to China, inspiring the PKU spirit President Lin Jianhua also vis- Peter-André Alt, President of the of “inclusiveness with free flow of ited the Free University of Berlin Building World Class Universities: Free University of Berlin and Presi- thoughts”, the university’s aim to to visit President Alt. The two An Institutional Perspective universities signed an agreement that initiated a joint postdoctoral > Wang Shan program in regional studies and applied mathematics. Successful doctorate applicants would con- n November 4 and No- Stanford Center at Peking Universi- higher education. duct academic research at the Free vember 5, 2016, the 2nd ty (SCPKU) has not only provided Professor Ann M. Arvin, Vice University of Berlin and Peking OPKU-Stanford Forum, Stanford University’s faculty and Provost of Stanford University, and University for a year each. This one of the sub forums of the Bei- students a platform to learn more Min Weifang, President of the Chi- program will be monitored and jing Forum (2016), was held at the about China, but also served as a nese Society of Educational Devel- fully supported by a specialized Stanford Center at Peking Univer- bridge to connect excellent minds opment Strategy (CSEDS) and Pe- committee and professors from sity (SCPKU), with the theme of throughout the world over the past king University professor, delivered both universities. Afterwards, the “Building World Class Universities: five years. And this forum offered a opening remarks. Professor Yan presidents of PKU and FU extend- An Institutional Perspective”. unique opportunity to dig into the Fengqiao from the Graduate School ed their discussion to the topics of Professor Jean C. Oi, Director issue of building world top univer- of Education, Peking University, cooperation with other institutes, of the SCPKU and professor of sities, which had become a strate- gave an opening speech during the their own strategic cooperation, Stanford University, mentioned gy of many countries to improve ceremony. and other key matters. in the opening ceremony that the competitiveness and develop their Professor Min Weifang analyzed
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the topic of world-class universities formalities but substantial differ- Development”, the PKU-Stanford from the perspective of institution- ences in institutional contents. Forum was comprised of four PKU and UCL alism. He pointed out the lack of Focused on the following sub-sessions, each of which includ- attention that people gave to the themes: “The Differentiation of ed two keynotes speeches and four Agree to a Joint MBA Program analysis of deeper institutional Higher Education Systems and the panelist initial remarks. > Wang Xi factors that help build world-class Emergence of World Class Uni- During the two days of the fo- universities. Professor Yan Feng- versities in Different Institutional rum, scholars, and university presi- qiao pointed out that institutional Environments”; “Institutional Con- dents from the United States, Cana- changes were slower in the deeper texts and Organizational Struc- da, the United Kingdom, Australia, n November 4, 2016, Arthur, President of UCL, both between PKU’s National School of levels such as changes of values tures of World Class Universities”; Russia, Japan, Finland, Korea, Phil- Peking University attended the signing ceremony. Development (NSD) and the UCL than things like rules and regula- “Managerial Characteristics of ippines, Pakistan, and China dis- O(PKU) and University According to the agreement, the School of Management (SoM). It’s tions. Compared with developed World Class Universities Shaped by cussed the emergence, organization, College London (UCL) signed an two universities will jointly deliver a combination of the advantages countries, developing countries Institutional Factors”; and “World management, and development of agreement to reinforce their key an MBA program bear similarities in institutional Class Universities and Institutional world-class universities. partnership and accelerate their called Beijing In- During the closing ceremony of cooperation to address crucial ternational MBA, the PKU-Stanford Forum, Professor global challenges. Lin Jianhua, which will see Our two great universities Ann M. Arvin, Vice Provost of Stan- President of PKU, and Michael the collaboration are dedicated to initiate a ford University, summarized the higher level of creative re- conference discussions and pointed search-dominated education out the importance of diversity which benefits humanity. in the process of building world- class universities. There needs to be more women’s participation in higher education, but real challeng- es still exist. During the Forum, Professor Lin Jianhua, President of Peking University, also shared Peking Uni- versity’s endeavors in the process of making PKU a world-class universi- ty, such as undergraduate teaching reforms, personnel reforms, and comprehensive reforms. Professor Min Weifang, gave the closing remarks of the PKU-Stan- ford Forum. He spoke highly of this forum, appreciating the substantial achievements made through the discussions. Professor Min and Professor Oi expressed their sincere gratitude to the participants and an- nounced the closing of the Forum.
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of the two departments: NSD is an economics and public policy think tank while SoM is a business school focused on technology, innovation, analytics, and entrepreneurship. The MBA program aims to help cultivate the next generation of young leaders and promote both China’s develop- ment and its transformation into a knowledge-based economy. As President Lin and President Arthur agreed in writing, “We are delighted to witness the ongoing Beijing Forum development of our partnership. Our two great universities are ded- icated to initiate a higher level of 2016 creative research-dominated edu- cation which benefits humanity. Together we can achieve a greater impact.”
Background
The high-level visits between the two universities have been occurred frequently in recent years. Most recently, during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the Britain in October 2015, PKU Professor Zhu Shanlu, the former Chair of the university council, accompanied President Xi to visit the UCL Confucius Institute. And in April 2016, President Lin Jianhua paid another visit to UCL. The partnership between PKU and UCL is based on the close cooperation on research and teaching between scholars from both sides, which covers a wide area ranging from medicine, urban planning, language teaching to archaeology. The partnership is complimentary to “the golden era” of China-UK relations and government initiatives, such as the re- cent UK-China Strategic Framework in Education.
