Congratulations to the graduates of the 2015–16 MA Programme in Comparative and Public History! Recapping the group photo-taking session held at the Lady Shaw Building Rooftop Garden on 18 November 2016. Prof. LAI Ming Chiu, Chairman of the Department, was invited to present the Scholarship for Outstanding History MA Students award to Miss GUO Yejia.

New Book Release by Dr. Michael H. LEE

Term 2 of 2016–17 will commence on 9 January 2017.

Recapping the academic seminar “多元中的一統：廖恩燾的粵語詠史詩《嬉笑集》賞析” conducted by Prof. PUK Wing Kin on 12 November 2016

Prof. PUK Wing Kin was invited by the MA Programme in Comparative and Public History and the Alumni Association of MA in Comparative and Public History to give a lecture to students of the Department and alumni.

Prof. PUK introduced Liao Entao’s Xixiaoji at the talk. Liao Entao (1863–1954) was a native of Huiyang of Guangdong and elder brother of KMT left-wing leader Liao Zhongkai. Liao Entao served as a diplomat in late Qing and early Republican China. After World War Two, he moved to Hong Kong and passed away there. Liao Entao was well known for his Xixiaoji, a collection of poems that not only conformed strictly to Classical Chinese poetry format but was also written in Cantonese. The juxtaposition of Cantonese as one of the many dialects in China and the commonly observed format of Classical Chinese poetry is an interesting case of cultural unity amid diversity in Chinese history.

Recapping the academic seminar “中國人眼中的法國大革命：大革命史研究在中國的緣起與演進” conducted by Prof. LU Yimin on 18 November 2016

Prof. LU Yimin, from the School of Humanities of Zhejiang University, was invited by the Office of Academic Links (China) and the Department to present a lecture to the Department’s postgraduate students.

The significant influence of the French Revolution on the process of modernisation in France and the development of modern democracy made it become one of the popular topics of historical studies worldwide. In this seminar, Prof LU reviewed the genealogy of the French revolution studies in China. He pointed out that the study of the French Revolution always drew the attention of scholars of French history in China as the French Revolution and its political culture had profoundly influenced the progress of Chinese society since the late Qing. Thus, he believed that it was also helpful for those who wanted to reach a better understanding of the transformation of modern China and the intellectual history of modern China in particular to follow the development and changes of research focus of the French Revolution studies in China.

Yu Ying-shih Lecture in History 2016

To enhance academic and cultural exchange, Chung Chi College, New Asia College and the Department of History of the University joined hands in 2007 to establish the “Yu Ying-shih Lecture in History”. This year, Professor Hoyt Cleveland TILLMAN, Professor of Chinese History, Arizona State University has been invited as the guest speaker of the following two public lectures:

This talk is jointly organised by the Committee on Yu Ying-shih Lecture in History, CUHK and the Hong Kong Museum of History.

The lectures will be conducted in English. For enquiries, please call at 3943 7610 or email to wanda@cuhk.edu.hk.

Conference on the Studies of the History of Warring States and Qin-Han Periods:
From the Perspective of Bamboo and Wooden Manuscripts

For seat reservation and more information,
please visit https://www.history.cuhk.edu.hk/Event/2016_manuscripts

Organisers: Centre for Chinese History, Department of History, CUHK; Center of Bamboo and Silk Manuscripts, Wuhan University; Department of History, Kyungpook National University

CALL FOR PAPERS

Southeast Asia in Evolution: Trans-Pacific Agency and the City, c. 1850–1941

The period between the mid-nineteenth century and the onset of World War Two bore witness to major economic, political, environmental, and cultural developments in Southeast (SE) Asia. Broadly referred to the region’s modernisation phase much of this evolution was fuelled not just by colonialism or revolution but by the region’s shifting relationship with nations in the Americas, principally the United States (US). Notably, much of this advancement transpired within urban locales: towns and cities bore witness to many changes in their built form, and to how life was being lived within them.

This conference accordingly invites papers that engage with the theme of SE Asian-US connectivity between the mid-1800s and 1941. What, how, and why these developments came about within urban places are to be discussed in the context of the event. Particularly welcome are contributions that investigate the effect of American culture, economics, and politics upon Southeast Asian’s ‘progress’. Contributions that explore American Exceptionalism and imperialism, American civilisation and changing mores and customs in SE Asia, transportation, city designing, governance, industry, plus social and religious issues as well as the Asian grasp of modernity itself are encouraged. Papers with a cross-disciplinary and comparative approach are also welcome.

Abstracts of up to 250 words, along with paper title, name, affiliation, and contact details should be submitted on or before the deadline of Friday, 23 December 2016. For papers accepted by scholars based outside of Hong Kong SAR, financial assistance to cover accommodation and airport pick-up costs will be available. For additional information, or to submit a paper proposal, please contact Prof. Ian MORLEY, Department of History, The Chinese University of Hong Kong,
email: ianmorley@arts.cuhk.edu.hk.

Best wishes from the Department
Merry Christmas and a Prosperous 2017!

The newsletter will resume on 3 January 2017.

For teachers and students who have information to share with the Department,
please email your articles in both Chinese and English to chanfiona@cuhk.edu.hk by 4:00pm every Tuesday.