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New Asia College of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is honoured to have Professor Ambrose Y.C. King, Academician of Academia Sinica, former Vice-Chancellor, former Head of New Asia College and Emeritus Professor of Sociology of CUHK to deliver a public lecture titled ‘Changes in China’s Culture of Learning since Late 19^th Century’.

Professor King is a prominent Chinese sociologist who studies the modernisation and modernity of China, and the role of tradition in social-cultural transformation. His major works include Chinese Society and Culture (1992), Chinese Politics and Culture (1997), The Idea of University (2001), Sociology and China Studies (2013) and China’s Great Transformation: Selected Essays on Confucianism, Modernization, and Democracy (2018), which have made remarkable contributions to the world of modern Chinese sociology.

The lecture will be held on Thursday, 16 May and conducted in Putonghua. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

Topic: Changes in China’s Culture of Learning since Late 19^th Century

From Late Qing to the May Fourth Movement, the Chinese culture of learning underwent a paradigm shift. Chinese classics studies e.g. The Four Books and The Five Classics which had held the spotlight in Chinese learning for two thousand years, gradually faded out. Learning through “Science” became the prominent study among universities. “The Great Learning” switched from a pursuit of “Kindness” to a pursuit of “Truth”. This lecture narrates the historical background to the changes in China’s culture of learning in the past century, traces the development of “Science” in the 20^th century and, at the same time, reflects on the problems created within.

About the 70^th Anniversary Lectures of New Asia College, CUHK

In celebration of the 70^th Anniversary of New Asia College, distinguished scholars have been invited to deliver a series of public lectures exploring topics from their own professions.

For enquiries, please contact Ms. Angela Chan of the College Office of New Asia College (Tel: 3943-7601; Email: angelac@cuhk.edu.hk )