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characters in Xinian is extremely Unearthed Documents and brief. Even figures like Bao Si, Li Ji, who, according to handed-down documents, made great impacts on Ancient Chinese Civilization the destiny of their states, are given > Xu Rui and Ou Kun little emphasis in Xinian. In ex- plaining this difference, Kotera sug- gests that it possible that the down- n November 4, 2016, the Manuscript ‘Zheng Wen Gong Wen play of the significance of female first seminar of the Bei- Tai Bo’ and the Question of the figures might be a characteristic of Ojing Forum, Unearthed Production of Manuscripts in Early the historical documents in the Chu Documents and Ancient Chinese China” is presented by Edward L. State, where Xinian originated. Civilizations, was launched at the Shaughnessy, Professor of the Uni- After a short tea break, Professor Diaoyutai State Guest House. The versity of Chicago. He compared Shan Zhouyao of the Chinese Uni- three-day seminar is divided into the textual variants of “Zheng Wen versity of Hong Kong gave a report three sessions, the topics of which Gong wen Tai Bo” in two versions, on “Revaluing Gao Benhan’s Dia- are respectively International before giving a methodical reflec- lect Explanation in ‘The Authentic- View of Unearthed Documents tion. He concluded that this text ity of Zuo Zhuan’ with Unearthed Research; Research on Bronze and demonstrated that visual copying Documents”. By presenting several Ancient Chinese Characters; and from one manuscript to another extracts from the unearthed docu- Research on the Bamboo Slips of was a customary method in the ments, he revealed that those clas- the Warring States, Qin and Han Warring States of China, and it was sics are not their original versions Dynasties. The first seminar was safe to say that this method should as in Pre-Qin Era, so as Zuo Zhuan. hosted by Shim Jae-Hoon and Zhao be the default assumption for tex- Therefore, it was at least dubious for Pingan. Exerpts from the speeches tual reproduction in ancient China. Gao Benhan to use the word-choos- delivered during the seminar will In the speech on Women in the ing of these documents to prove be introduced below. Bamboo-strip Manuscript Xinian ( 系 that the author of Zuo Zhuan was Zhang Guangyu, professor at the 年 ) from the Tsinghua University not from the State of Lu. Chinese University of Hong Kong, Collection, Professor Kotera Atsushi In the following periods, Professor delivered the first speech entitled argues that compared to the hand- Zhu Fenghan, Poo Mu-chou, and Li “On the Meaning of the Shooting ed-down documents like Zuozhuan, Ling elaborated respectively on “the Ritual: ‘Yi Jie’（猗 嗟）in Confucius’ Guoyu, and Shiji, the female figures Identity of Large Tombs’ Occupants On poetry from Shangbo Zhushu”. depicted in newly excavated Xinian in the Cemetery of the State of Zeng He demonstrated a variety of re- often play a relatively insignificant 曾 and the Zeng Hou Yu Bell 曾侯與 cords on the ritual, pointing out that role in the development of the 钟 Inscription”, “From Classics to Re- during the ritual, it was customary historical events. In his report, ligion”, and “The Qin Bamboo-strip to shoot four arrows into a bronze Kotera presents a close comparison Manuscript “Yu Jiu Ce 禹九策 ” from turtle. However, this ritual was not between the narrative about fa- the Peking University Collection” only about shooting itself. Its main mous historical female figures such The first session, which pre- purpose was to show one’s virtues as Shao Kong, Bao Si, Xi Ji, Li Ji, sented the guests with in- in a set of procedures, including a Duchess Jinxiang, and a number of sightful interpretations wine ceremony and a music cere- nameless female figures in Xinian of the unearthed mony. Therefore, the shooting ritual and the above mentioned hand- ancient Chinese served as a moral education as it ed-down documents. Through the documents, ended helped to build people’s characters. comparison, it is made transparent amid a long, warm The next speech “The Tsinghua that the characterization of female applause.
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conditional all-weather Former Pakistan Prime Minister and allies. Towards the end of the meeting, Zhu ex- PKU Leadership Discuss Sino-Pakistani pressed his wish to host Aziz’s friend and the Education Cooperation Honorable President of Pakistan, Mamnoon > Veeresh Kanduri Hussain, at Peking University — the larg- est center in China for sharing languages, he most honorable Shaukat this year in May, centered on the Zhu recalled his experiences vis- history, and culture — Aziz, Former Prime Min- main theme of “China and Paki- iting Pakistan two years ago for the to discuss and improve ster of the Republic of stan in the community of common first time and amazed by the treat- T bilateral education ex- Pakistan visited Beijing on the destiny for all mankind” in collab- ment he received by his Pakistan changes. 4th of November to attend the oration with National University counterparts and opined that Chi- Former Prime Minister Aziz Peking University leadership in ex- leaders assessed the advantages Pe- opening ceremony of the Beijing of Sciences and Technology, Islam- na and Pakistan will remain un- congratulated the Chairman Zhu panding the Beijing Forum to de- king University has for its domes- Forum 2016 and delivered a key- abad. Zhu expressed his gratitude and the entire leadership of the veloped nations but also suggested tic and international students to note speech emphasizing the lack on behalf of Peking University for Beijing Forum 2016 for its great that the Forum should reach out to nurture future global leaders. Aziz of leadership in the contemporary the support of the Pakistan govern- accomplishment and extolled the African and Asian countries. agreed with Zhu’s invitation to be world and appreciated the efforts ment and Higher Education Com- intellectual content of the forum The 21st century universities part of an international advisory of Peking University for nurturing mission of Pakistan in organizing with speakers of high reputation are crossing several barriers like board member of the Beijing Fo- future global leaders. On the side a successful conference. The Chair- and student delegates of great geographical boundaries and na- rum and suggested a few structural lines of the Beijing Forum, the man voiced the hopes of Peking knowledge. He also said, “the con- tional boarders to participate in changes — especially the themes Chairman of the Peking University University leadership to develop tent and speakers are important but non-state track II diplomacy; the of the Forum, more collaborations Council, Zhu Shanlu held a high more mutual bilateral relations for the delegates are vital for any con- foreign ministry is not the sole with international universities, level bilateral meeting with Aziz cultural and educational exchanges ference. The delegates at the Beijing contributor to diplomacy. The and also requested to involve more on Sino-Pakistanistan Education with Pakistan and Forum are excellent and the discus- two leaders discussed the role of international students, young po- cooperation and the future of the explained that the sions are thought provoking. The universities in non-conventional litical leaders, and business leaders Beijing Forum. Beijing Forum delegates are very diverse in every diplomacy to establish soft power in the committees. Zhu acclaimed former Prime was just a begin- aspect like academics, country of and identified the Beijing Forum At the end of the meeting, minister for his contributions to ning of further origin, gender, and culture.” as a giant asset for Peking Univer- Aziz presented his recent work improve Sino-Pakistanistan re- advancing Si- On China-Pakistan relations, sity under university diplomacy. “Shaukat Aziz: From Banking to lations under his term and said no-Pakistan Former Prime Minister Aziz ex- The Peking university leadership, the Thorny World of Politics” to “Pakistan is an old friend to China educational pressed his two strong beliefs: with the support of the Chinese Zhu and asked him to share and well known to all our students exchanges. 