A symposium themed “Affinity in the Age of Globalization” was recently held at Tsinghua University, congregating about 50 experts and scholars from related universities and institutions such as Peking University, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing Normal University, Beijing Language and Culture University, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Sponsored by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures and the Center for the Studies of European and American Literatures at Tsinghua University and co-organized by the School of English and International Studies and the Research Institute of Foreign Literature of Beijing Foreign Studies University and the Editorial Board of Foreign Literature, the symposium was a joint effort to mark the 100th anniversary of Wang Zuoliang’s birth. Concurrently, the unveiling ceremony of the special bookshelf of Wang Zuoliang’s works was held in the University Library.

The unveiling ceremony of the special bookshelf of Wang Zuoliang’s works

Yan Haiping, Chair of DFLL and Dean of IWLC addresses the symposium.

Yan Haiping, chair of DFLL and dean of the Institute for World Literatures and Cultures (IWLC) at Tsinghua University, addressed the symposium. She briefly introduced to the attendees the recent development of DFLL in its disciplinary institutionalization and personnel cultivation, and then came to the theme of the symposium. Wang Zuoliang was one of the eminent alumni of Tsinghua and a prominent figure in the intellectual circle of foreign literature and comparative literature in China, Yan said. DFLL will further its efforts with fellow scholars to inherit his academic legacy and cultivate great minds in world literature and culture with a breadth of vision across civilizations and multiple language proficiency and potentials. Among the speakers at the symposium were scholars of various universities and institutes, including Jin Li, former vice president of Beijing Foreign Studies University and Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Literature, Fan Baolong, Curator of the University History Museum and Archives of Tsinghua University, and Jiang Yunzhong, Party Secretary of Tsinghua University Library. They all spoke highly of Professor Wang Zuoliang, praising him for his contribution to the academic discipline of foreign language and literature and foreign language teaching in China.

Jin Li, former vice president of Beijing Foreign Studies University makes a speech.

Cao Li, director of the Center for the Studies of European and American Literatures at Tsinghua University, presided over the symposium. She recalled the growth process of DFLL and herself in the past, owing their achievements to Wang’s guidance. The values of affinity, excellence and social commitment advocated by Professor Wang, she said, are in the same strain with the Tsinghua endeavor, i.e. “connecting the East and the West, bridging the past and the present, and integrating the humanities and the sciences." The concept of “affinity” pioneered by Wang remains a staple theme for scholars today in exploring the interactions between literatures as well as the relationship between intellectuals, research, universities and the society as a whole, added Cao.

Yao Sheng, curator of The Academia Historica, Beijing Foreign Studies University makes a speech.

Among the speakers at the symposium were Yue Daiyun, honorary president of the Chinese Comparative Literature Association and Professor of Chinese Literature at Peking University, Cheng Musheng, former chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at Tsinghua University, Zhang Zhongzai, director of the Center for the Studies of European and American Literatures at Beijing Foreign Studies University, and Lu Jiande, director of the Institute of Literature at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. They shared their fond memories of the great man of learning with as much affection as respect. Speaking highly of Wang’s outstanding accomplishments in foreign language and literature, comparative literature, poetry study and writing, literary translation and English education, they unanimously held the view that scintillating insights are everywhere to be found in Wang’s works. His intellectual odyssey, characterized by a broad interest in a wide range of topics and a rigorous critical inquiry into each, sets a distinctive example for whoever follows in his footsteps in cultural exchange, academic research and scientific discovery.

Wang Li, son of Wang Zuoliang and Curator of the East Asian Collection at Brown University attended the symposium with his wife. He recalled his father as one who “developed a strong sense of social commitment at Tsinghua and grew into a model scholar for the whole world to follow.”

The symposium happened to coincide with the 90th anniversary of DFLL and the 100th anniversary of Wang Zuoliang’s birth. To mark the opportunity, Beijing Foreign Studies University, via its Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, presented a copy of 12-volume Complete Works of Wang Zuoliang as a gift to Tsinghua which would be available on the bookshelf in the University Library. The University History Museum also announced the launch of an exhibition “Excellence and Social Commitment: An Exhibition in Honor of 100th Anniversary of Wang Zuoliang’s Birth” as part of the BFSU-THU joint commemorative events.

Personal information about Wang Zuoliang

Wang Zuoliang (1916-1995), one of the most distinguished alumni from DFLL, Tsinghua University. As a prominent scholar, educator, poet and translator, Wang played a unique part in foreign literatures, comparative literature and foreign language education in China. He came to study at Tsinghua in 1935 and worked in DFLL as a teacher upon graduation. In 1947, he was awarded a full scholarship to study abroad at Merton College, University of Oxford. After returning to China, he taught at Beijing Foreign Studies University. He held a number of academic positions, including Director of the English Department, Vice President of Beijing Foreign Studies University and Director of the Institute of Foreign Literature. He began to work as a committee member of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council in 1981 and served as head of foreign literature office of the Committee in 1985. He was a member of the 6th and 7th CPPCC National Committee. His monographs include The Literary Reputation of John Webster to 1830 (English), Essays on English Literature, Degrees of Affinity: Studies in Comparative Literature (English) and The Evolution of English Prose. His translations include Selected Poems of Robert Burns and so on. The Complete Works of Wang Zuoliang in 12 volumes came out recently.

Group photo of attendees at the symposium