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GCA’s Past Honorary President Professor Martin Albrow’s Academic Tour at Universities and Institutions in Beijing, 15-25/10/2023
Introduction
The programme for this tour was drawn up according to my wishes and the invitations of all the institutions mentioned below, facilitated by advice and assistance from the Embassy of the PRC in London and the Global China Academy.
My accommodation and subsistence throughout the period was generously provided by the Tsinghua University School of Journalism and Communication at the Wenjin Hotel, Chengfu Road, Beijing, as was all transport in Beijing.
The daily co-ordination of my programme with the inviting institutions was conducted by Ms LI Chengzhang, Head of the International Office of the Tsinghua School of Journalism and Communication in conjunction with Professor Xiangqun Chang, President of the Global China Academy in London and Dr QIAN Zhenhua, Co-Chair of Global China Academy Council and President of Shanghai International Corporation Association of SMEs.
Timetable
Day 1, Sunday 15 Oct. Arrival after a pleasant flight from London Heathrow airport on China Southern Airlines flight CZ 674 at Beijing Daxing airport at 3.25 pm to be met by LI Chengzhang and her assistant YU Ke. We were then driven to Wenjin Hotel for rest after the flight. Dinner at the Wenjin Hotel with Dr QIAN Zhenhua, Dr Yuan Cheng, Mr SUN Tiecheng, Mr ZHANG Jiuan, LI Chengzhang, and SONG Wuchen.
Day 2, Monday 16 Oct. 9.00-11.30. Visit to the China International Publications Group accompanied by Dr QIAN Zhenhua, Mr DU Yichao. Greeted by GAO Anming, the Deputy President of CIPG, YU Yunquan, Director of Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, LI Yunkai, President of New World Press and staff, gave a short speech, signed my book for members of staff and joined a group photograph.
In the afternoon, gave a seminar on belt and road initiative and global governance, arranged by Global China Academy, School of Journalism and Communication at Tsinghua University and Shanghai International Corporation Association of SMEs.
Evening welcome from Dean ZHOu Qing’an of the School of Journalism and Communication at Tsinghua University and guest for dinner with him and Tsinghua Faculty members.
Day 3, Tuesday 17 Oct. Visit and presentation to Beijing Foreign Studies University, School of Journalism and Communication accompanied by former Director, Professor Zhang Xiaoying.
Day 4, Wednesday 18 Oct. Visit to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to give a seminar presentation ‘The Rise and Present Prospects of Globalization Discourse’. Discussants REN Lin, Head of Department of Global Governance, DUAN Weiwen, Head of Department of Philosophy of Science and Technology, Institute of Philosophy.
Followed by lunch hosted by WANG Lei, Deputy Director of World Economics and Politics, CASS.
Day 5, Thursday 19 Oct. At the invitation of Professor WANG Yiwei, morning lecture at Renmin University, ‘The Decline of the West.’ By Accompanied by Dr Boyi Li of the LSE Fellow and Global China Academy Council member.
Afternoon and evening participation in Renmin University conference, ‘Dialogue between China and the World – 2nd International Forum on Chinese Modernization in Global Perspective. Keynote speech ‘Contribution of Chinese Modernization to World Development.
Evening dinner with Professor Wang and conference delegates.
Day 6. Friday 20 Oct. Roundtable discussion and Lecture to the students of Tsinghua University School of Journalism and Communication, ‘Towards a human community of a shared future’ followed by Q and A.
Private dinner at Wenjin Hotel with Ms Zhang Dailei, Xinhua News Agency.
Days 7 and 8. Weekend 21/22 Oct. Private visit to Professor Zhang’s country house with her mother, and Dr Ou Shaolin and husband.
22 Oct. Evening attendance at dinner at the Millennium Hotel hosted by Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
Day 9. Monday 23 Oct. Millennium Hotel. Participation in roundtables at the 8th China Global Think Tank Innovation organized by the Centre for China and Globalization, Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, in partnership with China-West Dialogue, followed by evening reception. Meeting with Dr Colin Bradford of the China West Dialogue.
Day 10, Tuesday 24 Oct. Millennium Hotel. Attendance at the EU-China Think Tank Exchange Roundtables followed by evening reception. Interview with Xinhua News Agency
Private dinner at Millennium Hotel with Ms Ma Lei, Ministry of Culture, PRC.
Day 11, Wednesday 25 Oct. Depart for Daxing International Airport accompanied by Yu Ke. Flight China Southern Airlines, CZ 673. 11.55 am. Arrive London Heathrow, 15.45. A comfortable flight.
Conclusion
Beijing academic institutions, teachers, students and administrators engage with the best in the world and are working at the highest intensity to make their unique contribution. Most impressive was the impeccable planning of my programme even at the same time as the vast gathering for the tenth anniversary of the BRI was taking place.
To those who worked so hard and efficiently to make my visit to Beijing immensely instructive, enjoyable and worthwhile and especially to Ms LI Chengzhang (Tsinghua), Professor Xiangqun Chang (GCA), Dr QIAN Zhenhua, Professor WANG Yiwei (Renmin), Ann Tang (CCG), Professor ZHANG Xiaoying (Beiwai), Mark Lee and the officials of the Embassy of the PRC, London, Minister Counsellor Li Liyan and First Secretary Yu Guo. It was a great experience I shall always remember.
Thank you all!
Professor Martin Albrow FAcSS
Founding and Past Honorary President of Global China Academy
Former President of the British Sociological Association
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Global China Academy and Global Century Press’s Activities in May 2023
During a series of events in May, supported by the GCA Board of Trustees, the Global China Academy and Global Century Press actively promoted international academic cooperation and China related studies worldwide. These activities demonstrated the academy’s emphasis on knowledge sharing, as well as the importance of understanding China’s role in the contemporary world.
On May 5, during Dr Grace Yuan Cheng’s visit to the UK, the GCA Board of Trustees held a hybrid meeting, chaired by Ingrid Cranfield. Charles Grant participated online. The second photo from the left above shows, from left to right, Dr Thomas Clarke, Dr Frances Wood, Ingrid Cranfield, Dr Yuan Cheng and Professor Xiangqun Chang.
On May 11, Professor Xiangqun Chang presented four copies of the mainland Chinese edition of China and the Shared Human Future: Exploring Common Values and Goals to the author, Professor Martin Albow, on behalf of the China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Co. Ltd., which co-developed this publication project with GCP. She also presented four copies of the English edition of the book published by Global Century Press (shown in the photos above).
On May 23, Professor Xiangqun Chang was invited to give a presentation at the inaugural China-Focused Research Forum hosted by SOAS, University of London. This event was organised by the student societies of SOAS, LSE and King’s College London. Dr Lianyi Song, Principal Teaching Fellow in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at SOAS (third from the right in the third photo above), oversaw the proceedings. Dr Song is one of the founding editors of the Journal of Chinese for Social Science (JCSS), which GCP publishes. This forum represented a good opportunity to foster engagement among students dedicated to China studies and the learning of the Chinese language. Sam Hardy (third from the left in the thrid photo above), chaired the forum. The attendees included two Chinese sociologists among the four Chinese Visiting Fellows. They are notable for being the first Visiting Fellows from China after the COVID pandemic.
The activities in May demonstrate a commitment to deepening the understanding of China’s contributions to the world. Through efforts such as publishing important works and participating in events, GCA plays an important role in promoting social scientific work with a global perspective and efforts of cross-discipline engagement in social linguistics.
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Social Mission Activities and Reflection of GCA President Xiangqun Chang in China, April 2023
During her visit to China in April 2023, Professor Xiangqun Chang, President of the Global China Academy (GCA), participated in various social mission activities, encompassing a range of meetings, visits to sponsors, and personal explorations. These activities reflect the organization’s and her own commitment and efforts to promote global understanding and cooperation.
On the morning of April 21st, a meeting took place at the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS) within the China International Publishing Group (CIPG). Dr YU Yunquan (3rd from the right in the top photo), Director of ACCWS, chaired the session. Dr YU Hongjun (3rd from the left in the top photo), former Vice Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC) and Director of the Centre for Contemporary World Studies, was present as well. He had previously delivered a greeting message at the 6th Global China Dialogue on Governance for World Peace. Professor XU Baofeng from BLCU (1st from the right in the top photo), Director of the Belt and Road Research Institute, Director of the World Sinology Centre, and DU Yichao, Director of Wuxi Institute of New Culture, PhD student at UCL, and GCA Associate (2nd from the right in the top photo), also participated in the meeting. The purpose of this gathering was to advance the GCA’s social mission, specifically in preparation for the 8th Global China Dialogue on Governance for Global Health (GCD III).
During the meeting, Dr YU Hongjun highlighted the shared challenges faced by China and the rest of the world, including climate change, energy security, global health governance, and global economic stability, emphasizing the need for dialogue and collaborative efforts to address these issues. Dr YU Yunquan underscored ACCWS’s objective of fostering understanding and research on China’s global role, committing to the development of a multidisciplinary research platform aimed at expanding global knowledge of China through publishing, seminars, and international collaborations. Professor Xu Baofeng discussed the establishment of the World Sinology Centre and the organization of international conferences in China. Professor Chang Xiangqun shared insights from her observations and experiences in China, focusing on China’s engagement in global governance, its proactive involvement in the United Nations, and other multilateral institutions. She discussed the importance of dialogue in enhancing China’s comprehension of its global responsibilities. The meeting concluded with the decision that the Journal of Contemporary China and World Studies would sponsor GCD III, contingent upon receiving a report on Governance for Global Health, and the Deputy Director of ACCWS would deliver the closing remarks at the final session.
On the afternoon of April 21st, accompanied by DU Yichao, visits were made to two sponsors of the Global China Dialogues series. The first visit was to Xueshuzhi (学术志 Academic Unwavering), a brand under Scholar Education Ltd., an academic dissemination and education platform established by doctoral graduates from prestigious universities. Gathering over 2 million highly educated individuals, primarily university faculty, doctors, and masters, Xueshuzhi has been dedicated to supporting the research community’s growth. It aims to promote the dissemination and development of academic knowledge, enhance domestic researchers’ levels, and advance social sciences in China. During this visit, Dr SONG Yiping (right in the top photos), a founder of the company, recalled his initial encounter with Professor Chang approximately ten years ago, at which time he was employed as an editor at Renmin University Press. He conveyed his continued support for the Global China Dialogues.