1. The China-Pakistan bilateral Foreign Ministry is negotiating for his views. Zhu expressed and faculty in Peking University. I relation is important to both coun- the French Government’s collab- his plans about the was once also a student of Peking tries, the region, and the world. oration to host a second overseas upcoming work on University, and my Professors al- 2. China supports the interests of Beijing Forum in France next May. Chinese literature ways expressed deep respect for Pakistan in international and multi- Universities should play im- which will be Pakistan.” The first overseas Beijing lateral platforms and vice-versa. portant role in policy exchanges released in the forum was held in Pakistan earlier Aziz extended his support to the and diplomatic relations. Both the following year.
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talents. For instance, 50% of our of great faculty members who are including Oxford University, Univer- faculties at University of Toronto both research stars and good teach- sity College London, the University are from outside Canada. In this ers. During the students’ first year of Oslo, and the University of Cali- regard, rankings are quite useful in college, they are learning from fornia, Los Angeles, to name a few. for attracting and retaining both our leading faculty members re- Based on your expertise and rich faculty and students. nowned for their academic achieve- experience: A world-class university is dis- ments. It can kindle the passion of a) For students who consider tinguished by both its teaching university students in academic re- studying abroad, is the location of and academic excellence in a wide search. Luckily we have got a great the university important? If so, why range of disciplines, and Peking number of research staff that are is it important? University has done an excellent also fantastic teachers at the same b) In what ways do the locations job in terms of both teaching and time. of the schools shape the students’ research. overall studying experience? Q: The University of Toronto is Q: U of T is very famous for its located advantageously in three of A: Absolutely, for all kinds of research achievements. It has made the Greater Toronto areas, namely, reasons. U of T is located in a dy- many breakthroughs in the field of Mississauga, Downtown Toronto, namic, metropolitan city which computer science and chemistry, to and Scarborough. You are a leading provides countless learning oppor- name a few fields. So, expert in urban planning and you tunities. So many students want a) What are the key qualities or have visited world-class universities some kind of internship experience characters of the academic staff that you value the most? b) How do U of T professors bal- Interview with University of Toronto ance their research and teaching? A: The first quality we are look- President Meric Gertler ing for is curiosity. It makes up an important part of their intellectual > Huang Fangyuan quality as well as their academic pursuits. Throughout the entire ca- reer, we want them to retain their uring the Beijing Forum Q: The latest Times Higher Edu- university? curiosity. 2016, I was privileged to cation Rankings were released and Secondly, the ability to publish Dinterview University of U of T was ranked as Canada’s top A: They are important indeed. one’s research internationally is also Toronto President Meric Gertler. He university. Congratulations! University rankings are global phe- important. You have to have your graduated from Harvard Universi- a) Do you think the rankings are nomena. Students and parents are own ambition to reach out to a glob- ty, Prof. Gertler is regarded as one important to universities? looking at them, and they know it al audience. Thirdly, you have to be of the world’s foremost urban theo- b) Peking University has put better than I do. And also we have a very good communicator. Good rists and policy practitioners. He is the goal of becoming a world-class a great variety of rankings, QS teaching could inspire the next gen- the author, co-author, or co-editor university at the top of its agenda. rankings, Times Higher Education eration. of more than 80 scholarly publica- In your opinion, what is the most rankings, to name a few. Rankings In terms of balancing their academic tions and 7 books. important quality of a world-class are also important for attracting research and teaching, we have a lot
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or a co-op or a professional experi- in terms of curriculum arrangement pursue have an opportunity to de- ence here, or a service learning ex- and both research and academic op- velop these capacities. perience in a course, or some other portunities. Now, as the president of We want to further enrich and variation on that theme. And we’re U of T: diversify the resources that we very fortunate to be situated in this a) What’s your expectation of a U have now. For example, we hope place, which offers so many possi- of T graduate in regards to her or his to offer students more research bilities. competence, skills, and values? and intern opportunities and to From a social point of view, stu- b) What efforts have you and the enhance students’ practical ex- dents want to have fun. As I have university taken to facilitate stu- perience both inside and outside mentioned before, 50% of our stu- dents’ future success? the universities. At present, only dents are from places outside Can- 15%-20% of our students study ada. They would like to immerse A: College education is not abroad on exchange programs themselves in a diverse culture. The about pursuing a particular sub- and other study programs. We city has much to offer and will nev- ject. It is the abilities they have that want more of our students to go er let you down. matters the most. When students abroad and to take full advantage The location of a university look for jobs and get their first job of rich educational resources also plays an important role in offer, the things that they learnt at overseas. attracting and retaining faculties school are able to ensure their suc- from around the world. The city’s cess over a lifetime. Q: Could you please write a few culture, systems, hospitals, and Specifically speaking, it’s com- words for Peking University and its green assets are valuable assets to munication skills, it is the ability 120th anniversary? a university. As the labor market to solve problems and to think crit- is getting more and more compet- ically, to put together arguments A: “Peking