📚【Free Physical Participation × Online Livestream Preview】Lectures at the Su Shu Lou in Qian Mu’s Former Residence – Cultural Reading Series: “Reading Lü Simian: Two Lecture Notes on Lü Simian’s ‘Selected Readings from Famous Historical Works’”, by Professor Fu Kechang, September 27, 2015
🚪Any door of registration website:
https://www.beclass.com/rid=294ff8a68197b8022243
Mr. Lu Simian (1884-1957) was an important historian and educator in modern China. He was rigorous in his academic research and read the Twenty-Four Histories many times, but he was not satisfied with the Qianlong and Jiaqing textual research, but was committed to integrating it into his own thinking. He advocated that learning should be combined with reality and opposed academic pursuit for the sake of academic pursuit. However, he stayed away from politics and lived a simple life. He once said: "In conducting myself, I always take the ancient sages and scholars as my role models", but he also said that he was "deeply convinced" of Marxism-Leninism. However, it is well known that Mr. Lu is diligent and honest in his studies and is undoubtedly a scholar with his own unique ideas. Therefore, these seemingly tortuous thoughts and attitudes mentioned above actually reflect a specific context of the times and also demonstrate a transcendent life type.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Chinese historiography was undergoing a profound transformation. The introduction of Western historical methods spurred scholars to re-examine their own historical traditions: what should be discarded? What could be transformed and inherited? The wave of "New Historiography" was gaining momentum. Professor Lü Simian, then teaching at Shanghai Guanghua University, turned his attention to two critical peaks of traditional historiography: Liu Zhiji's "Shi Tong" (A Comprehensive History of History) and Zhang Xuecheng's "Wen Shi Tong Yi" (A Comprehensive Theory of Literature and History).
The choice of "Shi Tong" and "Wen Shi Tong Yi" for the "Selected Readings of Famous Historical Works" course is perhaps no accident. "Shi Tong" is a systematic exploration of the styles and methods of historiography before the Tang Dynasty; "Wen Shi Tong Yi" seeks to establish a broad framework for scholarship before the Qing Dynasty, showcasing Zhang Xuecheng's critical historical insights throughout. Amid the collapse of traditional academic systems, Mr. Lu realized that to forge the future, he must first understand how the past was written and judged. His critiques are not simple lecture notes but intentional dialogues. By assessing the strengths and weaknesses of Liu and Zhang, he explores a central question of his time: How can historiography achieve a comprehensive understanding beyond textual research? And between traditional scholarship and the changing realities of the world, what path should historians seek to apply their work?
On September 27, 2015, we invite you to journey back to that era of turbulent thought. Professor Fu Kechang will guide you through these two lecture notes, exploring how, at the intersection of old and new, Professor Lu, through a deep dialogue with classical criticism, forged a critical and constructive path for the development of modern Chinese historiography. For today's readers, reading these two lecture notes alongside Qian Mu's Masterpieces of Chinese Historiography will not only enhance our understanding of the ancient texts but, through this microcosm of this period of historiographical transformation, inspire reflection on contemporary historical narratives.
📆Event time: September 27, 2025 (Saturday), 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
🏡Event location: Classroom C508, 5th Floor, Qinpu Building, Boai Campus, Taipei City University (No. 1, Aiguo West Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City), online courses
👨🏫Activity speaker: Mr. Fu Kechang
🔔Activity fee: free
🚀Online live broadcast information
The course live broadcast URL will be announced on the "Qian Mu Former Residence-YouTube Channel" and "Qian Mu Former Residence-FB Fan Page" after the course starts! Everyone is welcome to ask questions and discuss in the comment section!
# Lü Simian # General Comments on History # General Comments on Literature and History
# Shi Tong # Wen Shi Tong Yi
#Liu Zhiji#Zhang Xuecheng
# Selected Readings of Famous Historical Works # Historical Theory
# History of Chinese Historiography # Textual Criticism
# New Historiography # Practical Application
#Qian Mu#Famous Chinese Historiography
# Fu Kechang # Su Shulou Lecture Hall
# free activities # physical courses
# Former Residence of Qian Mu # Online Course
📚【Free Physical Participation × Online Livestream Preview】Lectures at the Su Shu Lou in Qian Mu’s Former Residence – Cultural Reading Series: “Reading Lü Simian: Two Lecture Notes on Lü Simian’s ‘Selected Readings from Famous Historical Works’”, by Professor Fu Kechang, September 27, 2015
