The "Maritime Silk Road and Sino-German Cultural Exchange" seminar for young Sinologists was held from Nov 19 to 24 at Xiamen University (XMU), bringing scholars from Tier University, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, University of Tübingen, University of Würzburg, and KU Leuven to examine historical topics related to the Maritime Silk Road and Sino-German cultural interactions.
A sinologist introduces his latest research on Confucian AI. [Photo/en.xmu.edu.cn]
During the seminar, the eight young scholars presented on topics including anthropomorphic representations, historical Sino-German educational cooperation, and higher education cultural exchange. They also engaged in discussions on defining and advancing China's competencies within the context of contemporary German Sinology.
Wang Hai, associate professor at the College of Foreign Languages and Cultures of XMU, shared his research regarding the former German Consulate on Gulangyu Island and its role in modern Sino-German diplomatic relations, leading participants on a field investigation that deepened their understanding of Gulangyu's historical international exchanges.
The seminar concluded with a field study at Wuyi Mountain along the Great Tea Road, where participants explored the origins and international dissemination of tea culture. The group visited the ancestral hall of the Zou clan, prominent tea merchants in Xiamei town, tracing the family's century-long history through archival documents.
Sinologists experience the traditions of tea culture at Wuyi Mountain. [Photo/en.xmu.edu.cn]
