The archaeological library of the CSCSA Photo: Wang Zhou/CSST

---

CSST: Please introduce the process of establishing the CSCSA.

Yao Zhizhong: Establishing the CSCSA in Athens is a concrete move to implement the important consensus between President Xi Jinping and the Greek leader, with CASS as its organizer. After serious consideration, the leading Party members’ group at CASS proposed aiming to officially announce the establishment of the CSCSA at the inaugural World Conference of Classics. 

To ensure the successful and timely establishment of the CSCSA, the leading Party members’ group at CASS put substantial effort into developing and deliberating on the construction plan and set up a leading group for the initiative, with CASS President Gao Xiang serving as the group leader, three other CASS leaders as deputies, and major leaders of 18 affiliated institutions as members. The leading group held two special meetings to make important arrangements for the construction work. Throughout the process, the leading Party members’ group at CASS remained resolute and effective, pooling the strength of the entirety of CASS. CASS leaders also went to Athens to oversee the establishment efforts. During this time, we received strong support from the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese Embassy in Greece, and the Greek Ministry of Culture. When President Gao Xiang announced the official establishment of the CSCSA at the first World Conference of Classics, many expressed congratulations to us, recognizing the achievement as extraordinary. We deeply feel that the successful establishment of the CSCSA in such a short period of time is due to the high-level consensus between President Xi Jinping and the Greek leader, the confidence in China’s status as a major power and its long history and culture, the extensive support from both Chinese and Greek authorities, the effective leadership of the Party members’ group at CASS, and the close collaboration across all its affiliated institutions. Without these contributions, the accomplishment would not have been possible. 

CSST: What are CASS’s advantages in establishing the CSCSA in terms of academic resources?

Yao Zhizhong: Studies at the CSCSA should fuse the ancient and the modern, and connect China to the world, which demands a significant academic foundation. This is precisely where CASS excels. As China’s leading think tank, CASS covers a wide range of disciplines and boasts considerable academic strength. Archaeological excavation and research is a key area of focus at the CSCSA, and the Institute of Archaeology at CASS is equipped with a world-class research team. In addition, CASS’s Institute of Philosophy and Institute of Ancient History have laid a solid foundation in researching Chinese civilization and fine traditional Chinese culture. The Institute of Foreign Literature is committed to researching Western classical civilizations, while the Institute of World History specializes in studies of major global civilizations. When officials of the Greek Ministry of Culture assessed CASS’s qualifications for establishing the CSCSA, they were deeply impressed by the origins and development of Chinese civilization showcased by the Chinese Archaeological Museum under CASS and the extensive resources of the CASS library, speaking highly of the research capabilities of archaeologists and experts in ancient Greece and Rome studies. The wealth of disciplinary resources and academic accumulation of CASS provide a solid groundwork for the construction of the CSCSA.

CSST: Please talk about the partners and cooperative mechanism in Athens.

Yao Zhizhong: The Greek Ministry of Culture is the primary partner in Athens. Not only is it responsible for approving the establishment of the CSCSA, but it will also be a key partner in future collaborations. The CSCSA has the authority to conduct archaeological excavations in Greece, either independently or in partnership with other institutions, with communication and coordination required with the Greek Ministry of Culture.

Currently, the CSCSA has developed strong partnerships with the Academy of Athens and the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation (ALF) in Greece. In 2019, under the witness of the Chinese and Greek heads of state, CASS signed a cooperation agreement with the ALF to jointly establish the CASS-ALF Centre for China Studies. Later, during President Gao Xiang’s visit to Greece in September 2023, another cooperation agreement was signed with the Academy of Athens. Both the Academy of Athens and the ALF have provided invaluable support for the establishment of the CSCSA.

Looking ahead, the CSCSA plans to expand its network by forming further partnerships with Greek universities. Both the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens have expressed interest in cooperating. Additionally, the CSCSA will engage in more exchanges with institutes of classical studies that 19 other countries have established in Athens.

CSST: How is the work at the CSCSA now? What are its priorities for future work in Athens? What key research achievements are expected?

Li Xinwei: Currently, the CSCSA’s library and website have been largely completed. We are preparing to launch classical studies from an international, multidisciplinary perspective, aiming to establish a new platform for global research, exchanges, and mutual learning on classical studies. Chinese scholars will conduct archaeological excavations in one of the cradles of Western civilization for the first time, gathering firsthand data and promoting original research on classical civilizations. At the same time, we have successfully established an academic exchange platform at the heart of Western classical civilization, where global scholars can hear more perspectives from Chinese civilization. The CSCSA is committed to organizing high-level research projects and academic activities to foster studies, exchanges, and mutual learning among classical civilizations worldwide. 

