Peking University, Mar. 20, 2011: Professor Cheng Yuzhui from the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Peking University (PKU) and Professor Xu Tianjin from the school of Archaeology and Museology at PKU delivered lectures on Chinese ancient culture at Bangkok and Chiang Rai in Thailand for the students and teachers from the local Confucius Institutes as well as the local people from February 28 to March 6.

The program was supported by Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters, with the aim of attracting more Thais to learn about the beauty of Chinese language and culture.

Professor Cheng Yuzhui from the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, PKU, at his speech.

At the Confucius Institute at Chulalongkorn University, there went the first lecture chaired by Professor Fu Zengyou, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute. Teachers from Chulalongkorn University and Srinakharinwirot University were joined by representatives from related associations in attending the lecture. Dr. Sitthichai Tadsi, vice president of Chulalongkorn University, also attended and gave the opening remarks. "The lecture is a great opportunity for Thais learning Chinese to better understand ancient Chinese Culture," he said.

 Professor Xu Tianjin from the school of Archaeology and Museology, PKU, at his speech.

In his lecture Appreciation on the Poems of Homesickness in Tang Dynasty, Professor Cheng Yuzhui shared with the audiences various types of Tang Dynasty poems about homesickness. Professor Cheng's easily comprehensible and humorous lecture style received a standing ovation. In the lecture The Bronze Civilization in Western Zhou Dynasty , Professor Xu Tianjin explain the harmonious relationship between humans and animals during pre-Qin times using an impressive number of excavated documents. "We should treat animals with awe, protecting them is actually protecting ourselves.” Professor Xu said. The humaneness of hsi words moved those in attendance.

The group also presented the lectures at other Confucius Institutes, namely the two at Mea Fah Luang University and Burapha University. The group received warm welcome from the local experts and scholars.

Group photo

After coming back to Bangkok, Professor Cheng and his colleagues visited the Chinese Culture Experience Center, a library, and a new office site for the Confucius Institution at Chulalongkorn University. Professor Cheng also made suggestions for the construction of the new site. He also expressed anticipation towards carrying out future academic cooperation with the Department of Archaeology at Chulalongkorn University on the platform provided by the Confucius Institute.

Background Info:
Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters : as a public institution affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Education. H/CIH is committed to providing Chinese linguistic and cultural teaching resources and services worldwide.

 
To learn more about the Confucius Institute, you can visit its website at english.hanban.org/index.html.

 
Chulalongkorn University: the oldest university in Thailand long considered the country's most prestigious university.

To learn more about Chulalongkorn University, you can visit its website at www.chula.ac.th.

Translated by: Jiang Zhaohui
Edited by: Su Juan
Sources: PKU News (Chinese)