Following this, a visit was made to Xueshuwan (学术湾 Academic Harbour), a brand of M.Y.Union, a high-tech enterprise established in 2012 specializing in software development that integrates teaching, practice, and research. Focused on developing new technologies for the social service sector, Xueshuwan offers comprehensive IT solutions to educational, government, and social service organizations. With a commitment to rigorous and practical approaches, the company has achieved rapid and sustainable growth, supported by a team of skilled developers and expert advisors in sociology and social work. Its products, tailored for the modern technological landscape, are applied across various sectors, including universities and government agencies. The General Manager, Mr JIANG Biao (right in the bottom photos), who first met Professor Chang during her lecture at Changchun University of Science and Technology in 2019, provided a tour of the company and showcased projects developed during the COVID years.
Xueshuwan, Xueshuzhi, and the Wuxi Institute of New Culture, sponsors of the 6th, 7th, and forthcoming 8th Global China Dialogues, offer free services for live streaming or recorded broadcasting of the dialogues through their platforms in China. They also provide audio and video recordings for archives, transcriptions, translations, and dual-language subtitles for videos shown during the dialogues. Their willingness to sponsor the GCD series with their resources and expertise was expressed at the GCA’s founding ceremony. Click their names to watch the greeting videos by JIANG Biao, SONG Yiping and DU Yichao.
During the trip to Shenyang, where her mother resides, Professor Chang also visited places of interest, a consistent component of her fieldwork in China. Through a golf acquaintance, she was introduced to DAI Yanyan (to her left in the top left photo), Deputy Director of the Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centre at Shenyang Jianzhu University, and ZHANG Changyan (to her right in the top left photo), a chief lawyer. With their assistance, on the morning of April 27th, Yanyan and Professor Chang visited Shenyang Century Golf Club. This club features an 18-hole, 72-par course that spans 700,000 square meters and was inaugurated in 2006. Its design incorporates both Western and Asian elements, emphasizing environmental conservation with its abundant tree coverage and high-quality grass landscapes. The clubhouse is equipped with luxurious amenities and panoramic views, providing a diverse array of leisure and business facilities, such as restaurants, bars, a fitness centre, among others. Situated in the development zone of Tiexi District, close to the airport and highways, the club offers convenient access. It integrates sports, leisure, and business, delivering a premium experience for its members. The club’s viability is attributed to the Tiexi District hosting over 1,300 enterprises from 40 countries and regions, including 83 multinational corporations and 21 Fortune Global 500 companies.
Moreover, Shenyang is recognized as the cradle of golf in China. The statue shown in the bottom left photo is of Chang Hsueh-liang or Zhang Xueliang (张学良, 1901-2001), a warlord who ruled Manchuria from 1928 to 1936. Zhang, who was introduced to golf in Shenyang in 1917 after joining the Fengtian Christian Youth Association, founded China’s first golf team in 1920 with officials from China, Britain, France, America, and other countries. Initially planning to construct the first 18+1 hole golf course in Beidaihe in 1927, he instead established a nine-hole ‘mini-golf’ course, which was launched at the Shenyang Tongze Club in 1930.
On the afternoon of April 27th, Yanyan escorted Professor Chang to the Shenyang Aoyuehui City Golf Club, an indoor golf multifunctional centre. The owner, Mr. ZHAO Haixin, revealed that the facility occupies 1,200 square meters and features 6 public hitting bays, 3 VIP rooms, each equipped with a Greenjoy Hengtaixin golf simulator. Beyond these, the club boasts a water bar, rest area, and additional public entertainment facilities. It serves freshly ground imported coffee, fashionable beverages, imported red wine and beer, teas from various regions, and premium Chinese and Western snacks. According to Mr Zhao, these offerings have ensured him a stable income even through the COVID years, affording him a lifestyle comparable to the upper-middle class in Western nations.
On the afternoon of April 30th, Professor Chang visited the Mission Hills Golf Club (观澜湖高尔夫球会), which is affectionately deemed the ‘home golf club’ of her friend Wang Jie due to its closeness to Wang’s residence. The disparity in the club’s Chinese and English names stems from ‘Guanlan’ (观澜), denoting a town surrounded by hills but without a lake (湖). Established in 1992 and inspired by its mission (使命) amid the hills (群山), the club has constructed numerous artificial lakes over an expansive area of 20 square kilometres across Shenzhen and Dongguan. Designed by twelve globally renowned golf figures, it comprises 12 courses, each with 18 holes (a total of 216 holes), distinctively integrating golf course styles from all five continents. This characteristic granted it the Guinness World Record for the ‘World’s Largest Golf Club’ in 2004. However, during the COVID years, the club experienced a downturn in business relative to the indoor golf multifunction centre in Shenyang, leading to job losses for numerous caddies.
Back in the UK, the ‘home golf club’ for Professor Chang is the Mill Hill Golf Club, situated just a two-minute walk from her residence. Construction began in 1924, and the club opened in 1927. Occupying less than one square kilometre of woodland within Moat Mount Open Space and Scratchwood, it is part of section 16 of the London LOOP (The London Outer Orbital Path). This path nearly encircles Greater London, covering almost 150 miles (approximately 388.5 square kilometres) and divided into 24 sections. Moat Mount Open Space is home to the man-made Leg of Mutton Pond, and near Scratchwood within the golf course is Stoney Wood Lake, fed by Deans Brook, which flows through the northern edges of Edgware, merges with the Silk Stream, continues into the Brent River, and finally joins the Thames River in West London.
The Global China Academy pursues dual missions. Its academic mission focuses on deepening the global understanding of China and Chinese people through global and comparative perspectives, worldwide fellowships, and rigorous research. Supported by its subsidiary, Global Century Press, which publishes esteemed scholarly works, the academy aims to enhance global cooperation and understanding, preparing young leaders for societal contributions. The Global China Dialogues platform facilitates significant exchanges to cultivate a more inclusive global community, transforming research into tangible societal benefits. Nestled at the foot of Mill Hill, amid woodlands and a nearby lake, the Global China Academy is likened to a quaint ‘academic temple’, endearingly referred to as ‘Mission Hill Temple’.
During her visit to China in April 2023, Professor Xiangqun Chang’s interactions with key institutions and individuals highlighted the Global China Academy’s commitment to fostering global understanding and cooperation. Her fruitful meeting with the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS) and her engagements with two key sponsors of the Global China Dialogues series—Xueshuzhi and Xueshuwan—underscored the collaboration with organizations dedicated to academic knowledge dissemination and providing technological solutions for social services, laying the groundwork for the 8th Global China Dialogue. Moreover, Professor Chang’s comparative perspective on golf clubs in China and the UK emphasized the sport’s global nature, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries. By aligning the cooperative spirit of golf with her academic and social missions, she showcased the potential convergence of personal interests and professional goals, promoting a more inclusive and interconnected world.
- Click here to view Global China Academy’s President Professor Xiangqun Chang’s Academic Activities in Beijing, 18-20 April 2023
- Click here to view Global China Academy’s President Professor Xiangqun Chang’s Academic Activities in Xiamen, Wuhan and Tianjin, 4-11 April 2023
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Global China Academy’s President Professor Xiangqun Chang’s Academic Activities in Beijing,18-20 April 2023
Introduction
On the occasion of being an invited speaker at the ‘International Conference: The Chinese Path to Modernization and the Pursuit of Humanity’s Common Values’ at Xiamen University from April 4-6, 2023, I visited China and conducted a series of lectures, seminars, and academic exchanges at various universities in Xiamen, Wuhan, Tianjin, and Beijing. In addition to fulfilling my academic responsibilities, I also participated in events and activities aligned with the social mission of the Global China Academy. This part includes only academic activities in Beijing from 18-20th April.
Timeline
On the afternoon of April 18th, I visited the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Beijing University of Technology (BUT). It was established by Professor LU Xueyi (1933-2013), the former Director of the Institute of Sociology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and former President of the Chinese Sociological Association. I paid tribute to Professor LU Xueyi’s statue (right photo), a reason that will be explained in the section on the CASS seminar. I also met Professor TANG Jun (one my left in the left photo), Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and his colleagues. We knew each other since Professor Tang worked at CASS. Coincidentally, I also met Professor LI Xiaozhuang (on my right in the left photo), from the Institute of Sociology at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences (BASS). He was Professor Lu’s PhD student. I met him in 2014 when he was working on sorting through Lu’s more than 1,000 diaries.
Professor LI Junfu (on my right in the bottom photo) chaired the lecture I delivered. He was a Visiting Fellow at the University of Oxford in 2019. He presented a paper titled ‘Society Building: Peacemaking with Chinese Characteristics’ at the 6th Global China Dialogue: Governance for World Peace, which I organized. The title of my lecture was ‘Realization of Goal-Oriented Cooperative Projects, Promoting the Common Value of Mankind: A Corpus-Assisted Analysis of ‘recipropriety’ (lishang-wanglai 互适). Dr CAO Feilian (on my left in the bottom photo), Associate Professor, joined the lecture. She acted as the interpreter for Professor LU Xueyi when he gave a seminar on society building at LSE in 2011, which I arranged when I worked there.
On the morning of Aprol 19th, I was invited by Professor XU Baofeng (right in left photo) for a meeting in his office at Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU). He is Director of the Belt and Road Research Institute, Director of the World Sinology Center, Head of the Secretariat for the Asian Classics Inter-Translation Project, Leader of the National Project for the Chinese and Foreign Sinologists and Translators Talent Database and Chinese Culture Translation and Research Network. He was an invited speaker at the 6th Global China Dialogue: Governance for World Peace, where he delivered the paper ‘Can Confucian Ethics Help in the Elimination of Global Unilateralism, Extremism and Terrorism Based on a Comparison Between Countries and Regions with and without Influence from Confucius Ethics?’ in 2019. Professor Xu collaborated with the GCA in several ways. For instance, he published a paper titled ‘China’s Contribution to the Future of Governance’ by Professor Martin Albrow in the inaugural issue of the journal he founded, World Sinology Information (01), on April 28, 2020. He facilitated Professor Albrow’s participation and publication of the paper ‘The Prospects of the Belt and Road Initiative in the Post-pandemic Era: A Dialogue’ in the Guangming International Forum, which was published in the Guangming Daily on May 27, 2020. With his assistance, the Global Century Press published a book titled Witnessing China Combating COVID-19: My Story in China in both English and Chinese. Both Professor Albrow and I were invited speakers at the UN Chinese Language Day, discussing sinology and the Chinese language during the epidemic, and the Ceremony to Launch the International Cangjie Plan on April 19, 2020. In this meeting, we explored different possibilities of collaboration.
