WACS

World Association for Chinese Studies

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Register HERE for the
6th World Congress for Chinese Studies, focusing on literature, humanities, digitalization, globalization and on post-pandemic Chinese society in transition
August, 12-14, 2022 in Witten and Berlin (Invitation Letter, Email contact)

請12月31前這裏在綫注 冊參加2022年于德國舉辦第六届世 界漢學论坛 (下載邀請函, 通過電 子郵件聯系).

之前论坛论文集可在书店购买。

Abstracts and Proceedings of the previous conferences are available in bookstores.
Selections have been published in journals and the Association's E-Journal. Report of the 2019 conference by participant Li Jun.

Conference Website of the 2022 World Congress of Chinese Studies - 第六届世 界漢學论坛網頁

The annual meetings of the World Association for Chinese Studies every August gather 100 to 150 speakers at two places in Europe. One of the two places being Witten/Herdecke University in Germany, the other one this year (August 12-14, 2022) is Berlin, after Vienna, Paris, London and Brussels the years before. The meetings breath a unique spirit, bringing Chinese and international scholars together in discussions, showing different approaches and attitudes like in a magnifying glass. The experience for both, mainland Chinese scholars and international scholars is rewarding. Several young Chinese scholars, reflecting on their participation in recent years, called the variety of critical perspectives life changing.

The idea arose from the desire to save Chinese and American colleagues half the flight distance so that they do not have to spend half a day each time to meet in the USA or China. In addition, such a meeting in the summer in Europe has the very special charm of exploring the old world: Some scholars extend their stay to enjoy a visit to European capitals. Scheduling in August enables US colleagues to combine their participation with a summer vacation and Chinese colleagues to take a deep breath before the start of the semester.

This year’s conference of course comes with a full reimbursement guarantee until July 1st, depending on the coronavirus pandemic development. The conference bag contains complimentary conference proceedings and a valuable English-Chinese-English electronic dictionary pen from a commercial sponsor. The items can be kept even in the unlikely case of a conference cancellation.

The current pandemic control and vaccination in Germany looks promising, so that conferences this size are likely to be possible from May on. However, negative test results are requested by airlines and the conference organizing committee also requests a proof of vaccination. All of this can be provided shortly before the conference.

On September 24, 2016, the World Association of Chinese Studies (WACS) was founded in an Inaugural Ceremony and live broadcasted to 36 countries.

As an international organization with famous scholars from China and Harvard scholar Stephen Owen and French Léon Vandermeersch as Vice Chairmen, the World Association for Chinese Studies keeps the balance between the necessary support from and cooperation with China, which is its object and field of study, on the one hand, and the independency necessary to carry out critical research on an international level on the other hand.

The founding member Zhai Mu from Jilin University explains why the Association did not use Chinese terms like [Zhong]guoxue (Sinology) for its name, but the English term "Chinese Studies": “Chinese studies is carried out all over the world, it is not just a Chinese thing any more and our Association will be internationally oriented.” At the General Assembly 2017 in Witten/Germany, the German Martin Woesler was elected President, the Swiss Harro von Senger Honorary President. At the General Assembly Vienna/Austria 2018, Richard Trappl was elected Vice President (Secretary) and shortly after Thomas Weyrauch was elected Vice President (Treasurer).

WACS has been registered in August 2016 as a non-profit Association in the USA and in December 2016 in Germany/Europe and establishes in its Bylaws the freedom and independence of research and teaching as a core principle. The Ceremony was attended by 163 representatives from 36 countries, live broadcasted on the WhatsApp comparable chat service “WeChat” and covered by Chinese media.

Since 2003, the Chinese government through its ‘Han’-Office sponsors the export of Chinese culture and language with Confucius Institutes, with sponsorship of Meetings like one of the European Association of Chinese Studies, with scholarships and since recently with the Great Congress of Chinese Studies held annually in Beijing. All of these government-sponsored initiatives are questioned regarding its independency. WACS now puts independency top, specifically rejecting any ideological or political influence. However, as symbolized in its emblem “peace”, it is a purely academic association and does neither seek confrontation nor pocketing.

WACS also wants to help combine the efforts of national Associations of Chinese Studies by establishing a longterm-oriented umbrella Association, offering institutional membership to all existing associations in the field and striving for strategic partnerships with established organizations like the Association of Asian Studies and others.