Hainan University (HNU) held its 9th Luminaries Lecture in Humanities & Social Sciences in the auditorium of the Social Science Complex on the afternoon of December 6. The event featured Prof. Huang Dekuan, Chair Professor of Humanities at Tsinghua University (THU) and Director of THU’s Research and Conservation Center for Unearthed Texts, who delivered a lecture titled “A Brief Discussion on Chinese Characters and the Inheritance and Development of Chinese Civilization”. Fu Xuanguo, Secretary of CPC HNU Committee and senior leaders Nie Qingbin and Tan Yong, attended the lecture. Nie Qingbin chaired the event.

Lecture venue (Photo by Zheng Zejiao)

With the bamboo slips of the Warring States Period (476 - 221 BC) housed at Tsinghua University as the example, Prof. Huang offered a vivid glimpse into the history, culture, and institutions of ancient China. He introduced the origin, evolution and modern applications of Chinese characters, highlighting their unique charm and inextricable connection to Chinese civilization and showcasing how these symbols encapsulate the essence of China’s cultural heritage and history.

Huang highlighted how ancient Chinese wisdom is deeply embedded in these characters, which serve as a hallmark of Chinese civilization. He emphasized the aesthetic appeal of Chinese characters and their unique role as a triadic system of form, sound, and meaning, which originated from natural elements like the sun, moon, and animals. Each character, he noted, bears profound cultural and historical significance, thus collectively forming the foundation of China’s unique culture and spiritual identity.

He underscored the duality of Chinese characters as both a vehicle for preserving traditions and a dynamic system that adapts to the needs of modern society, a testament to the resilience and continuity of Chinese culture. He called on the students and faculty members in attendance to embrace the richness of the Chinese characters, use them skillfully, and become active promoters of fine traditional Chinese culture.

The auditorium was fully packed, and the attendees listened attentively and later engaged in a lively Q&A session on topics such as the cultural significance of Chinese characters, their modernization, and their role in disseminating traditional culture. Prof. Huang offered detailed answers and shared his unique insights.

Q&A session

Faculty and student representatives from all the campuses and science & education parks, as well as heads of the departments concerned, attended the event, in person or virtually.

Source from HNU News

Translated by Han Yunsheng

Proofread by Kuang Xiaowen, Yang Jie