“Classical civilizations shine like a constellation of stars, continually nourishing and inspiring later generations.” On November 7, 2024, the First World Conference of Classics was held in Beijing. In his congratulatory letter to the conference, President Xi Jinping noted: “It is hoped that experts and scholars will shoulder the mission of classical studies and make greater contributions to promoting the inheritance and development of civilizations and to advancing exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.”

The earnest instructions are plainly expressed yet far-reaching in meaning; the heartfelt expectations are powerfully motivating. Over the past year, guided and inspired by the spirit of the congratulatory letter, China’s classical studies community has pressed forward with determination — taking the classics as their vessel and ideas as their oars — conducting rigorous inquiry across the vast ocean of classical civilizations and pursuing sustained, in-depth scholarship. Notable progress has been achieved in disciplinary development, academic research, international exchange, and talent cultivation, delivering a year of fruitful achievements and demonstrating strong vitality and boundless potential.

01 Classical Studies Enters a New Stage of “Organized Advancement”

President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory letter elevated classical studies to the level of civilizational inheritance and development, as well as exchange and mutual learning among civilizations, endowing the field with renewed contemporary significance. The letter noted: “More than two thousand years ago, the two great civilizations of China and Greece shone in mutual brilliance at opposite ends of the Eurasian continent, making foundational contributions to the evolution of human civilization.” This insight profoundly underscores the enduring value of classical civilizations as a shared spiritual heritage of humanity and their intellectual resources for addressing modern challenges and guiding the future course of civilization.

With the mission firmly in mind, action followed swiftly. Just 20 days after the close of the First World Conference of Classics, the seeds of Chinese research on classical civilization were sown on the shores of the Aegean Sea: the Chinese School of Classical Studies at Athens (CSCSA), the first institution for classical civilization studies established in Greece by an Asian country, was officially inaugurated. This landmark event stands as a vivid example of the Chinese classical studies community putting into practice the spirit of the congratulatory letter and deepening research on classical civilizations. Over the past year, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has mobilized academy-wide resources to develop the CSCSA, working together with scholars from other countries to trace the intellectual origins of humanity and explore the traditions of human civilization, and striving to promote the creative transformation and innovative development of classical civilizations in the contemporary world.

“Guided by the spirit of the congratulatory letter, we need to strengthen research on Greek and Roman classical studies as well as on other world civilizations, advocate the concept of ‘world classical studies’, broaden the comparative perspective on world civilizations, and enhance Chinese scholars’ voice in global academia, so as to provide theoretical support for exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations worldwide,” said Li Xinwei, Director of the CSCSA, voicing the shared aspiration of colleagues in the academic community.

The spirit of the congratulatory letter has been swiftly translated into strong momentum for advancing disciplinary development. Within China, research capacity in classical studies has been rapidly consolidated, with an increasingly evident shift from a “spontaneous movement” to “organized advancement”.

Institutional development has achieved important breakthroughs. Sichuan University took the lead in establishing China’s first Department of Classics, explicitly setting the goal of cultivating scholars well-versed in Chinese and Western learning as stewards of civilization. The Center for Classical Studies at Sun Yat-sen University has been approved as a Guangdong Provincial Social Science Research Base, strengthening the foundations for regional research. Peking University has continued to deepen its Classical Philology Program, effectively breaking down barriers among departments such as literature, history, philosophy, archaeology, and foreign languages, and enabling the sharing of high-quality faculty and curricular resources. Research bodies such as the Center for Classical Civilizations at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) have likewise regained new momentum.

Support for research has reached an unprecedented level. In 2025, within the application framework and disciplinary classification of the National Social Science Fund of China, “Classical Studies” was for the first time listed as a first-level discipline, with “classical studies research” and “the origins of classical civilizations” explicitly designated as priority directions. The funding program of the CASS for “unique and endangered fields” and less-studied disciplines has also included “Classical Studies” among its ten supported project areas, providing solid backing for systematic and cutting-edge research.