On the afternoon of April 19th, I was invited to give a lecture at the Institute of Sociology (CASS). I always feel at home there because my academic achievements are closely related to two great figures there: LU Xueyi (statue to my left in the right photo) and Fei Xiaotong (statue to my right in the right photo). I was introduced to LU Xueyi in 1987 by the successor of Fei Xiaotong, the then Director of the Institute of Sociology, Professor HE Jianzhang (1926-2004), when LU was serving as the Deputy Director there. It came at a time when the institute had just been granted the first major project on Marxist Sociology Theoretical Studies in China, funded by the National Social Science Foundation (NSSF) (1987-1991). Professor He offered me a position there before I graduated with my Master’s degree in 1987, as the application for the major project was likely to be successful. I was the only person in China who had received three years of training in Marxist sociology under Professor Ding Kequan at Northeast Normal University and was willing to work on this project. Professor Lu became the Director in 1988 and led the major project until 1991. As a team member, my book, On Marxist Sociology (1992) was a significant outcome of the project. I worked closely with Professor Lu and maintained a good relationship with him. After his passing, I wrote his obituary and published it in Network, the Magazine of the British Sociological Association, Winter 2013, p44.
Although my primary research focus was on Marxist sociology with CASS, I was a lecturer in Sociology at the People’s Public Security University of China (PPSUC). This role was a direct result of Fei Xiaotong’s efforts to promote sociology in public security universities in Nanjing and Beijing, starting in 1984. PPSUC recruited me right after I graduated in 1987, recognizing the unique position I held as a postgraduate from the only normal university in China offering an MA degree in sociology at the time. Coincidentally, shortly after becoming a Visiting Fellow at City University in 1991, I joined an ESRC-funded research project co-developed by Professor Stephan Feuchtwang and Professor SHEN Guanbao (1949-2016) when he was as a Visiting Fellow at LSE. Given that Shen was the only PhD student Fei Xiaotong supervised at CASS, Kaixiangong Village, Fei’s fieldwork site, naturally became a focal point in our project. My subsequent book, Guanxi or Li Shang Wanglai?: Reciprocity, Social Support Networks, Social Creativity in a Chinese Village (2010/2011 in both English and Chinese), was the result of extensive fieldwork in that village. Additionally, I served as a co-editor of FeiXiaotong Studies (3 volumes in both English and Chinese).
The title of my talk was ‘A Text Analysis Method in the Era of Big Data: Corpus-Assisted Research Based on Case Studies’. It was chaired by WANG Chunguang (pictured top right), Deputy Director of the Institute of Sociology at CASS and Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Sociological Association. The arrangement was facilitated by FU Xuejun, Director of the Research Office of the Institute of Sociology. Afterwards, we discussed the changes that have occurred over the past three decades at the Institute, as he is the only remaining individual from the time I worked there on the NSSF-funded major project who has yet to retire.
During my talk, I shared related corpora such as the collected works of Ding Kequan, a pioneer of Marxist sociology, Fei Xiaotong’s complete works, and Marx and Engels’ Complete Works. I learned that LU Xueyi’s complete works (10 volumes) have just been published to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Lu’s death. They would be a great addition to my collection of corpora. Dr YU Qin, an Assistant Research Fellow at the Anti-Corruption Research Office, informed me that she completed her PhD under the supervision of Professor SU Jinzhi at the Institute of Linguistics, CASS. Professor Su is the former President of the Chinese Social Linguistics Association. Dr Yu would like to collaborate with me to apply corpus approaches to her work. She also sent me some of her related published papers later.
On the late afternoon and evening of April 19th, after I finished my talk at CASS, I attended a short meeting at the Ministry of Education’s Research base — Centre for Sociology Theory and Methodology at Renmin University of China. It was founded by Professor ZHENG Huangsheng (1936-2014), former Vice-President of Renmin University and former President of the Chinese Sociological Association. My first meeting with Professor Zheng was at a sociology conference in Shenyang in 1985. He had been my mentor for about three decades because we shared common interests. In 2014 he chaired a lecture for me and signed a certificate of Professional Research Fellow with no time limit at the Centre, a few months before his passing. Afterwards, I wrote ‘Zheng Huangsheng: Life and Work’ and published it in Network, the Magazine of the British Sociological Association, in Spring 2015.
The meeting was chaired by Professor FENG Shizheng (to my left in the top photo), Dean of the School of Sociology and Demography (and was promoted to Vice-President of Renmin University in October 2023), Professor LU Yilong, Deputy Director of the Centre (to my right in the top photo), Associate Professor HUAN Pingqing (second from the right in the top photo), Associate Professor HUANG Jialiang (first on the right in the top photo), Deputy Dean of the School of Sociology and Demography, and LI Suocheng (first on the left in the top photo), Manager of the Centre Office.
The seminar was held in the evening, titled ‘A Text Analysis Method in the Era of Big Data: Corpus-Assisted Research Based on Case Studies.’ It was chaired by Dr Huan Pingqing (first right in the middle photo), who has conducted many studies on Fei Xiaotong. He was an invited speaker at the 6th Global China Dialogue: Governance for World Peace, where he delivered the paper ‘Confucius’ Thoughts on Ethnic Relations and Its Significance to World Peace’ in 2019. He then became a Visiting Fellow at the University of Oxford in 2020, a tenure that was interrupted by COVID-19.
Professor ZHAO Xudong (to my left in the bottom photo) attended the seminar. He is the Director of the Institute of Anthropology at Renmin University and was the last PhD student under Fei Xiaotong’s supervision at Peking University. During the Q&A session, we discussed how ChatGPT could influence corpus approaches to social scientific studies. This question emerged from all my lectures and seminars conducted in China. My explanation highlighted that ChatGPT is an excellent tool for generalizing answers to general questions, providing outlines for study topics, summarizing existing work of interest, drafting letters, copy editing, and performing bidirectional translations between English and Chinese, among other tasks. It poses a challenge to all electronic data-based analysis. While it complements the corpus-assisted method, it cannot replace it. This limitation stems from ChatGPT’s inability to provide specific words in related references and their contexts. Also without reading and reserach, one cannot formulate a scientific question to effectively engage ChatGPT in conversation and further studies.
On the morning of April 20th, I, along with GCA Life Fellow HAN Sang-jin (3rd from the right in the top photos), Professor Emeritus at the Department of Sociology, Seoul National University, Korea, had a meeting at the Department of Sociology, Tsinghua University. Professor LI Qiang (3rd from the left in the top photos) joined us. He is the former Dean of the School of Social Sciences at Tsinghua University and former President of the Chinese Sociological Association. He also serves as the Chinese President of the GCA Council and is a Founding Fellow of GCA. The top two photos showcase different styles of group photos: Chinese style and Korean style, provided by Professor Han afterwards along with a note expressing a determination to collaborate among the three parties. This sentiment was echoed in his video greetings at the GCA’s founding ceremony, as presented by Professor LI Qiang (click here to watch). Dr. ZHENG Lu (1st from the left in the top photos) chaired the meeting. He is Deputy Head and Associate Professor of Department of Sociology and the ‘RONG’ Professor of Data Sciences at Tsinghua University. I presented him with some publications published by Global Century Press (left photo in the bottom row), and he expressed a willingness to collaborate with GCA. He delivered a speech entitled ‘Good Finance and Good Society: Financial Institutional Reform’ at the 7th Global China Dialogue: Reforming Global Governance in 2021. Dr. ZHAO Yizhang (1st from the right in the photos) from the Department of Sociology and Dr. CHEN Yulin (2nd from the right in the photos) also attended the meeting. The right photo in the bottom row features Professor ZHANG Xiaojun and me beside a poster of his lecture. He is the former Director of the Institute of Anthropology at Tsinghua University. We met at a national sociological conference in Guangzhou 38 years ago and have maintained a good relationship since then.
On the afternoon of April 20th, I was invited by Professor ZHONG Xin (2nd from the left in the top photo), Deputy Director of the Institute of Public Communication at the School of Journalism, Renmin University of China. As mentioned in the above section at Wuhan University, media studies in Remin Uinversity is another major discipline among the top four universities in China. After she and her PhD students gave me a guided tour of the institution, centers, and school, she held a meeting for academic exchanges. She shared with me her involvement in a national social science project, one of whose sub-projects focuses on researching the persuasive power of China’s discourse on universal human values. I presented materials related to my talks and used the books published by GCP as examples.
On the evening of April 20th, I had a dinner meeting with Professor GU Yueguo (middle in the right photo) and his wife, Professor LAN Chun. Professor Gu is a Research Professor of Linguistics and the Head of the Contemporary Linguistics Department at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and former Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), China. He is also Life Fellow of the Global China Academy (click here to watch the greeting video at the GCA’s founding ceremony) and an Executive Editors of the Journal of Corpus Approaches to Chinese Social Science (JCACSS) in both English and Chinese Editions.I met Professor Gu at an International Colloquium on New Discourses in Contemporary China at Lancaster University in September 2007. He expressed interest in my talk on ‘Lishang-wanglai: a Chinese model of social relations and relatedness’. It was my attempt to cross into the discipline of social linguistics and learn about his related work. Professor LAN Chun (left in right photo) is the former Director of the Linguistics Center at the School of English, Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU). She also serves as the Executive Editor of the Journal of Chinese for Social Sciences (Chinese Edition), published by Global Century Press. She arranged a hybrid GCA meeting in Beijing in November 2022.
While I was in Beijing from April 18th to 20th, I participated in a series of meaningful academic activities involving some renowned institutions in the capital of China. Firstly, I delivered a speech at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Beijing University of Technology, founded by Professor LU Xueyi. Following that, during my visit to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, I revisited the foundations of Chinese sociology and reflected on the influences of Fei Xiaotong and LU Xueyi on my work. These visits underscored the advancements in social science research methods in the digital age. My experience at Renmin University of China emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in social sciences, collaborating with the Center for Sociological Theory and Methodology to explore complex social issues. Engaging with scholars from Tsinghua University, Renmin University’s School of Journalism, Beijing Language and Culture University, and Beijing Foreign Studies University was also fruitful. In conclusion, this academic journey in Beijing highlighted the vibrancy of intellectual exchange and the deep connections between Chinese social science and the global academic community, emphasizing the evolving nature of research fields and the collaborative spirit driving our understanding of social dynamics.
