Date: June 20, 2023

Source: Yangcheng Evening News

Author: CHEN Liang, XIE Kunhua, LI Xu

Translator: MENG Yangxiangqi

The Commemoration of the 120th Anniversary of the Birth of Prof. Chen Lesu and the fourth Seminar for Young Scholars of the National Commission for Classics Editing and Research by Institutions of Higher Learning was held at Jinan University from June 16 to 19.

In attendance were nearly 200 scholars from more than 50 universities and research institutions, including the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Peking University, as well as teachers and students from JNU's College of Liberal Arts and College of Chinese Language and Culture.

Chen made high academic achievements in the history of the Song Dynasty and Chinese classical literature. The scholars at the seminar gave either a macroscopic overview or a microscopic examination of Chen’s pedigree, research results, practical concerns and major ideas. At the seminar, young scholars carried out in-depth study with a focus on philology and historical literature.

When the Chinese Cultural History Research Institute of the College of Liberal Arts was established in 1984, Chen was appointed its first director. His style of scholarship created a good academic tradition for the institute.

As the eldest son of Chen Yuan, a renowned historian and educator, Chen Lesu grew up in a family with a tradition of learning. As a young adult, he went to Japan to study political economy and the history of Sino-Japanese relations. After the Guangdong Provincial Chorography Compilation Committee was founded in 1984, he was a committee member and put his heart and soul into checking the review materials of the staff of the local records offices, and inspecting and guiding the compilation of local records in counties and cities.

Prof. Lu Wei, secretary general of National Commission for Classics Editing and Research, reviewed the origins, history and effectiveness of its Seminar for Young Scholars. After the commission was established in 1983, he said, three seminars were held, in 1999, 2002 and 2011, promoting unity and collaboration among the teaching and research institutions directly linked to the commission and the exchange of ideas among young scholars. It provided a valuable platform for many young scholars who were committed to editing and research for classics, exerting a positive influence on construction of talent teams and cultivation of talents.