Dr. Tang Jun attended the first comparative philology symposium held by International Cultural Exchange School of Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) from June 6th to 8th, 2014. At the Symposium, experts from many universities assembled and discussed on topics of interest.
Experts at the symposium indicated that in the current academic field, comparative philology remains a subject area which has not drawn enough attention but has great potential for further researches and studies. The impetus shall be added to its development of the incorporation of diverse lettering variables and abundant materials of multinational languages in China. The contemporary research on comparative philology has been highly praised and supported by Professor Huang Dekuan, the President of China Philology Association and Party Secretary of Anhui University, and it should secure more support from and participation of related scholars and organizations; the special issue on comparative philology, the fifth volume of West China Journal of Literature compiled by our School is considered as an important contribution to comparative philology.
The symposium decided the following should be rolled across in the field of comparative philology:
1. Chinese Language and Literature Research Institution of Southwest University would sponsor the establishment of the editorial committee of the Comparative Philology Series, focusing on the composition, edition, translation and publication of 3-5 comparative philology monographs, and Dr. Tang would be in charge of the edition of Sound Research Monograph;
2. Experts shall be appointed and tasks assigned to them to prepare for the establishment of comparative philology columns on Chinese and western CSSCI periodicals and to publish the fruits of comparative philology in academic field in favor of the subject promotion;
3. We should liaise with the foreign experts specializing in the researches on various lettering types, develop and maintain communication channels to effectively promote the internalization of comparative philology researches, and pay attention to the results of related studies on overseas lettering conducted by domestic academia;
4. We would integrate and coordinate the efforts of researchers from universities around the country by holding academic activities at regular intervals and developing students in the field;
It is decided that the details of related work would be mapped out in the PhD student forum of comparative philology to be held at the beginning of November this year in Southwest University; it is unanimously agreed that this symposium have achieved remarkable results; it is hoped that the next comparative philology symposium would be held in Chinese Marine University would be more fruitful.