University is Interview with Special Advisor to itive, the city is one of our greatest effectively whether you’re using turning 120, the University of assets. The city is not only a place qualitative or quantitative forms Toronto will be turning 190. As the UN Secretary General Iqbal Riza we live in but also the place where of evidence, to work well in teams. your older brother, we say con- > Jonathan Ly and Zhu Jieyun we breathe and flourish. These sort of competencies which gratulations to Peking Universi- are kind of, in many ways, orthog- ty. You have a lustrous past and Q: During your term as the dean onal to the subject matter of the a brilliant future ahead, and we of U of T’s Faculty of Arts & Science, discipline that you’re studying, but look forward to working with Just before the closing ceremony academic forum organized by the civilizations. According to him, in the undergraduate education under- where we need to ensure that all you in partnerships to ensure a of the Beijing Forum 2016, with Chinese Ministry of Education, the our modern world where contact went a fundamental transformation students in whatever program they brighter future.” the goal of promoting global pros- Beijing Municipal Government, Pe- is intense, immediate, and deep, perity and harmony between civi- king University, the Beijing Munici- universities need to promote mu- lisations, we had the opportunity pal Commission of Education, and tual understanding, otherwise it is About Professor Meric S. Gertler to interview Sir Iqbal Riza, special the Korea Foundation for Advanced going to create tensions. Now that Professor Meric S. Gertler is one of the world’s foremost urban theorists and policy practitioners. He is widely adviser to the United Nations (UN) Studies, and this year it focused on Internet is a reality, it is a paradox known as an expert on innovation, creativity, and culture as drivers of the economic dynamism of city-regions. On Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon “Mutual Trust, Cooperation, and that where internet was supposed November 1, 2013, Professor Gertler began his term as the 16th President of the University of Toronto. Previously, and former UN Secretary-General Sharing”. to bring people together, there are he served as the Dean of the University’s largest and most diverse academic division, the Faculty of Arts & Science, Kofi Annan at the Lakeview Hotel We asked Iqbal Riza how uni- more tensions as people see each a position he had held since 2008. As Dean, his priority was to provide students with a top quality academic expe- in Peking University. versities can contribute to the other clearly, they see not only the rience in which they benefit directly from U of T’s strength and diversity in research and teaching. The Beijing Forum is an annual mutual understanding between benefits but also the negative as-
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pects. The internet is therefore also aims to acquire other territories in economic and financial power ac- ies, European studies, the case is a place where extremists or terror- other countries. Nevertheless, it cording to Riza. slightly different for African stud- ists disseminate their hate propa- has claims and disputes. What oth- In light of the One Belt, One ies. Partially due to the state of ganda. Internet is a double-edged er countries fear though is econom- Road initiative, we asked Riza how development, the current body of sword. Initiatives like the Beijing ic domination by other countries. China was going to build its harbor literature is not developed enough. Forum, UNESCO, and the Alliance It is about investments and trades in Gwadar given Pakistan’s cur- Many scholars are tempted to use of Civilizations, or the Dialogue flowing out of China, like the Asian rent insecurity. The route through the conventional western lens to of Civilizations’ President Hatami Infrastructure Investment Bank in Gwadar is under threat and Chi- analyze African studies, but due to of Iran in the 1980s are positive in Central Asia. As power is undeni- na’s interest in this harbor may be its unique social and cultural con- promoting a mutual understand- ably shifting from the West to the compromised, but Pakistan has im- ditions, an entirely new lens ought ing. Since the 19th century, when East, a lot of the financial power plemented a system to secure this to be used. This is why a multidis- the nation-state system started to remains in the West. The world route, and China seems to accept it ciplinary approach is the answer. develop, with empires breaking up, banks, the International Monetary and is part of the security arrange- the term civilizations is a little neb- Fund, and the banking system are ment. What is an example of where ulous but it is possible to talk about still dominated by the West, which At the end of the interview, this model is applied to an African cultures and sub-cultures with dif- enables Western powers to influ- Mr. Riza thanked the students for case? eration, there is one huge vacuum: relations from the Chinese side. ferent visions. ence Iran, Cuba, and limit some- their questions and wished more African agency. The push factors for Before local impact can be fully un- When asked whether China how the shift to East in the present young people were interested in the For all students starting a degree the Chinese part are meticulously derstood, more studies need to be perceives itself as a new hegemon time. Transactions are in dollars, United Nations or any other NGOs at the School of International Stud- analyzed but what pulls that coop- done on smaller levels, of individu- at the same level as the USA, Riza in euros sometimes. Even though, which could promote a mutual ies (SIS), it was required to take a eration to Africa is ignored. This al countries. Hence, one of Profes- answered there is no evidence in the EU has its problems as well as understanding of cultures and soci- course on the history of interna- realpolitik way of thinking, which sor Liu’s methodologies is to take a China’s foreign policy to prove it the Eurozone, it is still a significant eties across the world. tional relations. In the course, Af- only focuses on the big powers research location as small as possi- rica was only briefly mentioned in and self-interests, and ignore what ble, such as a particular region and the context of cross-Atlantic slave happens on the ground. Too often, take a multidisciplinary approach trade and the period of decoloni- it is assumed all policies are decid- to her research, in which she com- zation, but was ignored otherwise. ed by the great powers. However, bines qualitative and quantitate Professor Liu Haifang This is very telling. “Studies from when we do country comparisons approaches to answer the questions African scholars are huge but gen- and local studies, one can notice of “what, with whom, and under and African Studies at PKU eral courses never discuss them, vast differences in impact models, which circumstances” she said. She there is never room for the African including political, cultural, and has been conducting research in, > Laura Arts contribution to history, that is due economic differences, Professor Liu amongst others, Tanzania, South to the Western-centrism”, Professor said. Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Liu said. She argued to systemati- and Kenya.
