On November 7, the Chinese School of Classical Studies at Athens (CSCSA) marked its first anniversary. The establishment of the Institute signifies a solid step forward for China in the new era to promote exchange and mutual learning among civilizations. Exactly one year ago today, the CSCSA was officially inaugurated in Athens. As Chinese President Xi Jinping stated in his message to the inaugural World Congress of Classics, the Institute has created a new platform for civilizational exchange and mutual learning for China, Greece and other nations in the world. On March 13, 2025, in a congratulatory message to the newly elected Greek President Constantine Tassoulas, President Xi reaffirmed the significance of the CSCSA, underscoring that our two nations have “demonstrated the beauty of harmony and the responsibility for the times of the two ancient civilizations”.

President Xi’s congratulatory message has provided fundamental guidance for the CSCSA’s birth and growth, defining its core mission and laying a visionary foundation. Over the past year, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, the Institute has strived to cultivate a uniquely Chinese school of thought within the field of classical studies. By deeply practicing the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), it has contributed Chinese perspectives to intercultural dialogue, showcasing the enduring appeal of “harmony in diversity” and addressing epochal issues concerning the future and destiny of humanity.

The progress of the past year resembles the slow unfolding of a grand tapestry of mutual learning: spanning the distance from Beijing to Athens, through its official founding and the opening of its new headquarters, to its rigorous academic seminars and field excavations. Today, a premier platform for the exchange of Chinese and Western civilizations stands fully realized, already yielding substantial and meaningful achievements.

Establishing a Chinese School of Thought in Classical Studies

Since the success of the first World Congress of Classics, the concept of “world classics” has garnered growing resonance and endorsement among scholars worldwide. The founding of the CSCSA marks the transition of this concept from an academic proposal to a structured institutional framework, gradually consolidating it as a shared paradigm for the global community of classicists.

Over the past year, the CSCSA has deepened and broadened this concept through solid academic initiatives. Its journey has reached the heart of classical scholarship at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and fostered connections with other academic institutes established in Athens by the UK, the US, and France, alongside a myriad of museums and archaeological labs.  

These exchanges went beyond mere debates of ideas; they have forged a powerful synergy for mutual learning, resonating deeply with Western counterparts. By fostering continuous intellectual discourse, the Institute has sown seeds of collaboration across the landscape of ancient civilizations, enabling the global scholarly vision of “World Classics” to become more defined and vivid.

For a long time, classical studies in the Western academic world have centered on the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome as their core narrative. The texts of Homer and Vergil, and the ruins of the Parthenon and the Roman Forum, were long regarded as the “singularly brilliant chapters” of human civilization. However, with the expanding horizon of “World Classics,” this “Eurocentric” definition is now being re-examined. The exchange platform established by the Institute has become a vital arena for converging diverse academic voices, propelling the field to look back through a pluralistic lens and celebrate the unique beauty of each civilization through mutual learning.

Sophia Papaioannou, Vice Rector for NKUA and Professor of Latin Literature, remarked, “While classical studies initially referred specifically to the Greco-Roman heritage, any classic capable of transcending time and space to inspire future generations should be included in our research horizon.” Véronique Chankowski, Director of the French School at Athens and a historian, observed that understanding the ancient world requires a broader, interconnected perspective on the relationships between civilizations, which opens new paths for comparative research. Menelaos Christopoulos, Professor Emeritus of Ancient Greek Literature at the University of Patras, succinctly stated: “To fully comprehend the plural development of civilizations, it is far from enough to focus solely on Ancient Greece and Rome. An in-depth exploration of other great ancient civilizations, particularly Ancient China, is not only necessary but essential.”

These perspectives, arising from diverse academic fields, collectively point toward a fundamental objective—breaking through the confines of “narrow classical studies.” In this context, comparative research has become the pivotal methodology championed by scholars from China and around the world.