A wealth of academic achievements has continued to emerge. He Fangying, Director of the CASS Center for Classical Civilizations and Secretary-General of the Classical Studies Section of the Chinese Society of Foreign Literature, explained that in order to implement the spirit of the congratulatory letter, they have established an academic framework guided by the principle of “rooted in China, integrating ancient and modern”. Researchers have shown strong enthusiasm, and team-building efforts have been fruitful. Two major book series — “Ancient and Modern Collections” and “Research in Classics” — have already published 14 authored and translated volumes, with research showing encouraging progress on multiple fronts. The recently released On the Fundamentals of Classical Hindu Civilization (Yindu Gudian Wenming Yuanlun) by China Social Sciences Press reflects Chinese scholars’ commitment to and concern for all classical civilizations of humanity.

Platforms for academic exchange have become increasingly diverse. The Center of Chinese and Greek Ancient Civilizations is committed to building a landmark “Civilizational Mutual Learning Library”, comprising three major serial publications — Civilizational Mutual Learning, Civilizational Mutual Learning Development Report, and Hellenic Studies — along with a major book series. Cui Yanqiang, Director of the Center and former Vice President of Southwest University, noted that encouraging progress has been made in recent academic discussions on such topics as classical studies and the contemporary world, the reconstruction of classical studies from the perspective of civilizational mutual learning, and the development of the “three major systems” of Chinese classical studies.

Research paradigms are developing distinctive features. From Hongshan culture and the Liangzhu archaeological site to the formation of a unified tianxia-style state, and from the oracle-bone inscriptions of Yinxu and Zhouyuan to enduring transmitted texts, Chinese scholars are moving beyond the former “Age of Doubting Antiquity” and demonstrating a characteristically Chinese approach to classical studies that integrates multiple disciplines, including archaeology, paleography, and classical textual studies. He Jin, Chair of the Department of History at Peking University, noted that research on classical civilizations represents both a careful “examination of the past” and a “restless quest for truth” across early human history, politics, thought, and technology; it is an indispensable contemporary resonance of classical civilization and carries profound academic significance.

▲ At the Classical Studies Research Achievements Exhibition, a naked-eye 3D giant screen at the entrance of the exhibition hall continuously showcases visuals featuring Chinese and Greek elements. Photo by Lü Jiazuo, staff reporter.

02 Civilizational Exchange and Dialogue Continue to Deepen and Expand

President Xi Jinping has emphasized the need to “promote the inheritance and development of civilizations, strengthen international people-to-people and cultural exchanges, advance global civilizational dialogue, and seek wisdom and draw nourishment from different civilizations”. Over the past year, China’s classical studies community has engaged the world with greater openness and confidence, building increasingly close exchanges and cooperation with international counterparts and steadily elevating the level of exchanges and cooperation.

Actively expanding the academic “circle of partners”. The CSCSA has, in its first year since establishment, conducted fieldwork across seven regions of Greece and at more than 50 sites, covering civilizational remains from the prehistoric period through the Hellenistic age. It has established stable cooperative relationships with institutions such as the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and maintains close ties with leading authorities including the Academy of Athens and the National Archaeological Museum, Greece, as well as with classical civilization research institutes from various countries based in Greece.

The spark of classical studies has also been kindled among younger scholars. In August this year, 18 undergraduate students from the Classical Studies program of Peking University traveled to the Dunhuang Academy for a study visit and field investigation. There they not only observed firsthand the historical interaction, exchange, and integration among northern ethnic groups in ancient China, but also gained a vivid appreciation of the encounters and mutual learning between Chinese civilization and Indian, Persian, Arab, and Roman civilizations. According to Li Silong, Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Peking University, over the past year the university has established the Xinjiang Belt and Road Research Institute, while the Classical Philology Program has been refining its academic framework. The newly published 10th volume of Peking University Classical Studies clearly demonstrates young students’ deep understanding of classical studies.

Visits by international scholars have become increasingly frequent, and willingness to cooperate has grown markedly. Over the past year, Melina Tamiolaki, Vice Rector of the University of Crete and Professor of Ancient Greek Literature, visited a number of Chinese universities — including Tsinghua University, Beijing Foreign Studies University, and Shanghai International Studies University — to conduct in-depth exchanges on the teaching, translation, and cultural transmission of Ancient Greek literature and to explore future cooperation. “In China, there are so many highly capable students choosing to study Greek and classical studies — their enthusiasm and academic ability are truly impressive.” Tamiolaki was deeply struck. She observed that a growing number of young Chinese seek to understand the modern world through the study of ancient civilizations and to bring this cross-cultural perspective into fields such as diplomacy, education, and international exchange.

