Joined by several universities across two cities, Beijing-Hong Kong Universities Alliance aspires to facilitate connections among the institutes as well as strengthen talent development and academic collaboration. In May 2021, the Department of Chinese and History (CAH), City University of Hong Kong and the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, Peking University (PKU) co-organised the First Joint Conference on Humanities for Young Scholars in Beijing and Hong Kong. As funded by the Alliance, the hybrid event debuted with acclaimed success. In 2022, the Alliance extends its funding support to the two institutes which endeavour to conduct cutting-edge research in the field of humanities, nourishing the collaborative relationship via the Second Joint Conference on Humanities for Young Scholars in Beijing and Hong Kong.

The Conference returned with the theme of “Forms of Books and Modes of Reading in Modern China (近世中國的書籍形制與閱讀形態)”. Although the history of books and reading has been under the spotlight in academia, specific concepts and research paradigms are yet to be substantially elucidated. For the history of books, the Chinese praxis of cataloguing warranted abundant historical data and ammunition. Studies about printing and publication history are also noteworthy in the current era. Nonetheless, the form and flux of books have evolved robustly in Modern China. Such an evolution prompted the scholars to look into the new enquires about this long-established discipline. 

The historical study of reading derived from the history of books, which is now categorised under the umbrella of “History of Reading”. The research emphasises the variations in content, subjects, and reading modes. In particular, it concerns the behaviours and ways of reading, outlining the theme of Leserevolution (“reading revolution”). It also forges a linkage with social and educational history. There is a synergy between the forms of books and reading, whereas it defines how the literati of Modern China have absorbed, spread and innovated new knowledge. 

Around 90 participants and 19 scholars from different institutes gathered at the Conference from 10 to 11 July 2022. The scholars shed light on the history of reading. They contributed their insights to seven presentation sessions and a roundtable discussion, piercing through the period from the Ming-Qing dynasty to the modern era. Prof CHING May-bo, Head of CAH, Prof LU Yin, Associate Professor of PKU Department of Chinese Language and Literature and the conference convenor of Beijing, and Dr CUI Wendong, Assistant Professor of CAH and the conference convenor of Hong Kong, extended a warm welcome to the attendees in the opening remarks in turn. Prof Ching, Dr CHAN Hok-yin, Associate Head of CAH, Dr Cui and Dr Carlos LIN, Assistant Professor of Department of Linguistics and Translation, chaired respective presentation sessions and, at the same time, served as discussants.

Furthermore, Dr Lin presented his extensive analysis of HU Shih’s pacifist notion in one of the sessions, positing the perspective of the history of reading. Dr Cui presented a case study of a press dabbling in juvenile publications to demonstrate the inspirational influence on the canon. As the scholars further distilled the key takeaways, the two-day Conference was successfully wrapped up with a roundtable discussion.

Cover Photo: Hong Kong and Mainland China scholars participated in the Conference at CityU and Peking University.