By Xiangqun Chang
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Global China Academy Council Chair Professor Tony McEnery’s Academic Activities in China, April-May 2023
Introduction
In 2023, the Global China Academy Council Chair, Professor Tony McEnery FAcSS, distinguished Professor of Lancaster University, had been appointed as a distinguished Chair Professor at Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU). As a renowned expert in corpus linguistics, he engaged in various academic activities in China. His contributions included inaugurating the ‘McEnery Corpus Research Center’ at XJTU and delivering insightful lectures at several universities. These lectures, covering topics such as ‘Language Matters,’ ‘Corpus Linguistics, Learner Corpora, and Second Language Acquisition,’ and the application of corpus linguistics in the era of big data, showcased his commitment to linguistic research and interdisciplinary study. His activities in China highlighted the dynamic and evolving nature of corpus linguistics and its potential to address complex social issues, emphasizing the importance of continuous innovation and critical evaluation in research methods.
Timeline
On the afternoon of April 17, 2023, Professor Tony McEnery was appointed as a Chair Professor at Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU). The Vice President of Xi’an Jiaotong University, XI Guang, met with Professor McEnery and presented him with a certificate, and adorned him with the XJTU badge. During the meeting, XI Guang and McEnery jointly unveiled the ‘McEnery Corpus Research Center’ at the School of Foreign Languages of XJTU.
XI Guang expressed his hope that this appointment would serve as a starting point to build a cooperative bridge and further promote new achievements in inter-university collaboration. Professor McEnery stated his intention to fully leverage his personal capabilities to continue actively promoting cooperation between both parties and to embark on more substantive joint work.
After the meeting, Professor McEnery presented a lecture entitled ‘Language Matters’ to the faculty and students of Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU).
The lecture was divided into three parts: exploration, critical evaluation, and technological innovation. Professor McEnery used three classic studies from the ESRC-CASS Centre at Lancaster University, UK, as cases to illustrate the innovation in linguistic research methods to the audience, and sparked their thinking about interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research and technology in the era of big data. Professor McEnery emphasized that language itself and its role in different areas of social life are of undeniable importance. The use of large-scale text corpora is significant in linguistic research, and employing interdisciplinary research methods to analyze the relationship between language and society is of great importance. It enables researchers to analyze real language more deeply and in detail, providing new perspectives and methods for understanding social phenomena. During the question-and-answer session, the attending faculty and students engaged in discussions with Professor McEnery about parts of the lecture that interested them.
On the afternoon of April 19, Professor Tony McEnery gave a lecture at the School of Foreign Studies of Xi’an Jiaotong University titled ‘Corpus Linguistics, Learner Corpora, and Second Language Acquisition.’ Starting from perspectives such as research origins, corpus size, interdisciplinary interaction, and research objectives, he analyzed the relationship between learner corpora and second language acquisition research and offered research suggestions. The faculty and students present actively asked questions, engaging in more in-depth discussions and exchanges with Professor McEnery on topics such as language theory, foreign language learning, and the relationship with corpora.
On the afternoon of April 20th, Professor Tony McEnery engaged in academic exchange at the Institute of Foreign Languages and Literatures of Xi’an International Studies University. He delivered an academic speech titled ‘Corpus Linguistics: Past, Present, and Future,’ in which he detailed the three important stages that corpus linguistics has undergone from its origins to its rapid rise, and discussed the future trends in the discipline in the context of the big data era.
On the morning of April 23, Professor Tony McEnery gave an academic report titled ‘Language Matters’ at the School of Foreign Languages of Zhejiang Gongshang University, with the session chaired by Professor Qian Yufang.
Professor McEnery discussed the role of language in different contexts and how linguists collaborate with other fields to explore issues related to their core subjects. Through ongoing cases at the ESRC Centre for Corpus Approaches to Social Science (CASS) at Lancaster University, he demonstrated how language research can innovate methodologies, thus fostering a critical evaluation of ‘big data’ technologies.
He emphasized that the methods used should be grounded in our identity as linguists and also evaluated by linguists. By analyzing cases such as 17th-century English, patient feedback in the UK National Health Service, and Islamophobia in British news media, he showed how to combine advanced corpus methods with linguists’ insights into language, thereby revealing the value of the research.
The significance of this lecture lies in demonstrating the potential for linguists to conduct interdisciplinary research in different social contexts and historical periods. By collaborating with other fields, linguists can uncover new insights into language and its impact on society. This interaction is not one-way, as linguists can also reflect on their own practices and find various explanatory frameworks through language analysis.
On April 24, Professor Tony McEnery delivered a lecture titled ‘Language Matters’ at Shanghai International Studies University, hosted by Professor HU Kaibao. This lecture had the same title as the one he delivered at XJTU on April 17.
On the afternoon of April 26th, Professor Tony McEnery gave an academic lecture titled ‘Discourse, Language Learning, and Learner Corpora’ at the School of Foreign Studies, Xi’an Jiaotong University, as part of the ‘High-End International Expert Masterclass Series’. Professor McEnery discussed the relationship between discourse, language learning, and learner corpora, and raised many thought-provoking questions and suggestions related to language acquisition research, using specific case studies. After the lecture, there was an in-depth exchange and discussion with the students and faculty on topics such as discourse structure annotation, the construction of new types of corpora, corpus-based pragmatics research, and the limitations of learner corpora.
Professor Tony McEnery said that he had a highly enjoyable visit to China in April and May. His base was at Xi’an Jiaotong University, where he holds a prestigious Chair Professorship. During his stay, he engaged in providing valuable advice to staff, PhD candidates, and undergraduate students. Additionally, he delivered a series of lectures, highlighting the significant impact that studying large collections of language data, known as corpora, can have on the social sciences. Professor McEnery also had the opportunity to speak on the same topic at Xi’an International Studies University, Zhejiang Gongshang University, and Shanghai International Studies University. His interactions with numerous colleagues in China were not only enjoyable but also insightful, particularly in observing the keen interest in the study of language as a component of the social sciences in China. In October, Professor McEnery attended a conference at Xi’an Jiaotong University. This conference brought together scholars from around the world to discuss the intersection of language, data, and society. Before and after the October conference, Professor McEnery also participated in online forums.
Professor Tony McEnery’s academic activities in China, highlighted his prominent role in the field of corpus linguistics. His series of lectures, including ‘Language Matters’ and discussions on topics like discourse analysis, language learning, and learner corpora, showcased his commitment to advancing linguistic research, particularly in the context of big data. His interactions, spanning various universities and covering a range of linguistic topics, not only fostered academic exchange but also reflected the dynamic and evolving nature of corpus linguistics. McEnery’s visit was instrumental in demonstrating the potential of linguistics to address complex social issues and the importance of continuous innovation and critique in linguistic research methods.
Note: Photos and texts have been provided by the organizers of events.
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Global China Academy’s President Professor Xiangqun Chang’s Academic Activities in Xiamen, Wuhan and Tianjin, 4-11 April 2023
Introduction
On the occasion of being an invited speaker at the ‘International Conference: Chinese Path to Modernization and Pursuit of Humanity’s Common Values’ held at Xiamen University from April 4th to 6th, 2023, I visited China and engaged in a series of lectures, seminars, and academic exchanges at various universities in Xiamen, Wuhan, Tianjin, and Beijing. In addition to fulfilling our academic duties, I also participated in events and activities aligned with the social missions of the Global China Academy. This account does not include activities related to academic and social missions in Beijing.
Timeline
From April 4-6, I participated in a 3-day conference named ‘International Conference: Chinese Path to Modernization and Pursuit of Humanity’s Common Values’. It was organized by the newly established Institute of Chinese Path to Modernization and Division of Social Sciences at Xiamen University. The conference included three panels: Chinese Path to Modernization and Global Governance, Chinese Path to Modernization and International Communication, and Chinese Path to Modernization and Traditional Chinese Culture, with Panel 3 chaired by Professor ZHANG Yu, Deputy Director of the School of Taiwan Studies. My talk, titled ‘Realization of Goal-Oriented Cooperative Projects, Promoting the Common Value of Mankind: A Corpus-Assisted Analysis of ‘recipropriety’ (lishang-wanglai 互适),’ focused on global society governance, exploring humanity’s common values and differences through corpus-based texts and case analyses of cooperative projects using the concept of ‘recipropriety.’ I aimed to deepen mutual understanding and achieve common project goals by discussing different values and seeking common ground while preserving diversity.
On the evening of April 4th, Professor HU Rong (2nd left in the left photo), Dean of the School of Sociology and Anthropology, hosted an academic exchange meeting. Attendees included myself, Professor Donggen Rui (in the middle of right photo) from Pukyong National University, South Korea, anthropologist Professor GONG Haoqun, and sociologist Associate Professor LU Wei. On afternoon of April 5th, Professor GONG Haoqun (right photo) and I had an in-depth discussion on anthropological issues from a comparative perspective, based on my work and that of some fellow anthropologists on comparing Chinese and non-Chinese societies.
On the afternoon of April 6th, Professor Donggen Rui (right in the left photo) and I met with Professor LI Minghuan (left in the right photo) from the School of Sociology and Anthropology at Xiamen University. She is the Vice President of the Chinese Overseas History Society and was an invited speaker at a conference I organized in 2013 at LSE.Dr. HE Ruifu (left in the left photo) hosted the tea and lunch meeting. He obtained his PhD on family networks in a rural village in Fujian under Professor Stephan Feuchtwang at City University in 1993 when I worked there. He formerly served as the Deputy District Chief of Siming District, Xiamen City, the Deputy Director of the Research Office of the Xiamen Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Xiamen Federation of Social Science Associations. He is the editor of Gulangyu Island Studies, a series of research books. They cover various topics, including the history and cultural relations of Gulangyu Island with countries such as the UK, Germany, and Japan, as well as studies on overseas Chinese and women’s research.