From the International Conference on Epic Studies to the China-Greece Dialogue on Exchange and Mutual Learning of Civilizations, from the international symposium on “Human Rights Wisdom in Classical Civilizations” to the international academic conference on “Rebirth from the Ashes: Civilization and War”, a series of high-level, high-quality academic events has effectively advanced the internationalization of classical studies research in China and contributed Chinese insights to the global development of classical studies.

“The true strength of civilization lies in exchange and understanding, not in superiority or exclusion,” said Christos Tsagalis, Professor of Ancient Greek Literature at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He noted that strengthening research on classical civilizations requires a comparative perspective — one that recognizes the distinctive achievements of different civilizations and, through mutual respect and dialogue, rediscovers the shared wisdom of humanity.

03 Expanding the Boundaries of Classical Studies and Highlighting Its Contemporary Value

Over the past year, under the guidance of the spirit of President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory letter, China’s classical studies community has undertaken in-depth reflection and active exploration of the discipline itself. New consensus has emerged on redefining the scope and conceptual boundaries of classical studies and on highlighting its contemporary relevance, revealing new trends in the field.

The discipline’s connotations and scope have expanded significantly. “At present, classical studies research in China has achieved new breakthroughs in both its substantive focus and its outer boundaries, shifting from the traditional concentration on ancient Greek and Roman studies toward all civilizations that possess enduring canonical texts and have played a foundational role in shaping humanity’s modes of thought,” said He Fangying. Cui Yanqiang likewise noted that redefining classical studies, advancing its modern transformation, highlighting its contemporary value, and deepening the mutual translation of classical texts and interdisciplinary research have become central focal points in the development of the field.

Li Silong believes that Chinese civilization itself possesses a rich and invaluable classical tradition, and that it is essential to gain a deep grasp of its core ancient canonical texts while reorganizing a system of Chinese civilizational classics suited to the demands of the new era. At the same time, reexamining China’s relationship with the world from a world-historical perspective opens new disciplinary horizons and value orientations for the study of traditional culture, which is of vital importance in the age of globalization.

Research is increasingly oriented toward civilizational inheritance and the cultivation of character. Chen Yun, Professor in the Department of Philosophy at East China Normal University, noted, “Classical civilizations have given rise to great exemplars of human character, whose existence set the heart-mind for Heaven and Earth and set the highest standard for humanity.” The most important way to study classical civilizations, he argues, is to reactivate their representative texts so that they become constitutive elements of our present-day consciousness. The primary task of classical studies research and education is therefore to cultivate bearers of civilization — individuals committed above all to carrying civilization forward and opening up new horizons.

This view has resonated with international scholars. Ioannis Konstantakos, Professor of Ancient Greek Literature at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, argues that true classics are not static inheritances, but living sources of thought that remain in continual dialogue with present realities. The vitality of classical texts lies in ongoing reinterpretation: different civilizations and historical periods reinterpret ancient classics in light of their own contexts, thereby renewing their vitality.

The pathways for disciplinary development are becoming increasingly clear. In the view of Lou Lin, Associate Professor in the Classical Studies Teaching and Research Section of the School of Liberal Arts at Renmin University of China, classical studies embody the self-awareness of Chinese civilization and are closely connected with national development and the cultural future. The foremost task for the academic community remains the consolidation of foundational scholarship. On the one hand, this means providing in-depth interpretation of traditional Chinese canonical thought and promoting both its dissemination and research; on the other hand, it requires advancing Western classical studies and producing high-quality translations and research outputs. At the same time, special attention should be given to showcasing new developments and achievements in Chinese classical studies. Li Changchun, Vice Chair of the Classical Studies Committee of the Chinese Comparative Literature Association and Associate Professor at Sun Yat-sen University, noted that expanding traditional “Western classical studies” into “world classical studies” and bringing to light the classical wisdom of major civilizations can help address a wide range of challenges facing human society and tackle the fundamental problems of the modern world.