Gregory Nagy, Professor of Classics at Harvard University, remarked, “To understand the World Classics, one must situate the subjects of study within a broader civilizational context. It is only through the ‘comparative mirror’ that we can truly perceive the inherent richness and historical significance of classical civilizations.”

Melina Tamiolaki, Vice Rector of the University of Crete and Professor of Ancient Greek Literature, observed that cross-civilizational comparative research is becoming a defining trend in global classical studies and that fostering dialogue between experts across diverse disciplines is key to realizing this ambition.

Pavlos Kontos, Head of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Patras, further stated that studying the classical world requires breaking down geographical and disciplinary boundaries to integrate multicultural perspectives. Comparative research between Chinese and Greek civilizations, he noted, not only deepens understanding of these two great civilizations but also offers new methodological insights for global classical studies.

Amidst these shared understandings, classical studies are undergoing a profound transformation—from narrow to broad, from local to global, and from a single-civilization focus to multi-dimensional interactions. This shift provides a vital opportunity for the development of Chinese classical studies.

In this context, China is shifting its role from a mere “onlooker” and “interpreter” to a pivotal power, engaging in and steering global scholarly discourse with a posture of confidence.

“China has emerged as a key advocate for ‘World Classics.’ This role calls for grounded work in field archaeology and primary source research to accumulate first-hand data. It is essential that we fundamentally move beyond dependency on Western academic outputs, so as to build an original and independent Chinese system of classical studies,” said Li Xinwei, Director of the CSCSA. 

In his vision, this system is anchored by two core lines: first, to advance academic perspectives with distinct Chinese characteristics within traditional classical studies; and second, to tell China’s stories from a comparative civilizational perspective, ensuring that the study of Chinese classical traditions possesses international breadth, academic depth, and the value of mutual inspiration.  

The Institute serves as the central platform for realizing this vision—driving research through a strong sense of inquiry, consolidating strength through academic engagement, and sustaining vitality through the cultivation of young scholars—so that China’s voice may resonate clearly on the global stage and contribute substantively to dialogue among human civilizations.

▲Researchers from the CSCSA conduct a field visit to the Angelokastro site. Photo by Yang Xue, Athens-based correspondent of CSST.

Promoting Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Diverse Civilizations

Civilizations have become richer and more colorful with exchanges and mutual learning. As President Xi emphasized, such exchanges and mutual learning form an important drive for human progress and global peace and development. The Institute stands as a resolute practitioner of exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. It is committed to advancing the inheritance and development of civilizations, strengthening international people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and fostering global civilizational dialogue.

In Greece, the cradle of Western civilization, archaeological research serves as a key to unlocking the enigmas of the past and as a bridge for fostering profound dialogue between Eastern and Western civilizations. 

Since the establishment of the Institute, archaeological projects and field surveys have progressed steadily, with Chinese scholars engaging deeply in the core sites of Western civilization with growing confidence. The research team has systematically surveyed multiple regions of Greece.

In northern Greece’s region of Macedonia, the team conducted field research at the Dion site at the foot of Mount Olympus, as well as prehistoric wetland settlements and Iron Age tumulus groups in the Amyndeon Basin. In eastern Attica, they undertook detailed examinations of the Asketario and Katsimidi sites, which represent different periods and functions. In Thrace, they systematically studied the excavation results and museum collections from colonial city-states such as Abdera, Zone, Ismaros, and Maroneia. On the island of Crete, they conducted in-depth investigations of major sites layered with Minoan–Mycenaean cultural remains, including Knossos, Azogires, Polyrrhenia, and Aptera.

Each field mission combined close analysis of first-hand stratigraphic and material evidence—such as the approximately 7,000-year-old waterlogged deposits at Amyndeon, the numerous Thracian inscriptions and ritual objects from the Sanctuary of Demeter at Zone, and the high-status Mycenaean tumulus burials and late-period kiln remains at Azogires—with careful attention to the historical context of each site and its current state of conservation and restoration. 