What is your research back- fessor Liu said. For 11 years, her tion. As a result, her expertise is a cally integrate African perspectives What needs to be done to fill Since 2009, the government has ground? specialty has been China-Africa multidisciplinary one that borders into our discussions and reject this this gap in current literature? become more aware that invest- relations and has looked at the in- between international relations image of it being an underdevel- ment in business alone is not pos- “I was trained as a historian, ternational relations between the and development studies. oped and passive continent. We Scholars need to add the African sible, and that investment in other specifically in African history. two. In doing so, she has examined Professor Liu notes that while also can’t just pretend that civili- context to bilateral cooperation. areas such as research is vital for bi- Throughout the years, I have broad- areas such as professional coopera- many other continents have zation and Africa are completely Renowned researchers, such as lateral cooperation between China ened my vision to focus not just tion, education, health, agriculture, well-developed academic research unrelated. Deborah Brautigam (author of and African countries to succeed. on African history, but also on its and Information and Communi- fields of their own, such as Latin Furthermore, when examining The Dragon’s Gift and Will Africa The One Belt, One Road Initiative culture, society, and politics”, Pro- cation Technology (ICT) coopera- American studies, American stud- the literature on China-Africa coop- Feed China?) study Sino-African and the Forum of China-Africa
50 NEWSLETTER｜ PEKING UNIVERSITY WINTER 2016 / ISSUE 37 51 Academic
Cooperation (FOCAC) have helped the two sides cooperate. It has Researchers from PKU Invent a New become clear that infrastructure building needs to be done before Technology for Transforming Viruses further business cooperation. This is especially true for countries into Vaccines along the Silk Road who are spe- > Kuang Huolingxiao cialized in engineering. The secretariat of FOCAC, calls for more joint research and mutual cooperation between Chinese and ecently, a great break- African scholars each year. Both through was made by Chinese and African scholars can Rresearchers from the State now apply for joint research and my African students, M.A., PhD, During my research trips, I make Key Laboratory of Natural and Bio- joint publications through the FO- and postgraduate students, have use of many lenses, such as that of medicine Drugs from Peking Uni- CAC. This cooperation has greatly all taught me so much. They were guest, researcher, but by cooperat- versity (PKU) of Pharmaceutical contributed to mutual understand- the ones who introduced me to ing, also the lenses of my students. Sciences (SKLNBD). Researchers ing and insights in how to manage scholars to cooperate with on This offers new perspectives on took the influenza virus as a model business relations based on scien- the ground, which has been of familiar topics. If you do research and invented a new technology that inactivated viruses and attenuated tor Zhou Demin, academician tific research. immense value. If you are in a dif- that is very much ‘on the ground’ can allow artificial control of virus viruses. Although inactivated vi- Zhang Lihe from China Academy ferent culture, small customs and and local, there is often a language reproduction to further transform ruses are nontoxic, their immune of Science as well as doctoral stu- What is a common misconcep- norms can be very different from barrier, too. Again, joint research viruses into vaccines. An academ- effect is not ideal. On the other dents from PKU, Si Longlong and tion about your field of research? yours, and advice on matters such and the help of students from host ic article about this achievement hand, attenuated vaccines have the Xuhuan, use little mice, ferrets as clothing or traditions enable you countries can help immensely with has been published in Science –– a risk of causing an infection. and guinea pigs to do experiments This might not necessarily be a to have a more true dialogue with this. In summary, I believe that peer-reviewed academic journal of To solve this problem, research- about spraying through noses, misconception, but if there would people, and it enables you to truly by joining hands, researchers can the American Association for the ers chose to create an artificial con- which proves the effectiveness and be one thing I’d like to empha- encounter a different culture. These overcome cultural and language Advancement of Science (AAAS), trol process of viruses’ reproduction safety of the vaccines. Furthermore, size, it would be the importance insights and encounters will surely barriers to give new perspectives to and one of the world’s top academ- which can directly transfer viruses researchers find that those used of joint research. In my projects, be reflected in your research. research. ic journals. into vaccines. Based on H1N1 in- viruses and wild viruses in human Many human diseases are fluenza virus model, researchers body lead to gene rearrangements. caused by viruses, including gener- implant UAG into viruses. In this And this is exactly the reason why al diseases, such as cold, influenza, way, it is ensured that viruses can that wild viruses lose the self-repro- Liu Haifang, PhD (History), Peking University, is an Associate Professor in varicella, and herpes labials, as well stop reproduction with their full duction ability and cure diseases. the School of International Studies, Peking University. She previously worked as serious diseases, for instance, structures existing. Not only the This newly-invented technology for the Institute of West Asian and African Studies (IWAAS), the Chinese Ebola hemorrhagic fever, HIV, bird virulence of this kind of wild virus greatly simplifies the research and Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), and a visiting scholar at the Institute of flu, and atypical pneumonia. is kept, but also immune function development process of vaccines. Social Studies in The Hague. She serves as Deputy Director and General Secre- For a long time, people have of human body is activated. By Researchers can make vaccines tary of the Center for African Studies, Peking University and as the Vice Presi- been fighting against those virus- both controlling the quantity of without relying on biological dent of the Chinese Society of African Historical Studies. She is also a member es, hoping to control and destroy viruses and quality of viruses, the knowledge about viruses. These of the SSRC China-Africa Knowledge Project’s Working Group. viruses. Currently, vaccines used security of the vaccine is ensured. have improved the safety, effective- to prevent virus infection under At present, the research team, ness, and research speed of vac- clinical circumstances are usually consisting of the SKLNBD Direc- cines to a great extent.
