Second Biannual Workshop--“Manuscripts and Materiality of Text”

International Center for the Study of Ancient Text Cultures

Renmin University of China

Xi’an,
January 5–13, 2018

The International Center for the Study of Ancient Text Cultures (ICSATC), hosted at Renmin University of China, develops new perspectives and research opportunities for the study of all aspects of ancient textuality both in China and globally. International and comparative in outlook, it aims to create international research exchanges and collaborations for doctoral students,postdoctoral fellows, junior faculty, and senior scholars.

 

The Center embraces the detailed study of ancient texts—both transmitted and excavated—alongside the development of new methodological approaches andtheoretical perspectives. Located at Renmin University and networking with major institutions in Beijing and across China, the Center’s core is focused on Chinese antiquity. At the same time, the Center aims to engage in cross-cultural, transnational research, integrating the study of ancient Chinese textuality with that of other ancient cultures from around the world. We explicitly encourage, and are eager to facilitate, exchanges on multiple levels across disciplines and civilizations.

 

The Center is designed as a global interface for the meeting of three new developments in the humanities and social sciences:

• the dramatic increase in newly excavated Chinese manuscripts and inscriptions over the past decades,which has led the study of Chinese antiquity to unprecedented heights, depth, and breadth at institutions both within and beyond China;


• the emergence of new global research interests in the comparative study of antiquity, internationally manifest in a number of recently established research centers but also visible in the rapidly growing Chinese academic interest in the ancientworld of the Mediterranean and other civilizations;


• the new global interest in manuscript studies, philology, history of the book, materiality of text, and related subjects that study textual cultures through multiple perspectives and disciplinary approaches.

 

Toward its goals of integrating these developments in a new research environment, and of creating a new global community of scholars for the study of ancient text cultures, the Center will include the following components:

• a suite of academic and administrative offices within the School of Classics a Renmin University to accommodate visiting students and scholars from China and around the world, together with the staff to support them;


• a research library for the primary texts of antiquity and related research publications from around the world and in multiple languages;


• seminar rooms and lecture halls;


• fully funded programs for short- and long-term visiting doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, young researchers, and distinguished visiting professors from around the world;


• biannual week-long teaching workshops for Chinese and international Ph.D. students;


• regular lectures by local and visiting researchers;


• research conferences both small and large in scope.
 

The Center’s second Ph.D. student workshop will be held on January 5th –13th 2018. Four renowned scholars from the fields ofChinese Antiquity, Late Medieval Antiquity, and Medieval Latin will present lectures and seminars on specific topics. In addition, there will be two keynote speeches at the beginning and at the end of the workshop, respectively.There also will be student research activities to complement the lectures and seminars. The principal language of instruction and interaction will be English.

 

Theme: Manuscripts and Materiality of Text

 

Organizers:

The International Center for the Study of Ancient Text Cultures (ICSATC) of RUC

School of Chinese Classics and Shanxi Normal University

Meeting Place: Shanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China

Instructors:

Prof.AnneMarieLuijendijk, Department of Religion, Princeton University

(Manuscripts of Mediterranean Antiquity, Egypt and Early Christianity)

Prof. Daniela Mairhofer, Department of Classics,Princeton University

(Manuscripts of Medieval Latinlanguage and literature)

Prof. Matthias Richter,Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, University of Colorado at Boulder

(Early Chinese Manuscripts)

Prof. Xu Jianping,Ancient Books Institute, Zhejiang University

(Dunhuang Manuscripts)

Keynote lecturers:

Prof. Martin Kern,Department of East Asian Studies, Princeton University

Prof. Liu Yuejin, Institute of Literature, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

 

Schedule:

January 5:  Arrival and registration

Keynote speech by Prof. Martin Kern (6:00pm)

January 6-10:  Lectures, seminars, and research activities:

January 6:   Prof.Matthias Richter

January 7:   Prof.Xu Jianping

January 8:   Prof.AnneMarieLuijendijk

January 9:   Prof.Daniela Mairhofer

January 10:  Group Discussion

Keynote speech by Prof. Liu Yuejin (6:00pm)

January11-12: Research Exercises and Archaeological Excursion

January 13:   Plenary Conclusion and Checkout

 

Attending Scholars:

Prof. Cao Shenggao, School of Liberal Arts, Shaanxi Normal University

Prof. Glenn W. Most, ScuolaNormaleSuperiore, Pisa University

Prof. Xu Jianwei,School of Liberal Arts, Renmin University of China

Prof. Zhang Jing, School of Liberal Arts, Renmin University of China

Prof. Zhang Xinke,School of Liberal Arts, Shaanxi Normal University

The program will accept Forty Ph.D. students who specialize in the textual study of Ancient Chinese, Medieval Latin, and Mediterranean Antiquity. Half the number of students will be admitted from Chinese universities, the other half from universities in North America and Europe. Those who have passed their required
Ph.D. qualifying examinations and have started writing their dissertations are encouraged to apply.

 

Room, board, and other local expenses will be provided by the Center. Students are expected to cover their own airfare and transportation to Xi’an, hopefully with the assistance from their universities or other scholarships. All necessary visa documentation will be provided by the Center, but visa processing fees will not be covered.

Applications should be sent by October 10st, 2017 to: ruc_icsat@163.com