Through close collaboration with local archaeological institutions, museums, universities, and international research organizations, the research team has not only mastered the sophisticated fieldwork protocols of the Mediterranean region but has also reached cooperative agreements in areas regarding site excavation, heritage conservation, and exhibition utilization. This on-site work has yielded substantial materials for upcoming project applications and has laid a methodological basis for Chinese scholars to develop an independent scholarly discourse and pursue comparative research in the field of world classics. As the first archaeological project enters the application phase, Chinese academic contributions are poised to yield more autonomous discoveries, fostering a new paradigm in world classical studies defined by a comparative perspective and a spirit of mutual learning.    

On June 26, 2025, as part of the inauguration ceremony for its new premises, the CSCSA showcased a series of major Chinese achievements in archaeometric science and cultural heritage conservation, highlighting the Chinese archaeological community’s sustained breakthroughs in interdisciplinary integration and technological innovation. These exhibits not only reflected the profound mutual learning between Chinese civilization and world civilizations, but also offered Greece and the wider international community a distinctive Chinese perspective on historical research and interpretation.

Exhibition highlights included the first complete restoration of a Tubo-period royal crown from Tomb No. 1 at Quangou in Qinghai; Tang-dynasty ceramic dragon-head architectural components unearthed from the Guzhou City site in Xiong’an; research findings on bronze alloy technologies from the Erlitou site; and archaeobotanical evidence demonstrating the continuous utilization of indigenous Chinese Vitis (grape) species over several millennia. The event fostered a vibrant academic atmosphere, with scholars closely examining the restored artifacts and engaging in in-depth dialogue with their Chinese counterparts. Such interactions brought archaeological discoveries vividly to life, reinforcing the Institute as a vital window for presenting Chinese civilization to the world.

The “Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning Between Chinese and Greek Civilizations,” held on September 18, 2025, vividly demonstrated the unique value of the CSCSA as the first high-level research institution on classical civilizations established overseas by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). Lina Mendoni, the Greek Minister of Culture, attended the dialogue and delivered a speech, emphasizing that the establishment of the CSCSA represents a landmark event in the history of bilateral exchanges. between the two countries. Committed to advancing dialogue among civilizations, the Institute continues to inject new vitality into cultural cooperation between China and Greece. 

The event brought together over 200 experts and scholars from China, Greece, and around the world. Centered on two major themes—“Dialogue Between Ancient Philosophers: Diverse Civilizations, Inclusiveness, and Mutual Learning” and “Dialogue Between Ancient and Modern Thought: Inheritance, Innovation, and Civilizational Progress”—participants engaged in in-depth comparative discussions on ethics, political governance, social order, views of nature, and cultural innovation, spanning intellectual traditions from Confucius, Mencius, Legalist and Daoist thinkers to Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

Through the exchanges of ideas, Chinese and international scholars have reached a significant consensus, vividly reflecting the cross-temporal resonance of the thoughts of ancient philosophers from over two thousand years ago. Elena Avramidou, Executive Director of the Hellenic Sinology Center of the Ionian University, noted: “Despite their distinct cultural environments, Confucius and Socrates demonstrate a striking resonance in their views on ethical cultivation, virtue, and education.”  Stelios Virvidakis, Secretary-General of the Center of Chinese and Greek Ancient Civilizations and Professor at NKUA, remarked, “While Chinese and Greek philosophies operate within different conceptual systems, their commonalities in ethics, virtue, and life practices provide essential reference for contemporary civilizational dialogue.”

Beyond academic activities, the CSCSA has brought civilizational dialogue into the public sphere through thematic exhibitions and book fairs, such as “East-West Dialogue, Beauty in Harmony” and “Opening the Gates to Dialogue Between East and West.” Through a cross-temporal narrative, the exhibition places over 5,000 years of continuous Chinese civilization and Greek civilization—from the Cycladic period to the Byzantine era—on a single timeline, painting a historical panorama in which East and West illuminate each other. 