52 NEWSLETTER｜ PEKING UNIVERSITY WINTER 2016 / ISSUE 37 53 Academic
the market economy, and social it is necessary to change people mind in Germany, Karl Marx, also Rethinking Humanities and media and are heavily influenced who make up the world, and edu- emphasized the importance of ide- by the methodology as well as the cation in the humanities is the best as in terms of its power to change Humanistic Values of Education preference of social sciences. The means of that change. We may still the world. independent and critical thinking learn something valuable from that But ideas can also be danger- in Our Age of a scholar are discounted as the tradition of education and culture ous. Professor Zhang warned that ‘usefulness’ of the research is gain- for the benefit of a better world and special caution has to be attached > Huang Fangyuan ing more and more weight in meas- a better future for humankind. to ideas: The more you read, the uring a scholar’s success. Education today is much differ- more difficult it becomes to form The resurgence of humanities, as ent from that of the past. Growing a judgement or reach a conclusion. the professor pointed out, is worth tension between liberal education Consider the concept of ‘truth’, the greatest efforts. Specifically, a and professional education gives and how this idea evolved into a distance between private learning rise to an increasingly popular complex system of signifiers from and official learning should be re- creed that the pursuit of knowledge Aristotle till now. In Aristotle’s age, alized so that the independent spir- is a means rather than an end, and truth is nothing but abstract think- it and intrinsic value of humanities universities today seem to be more ing. But it’s improper to argue that are not spoiled. Professor Chen and more occupied with citations, in China there is no truth but only looked ahead to a brighter future grants, and social impact. Hu- ideas. In the same age, another sage of humanities. He also expressed manities are more and more mar- argues that man is the measure his hope that Yenching Academy ginalized and humanities in the of all things, everything has to be would stick to its own path of post-modern condition is no longer judged from a human perspective. hina and the World: Ob- 院 ) which promotes private learning. ( 马一浮) went to great lengths to development and keep its unique acquiring truth, but generating new Skeptics believe that there is no servation, Analysis and University learning was an education restore the academy but ended up characteristics while integrating paradigm to better performance. truth. Even if there is truth, he CProspect. A Symposium system imported to China from the in failure. The New Asia College into the world. Research reduced to language argues, you do not know it, and sponsored by the Yenching Acade- West during the late 19th and early founded by Qian Mu ( 钱穆 ), Tang Speaker: Zhang Longxi, Chair games amidst the rise of cultural Even if you do know the truth, you my of Peking University. “Between 20th century. Junyi ( 唐君毅 ) were also integrated Professor of Comparative Lit- studies and gender studies. still don’t know how to express it. Official Learning and Private The competition between private into the Chinese University of Hong erature and Translation, City Humanistic values include the The dichotomy between truth and Learning—Whither the Human- learning and official learning rep- Kong. The attempts to restore pri- University of Hong Kong, Distin- re-emphasizing of ethical respon- falsehood is more often than not ities?” Speaker: Chen Pingyuan, resented the struggle between the vate learning repeatedly failed. guished Professor of Yenching sibilities as well as renewed empa- made by people who do not know Professor of Chinese, Department East and West. Zhang’s ambition of After the ‘renaissance’ of human- Academy of Peking University; thies and sympathies beyond our much. of Chinese Language and Litera- reinvigorating private learning fell ities from 1978 to 1989, humani- foreign member of the Royal own social groups. Action is noth- At the end of his speech, Pro- ture, Peking University. short of practicability. During the ties were constantly outweighed by Swedish Academy of Letters, His- ing but the realization of thoughts fessor Zhang looked forward to At the beginning, Professor Chen One Hundred Days’ Reform, the social sciences. This is partly due tory, and Antiquities and of the and ideas, characteristics. Ideas are a brighter future of the Yenching emotionally recalled Zhang Taiyan academy was abolished together to economic reform of education, Academia Europaea; and Presi- power. Immanuel Kant, a timid Academy. He believed the mission ( 章太炎 ) and his tradition of private with the civil examination, and the he reflected. The progress in educa- dent of the International Com- and reticent man, except the fact of the academy is closely connected learning. He believed that the ‘learn- new system of European and Amer- tion are to a large extent prompted parative Literature Association that he took a walk at 3PM sharp with the mission of our age. To nur- ing’ in China could only prosper ican education was established in by governmental spending in the (ICLA) every afternoon, so precise that the ture great minds and to encourage when it is carried out from bottom to China. As early as 1920, the famous forms of research grants, funds, Professor Zhang Longxi pro- cleaner in that small town used it a holistic view of things, it is im- top instead of the other way around. scholar Hu Shi began to cherish the and so on. From 2012 to 2015, edu- posed the serious problems in our to check his watch. But he was com- portant to draw useful experiences For hundreds of thousands of years, tradition of private leaning in the cation accounted for over 4% of the world today reveal the lack of mor- pared to an ‘executioner’ because from the ancient ‘shuyuan’ ( 书院 ) Chinese learning had been carried academy. Chinese scholars such as total GDP. Humanistic scholars are al principles and sympathetic un- his ideas have made a transforming tradition and to teach our young out in the form of “Shuyuan” ( 书 Liang Shuming ( 梁漱溟 ), Ma Yifu burdened with political authority, derstanding. To change the world, impact on the world. Another great people to humanistic classics.
