On October 13, 2023, the book launch for the Festschrift for the Eightieth Birthday of Professor Nienhauser (The Festschrift) was held at the Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology of Hong Kong Baptist University (the Academy). The Festschrift was jointly compiled by NJU School of Liberal Arts of Nanjing University and the Jao Tsung-I Academy, and is published by NJU Press. In The Festschrift are found twenty-one essays by former students, colleagues, and friends of Professor Nienhauser that have been inspired by the broadness of his scholarly influence. The editors-in-chief are Professor Xu Xingwu, Dean of NJU Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, and Professor Chen Zhi, President of Hong Kong Chu Hai College and Director of the Academy.

NJU representatives attending the ceremony included Chen Donghua, Director of the Office of Humanities and Social Sciences, Wang Wenjun, President of NJU Press, and Xu Xingwu. Moreover, more than 30 former students and long-time friends of Professor Nienhauser from institutions such as the University of Chicago, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, and the Lingnan University, Hong Kong gathered to extend their warm congratulations on the book launch and Professor Nienhauser’s 80th birthday.

     Professor Nienhauser delivered a speech at the book launch ceremony.

Professor William H. Nienhauser, a renowned master sinologist, Halls-Bascom Chair Professor of Classical Chinese Literature, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, attended the ceremony in person. His expertise covers many fields and includes translation and research on The Grand Scribe’s Records and research into poetic songs and legends of the Tang dynasty as well as ancient novels. He has been awarded the Humboldt Foundation Prize for lifetime achievement.

Between 2016 and 2019, Professor Nienhauser conducted workshops focused on the English translation of The Grand Scribe’s Records at NJU School of Liberal Arts. Currently, a substantial portion of the translation work for The Grand Scribe’s Records, including the Basic Annals (本纪), the Hereditary Houses (世家), and the Biographies (列传), was successfully completed. In May 2019, eight volumes of the English translation of The Grand Scribe’s Records were jointly published by NJU Press and Indiana University Press. In December 2020, Professor Nienhauser was awarded the 14th Special Book Award of China by the National Press and Publication Administration of China, the highest accolade awarded in the field of book publishing.

During the ceremony, Professor Nienhauser conveyed his deep gratitude to NJU for its unwavering support throughout his academic career. He offered special thanks to NJU Press for its relentless dedication to the publication of the English version of The Grand Scribe’s Records. He expressed a profound sense of appreciation for the university’s commitment to this important scholarly endeavor.

Professors Professor Xu Xingwu and Chen Zhi presented The Festschrift to Professor Nienhauser.

Director Chen Donghua presented to Professor Nienhauser The Catalogue of Rare and Antiquarian Books of Nanjing University.

President Wang Wenjun presented the 14th Special Book Award of China to Professor Nienhauser.

Following the book launch ceremony, Professor Nienhauser delivered a lecture on his experiences of teaching The Analects of Confucius, and had in-depth discussions and exchanges with the attendees on various aspects of Chinese traditional culture.

The upcoming volumes of the English translation of The Grand Scribe’s Records will be systematically published over the next few years. Specifically, two volumes are scheduled for publication in November 2023.

Source: NJU Press

Photo Credit: Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology of Hong Kong Baptist University

Editor: Guo Ankang