On the morning of April 9th, I delivered a lecture entitled ‘A Corpus-Assisted Social Scientific Approach: A Textual Analysis Methodology in the Era of Big Data’ at the Marxist School of Wuhan University. I shared the background of my involvement with this method. In the era of big data, with the overwhelming presence of massive electronic texts, the traditional quantitative and qualitative analysis methods in social sciences face significant challenges. The presentation by speakers from the ESRC Centre for Corpus Approaches to Social Science (CASS) at Lancaster University during the 3rd Global China Dialogue in 2016 showcased the effectiveness of the corpus approach in addressing social scientific issues related to climate changes. Inspired and guided by experts from the ESRC CASS, the Global China Institute, which later became the Global China Academy, organized the workshop on Corpus Approaches to Chinese Social Science (CACSS). Three years following the workshop, the Journal of Corpus Approaches to Chinese Social Science (JCACSS, Chinese Edition) was launched, published by Global Century Press and edited by Professor QIAN Yufang at Zhejiang Gongshang University.
To commemorate the 105th anniversary of the birth of China’s distinguished social scientist and pioneer of Marxist sociology, Professor Ding Kequan (1914-1989), and the 110th anniversary of the birth of our country’s famous sociologist, anthropologist, social activist, and Chinese national leader, Professor Fei Xiaotong (1910-2005), I, along with assistance from Professor QIAN Yufang and other colleagues, constructed three corpora. These include the Ding Kequan Collected Works (three volumes), Fei Xiaotong Complete Works (20 volumes), and the Marx and Engels Complete Works (50 volumes) corpus. My lecture aimed to share experiences and provide examples demonstrating how to bridge the disciplines of sociology and applied linguistics. Professor JIN Wei (to my right in the group photo) organized the lecture, and Professor JIAN Fan (to my left in the group photo), the Vice Dean of the Marxist School, chaired the lecture.
On the afternoon of April 9th, I gave a seminar at the Wuhan University Center for Media Development Studies, which is one of the four media studies bases of the Ministry of Education, alongside those at Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, and Fudan University. The Wuhan University Center founded the Journal of Cross-Cultural Communication Research, where a comprehensive interview article titled ‘The Concept, Practice, and Production of Transculture from a Global Perspective’, conducted by Professor WANG Xin with me, was published in the journal (Vol. 5, 2022).
The seminar was chaired by Professor WU Shiwen (on my right in the bottom photo), Director of the Institute for Health Communication Research at the Wuhan University Center for Media Development Studies. The title of my seminar was Realization of Goal-Oriented Cooperative Projects, Promoting the Common Value of Mankind: A Corpus-Assisted Analysis of ‘recipropriety’ (lishang-wanglai 互适). This is the same title as the presentation I delivered at the Xiamen conference.
Professor XIAO Jun (on the left side of me in the bottom photo), the Deputy Director of both the Centre and Department of Internet Communication at the School of Journalism and Communication, Wuhan University, provided me with a guided tour of the Center, School, and University Campus before and after my talk. Immediately after visiting Xiamen University, I shared my comparative views on these two most beautiful university campuses in China. Both offer a rich blend of natural beauty and architectural elegance. The serene coastal vibes of XMU, combined with the blend of Eastern and Western architectural styles, provide a unique, tranquil environment for study and reflection. In contrast, the lush, blossoming landscapes of WHU, famous for their cherry blossoms and palatial architecture, offer a historically rich and aesthetically pleasing environment.
On the evening of April 9th, Professor LUO Jiaojiang (2nd left in the top left photo), who is the former Director of the Institute of Social Development at Wuhan University and also the former Vice President of the Global China Institute (the predecessor of GCA), arranged a meeting for me with some colleagues in Wuhan. Together with his colleague, Research Fellow LUO Jun (1st right in the top left photo), and myself, we were awarded the major research project ‘Emergence, Status, and Prospect of Computational Social Science in the Big Data Era’ by the National Social Science Fundation of China, undertaken by Wuhan University in 2016. Professor WANG Tie (on my left in the top left photo), the former Director of the Institute of Information at the Wuhan Academy of Social Science, also attended the meeting.
On the morning of April 10th, outside the building of the School of Sociology, I met with Professor WU Lin (on my right in the bottom left photo), Vice Dean of the School of Sociology, Dr CAI Lei, Associate Professor (1st left in the bottom left photo), and Dr GONG Weigang, Associate Professor (1st right in the bottom left photo). In the lecture room, Professor ZHOU Changcheng (right in the bottom right photo) popped in to meet me before the lecture. He was the Vice Dean of the School of Law, Deputy Director of the Department of Sociology, and President of the Wuhan Sociological Association. I was surprised to see him dressed in gold clothes and a hat on the university campus. We shared common interests during lunchtime.
The lecture was chaired by Professor WU Lin (right in the bottom photo), Vice Dean of the School of Sociology. The title of the lecture was ‘A Corpus-Assisted Social Scientific Approach: A Textual Analysis Methodology in the Era of Big Data,’ the same as the one I delivered at the Marxism School. During the Q&A, Dr CAI Lei shared with everyone that she attended my lecture eight years ago in 2014, when she was a Master’s student in the Department of Sociology. She was very impressed and noted that I returned to the department with a very different topic.
Dr. GONG Weigang also shared with everyone that he was a team member of the aforementioned major research project on computational social science that I co-developed. His question caught my attention. After the lecture, I followed Dr Gong to his office. Gong showed me his collections of data resources (right in the top photo), for example, approximately 5 million volumes of English text corpora from 1800-1900, basic information of 2.1 million Twitter users, 5 billion historical tweets since 2019, 3 billion historical Twitter keyword data, 530 million basic user information on Facebook, 400 million basic user information on LinkedIn, 13TB of global online public opinion data, and 1.4 billion web page news headlines and text content. Based on analyzing the data, their team published some journal articles, such as ‘Media Hegemony, Cultural Circle, and the Global Dissemination of the Orientalist Discourse: Taking Public Opinion on China in GDELT as an Example,’ by GONG Weigang, ZHU Meng, ZHANG Sai, and LUO Jiaojiang, in Sociological Studies, vol. 5, 2019.
On the morning of April 11th, I delivered a seminar to the faculty of the Sociology Department at Nankai University, titled ‘How Chinese Social Sciences Contribute to the Construction of Humanity’s Edifice of Knowledge.’ Focusing on leveraging China’s academic contributions globally, I emphasized the importance of Chinese social sciences’ participation in constructing the global knowledge system. I highlighted significant milestones, such as the influential works published by Chinese scholars when China was the ‘market focus’ at the 2012 London Book Fair. I also reflected on my experiences and observations at academic forums, critiquing the neglect of methodological rigor in discussions about transforming Beijing into a global academic center. My talk presented the evolution of Chinese social sciences, emphasizing the challenges and opportunities presented by big data for qualitative and quantitative research, and spotlighted the emergence of computational social science and the application of corpus methodologies as innovative approaches to social science research. The goal was to showcase the evolving landscape of the social sciences in China and their impact on global academic discourse.
Professor ZHAO Wanli (on the right of me in the bottom photo), the Deputy Dean of the Zhou Enlai School of Government, chaired the seminar. In response to the challenges, he introduced some young generation scholars in the faculty who have received international training and expressed hope that future collaborations would be strengthened. Professor WANG Bingyu (on my right in the top right photo), obtained her PhD from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and has been working as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies (JEMS) since 2021. She expressed her willingness for further discussion and collaborations.
On the afternoon of April 11th, I delivered a lecture to the faculty and students of the Sociology Department at Nankai University. The lecture was titled ‘A Text Analysis Method in the Era of Big Data: Corpus-Assisted Research Based on Case Studies’. It explored the application of corpus methodology in the social sciences and humanities, specifically focusing on the Chinese context. The lecture provided an overview of ‘Corpus Approaches to Social Science’, demonstrating how large-scale electronic text analysis can reveal patterns, substantiate theories, and inform research direction. I detailed various types of corpora, analytical tools, and case studies, including the digitalization of Chinese medical classics and critical discourse analysis. It highlights the integration of corpus linguistics with social science methodologies, demonstrating the potential for deepening understanding of complex social phenomena through quantitative and qualitative analyses.
Professor ZHANG Wenhong, on my left in the top right photo, Dean of the Zhou Enlai School of Government, chaired the lecture. Professor ZHU Guanglei (on my right in the bottom right photo), former Vice-President of Nankai University, attended the lecture. He is Life Fellow of the Global China Academy (click here to watch greeting video at the GCA’s founding ceremony). Afterwards, among the many students who asked questions related to my lecture, a PhD student, LU Hanxu, brought my book, On Marxist Sociology (1992/2018), and asked for a signature. Lu is writing her PhD thesis entitled ‘The Study of the Sinicization of Marxist Sociology (1919-1949)’ under the supervision of Professor ZHAO Wanli, who is also the Director of the first national research Center for Marxist Sociology in China.
On the morning of April 13th, I was invited to deliver a lecture at the School of Art at Tianjin Polytechnic University. The title of the lecture was ‘Transculturality’ and Art Communication. As the global era quietly transitions into the digital age, cross-cultural discourse is increasingly challenged by ‘transcultural’ discourse. My lecture aimed to showcase the similarities and differences between ‘transcultural’ and both cross-cultural and intercultural communications through the examination of ‘transcultural’ products and practices in different art forms during the cultural exchange process between China and other countries, mainly the UK. It was intended to introduce case practices of ‘transculturality’, the vitality of its concept in cultural communication, and the analytical power of related research. However, due to a personal matter, the lecture was canceled. Professor ZHANG Qiugui (left in the left photo), who was scheduled to chair the lecture, is seen seeing me off from Tianjin West Station.
Two hours later, I arrived at the Beijing Jiaodaokou Police Station, where I met Professor ZHOU Yunwei (in the right photo), Deputy Dean of the School of Police Information Engineering and Cybersecurity at the People’s Public Security University of China (PPSUC). It was our first meeting since I interviewed him in his hometown, Xianning County of Hubei Province, in 1990. At that time, I worked at PPSUC and represented both PPSUC and PPUC (People’s Police University of China, which merged with PPSUC in 1998), for student recruitment in Hubei Province. Zhou was among those admitted to PPUC from an ordinary family background. In the ‘Postscript’ of his book, Principles of Electromagnetic Wave Evidence, Zhou expressed his gratitude to me for changing his life (PPSUC Press, 2021, p334). Learning that I needed official proof of my previously canceled Beijing Resident Certificate (hukou) to apply for a Foreigner’s Residence Permit, Zhou quickly offered his help. He arranged a meeting at the police station to accommodate my busy schedule, ensuring I could visit my 92-year-old mother in China without the need for a visa in the coming years. During lunchtime, we also discussed possible collaboration with colleagues at the PPSUC in related fields from a global and comparative perspective.
