【47th Talk】Professor Dr. Cui Xiliang: “Poetic Spirit and the Art of Elegance: Classical Chinese Poetry and the Refined Life”
Upcoming Event
| Introduction | The 47th session of the “Tan Lark Sye Lecture Series,” organized by the Institute of International Education and the Tan Lark Sye Institute at New Era University College is now open for registration. In this lecture, Professor Dr. Cui Xiliang from Beijing Language and Culture University will explore the classical Chinese poetry and the elegant lifestyle of the Chinese people. China has long been regarded as a nation of poetry. With a vast collection of poetic works preserved from the pre-Qin period to the present, many famous lines from these poems have integrated to everyday life. The recitation and composition of poetry have gradually become an essential part of the refined lifestyle of the Chinese. Scholars in ancient China developed expertise in various aspects of refined living, such as music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry wine, tea, flowers, and incense, reflecting the Chinese aesthetic pursuits and life aspirations of the Chinese people. Professor will also introduce the origins and evolution of classical Chinese poetry, discussing its connection with other aspects of elegant living based on his own experiences in poetry creation, sharing his personal insights into the practice and appreciation of a refined lifestyle. |
| Speaker | Professor Dr. Cui Xiliang (Beijing Language and Culture University) Prof. Dr. Cui Xiliang currently serves as Professor of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics at Beijing Language and Culture University, where he is also Director of the International Communication Research Institute of Chinese Calligraphy. He is Vice President of the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching, President of the Beijing Linguistics Society, and a member of the Chinese Poetry Society. Previously, he served as Vice-Chancellor of Beijing Language and Culture University (2005-2017), Vice President of the Chinese Yanhuang Culture Research Association, and Vice President of the Education Calligraphy and Painting Association. He received his bachelor’s, master’s. and doctoral degrees in Literature from Peking University, and holds an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from McMaster University, Canada. His main research areas include linguistics, international Chinese language education, and the international communication of Chinese calligraphy. He is the author of Chinese Idioms and the Chinese Humanistic World, Language Comprehension and Cognition, Introduction to Language, Second Language Acquisition and Cognitive Studies of Chinese, and has published over 110 academic papers. |
| Moderator | Asst. Prof. Dr. Chan Huan Yun (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, NEUC) Dr. Chan received his PhD from the Beijing Normal University and currently serves as lecturer in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at New Era University College. He is also the programme coordinator for the master’s and doctoral programmes in Chinese Studies, His main research interests focus on classical Chinese literature and traditional Chinese thought. His master’s and doctoral theses are titled A Study of Su Shi’s Essays on Pavilions, Terraces, and Towers and Dialogic Techniques and Cultural Implications in the Prose of the Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties, respectively. |
| Information | Date: 28 January 2026 (Wednesday) Time: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM Venue: ZOOM (ID & password will be sent to your mobile number and email) Registration Form: https://bit.ly/3seNHqc Registration is free. Please complete your registration by Tuesday, 27 January 2026. |
Trailer (Video)
Lecture Postscript
The 47th session of the Tan Lark Sye Lecture Series, organized by the Institute of International Education and the Tan Lark Sye Institute of New Era University College, was held on 28 January. The lecture featured Professor Dr. Cui Xiliang from the Department of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics at Beijing Language and Culture University, who delivered a talk entitled “Poetic Spirit and the Art of Elegance: Classical Chinese Poetry and the Refined Life.” During the lecture, Dr. Cui systematically elaborated on the significant role of classical Chinese poetry in the Chinese cultural tradition and guided the audience to re-examine its aesthetic value within both historical contexts and contemporary life.
Professor Dr. Cui Xiliang is currently a Professor of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics at Beijing Language and Culture University, and serves as Director of the International Communication Research Institute of Chinese Calligraphy. He is Vice President of the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching, President of the Beijing Linguistics Society, and a member of the Chinese Poetry Society. He previously served as President of Beijing Language and Culture University from 2005 to 2017. Dr. Cui received his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in Literature from Peking University and holds an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from McMaster University, Canada. His research interests include linguistics, international Chinese language education, and the international communication of Chinese calligraphy, and he has authored numerous academic publications and over one hundred scholarly articles.
In the lecture, Dr. Cui began with the origins and development of classical Chinese poetry, drawing on a wide range of canonical poetic texts to illustrate its importance in Chinese culture and everyday life. He emphasized that poetry not only embodies literary value but also profoundly shapes the aesthetic sensibilities and lifestyles of the Chinese people. By linking poetry with refined cultural practices such as music, chess, calligraphy, painting, wine, tea, flowers, and incense, Dr. Cui further shared his insights into the life interests and spiritual pursuits of traditional Chinese literati.
Following the lecture, participants actively engaged with the speaker during the Q&A session, raising questions on the contemporary significance of classical Chinese poetry, poetic creation, and the modern transformation of traditional culture. Dr. Cui responded thoughtfully to each question, creating a lively and interactive atmosphere. The lecture was moderated by Asst. Prof. Dr. Chan Huan Yun from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, New Era University College, and drew an audience of over 200 participants.
.jpg)