As contemporary Chinese scholars and inheritors of Chinese civilization reflect on the essential characteristics of classical studies, particular care must be taken to distinguish between the “classical” and the merely “ancient”. Gu Zhiying, Assistant Research Fellow in the Division of Classics of the Institute of Foreign Literature at CASS, noted that a distinctly Chinese approach to classical studies should pursue elevated values and character and be oriented toward transcendent aims. Its fundamental baseline, he argues, should be to oppose nihilism when confronting questions of value, ethics, order, and tradition.

At present, an important emerging direction in classical studies is to break through traditional disciplinary boundaries. Rather than remaining confined to fields such as literature, history, and archaeology, researchers are increasingly focusing on broader cultural phenomena and developmental trends, especially those closely connected with the contemporary world. Tsagalis pointed out that placing certain modern social phenomena within the broader context of ancient civilizations for comparative analysis may yield more engaging and intellectually illuminating results.

▲ High-level, high-quality academic events have strongly advanced the internationalization of classical studies research in China. Pictured is the symposium titled “Open the Door of Mutual Learning between Eastern and Western Civilizations”. Photo by Yang Xue, Athens-based special correspondent of this newspaper.

04 Charting a Broad Future for Classical Studies

President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory letter and the convening of the First World Conference of Classics mark a new starting point for deepening classical studies research. Looking ahead, scholars believe that the field still has vast room for further expansion and holds highly promising prospects.

Tracing the roots of civilization and providing a holistic perspective. Chen Yun argues that we are still living along the extended continuum of classical civilizations. The significance of studying classical civilizations lies in offering a holistic civilizational perspective; exploring classical civilizations is, in essence, a homeward journey of cultural self-discovery for humanity as a form of cultural life.

Strengthening disciplinary foundations and forging core consensus. Lou Lin argues that classical studies is not simply the study of “antiquity” as such. If a basic scholarly consensus can be reached regarding those canonical works that played foundational roles in the formation and development of civilizations, it would powerfully advance the discipline — and this should be a key direction for future efforts.

Consolidating linguistic foundations and strengthening talent cultivation. Véronique Chankowski, Director of the French School at Athens and a historian, believes that the future of classical studies depends to a certain extent on reinforcing foundational language education. Mastery of ancient languages such as Ancient Greek and Latin is essential to understanding civilization at its roots. She recommends introducing the teaching of ancient languages at the secondary-school level to lay a solid foundation for more advanced study in higher education.

Educational initiatives have quietly taken shape. The university-wide general education course “An Introduction to Classical Studies”, newly launched at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, has been well received by both faculty and students. The Department of Classics at Sichuan University is promoting disciplinary development with a focus on the intellectual interpretation of the foundational canons of China and the West — namely, the Pre-Qin and Qin–Han classics and the classical Greek and Roman texts — supported by classical philology and the history of classical civilizations. It is moving forward in a coordinated way with textbook development, teaching reform, and research planning, with the first batch of classical studies textbooks and research series scheduled for publication in 2025 and 2026. “Guided by the educational philosophy of integrated learning across ancient and modern, Chinese and Western traditions, we adhere to both specialized training in classical studies and general education. Practice has shown this to be an effective path,” said Liu Juan, Associate Director of the Department of Classics at Sichuan University. Looking ahead, Li Changchun envisions, “The future of classical studies in China will be sustained by a cohort of researchers in classical civilization who have received professional training in classical studies, combining a deep commitment to their country and culture with a global outlook — high-level talents equipped with competence in classical philology, a world-historical perspective on civilizations, the ability to interpret canonical texts, and strong theoretical research capacity.”

Looking back over the past year, the broad community of researchers has steadily upheld a classical scholarly outlook of “upholding what is correct without being bound by the old, and honoring the past without mechanically restoring it.” Adhering to principles of openness and pluralism in disciplinary development, they have continuously innovated the knowledge system of classical studies through integration, cross-fertilization, and synthesis across fields and traditions. Looking ahead, China’s classical studies community will continue to follow the spirit of President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory letter, hold high the blazing torch of classical civilization, and enable the light of civilization across time and space to shine with even greater brilliance through mutual illumination — casting clearer light on history and more powerfully illuminating humanity’s shared and promising future.