In theory, my academic activities should have concluded at Nankai University. The two incidents on April 13th serve as records of my experiences in China. I was scheduled to give a lecture on ‘Transculturality and Art Communication’ at Tianjin Polytechnic University, but it was canceled due to personal reasons. This is because I learned that a Foreigner’s Residence Permit in China can facilitate my future visa-free visits to my mother in China, and obtaining official documentation for my canceled Beijing Resident Certificate fit into my very busy schedule.
* * * *
By participating in the three-day ‘International Conference: The Chinese Path to Modernization and the Pursuit of Humanity’s Common Values’ from April 4th to 6th, as well as subsequent academic exchanges and visits, I deeply felt the diversity and complexity of China’s exploration in the process of modernization. This conference not only provided me with a platform to present and discuss the application of the concept of ‘recipropriety’ in global social governance but also gave me the opportunity to engage in in-depth exchanges and discussions with scholars from different disciplinary backgrounds. These activities emphasized the contributions of Chinese social sciences to the construction of the global knowledge system, and the importance of interdisciplinary research and international cooperation in driving innovation in social sciences and understanding complex social phenomena.
Anyway, through a series of lectures and seminars at higher education institutions such as Xiamen University, Wuhan University, and Nankai University, I profoundly understood the importance that both China and the global academic community place on social science methodologies, as well as the potential and challenges of corpus methods in social science research in the era of big data. These experiences not only enriched my academic perspective but also provided new ideas and directions for future research explorations in the interdisciplinary fields of social sciences and applied linguistics. This series of academic activities not only showed China’s active role in global academic discussions but also reflected the high attention and recognition of the international academic community towards Chinese social science research. I look forward to more such exchanges and cooperation in the future, collectively advancing the development and innovation of social sciences, and offering new perspectives and solutions for addressing global issues.
By Xiangqun Chang
- Click here to view Global China Academy’s President Professor Xiangqun Chang’s Academic Activities in Beijing,18-20 April 2023
- Click here to view Social Mission Activities and Reflection of GCA President Xiangqun Chang in China, April 2023
- Click here to see the GCA Centre’s facilities: Driveway, Garden, Function Rooms, Libraries, Dining Area, Bedrooms, and more.
- Click here to explore the 5 ‘walk and talk’ routes, including tea and lunch. The PDF file can be downloaded.
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GCA Life Fellow Korean Sociologist Professor HAN Sang-Jin Meeting Professor Xiangqun Chang at Seoul, January 2023
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In early January, during her trip to Seoul, GCA’s President, Professor Xiangqun Chang, met with GCA Life Fellow Korean sociologist Professor HAN Sang-Jin from Seoul National University, and his wife, Professor Shim Young-Hee from Hanyang University (left photo above), at Dongmyeong. Professor Han, who is also the Chairman of the Joongmin Foundation for Social Theory (JMF) and the Europe–Asia Research Network (EARN). During the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor Han led a research project that conducted three rounds of global survey questionnaires related to COVID-19 and citizens’ lives, covering 33 metropolitan cities in the world.
Professor Shim made suggestions for places of interest that they normally recommended to their academic guests, such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Folk Museum, Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong, and other places. Professor Han immediately arranged for his PhD student, Jiang Meishan (second from the right in the top right photo), to accompany Professor Chang during her visit to Seoul. The photos in the top right and bottom are of Bukchon Hanok Village and Namsangol Hanok Village.
Professor reminisced about their productive field visit to the Qinghe Community (top row of photos) in Beijing in October 2016, alongside Professor Martin Albrow, Founding and Past Honorary President of the Global China Academy (GCA). This visit was organized by the GCA Council’s former Chinese Chair, Professor Li Qiang (1949–2023), who was then the Dean of the School of Social Sciences at Tsinghua University and President of the Chinese Sociological Association. The group photo at the bottom right was taken after Professor Martin Albrow’s lecture. Professor Chang was to Professor Albrow’s left, Professor Li was to his right, and Professor Han was to Professor Li’s left. The title of Albrow’s lecture was ‘The Challenge of Transculturality for the USA and China’, which was published in China’s Role in a Shared Human Future: Towards Theory for Global Leadership, by Martin Albrow and published by Global Century Press, London, in 2018.
At the 4th Global China Dialogue ‘the Belt and the Road: Transcultural Cooperation for Shared Goals’ in 2017, Professor Han presented a paper titled ‘A Cosmopolitan Interpretation of Fei Xiaotong’s Study of Chinese Culture: How Companies Can Work for the Cultural Project of the Belt and Road’ at Panel III, ‘What are the theoretical and legal bases of the B&R?’ The plenary panelists from left to right in the top right photo are: Dr Linda Yueh CBE, Fellow in Economics at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford University, and Adjunct Professor of Economics at London Business School; Dr Xiaobai Shen, Senior Lecturer in International and Chinese Business at the University of Edinburgh Business School; Dr Yuka Kobayashi, Lecturer in China and International Politics, SOAS, University of London; Professor Han; Professor Jiaming Sun, Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Texas A&M University-Commerce, USA; and Dr Tan Khee Giap, Co-Director of the Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI) and Associate Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore (Panel Chair). The photos in the bottom row from left to right show Professor Xiangqun Chang in conversation with Professor Han at the British Academy during the Dialogue, and with Professor Han and Professor Shim at King’s College London at the Post-Dialogue workshop: Chinese for Social Science (CSS) at King’s College London on December 2. The second photo from the left in the bottom right features Professor Ann Lee, an adjunct professor at New York University, an internationally recognized leading authority on China’s economic relations, and the CEO of Coteri, USA, jointed the conversation.
While in London, Professor Han and Professor Shim conducted an interview with Professor Lord Anthony Giddens, their third interview with Giddens over the past three decades. These interviews were all published in Confucianism and Reflexive Modernity (2019). From the book title and the author’s name, people might assume it was written by Chinese, especially since the concept of ‘modernization’ has been a keyword in social sciences discourse in China, whereas the world has been using globalization in different forms. Professor Han said that his work was influenced by Giddens’s two early books, The Consequences of Modernity (1990) and Modernity and Self-Identity (1991), and by Ulrich Beck’s books on risk, such as Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity (1992) and Reflexive Modernization (1994).
Han’s book critiques the Asian Value Debate paradigm and advocates for a balance between individual empowerment and community flourishing within the framework of a global risk society, from an enlightened post-Confucianism perspective.
During the meeting in Seoul, Professor Chang told Professor Han that she would visit China in April. Professor Han also planned to visit China in April. They agreed in principle that they should meet again at Tsinghua University if their schedules allowed. On the morning of April 20th, Professor Han and Professor Chang joined a meeting at the Department of Sociology, Tsinghua University. Dr ZHENG Lu chaired the meeting. He is the Deputy Head and Associate Professor of the Department of Sociology and the ‘Rong’ Professor of Data Sciences at Tsinghua University. From left to right in the top right photo are: Dr ZHENG Lu, Professor Chang, Professor LI Qiang, Professor Han, Dr ZHANG Yizhang from the Department of Sociology, and Dr CHEN Yulin from the School of Architecture. In this photo, everyone clenched their fists, a gesture suggested by Professor Han, to express a determination to collaborate among the three parties. This sentiment was echoed in his video greetings at the GCA’s founding ceremony, as presented by Professor LI Qiang (click here to watch). Shortly afterwards, Professor Li waved goodbye to everyone, and Dr Zhao accompanied him as they disappeared from our sight (in the two bottom photos)—a farewell that became eternal……
Note: The photos and text below were updated following Professor Li Qiang’s passing in December 2023.
On 12 December, Professor Xiangqun Chang shared the aforementioned memorial webpage with Professor Han Sang-jin of Sociology from Seoul National University. Immediately, Professor Han set up a small altar at his home to honour the memory of Professor Li Qiang, placing a bunch of white chrysanthemums in front to symbolize his distant remembrance. Furthermore, he held a funeral parlor open all day on Saturday at his institute on the December 16 when LI Qiang’s farewell ceremony was held in Babaoshan, Beijing. He also forwarded us his memorial article written in English. The Chinese-translated version has been published on the Tsinghua University website. The photo on the bottom right, showing the farewell ceremony hall for Li Qiang, was received from Professor Han Sang-jin. This gesture of remembrance and respect from colleagues and friends underscores the profound impact Professor Li had on those around him.
Professor Xiangqun Chang’s reflections on conversations with Professor HAN Sang-Jin, from Seoul to Beijing and then to London, alongside the commemorative gestures in memory of Professor Li Qiang, weave a tapestry of academic solidarity, respect, and mutual learning. The enduring legacy of scholars like Professor Li Qiang, remembered through acts of remembrance and the continuing dialogue among academics, echoes the spirit of global collaboration and intellectual curiosity that defines the Global China Academy. These narratives, captured in photographs, lectures, and shared memories, continue to inspire and guide the path toward a more interconnected and understanding global academic community.
- Click here to view the page ‘Global China Academy’s President Professor Xiangqun Chang’s Academic Activities in Beijing,18-20 April 2023’.
- Click here to view the page ‘The Chinese Chair of the Global China Aacademy Council, Professor LI Qiang, passed away on the 12 December, 2023’.
- Click here to watch a video of Professor LI Qiang’s greeting for the launch of the Global China Academy as an academy at the 7th Global China Dialogue, on December 10th, 2021, at the British Academy.
- Click here to visit the GCA news & Blog section.
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Global China Academy’s President Professor Xiangqun Chang’s Academic and Professional Activities in China After COVID-19, 02/09-12/11/2022
Introduction
On her trip to accompany her mother returning to China and to help her settle there, Professor Xiangqun Chang visited China from early September to mid-November 2022. During this period, she participated in a series of meetings and activities with related parties there. The description of the activities below aims to enable our global colleagues to meet some of our Chinese colleagues and contacts in China for the purpose of sharing information and networking.