3D-printed replicas of artifacts from Lady Fu Hao’s tomb at the Yin Ruins, the latest archaeological discoveries from the Sanxingdui site, and displays of iconic bronzes allow visitors to experience up close the spiritual world and social structures of early civilizations. Through spatial storytelling and immersive scene reconstructions, these once silent artifacts are “reawakened.” As Li Xinwei observed, the significance of these exhibitions goes beyond mere display: they serve as a catalyst for audiences to perceive the deep resonances between cultures and to draw contemporary inspiration from our shared ancient heritage.

“As two brilliant jewels of human civilization, Chinese and ancient Greek civilization have influenced and drawn upon each other throughout the long course of history, jointly forging a brilliant chapter in the annals of human progress,” Panagiotis Laskaridis, President of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, offered high praise for the exhibition.

Meanwhile, the Archaeology Library, an integral part of the CSCSA, continues to expand the depth and breadth of cultural exchange. Its collection of over 8,000 volumes spans a diverse range, including Chinese classics, Western classical literature, archaeological reports in Chinese and other languages, reference works, and studies on traditional fine Chinese culture. Supplemented by digital resource platforms such as the National Center for Philosophy and Social Sciences Documentation, the library not only offers researchers professional access to scholarly materials while providing reading services to the Greek public. This shared space of knowledge, shared by both academia and the public, allows more intellectual sparks to ignite in Athens and injects fresh vitality into the profound dialogue between Chinese and Western civilizations.

▲Foreign guests visit the exhibition “Opening the Gates to Dialogue Between East and West.” Photo by Yang Xue, Athens-based correspondent of CSST.

Answering the Questions of Our Time with the Wisdom of Classical Civilizations

“Classics is not merely the study of the ancient world; it is a crucial avenue for engaging with the pressing issues of contemporary civilization.” This has been Li Xinwei’s profound insight over the past year. Through a series of high-level academic initiatives, the CSCSA has turned millennia-old wisdom into a “key” for addressing modern challenges—ranging from cultural identity and global governance to historical understanding. By fostering a dialogue between past and present, the Institute showcases the enduring relevance and vitality of civilization in today’s world.

On April 7, 2025, the International Conference on Epic Studies, jointly organized by the Institute of Ethnic Literature of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the CSCSA, was held in Athens. More than 80 scholars from China and abroad gathered to engage in in-depth discussions under the theme “Epic Traditions and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations.” A key outcome of the conference was the broad consensus reached on “expanding the conceptual boundaries of the epic,” offering a new perspective—one grounded in diverse civilizational narratives—in response to the contemporary question of how to foster cultural inclusivity.

Chinese scholars noted that, guided by a grand view of literature, the Chinese academic community has brought to light a rich corpus of ethnic epics, including Gesar, Manas, and Jangar. These discoveries decisively challenge the long-standing, one-sided assertion that “China lacks an epic tradition,” demonstrating instead that epic poetry is not the preserve of Western civilization but a shared cultural heritage of humanity across diverse civilizations.

This perspective was further substantiated by the research of Ioannis Konstantakos, Professor of Ancient Greek Literature at NKUA. He observed that while epics from different civilizations often share the narrative framework of heroic adventure, they evolve distinct modes of expression. This, he argued, reveals that the essence of the epic lies in its function as a carrier of civilizational memory, rather than as a label belonging to any single culture. After listening to live performances of epic excerpts presented by Kyrgyz and Zhuang scholars, Professor Konstantakos reflected that the overwhelming sense of grandeur and emotional intensity once again affirmed a fundamental truth: the power of the epic transcends language and geography, and—like civilization itself—derives renewed vitality through exchange.

