Brush and ink （筆墨） have been the backbone of painting in China for over a millennium. In Hong Kong, some artists in the 1960s have tried to introduce modernist elements into the practice of painting and launched a movement referred to as ‘New Ink’, thus initiating an attitude towards the past that still resonates in the practice of contemporary artists today. To promote the recognition of this movement and the attitude it fostered, some Hong Kong institutions have encouraged the development of a variety of practices that have greatly widened the very idea of what ‘Chinese painting’ can be. Not only are these practices relying on much more than just the use of brush and ink, but they have also questioned many of the assumptions that have often come with the idea of what ‘Chinese art’ or ‘literati painting’ have been. The past, in these new practices, has therefore become more than just a source of inspiration: in confronting the past, contemporary Chinese artists have opened a reflection on the nature of art that will not cease to provide new ideas and new directions.

從文化人類學的角度來看，香文化的探討和民族誌的傳達方式，會提供一些豐富而且有趣的方向。因為民族誌重視對文化現象的深厚和多角度的描述，而嗅覺的經驗自然加深我們身處環境的理解和表述方法，不論宗教儀式、飲食傳統、或自然環境，氣味都會是其特色的一部分，而且也構成我們對某地方記憶的重要一環、不只可把意境傳達，而且可以聯系前人的文字表述和感觀體驗。在香港居住過的朋友，都不約而同地對初春季節的「回南天」有種又愛又恨的感覺，雖是大地回春、精神一振的時刻，但看著牆壁上一行行的露水和數天都曬不乾的衣服，心情自然也變得發霉似的。坦白說，我也不曾例外，對綿綿不休的連日細雨、特別是梅雨季節，也有抗拒，希望老天爺早一天給它完結，把雨季無情地趕走。但、讀過宋代詩人陳去非的［雨］之後，開始對微雨天的來臨起了一份恩喜的心情，希望把握時機、領略一下詩中所言—小詩妨學道 微雨好燒香—的境界。而這種被香氣改變了的心態，在我看來，也可算是和大自然四季重拾的緣份。

本演講將集中探討明清時期中國的稻米種植和消費。糧食的主要功能，是養活人類。究竟一個人吃多少才夠？這一方面涉及營養問題，另一方面涉及習慣問題。如何能保障一個人吃夠？這裡則涉及主食和雜糧、不同品種的稻米的產出問題。如果這其中再加上對於不同品種稻米的口味選擇問題呢？圍繞這幾個問題，演講將以華中和華南的糧食種植和消費作為個案，論證稻米的商品化以及長途貿易出現的主要因素。

很多人會說「體育還體育，政治還政治」，但其實體育運動的發展，例如奧運和現代足球，本來就是政治性的。不少政府會利用體育運動達致政治目的，而體育運動歷史上亦曾影響大國外交，帶來政治衝突，以至影響民族認同和國家形象等。本講座將從體育運動的歷史發展開始，用不同事例說明體育運動與政治息息相關。

Soybean is an ancient crop that originated from China and has been deeply integrated into the food culture of East Asia. Modern soybean is an important economic crop in the world, providing 70% of global plant protein and 28% of vegetable oil for human and animal consumption. Soybean can reduce the use of chemical nitrogen fertilizers through symbiotic nitrogen fixation with rhizobia and hence is an integral component of sustainable agriculture. In China, more than 80% of the soybean need is dependent on imports, creating the “Soybean Crisis”. Through innovative science and technology, we can research, utilize, and generate soybean seed resources more effectively. In this lecture, we will discuss the topic of soybean from a scientific perspective.  

The relationship between heaven and humans has been essential in Chinese thought since ancient times. This lecture will first provide an overview of the various theories of the Pre-Qin, two Hans, and Song-Ming periods, and then analyze how contemporary Neo-Confucianism has offered creative interpretations of this by drawing on the intellectual resources of Song-Ming Confucianism to respond the challenges of modernity.