Timeline
On the 17th September, a meeting was held in the Tsinghua Science and Technology Building at Tsinghua University, Beijing. It was organized by GCA Trustee Dr Yuan Cheng (front right), Country Manager of Greater China, Russell Reynolds Associates (UK), and Professor LAN Chun of Beijing Foreign Studies University, Executive Editor of the Journal of Chinese for Social Science (JCSS, front left). All the GCA Founding Fellows and Life Fellows participated in the meeting online and offline.
The above photo shows participants in person or online. In-person participants included Professor LI Qiang (rear 2nd right), Professor XIE Lizhong (front 2nd right) and Professor Xiangqun Chang (rear right). Online participants (inset) included Professor BING Zheng (top centre), Professor ZHU Guanglei (top left), Professor GU Yueguo (top right), Professor ZHANG Xiaodong (bottom left), Professor ZHANG Letian (bottom centre), former Dean of School of Social Development at Fudan University, former Chinese President of GGPN Global and Global China Institute (GCA’s predecessors) and Honorary Editor of JCACSS (Chinese edition); Dr Qing Cao (bottom right). Many important issues were discussed in the meeting.
Left: In morning of the 18th September, Professor Chang met Ms ZHANG Haiou (left), former Editor-in-chief of the New World Press, one of GCP’s Chinese partners. The topic of metaverse was discussed.
Right: In the afternoon, Professor Chang had a productive meeting with Professor CHEN Guangjin (left), Director of Institute of Sociology, and Professor FANG Ning (right), Deputy Director of Institute of Political Science, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).
On 19th September, Professor Chang visited the headquarters of Learning without Borders (LwB, also known as UVIC) in Changsha City, Hunan Province. UVIC funded the first three Global China Dialogues and has been one of the most faithful supporters of GCDs. In the meeting, Philip Hao (3rd left and far right in the above photos), CEO of the LwB and UVIC, and his colleagues discussed issues for further collaboration with GCA.
On 21st September, three meetings were held at Kingswell Hotel at Tongji University.
Left: The first meeting was with Professor WANG Xin (right) and Dr DING Fan (left). Professor Wang interviewed Professor Chang in London in 2018 when she was visiting fellow at University of Westminster and published the interviews in both English and Chinese. Wang is Head of Department of Communication, School of Arts and Media, Tongji University.
Centre: Meeting with Ms ZHANG Yanli (2nd left), General Secretary of the School, Professor WANG Jianmin (right), Deputy Dean of the School, and Dr DING Fan (left), Head of the Academic Development Division of the School. Ms Zhang showed some photos of the International Conference on Comparative Media Studies, jointly organized by the School and CCPN Global, on the occasion of the Centenary of Tongji University in 2017, when Professor Chang delivered greetings at the Opening session. She accepted the School’s invitation to give a speech at an international conference in person in mid-October.
Right: Meeting with Professor LI Linxue (3rd right), Dean of the School, Dr WANG Zhili (left) and others. Three meetings covered a total of 10 topics, including collaborations in organizing events, research projects, building a corpus for specific purposes and publications.
In the evening of 21st September, Professor Chang arrived in Kaixiangong Village, Qidu Township, Wujiang County, Suzhou City. The renowned Chinese anthropologist and sociologist Fei Xiaotong conducted his fieldwork in the village in 1936, which resulted in his book Peasant Life in China (1938). Based on her thorough fieldwork in the same village, Professor Chang published Guanxi or Li Shang Wanglai ?: Reciprocity, Social Support Networks, Social Creativity in a Chinese Village (in English and Chinese, 2010 and 2011). She has been developping the concept of ‘recipropriety’ and testing it in and outside China. Photos are numbered 1–10 from top to bottom, left to right. Photo 1: Profesor Chang talked to Mr CAI Jianzhong, the General Sectotaery of Qidu Township. Photo 2: Enjoying the Chinese Farmers’ Harvest Festival (CFHF) in the village, the first such festival created by the state. Photo 3: Participating in a Rural Development Forum during the CFHF. Photo 4: Meeting Professor LIU Haoxing, School of Social Development, Fudan University (front left), Dr HUI Haiming, Fomer Director of Policy Studies of Suzhou City (front right), ZHOU Yuguan (rear right), a non-party member who was officially designated ‘General Secretary’ of the village; YAO Fukun (rear centre), Head of both Fei Xiaotong Museum and the village’s Folk Museum and related affairs; XU Guoqi (rear left), former Deputy General Secretary of the village, currently a member of a Special Working Group (zhuanban 专班) that is in charge of major development projects of the village. Photo 5: Professor Liu (front centre) arranged a meeting with former heads of the village and some village groups. Photo 6: SHEN Zhirong (rear right, in black), former General Secretary of the village, who helped Professor Chang conduct her first fieldwork in the village in 1996. Photo 7: An official meeting arranged by the current General Secretary XIA Zhiyao (3rd left). Photo 8: A discussion about the ‘Special Working Group’ in its office in the village. Photo 9: Dining in Jiangchun Club (江村西餐厅), a Western-style canteen in the village. Photo 10: With YAO Fukun by the Fei Xiaotong statue. Photo 11: With Professor Stephan Feuchtwang, LSE, by Fei’s statue in 2016, when they participated in the international conference to mark the 80th anniversary of Fei Xiaotong’s fieldwork in the village.
Based on the above fieldwork, on 15th October, Professor Chang delivered a speech entitled ‘Reciprocity (Guanxi) or recipropriety (lishang-wanglai): a case of building a community with a shared future for mankind in a Chinese village’, at the international conference ‘China and the World: Exploration and Innovation of Applied Journalism and Media Studies’, Tongji University, Shanghai.
On 16th–17th October, Professor Chang visited Suzhou City, the ‘Heaven City’ in China. She had an enjoyable visit to a Cantonese tea house, Chaoren Fang, which mixed different styles of Chinese calligraphy including ‘kung fu calligraphy’, a kind of performative art, accompanied by Dr HUI Haiming (right). The owner, Mr WANG Kai (2nd right), believed this is a good way to communicate with people from different cultural backgrounds. They also walked in underdeveloped original residential places in Ming Dynasty in Suzhou City. One wonders if Heaven City can get any better!
On 18th–21st October, Professor Chang visited Wuxi City, a historic city over 3,200 years old, with its Grand Canal. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it now has the highest per capita GDP in China.
The visit was arranged by Mr DU Yichao (3rd right in green, left photo, with his colleagues), PhD candidate in anthropology at University College London. He is also Director of Wuxi New Culture Research Institute.
Centre: Officials and experts from Liangxi District accompanied Professor Chang on visits to places of interest.
Right: For COVID tests and to obtain different codes, Professor Chang’s UK passport was checked everywhere throughout her visit to China. This one was in Wuxi, which was designated a zero-risk city at that time.
The photo on the left was taken on 12th November 2022 in Shenyang City, while Professor Chang was queueing for a COVID test or nucleic acid testing (核酸检测) on a snowy day. The term ‘doing nucleic acid tests’ (做核酸) has become a catchphrase in people’s daily lives, and the action of ‘doing nucleic acid tests’ has become a way of life in their everyday routines. The nucleic acid testing sites were well-built and well-located. Even a small site was easier to find than a well-known residential area (小区) on a digital map.
Professor Chang’s experiences and skills in learning and using different kinds of health codes became a special memory: from international health codes to provincial, regional, or city-specific ones, and from English to Chinese versions. For non-Chinese passport holders entering Beijing, the English version of the health code (Health Kit) is required. There were different names for health codes, such as Liaoshitong (辽事通) for Liaoning Province, Shengshitong (盛事通) for Shenyang City (Shengjing 盛京 was the capital of the Manchu state during the Qing Dynasty period, which later became the city of Shenyang), Suishenma (随申码) for Shanghai City (Shanghai known as ‘Hu沪,’ also referred to as ‘Shen 申’), Sukangma (苏康码) for Jiangsu Province, and Xikangma (锡康码) for Wuxi City. These codes were necessary for entry at airports and stations. Within any given location, whether it be a hospital, office, shop, restaurant, or any place of interest, the ‘Changsuoma’ (场所码) had to be presented. All the above codes must be dynamic and cannot be photos or screenshots of codes that were prepared earlier. The diversity and ingenuity of these health codes reflect the Chinese people’s adaptive strategies in dealing with COVID-19.
The above tests and codes have ensured that both the virus and people are tightly controlled. Everyone seems to have adapted to this kind of lifestyle. It is truly remarkable how the COVID-19 situation changed dramatically two weeks after she left China. ‘Understanding China and the World,’ one of GCP’s book series, is clearly important and will continue to be so.
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President of the Chinese Sociological Association, Professor LI Qiang, and His Wife’s Visit to the UK (20-25 July 2014)
On July 20, 2014, Professor LI Qiang (1950-2023), then Dean of the School of Social Sciences at Tsinghua University, traveled to the UK for a vacation with his wife, Zhang Hua [Note 1]. As a friend, I had arranged their 10-day itinerary in advance and accompanied them in London. Unfortunately, due to Mrs. Zhang catching a cold and developing a fever, they had to cut their vacation short and rescheduled their return flight on the afternoon of the 24th. This left many regrets but also provided me with unforgettable and wonderful memories. The following is a record of some of their visit.
On July 20th (Sunday), the Li couple arrived at London Heathrow Airport at 15:10 on flight BA38, then proceeded to check in at the Hilton London Hotel (located on Edgware Road but quite far from Edgware Station, which is near my home). A BBC Prom concert was arranged at 19:30 at the Royal Albert Hall, where the World Peace Orchestra, consisting of musicians from around the world, performed classical pieces by composers such as Beethoven and Mozart, as well as some music themed around world peace, expressing the harmonious coexistence of different cultures and nations through various famous pieces. Unfortunately, due to jet lag and fatigue, the Lis were unable to attend, so I and other friends appreciated it on their behalf.
On July 21st (Monday), we took a day trip to Wisley Gardens. On this day, the Li couple joined an activity that I had previously arranged with two friends. Wisley Gardens, part of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), is located 23 miles southwest of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in Surrey. It is one of the gardens owned and managed by the RHS and is considered one of the most influential horticultural gardens in the world. With its diverse plant collections, exquisite garden designs, and deep horticultural traditions, it has become a sanctuary for garden enthusiasts both in the UK and globally.