While the International Conference on Epic Studies addressed issues of cultural identity by expanding the concept of the epic, the international symposium on Human Rights Wisdom in Classical Civilizations, held on June 26, 2025, sought diverse approaches to global human rights governance by returning to the shared foundations of Eastern and Western classical civilizations. Prokopis Pavlopoulos, Member of the Academy of Athens and former President of Greece, observed that the wisdom of ancient Greek and Chinese thinkers offers profound inspiration for contemporary discussions on human rights. In his view, a solid foundation for the protection of human rights can be established only by tracing back to the classical origins of different civilizations and drawing upon the insights of ancient sages.

This perspective not only echoes the growing consensus that “human rights concepts originate from multiple civilizations,” but also offers a clear pathway for contemporary global human rights governance—one grounded in “learning from the past and promoting mutual learning among civilizations.” Moving beyond a single narrative and distilling shared values from the classical wisdom of both East and West, is precisely the key to addressing the challenges facing human rights governance today.

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and to showcase the latest progress of Chinese academia in the field of WWII history, a new book launch and international academic symposium were held at the CSCSA on August 28, 2025. The launch of the English edition of A New History of World War II and the international symposium titled “Rebirth from the Ashes: Civilization and War” were held at the CSCSA. Chinese and foreign scholars engaged in deep discussions regarding the intricate relationships between war, civilization, and order, revitalizing historical wisdom through the “collision of ideas.” 

The significance of this event extended far beyond that of a conventional book launch. By reconstructing historical narratives, it reaffirmed the historical position of the Chinese theatre in the World Anti-Fascist War and, from a global civilizational perspective, offered a timely reminder to the contemporary world: only by acknowledging the shared sacrifices and contributions of all nations in the anti-fascist struggle can humanity truly learn from history and forge broader consensus.

In the wake of the event, reports in Greek media prompted faculty members and students from the University of Crete to proactively contact the CSCSA to acquire the book. This academic pursuit, transcending both language and geography, stands as a vivid testament to the commitment to safeguarding civilization and remaining engaged with the issues of our time.

From humanity’s earliest oral traditions to modern reflections on rights, peace, and ethics; from the historical traumas embedded in shared memory to forward-looking visions of global governance, these enduring, cross-temporal questions converge on a single objective: to bring the wisdom of ancient civilizations into dialogue with contemporary challenges, and to transform accumulated historical legacies into intellectual resources for exchange, dialogue, and cooperation in today’s world.

 Throughout this process, the CSCSA has collaborated closely with multiple institutions of the CASS—including the Institute of Ethnic Literature, the Institute of Law, the Institute of International Law, and the Institute of World History—to jointly stage a series of academic events with the goal of forming interdisciplinary, cross-sector research synergy.

Such a collaborative mechanism reflects CASS’s overarching strategy of integrated planning and coordinated development. It establishes the CSCSA as a vital platform for conducting organized scientific research under the leadership of CASS, enabling a collective debut on the cutting edge of global scholarship.

Looking back on the past year, the CSCSA, guided by the vision of “rooted in Athens and engaging the world,” has left solid and lasting footprints along the path of dialogue between antiquity and modernity, as well as mutual learning among civilizations. From fostering intellectual resonance to building coherent frameworks, and from in-depth archaeological research to the deepening of international dialogue, the CSCSA has translated the “Three Consensuses” of the CASS into concrete action. In doing so, it demonstrates the cultural responsibility embedded in the China solution and contributes a distinctive scholarly chapter to the Global Civilization Initiative.

Today’s Athens not only bears witness to the brilliance of ancient Greek civilization, but also to the confident and open engagement of Chinese scholars on the global academic stage. The CSCSA explores more than just the origins of human civilization; it seeks the very direction of its future development. At this new historical juncture, the CSCSA will continue to build bridges of mutual learning among civilizations and forge bonds through rigorous scholarship. It seeks to draft an even more magnificent “Chinese Chapter” on the map of world classical studies, contributing fresh wisdom and strength to the flourishing and advancement of human civilization.