In terms of public engagement, the CSCSA will host a series of academic lectures and offline events to raise awareness about classical civilization among both the academic community and the public. Additionally, we aim to build the archaeological library into a specialized resource that supports classical studies, publicizes the latest research, and promotes Chinese civilization, while providing high-quality services on academic exchanges and access to resources for global researchers in Greece and the local community. To better showcase our activities and research, the CSCSA plans to launch a journal grounded in the academic vision of mutual learning between Chinese and Greek civilizations, addressing cutting-edge topics and key issues in international classical studies. Looking ahead, the CSCSA will fully leverage its role as a bridge to promote mutual understanding and learning among civilizations, thereby contributing to the preservation and development of human civilization.

CSST: In order to construct a Chinese school of classical studies and build an independent Chinese knowledge system, what should the CSCSA and Chinese scholars of classical studies do, especially to achieve innovation and breakthroughs in theory and methodology? How can we better adhere to China’s stances, make Chinese voices heard, and tell Chinese stories effectively through classical studies?

Liu Zuokui: First, we must maintain the correct academic orientation. It is essential to thoroughly study and deeply understand Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, using it as our fundamental guide. We must especially focus on implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech at the seminar on cultural inheritance and development, as well as his congratulatory letter to the first World Conference of Classics. This will guide us to build an independent Chinese knowledge system in philosophy and social sciences, and establish a Chinese school of classical studies.

Second, we need to engage with both academic research and practical application. Classical studies should not be confined to textual interpretation alone, but should also examine the deeper logic of the human spirit amid the interaction between thought and social practice. It is important to begin with real-world issues, conduct in-depth research on the front line, and secure original, firsthand data. Furthermore, theory and practice should be integrated, and multidisciplinary approaches should be used to innovate research methods, researching from perspectives that promote human civilization’s development as well as civilizational exchanges and mutual learning.

Third, we must strengthen cultural confidence, actively challenge erroneous trends of thought, and keep up with the times. It is crucial to reject harmful viewpoints such as the hierarchy of civilizations, civilizational superiority, Western centrism, and the clash of civilizations. In addition, we should effectively tell Chinese stories, ensure Chinese voices are heard, interpret China’s propositions, and highlight the significance of Chinese civilization from the height of the GCI and the vision of building a human community with a shared future.

Zhang Zhiqiang: The key to advancing classical studies is to implement the GCI proposed by President Xi Jinping, adhere to the spirit of his congratulatory letter to the first World Congress of Classics, and present Chinese civilization and culture to the world. When studying classical Western civilization, we should not align ourselves with the West or use it as a lens to interpret classical Chinese civilization. Instead, we should draw wisdom and inspiration from diverse civilizations, promoting the inheritance and development of all cultures and fostering exchanges and mutual learning among them.

Classics originally emerged as the study of ancient Greece and Rome, which we might call “classics in the narrow sense,” or “minor classics.” Now that the concept of “Chinese classics” has been introduced, the question arises: Should Chinese classics be studied within the paradigm of “classics in the narrow sense,” or does it have its own independent research methodology and objects? We firmly support the latter.

The concept of Chinese classics represents an expansion of the traditional paradigm. It begins with the inherent meanings within classical Chinese traditions and seeks to develop its own research methodology, thereby establishing its own distinct paradigm. Chinese classics is defined by a methodology rooted in China’s classical characteristics, not by a universal method applied to all classical traditions. This approach is free from the self-projections of Oriental studies and stands independently with its own classical and historical traditions. The concept of Chinese classics itself carries a core message: Civilizations with classical traditions can create their own paradigms of classical studies; civilizations with rich ancient texts can modernize their traditions in classical studies and foster their own unique classics. In this sense, classics is understood as “classics in the broad sense,” or “broad classics.”

The classics we advocate for should be based on a community of plural “classics-es,” understood as “classics in the broad sense,” or “broad classics,” and only within this community can exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations be conducted on equal terms and directed toward the future of human civilization.

He Fangying: Traditional Western classics places great emphasis on the classics of ancient Greece and Rome, and their classical studies typically exclude Chinese classics. However, Chinese classical studies need not, and should not, refer to the Western approach in every aspect, nor should it follow the traditional Western research paradigm. Instead, it must be rooted in China’s own classical traditions to redefine the meaning and scope of classics.

To establish a Chinese school of classical studies, the Chinese classics community must work to transcend the modern system of disciplinary classification and Western centrism. It should adopt a more comprehensive approach to the history of world civilization, broadening the scope of classical studies beyond the traditional Western focus on ancient Greece and Rome to encompass all human civilizations, including classical Chinese civilization. In particular, ancient civilizations that have produced profound ideas, fostered great minds, and developed enduring classics over human history must be considered. When studying and interpreting these classical civilizations, it is essential to incorporate comparative perspectives that address universal human concerns and maintain academic depth. The Chinese classics community should consciously and thoroughly understand the origins of civilization, critically reconsider the complex issues of both ancient and modern times, and of both China and the West, and reflect on the experiences and lessons of human civilization as a whole. The goal is to cultivate a civilizational theory centered on “harmony in diversity and shared prosperity” for the building of a human community with a shared future, and contribute Chinese insights and input to settling various disputes in the modern world.

Edited by CHEN MIRONG