54 NEWSLETTER｜ PEKING UNIVERSITY WINTER 2016 / ISSUE 37 55 Academic
mental to China’s goal of pursuing conflict in 1969 that the Soviet it as ‘the cutting edge scholarship PKU Professor’s Article Published great power status. Documentary threat to China’s security came to on China-U.S. diplomatic history evidence has incited that there was the forefront of Chinese leaders’ as well as the history of the Cold in Diplomatic History more continuity than change in minds. The perceived Soviet threat War.’ Indeed, the publication of China’s foreign policy. Breaking then motivated Chinese leaders to Professor Wang’s article not only > Huang Yongheng with the socialist camp, Beijing seek rapprochement with the Unit- helps refine our understanding of assiduously wooed leftist forces ed States. China’s foreign policy behavior and non-aligned countries. China’s Bringing power politics back during the Cold War, but also possession of nuclear capabilities to the picture, the article has re- proves that Chinese scholars are national relations been centered on the Sino-Ameri- further boosted China’s confidence ceived acclaim. Some view the ar- advancing steadily in the path of worldwide. Notably, can rapprochement that took place and optimism. But it was not until ticle as ‘arresting and intellectu- first-class humanities and social this is the first time after 1969. One of the most widely the outbreak of the Zhenbao Island ally stimulating’ and some regard sciences studies. ever that a Chinese accepted explanations states that it scholar has pub- was the urge to counter-balance the lished works in Dip- Soviet threat that led to the thaw be- lomatic History as the tween Beijing and Washington. Some only author. scholars also use ideological conflict Utilizing newly to explain why China and the United available archival States were at odds prior to 1972. In What does “Culture” sources in China — addition, other studies also suggest including recently that the dramatic shift from enmity Mean Today? declassified docu- to rapprochement in the U.S.-China ments housed at the relationship could be attributed to On the Pedigree of Ministry of Foreign the radicalization of domestic pol- Affairs Archives itics. However, these theories only Mass Culture (MFAA) and several serve as partial explanations to the > Huang Fangyuan provincial and mu- anti-U.S. stance in the 60s. nicipal materials, the Professor Wang’s article has a article has powerful- firm spotlight on power politics ly presented a brand calculations. In a departure from rofessor Wang Dong from new understanding the conventional view that holds the School of Internation- of China’s anti-U.S. policy in the China’s foreign policy was high- Pal Studies, has recently 1960s. Instead of recounting ex- ly ideological, intransigent, and rofessor Dai Jinhua of Film Criticism, The Island of Yester- most every part of the artifact and published an article titled “Grand isting conclusions, the article has aggressive, this article argues that comparative literature and day, and Gender China. cultural production. What emerges Strategy, Power Politics, and Chi- put an added emphasis on power Chinese leaders were shrewd stra- Pcomparative cultural stud- According to Dai’s understand- is a wider class divisionthat is still na’s Policy toward the United States politics and its significance in the tegic players. Whenever necessary, ies at Peking University, served as a ing, the 1990s was a critical point plagued by the excesses and cor- in the 1960s” in Diplomatic History, U.S.-China relationship during the Chinese leaders were able to com- pioneer in both feminist and film in history for China’s cultural land- ruption of an aging bureaucracy. which is the official journal of the Cold War. promise with the United States and studies and concerned herself with scape, during that period of time, The dualism of writing has also Society for Historians of American Existing theories on Beijing’s prevent crises from escalating into setting up the first countrywide China underwent a transformation revealed itself through an enlarging Foreign Relations and represents decision to adopt an anti-U.S. poli- conflict. However, fundamentally, major in film theory in 1986. Dai and reshaping driven by market and expanding form of artistic ex- the highest level of current studies cy have failed to grasp the essence. Chinese leaders saw rapprochement has published more than ten books force as well as consumerism, pression. The most interesting phe- on diplomatic history and inter- Previous studies have mainly with the United States as detri- including the Scenery in the Mist, which has been encroaching in al- nomenon was the shift of focus of
56 NEWSLETTER｜ PEKING UNIVERSITY WINTER 2016 / ISSUE 37 57 Giving
the word “the mass”, from a purely technical political term widely Cao Xueqin Arts Development Fund used in mobilization to a mix of consumers and producers, the Launched at PKU boundaries of which has become > Zhou Yang more and more blurred. Heteroge- neity overshadows homogeneity. Mass culture has a relatively indecent origin, with its train of On November 15, 2016, the Pe- Xueqin and promote his works to a expressed his gratitude towards the thought clearly shown in the West- king University Cao Xueqin Arts greater audience. donors in his speech. He pointed ern and especially, in the English Development Fund was successful- As one of the Four Masters’ out that PKU had a long tradition tradition. Mass culture facilitates ly launched at a ceremony held in Works, Cao Xueqin’s A Dream of of the study in A Dream of Red an interaction between production 51 Yannan Garden, Peking Univer- Red Mansions is among one of Mansions and the life of Cao Xue- and consumption. Manufactured ties for cultural studies today is the what is right, what is orthodox, nor sity (PKU). Beijing Cao Xueqin Cul- China’s greatest, most popular, and qin, which laid a solid foundation in bulks, it is then distributed in lack of research methodology. There’s is there any exclusiveness when it ture Development Fund donated to most studied novels of all time. The for future activities and studies. In identical ‘packages’ to consumers, no one single method that can en- comes to different interest groups, the PKU