Peking University, November 16, 2021: On the morning of November 7, 2021, Beijing Forum 2021 sub-forum
“Knowledge Dissemination and Mutual Learning among World Civilization”
was held online by PKU School of Foreign Languages. 17 scholars from
China, Japan, the Philippines, Mongolia, South Africa, Senegal and other
countries attended the meeting and delivered speeches. More than 300
participants at home and abroad were involved in the discussion and
conducted in-depth exchanges on relevant topics.
The first session of the sub-forum was themed "the Spread and Exchange
of Buddhism in Asia", and was chaired by Prof. Chen Ming from PKU School
of Foreign Languages. Prof. Chen Ming, Prof. Saerji, and Prof. Ye
Shaoyong from PKU School of Foreign Languages respectively offered
presentations on the cross-cultural spread of Buddhism in pre-modern
Asia, discussing the collision, exchange and integration of many
different cultures in Asian civilization through Buddhist stories,
Buddhist images and rare Sanskrit manuscripts.
First session
The second session, under the theme of "East-West Communication and
Translation", was chaired by Sun Jianjun, associate professor from PKU
School of Foreign Languages. Prof. Wong Wang Chi from the Chinese
University of Hong Kong revealed the hidden story behind Macartney’s
gift list during his mission to China in 1793. Prof. Fang Weigui from
Beijing Normal University addressed the origins of the Chinese
translation of the English word “economics”. Prof. Shen Guowei of Kansai
University reported the different roles played by the translation of
Eastern and Western books in the construction of modern disciplines.
Prof. Chen Liwei of Seijou University delivered a speech on Japanese
translation preference for foreign history books.
Second session
The theme of the third session was "Mutual Learning between Iberian
Cultural Circle and Asian Civilization". Gao Bo, Yu Shiyang and Wang
Yuan, Ph.D. students from PKU spoke on the figurative relationship
between the symbol of the snake and the Ming dynasty’s imperial power
from the perspective of 16th century Europe. They also talked about the
preservation of ancient Chinese books in Spain as well as the concept of
time and space in the early exchanges between China and Portugal.
Third session
The fourth session, under the theme of "Work Together, Live in Harmony
and Promote the Community of Shared Future for Mankind ", was chaired by
Prof. Wang Hao from PKU School of Foreign Languages. Prof. Michael M.
Coroza from Ateneo de Manila University highlighted the development of
the languages in the Philippines during the last century in comparison
to English. Associate Prof. Shagdarsuren Egshig from the National
University of Mongolia expressed that mobility in Mongolian nomadic
culture plays a role in improving rural living conditions and increasing
employment rate. Associate Prof. Sodnomdorj Yanjinsuren, also from the
National University of Mongolia, introduced the main results of the
national population, housing census and attitude towards Mongolia’s new
religious movement in 2020. Prof. Abdourahmane Seck from Gaston Berger
University spoke about African scholars in the international academic
cooperation system and pointed out the importance for Africa to rebuild
self-awareness. Prof. Shadreck Chirikure from the University of Cape
Town focused on the interaction between ancient Southern Africa and
China, and showed the existing archaeological evidence in Southern
Africa, indicating that there was direct and indirect contact between
the Far East and Southern Africa.
Fourth session
Written by: Fu Jiaqi
Edited by: June Tan Rui Min
Source: PKU News (Chinese)
