On June 1, the "Academic Seminar on Translation History and Cross-Linguistic Practices of Chinese and Western Concepts", hosted by the School of Foreign Languages at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, was successfully held. Professor Hu Cui’e, Director of the Center for International Communication of Chinese Culture at the School of Foreign Studies, Nankai University, was invited to attend and delivered the keynote speech. Faculty member Dr. Gu Tian also participated in the seminar and presided over a sub-venue.
The seminar was organized by the Center for Translation and Intercultural Studies at the School of Foreign Languages, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and co-organized by Chinese Translators Journal and Foreign Languages and Their Teaching. Professor Shang Biwu, Deputy Dean of the School of Foreign Languages at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, attended and made the opening remarks. Renowned scholars such as Professor Wang Hongzhi from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Fang Weigui from Chongqing University, Professor Sun Jiang from Nanjing University, Professor Ren Dongsheng from Ocean University of China, Professor Hu Cui’e from Nankai University, and Professor Zhu Yifan from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, among others, attended and gave keynote speeches, providing the attendees with impressive academic reports. The seminar featured five sub-venues where scholars shared and exchanged ideas on different topics.
In her keynote speech titled "Translation of Transcendental Concepts and Categories in Ancient Chinese Philosophy: Universality and Particularity, Chinese and World Philosophy," Professor Hu Cui’e pointed out that the translation of transcendental concepts and categories in ancient philosophy concerns how Chinese philosophy positions itself in the philosophies of the world and how Chinese and world philosophy can engage in dialogue. The unique responses of Chinese philosophy to common issues can be maximally respected through the translation principles of "different tunes played with equal skill" facilitating a truly equal dialogue and exchange between Chinese and world philosophy. Professor Hu's speech resonated with and was widely recognized by the attendees.
Dr Gu Tian was invited as a commentator for the fourth sub-venue, where she interacted fully with six speakers and audience and shared her paper. Dr Gu primarily explored how the concept of "tragedy" as a foreign literary notion, idea, and method, participated in the modernization of Chinese literature through literary translation from the perspective of the history of concept translation. Her research was fully endorsed by Professor Fang Weigui. After the sub-venue discussions, Dr Gu delivered a speech on behalf of the participants at the closing ceremony.
This seminar was the second time Shanghai Jiao Tong University held this thematic seminar, continuing to attract experts and scholars with significant achievements in the fields of translation history, conceptual history, and the history of Sino-Western ideological and cultural exchange for extensive and in-depth interdisciplinary exchange.
On June 2, Professor Hu Cui’e was invited to Fudan University to deliver a special academic lecture on "Thoreau's Translation of the Four Books and Its Individualistic Interpretation and Exegesis of Confucian Thought". The lecture was hosted by Professor Tao Youlan, Director of the Department of Translation at the College of Foreign Languages and Literature, Fudan University, and Professor Wang Jiankai from the same school served as a discussant. Professor Hu pointed out that the Confucian ideals of the "gentleman" and the theory of inherent goodness provided significant spiritual resources for Thoreau's advocacy of individualism. Moreover, Thoreau's interpretation and use of Confucian aphorisms opened new interpretative dimensions for the globalization of Confucian thought, embodying mutual learning and interpretation between civilizations. Professor Wang Jiankai highly praised Professor Hu's keen mind, rigorous academic attitude, and interdisciplinary research vision, appreciating her scholarly spirit and profound knowledge. The lecture was highly academic, with young faculty members and doctoral students from the College of Foreign Languages and Literature engaging in in-depth discussions and exchanges with Professor Hu on the lecture content and their own research topics.