The first set of photos features some flowers I had never seen before (from left to right): Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus), a member of the thistle family originally from the Mediterranean region. The unopened flower buds are edible, and the open flowers are bright purple, valued for both their ornamental and economic qualities; Vanda, renowned for its large, colorful flowers, with this particular Vanda sporting purple spots, making it highly ornamental; Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae), known for its unique shape and vibrant colors, with this plant displaying a combination of red, yellow, and green, making it very eye-catching; Spider Orchid (Brassia), named for its unique flower shape, with long, spidery petals and sepals; Spiral Ginger (Alpinia zerumbet), noted for its unique spiral stems and decorative leaves, widely used for ornamental purposes.
The next set of photos (from left to right): We encountered a Chinese pavilion called the ‘Butterfly Lovers Pavilion’ in Wisley Gardens. It was built in 2005 through a collaboration between the Shanghai Botanical Garden in China and the RHS. Initially designed for the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show that year, where it won a silver medal, the pavilion was later donated to Wisley Gardens as a permanent feature. The pavilion’s design was inspired by the classic Chinese love story ‘The Butterfly Lovers’ (Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai). The design and construction were led by Professor LIU Tingfeng from the Landscape Design Department at Tianjin University, China. To commemorate the story, the pavilion’s six pillars are carved with butterfly motifs, symbolizing the transformation of the lovers into butterflies at the end of the legend. The construction materials were sourced from Zhejiang to ensure the pavilion’s authentic Chinese architectural style. The pavilion was built to celebrate Sino-British cooperation in horticulture and to introduce traditional Chinese garden art to Wisley Gardens, offering visitors a unique blend of Eastern and Western cultural experiences. The pavilion was designed and built by Chinese horticulturists and craftsmen who ensured that it seamlessly blended into Wisley Gardens’ natural environment.
As we were leaving Wisley Gardens, we took commemorative photos with my friends and Professor Li and his wife respectively.
On July 22nd (Tuesday), we spent a day touring central London.
We had arranged to meet Professor Martin Albrow, former president of the British Sociological Association, for lunch at 12:30, so our schedule was quite tight. Early in the morning, we took the Tube to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. Due to time constraints, we didn’t enter but toured the area before boarding a sightseeing boat along the Thames towards Westminster (see following photos).
At Westminster Pier, we walked along Downing Street (with No. 10 being the official residence of the British Prime Minister), passing by Horse Guards Parade, Horse Guards Arch, and other sites, where we witnessed the Changing of the Guard (see following photos).
Afterward, we arrived at Trafalgar Square. Professor Li was particularly interested in the four bronze lion statues at the base of Nelson’s Column, one of Trafalgar Square’s most iconic features. He asked me to take a photo of him and his wife with one of the lions as the background. The contrast between the massive lion and the ‘small’ figures of the Lis in the photo led me to reflect. The lion, a symbol of strength, courage, and dignity in many cultures, perhaps served as a confirmation of self-identity and pride.
We were also intrigued by the blue rooster sculpture on the Fourth Plinth in the square. The Fourth Plinth was originally designed for a statue of King William IV, but due to funding issues, the statue was never completed. In 1999, the Fourth Plinth Project was launched, turning it into a platform for displaying contemporary art, with a new piece being installed every few years. The sculpture, titled ‘Hahn/Cock,’ was created by German artist Katharina Fritsch. Its bold color and form sparked widespread discussion and interest. The blue rooster symbolizes male strength and courage, while also carrying a satirical tone that questions the solemnity of traditional monuments. Fritsch described it as a humorous satire, challenging the gravity of other traditional statues in the square, making it a prime example of contemporary art in public spaces (see following photos).
After leaving the square, Professor Li suggested visiting The British Academy. Founded in 1902, The British Academy is a national academic institution established to promote and support research in the humanities and social sciences. Its primary goal is to promote high standards of academic research, encourage scholarly debate, and support research that enhances understanding of human and social issues. The Academy is not open to the public, and one can only enter by attending an event or participating in a meeting. After taking a photo at the entrance, Professor Li suggested that we should organize events here in the future. [Note 2].
Our lunch with Martin Albrow was held at the Royal Automobile Club (RAC). This is one of Britain’s top private members’ clubs, offering dining, accommodation, fitness facilities, social events, and business meeting spaces. The RAC’s dining services are renowned for their high quality and exquisite cuisine, making it a key part of London’s high-end social life. Martin accompanied Professor Li and his wife on a tour of the club, where we exchanged ideas in the garden. After lunch, Martin presented Professor Li with his award-winning book, The Global Age (see following photos) [Note 3].
After lunch, we strolled through London and visited the London School of Economics, where we met with Dr. LIU Jiayan, a visiting fellow from Tsinghua University’s School of Architecture. She was conducting postdoctoral research under Professor Li’s supervision (see following photos). [Note 4]
We managed to be among the last visitors admitted to the British Museum before closing at 4 p.m. Professor Li asked me to take another photo of them in front of a large Assyrian lion relief. This famous Assyrian stone relief, likely from the ancient city of Nineveh, depicts scenes from the ‘Assyrian Lion Hunt,’ symbolizing the power and majesty of the Assyrian Empire. This photo again illustrates Professor Li’s identification with the symbolic attributes of the lion.
In the China Collection, we saw a large scroll painting (unfortunately, we did not photograph the exhibit label). The painting depicted landscapes, featuring mountains, rivers, and pine trees, intended to convey the artist’s reverence for nature and to express a sense of tranquility and harmony. In passing, I mentioned the idea of expanding the ‘China in Comparative Perspective’ approach at the London School of Economics to include a global perspective. This would not only involve comparing China with other countries and regions on a global scale but also conducting a comprehensive comparative study of China’s social transformations from past to present within a historical context. Methodologically speaking, the essential difference between the social science research conducted by Chinese scholars and that of their Western counterparts can be understood by grasping the essence of a Chinese scroll painting. [Note 5]
On July 23rd (Wednesday), the Li couple took a day trip to Windsor on their own, departing from Waterloo Station. They conducted a detailed tour of Windsor Castle. After their return to London, Mrs. Zhang developed a fever, and they decided to reschedule their flight to return to China early.
On July 24th (Thursday), the original plan was to go on a walk in the woods near my home and have an academic discussion, but due to their flight departing from Heathrow Airport at 16:45, we skipped the walk. Instead, we had a morning tea chat and lunch. The following photos were taken by Professor Li. At that time, taking photos and shared via WeChat was not very common, so we didn’t take a group photo, but there were individual photos of Mrs Zhang with my mother and me.
At around 2 pm., we met with LIU Jiayan and her son at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 2. The child happily and proactively pushed the luggage cart, which everyone admired as a good educational approach. Before parting, we took a group photo in front of a colorful painting advertisement. Reflecting later, this photo carried profound and personal significance, symbolizing academic exchange, friendship, educational inheritance, and family bonds. It recorded an important moment in the scholars’ professional and personal lives, demonstrating their commitment to knowledge, nurturing students, and cherishing family.
Notes:
- [1] In July 2014, Li Qiang was elected President of the Chinese Sociological Association. He was the sixth president since the association’s founding in 1979, following Fei Xiaotong, YUAN Fang, LU Xueyi, ZHENG Hangsheng, and LI Peilin. This blog was updated after visits by Tsinghua University’s School of Social Sciences and other universities in Beijing and Shanghai to the UK in July-August 2024.
- [2] Starting in 2015, the second to the eighth Global China Dialogue series were all held at this location until 2023.
- [3] Li Qiang also served as the Honorary Chinese President of the Global China Institute (alongside Martin). After the institute was renamed the Global China Academy and restructured into a worldwide fellowship, Li Qiang served as the Chinese chair of the Academy’s Council, alongside Professor Tony McEnery, former Interim Chief Executive of the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which is equivalent to China’s National Philosophy and Social Sciences Foundation.
- [4] Professor Li, together with Mr. LI Tie, former Director of the China Center for Urban Development and Small Towns Reform, co-edited the ‘China Urbanization Studies Series,’ published by Global Century Press, with Dr. Liu serving as the Executive Editor.
- [5] Xiangqun Chang, Guanxi or Li shang wanglai? Reciprocity, Social Support Networks, & Social Creativity in a Chinese Village (Scholarly Publishing Business, Airiti Press Inc. 2010; Chinese editions 2009 and 2010): ‘In 2005 there was an exhibition of “China: Three Emperors (1662–1795)”. David Hockney, the Fellow of The Royal Academy of Arts, commented that the Chinese paintings deployed multiple perspective points in a single painting, which is different from the single perspective point in Western painting. For him, Western history of art has long neglected the beauty and sophistication of the Chinese scroll painting (A typical example is the Qingming Riverside Painting)’. From Hockney’s point of view, the scroll painting ‘bears close resemblance to cinema pictures by offering a sense of pleasure at being part of the painting. As the Chinese painting has no vanishing point, its viewer has to assume a participatory approach, rather than a static posture, through which to engage him or herself, including eyes, body and psyche into the story-telling and moving with the scroll part by part” (David Hockney, “A Difference of Perspective”, in “Three Emperors, 1662–1795”, RA Magazine, Winter, 2005). Chang believes that western social science is more focused on a detailed analysis of specific issues, while the Chinese way is to offer a combined approach to several issues together. Her ‘book is an attempt to present to its readers a huge scroll painting of the complicated relationships in the everyday life of a Chinese village. It is nonetheless not totally Chinese, just as sometimes in the West a few miniatures can be presented on one big wall. In this case they are embedded in the Chinese scroll. Hockney’s prescription of how to appreciate Chinese painting might be helpful for readers in their approach to this book’ (Chang, 2010, p42-43).
Xiangqun Chang, originally posted on July 30, 2014; updated on August 30, 2024.
Related pages:
- Click here to the Chinese page.
- Click here to view the page ‘GCA Life Fellow Korean Sociologist Professor HAN Sang-Jin Meeting Professor Xiangqun Chang at Seoul, January 2023.’
- Click here to the news ‘The Chinese Chair of the Global China Aacademy Council, Professor LI Qiang, passed away on the 12 December, 2023’.
- Click here to watch a video of Professor LI Qiang’s greeting for the launch of the Global China Academy as an academy at the 7th Global China Dialogue, on December 10th, 2021, at the British Academy.
- Click here to visit News and Blog.