School of Arts to establish research of which not only has lit- the new media era, where serious the process of which involves me- compass the whole spectrum of cul- thus mass culture is winning the fa- this new fund aiming at supporting erature and artistic values, but also reading is marginalized, returning chanical replication and mass pro- tural studies. Another misconception vor of a more and more diversified relevant studies and carrying out reveals the inner spirit world of the to classics like A Dream of Red duction. Walter Benjamin’s selec- within China is that ‘the newer, the society. cultural events on campus and to Chinese people. Wang Yichuan, Mansions and is crucial to under- tions from the books Illuminations better’ underlies most of the cultural In other words, popular culture memorialize the great writer Cao Dean of the PKU School of Arts, standing Chinese culture. and Reflections used the word ‘vulgar studies value proposition. holds a larger public due to its com- naturalism’ to describe the charac- Chinese mass culture in the plexity. teristics of mass culture. 1980s resonated with Western in- Mass culture itself penetrates One of the most daunting difficul- fluence. Elitism in the 80s mainly into the Hollywood film industry targeted the general as well. The frequently repeated public. In the 1990s, patterns in Hollywood was the the elite/popular an- weak vis-à-vis the strong finally tagonism was support- gets the upper hand, along with the ed by the market-driv- legitimization of the marginal and en mentality and the relief of success to make up for liberal atmosphere. the past suffering. Mass culture obvious- Undoubtedly, mass culture is ly got the upper hand bad when it is placed in the context in terms of the size of of right wing fascism. Mass culture the audience and the traced its origin back to the French money it generates. Revolution as a symbol of liber- Mass culture wins ty, progress marking the prelude the battle owing to its of a new era as well as the end of open-mindedness and despotism. At that time, it would tolerance. There is no never imagine that the monster of presupposition in its nationalism and populism would narrative concerning one day dominate the world stage.
58 NEWSLETTER｜ PEKING UNIVERSITY WINTER 2016 / ISSUE 37 59 Giving
President of Sino Group and Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation Huang Zhixiang Named as an Honorary Trustee of PKU > Lu Yifan
n November 4, 2016, partners of PKU. In 2011, Ng Teng table Foundation also helped build Mr. Huang Zhixiang, Fong Charitable Foundation do- a joint institute of Peking Univer- OPresident of Sino Group, nated to establish the PKU Ng Teng sity and Nanyang Technological came to Peking University (PKU) Fong/Sino Education Foundation, University, which has also been and was warmly welcomed by which aimed to support excellent providing opportunities for under- Zhu Shanlu, Chaiman of the PKU scholars to study abroad. In De- graduates and graduates from the University Council. During the cember 2015, Ng Teng Fong Chari- two universities to have exchanges. meeting, Mr. Huang was Gridsum Donates to Establish PKU Law named as an honorary trustee of PKU. School Research and Talent Training Mr. Huang Zhixiang was thankful for this hon- Work Development Fund or, and showed his confi- dence in the development > Li Ruoxue of PKU in the future. Then the two sides explored n October 21, 2016, a Before the ceremony, PKU Presi- talents training, and the building the possibility of further donation ceremony to dent Lin Jianhua warmly welcomed of national think tank. He believed corporation between Sino the PKU Law School Chairman Qi and his partners at that with the development and re- O Group and PKU. Research and Talent Training Work Yingjie Exchange Center. President sources of Internet technology, the Sino Group and Ng Development Fund was held at the Lin expressed his thanks for the academic researches of PKU Law Teng Fong Charitable Jiangjia Hutong Courtyard, Peking generous support of Gridsum and School would greatly promote the Foundation, Ltd., are old University (PKU). Qi Guosheng, Chairman Qi for the development of future development of China and Chairman of Gridsum Holding social science and legal research of its law systems. Inc.; Wu Zhipan, PKU Executive PKU Law School and then on behalf After the signing of the donation Vice President; and Zhang Shouw- of PKU, President Lin awarded Chair- agreement, the guests at present en, Law School Dean attended the man Qi Guosheng PKU Education also witnessed that PKU Jiangjia ceremony along with personnel of outstanding contribution award. Hutong courtyard was officially How to Give Tel: (+86) 10-6276-7821 Fax: (+86) 10-6275-5998 Gridsum, and staff from the PKU Then Chairman Qi gave a speech named as Gridsum Courtyard, Peking University Email: [email protected] law school, and PKU Big Data Law at the ceremony and stated the im- which will promote the rule of law Education Foundation Website: www.pkuef.org Research. portance of big data legal research, academic research.
60 NEWSLETTER｜ PEKING UNIVERSITY WINTER 2016 / ISSUE 37 Dezhai, Caizhai, Junzhai, and Beizhai Buildings
Four buildings stand elegantly along the Weiming Lake, being embraced by the silence and etched with the marks of time. They are Dezhai, Caizhai, Junzhai, and Beizhai buildings. Designed by the famous American architect Henry Murphy, Dezhai, Caizhai, Junzhai, and Beizhai buildings were completed around 1929 and were originally used as boys’ dormitory. Since Henry Murphy had been familiar with Chinese architecture and culture, the buildings displayed classic features of traditional Chinese gardens. Dezhai, Caizhai, Junzhai, and Beizhai buildings are now the home of the Office of Development and Planning, the Office of Scientific Research, and the Office of Continuing Research. Renown scholar Qian Mu named the buildings with a purpose: The ‘De’ of Dezhai means virtue and the ‘Cai’ of Caizhai means talent in Chinese, and the names of the buildings express Peking University’s aim to foster students with both virtue and talent. Peking University students to this day strive hard to reach this standard. Photo: Wang Wenquan
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