Brief Introduction of Institute of Modern Chinese Thought and Culture Research of East China Normal University

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第 1 页 Brief Introduction of Institute of Modern Chinese Thought and Culture Research of East China Normal University

The Modern Chinese Thought and Culture Institute of East China Normal University

(1) Brief Introduction

The Modern Chinese Thought and Culture Institute of East China Normal University was founded in October 1999 under the collaborative support form departments of Philosophy, Chinese Literature and History at the University. It seeks to develop interdisciplinary studies on thoughts and culture in modern and contemporary China as well as on China's modernization. Its research especially focuses on the history of Marxism in China, and the relations among Marxism, other intellectual traditions and Chinese culture. Research fellows in the institute are the best faculties of the university, specializing in Chinese philosophy, the history of modern China, and Chinese literature. Among the fulltime researchers, 73% are younger than 50 years old, 53% held a PhD degree, 77% of them have the rank of professor, and 50% have studied or visited in foreign academic institutions.
Through various programs and activities, including studying oversea, exchanging scholars, inviting guest lectures, and participating international conferences, the institute has actively promoted scholarly communications with overseas institutes. Visiting scholars come to lecture and study in the institute from wide range of countries and regions, such as America, Canada, Germany, Britain, Belgium, Holland, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao. Among them are internationally acclaimed scholars including Prof. Griffin from Oxford University, Prof. Gunnar Skirbekk from the University of Bergen in Norway, and Prof. Thomas A. Metzger from Stanford University.

（2） Administrative Structure

The Director of the Institute is Prof. Yang Guorong. Born in Shanghai in October 1957, Prof. Yang obtained his PHD in 1998 and was promoted as Professor in 1991 and then Doctorial Advisor in 1994. From 1998 to 2000, he was the chair of the Philosophy Department at ECNU. Prof. Yang was visiting scholar at Oxford University (1994-1995) and Harvard University (1999-2000). He is now Professor of the Philosophy Department at ECNU, guest Professor of the Philosophy Department at Wuhan University, and also serves on the Academic Evaluating committee of the State Council, the International Union of Confucianism, Commissioner of the Confucius Fund, the Chinese Philosophy Committee under Shanghai Philosophy Academy. In addition to 100-odd papers, more than ten books of Prof. Yang have been circulated both at home and abroad, including A Systemic Study on Wang Yangming and His Disciples 王学通论（Shanghai, 1990; Seoul, 1994; Taibei, 1997）,New Exposition on Mencius 孟子新论( Taibei, 1993), The Good as an Unfold Process: The Development of Confucian Value-system and Its Transformation in Modern Times 善的历程：儒家价值体系的历史衍化及其现代转换（Shanghai,1994; Taibei,1996）,Positivism with Modern Chinese Philosophy 实证主义与中国近代哲学（Taibei,1995; Beijing, 1996）, Treatise on Wang Yangming's Philosophy 心学之思（ Beiing,1997; Taibei, 1999）, Reason versus Value 理性与价值 (Shanghai,1998), Thinking of Being 面向存在之思 (Taibei, 1998; Shengyan, 2000), The Metaphysical Dimension of Science: The Formation and Transformation of Scientism in Modern China 科学的形上之维：中国近代科学主义的形成与衍化( Shanghai,1999), Thinking in History 史与思( Hangzhou, 1999), Ethics and Existence: Treatise on Moral Philosophy 伦理与存在:道德哲学研究 (Shanghai, 2001; Taibei, 2002).

The Institute consists of five research divisions, respectively specializing on the History of Modern Chinese Thoughts, the Academic History in Modern China, the Cultural Construction in Contemporary China, Urban Culture, International Communications of Thoughts and Cultures, and a Information Center of Modern China's Thoughts and Culture.
The head of the division of the History of Modern Chinese Thoughts is Prof. Gao Ruiquan who is Professor and Doctorial Advisor in the Philosophy Department at ECNU. He gave lectures in the Chinese University of Hong Kong (1994) and was visiting scholar in University of Bergen (1997) and Stanford University (1999). His major publications include: (1) Social Thoughts in Modern China 中国近代社会思潮, ECNU Publishing House, Shanghai, 1996; (2) The Geist Tradition of Modern China 中国现代精神传统, Oriental Publishing Center, Shanghai, 1999; (3) "On the Methodical Principles in the Study on Social Thoughts of Modern China ", Academic Journal, Vol. 1, 1996; (4) " On 'Progress' and History: Reflection on Key Ideas of Modernity", Philosophy Study, Vol. 6, 1998; (5) "Understanding the Mainstream of National Spirits: Feng Qi's Study on the History of Modern Chinese Philosophy", Philosophy Study, Vol. 4, 1996.
Prof. Hu Xiaoming serves as the head of the division of the Academic History in Modern China.
The head of division of the Academic History in Modern China is Prof. Li Xunchang.
The division of Urban Culture is supervised by Prof. Xu Jilin. Research fellows include Prof. Zhang Xudong (Zijang Guest Chair professor at ECNU, Associate Professor in East Asia Department at New York University), Luo Gang (Associate Professor in Chinese Department at ECNU), Ni Wenjian ( Associate Professor in Chinese Department at ECNU), Mao Jian ( Associate Professor in International College of Chinese Studies at ECNU).
Tong Shijun is the head of the division of International Communications of Thoughts and Cultures. He is Professor in Philosophy Department and Doctorial Advisor in History Department at ECNU. His major publication are: (1)Epistemology and Methodology in the Post-Hegelian European Philosophy of 19th Century, Bergen, 1996; (2) Zhao Xiuyi, Tong Shijun: Western Philosophies in the times of Marx and Engle 马克思恩格斯同时代的西方哲学; (3) The Dialectics of Modernization: Habermas and the Chinese Discourse of Modernization, Wild Peony Pty Ltd, Sydney, 2000; (4) Philosophy Beyond Borders: Collected Works of Norway Philosophy, Zhejiang People Publishing House, Hangzhou, 1999. ( one of editors -in -chief for the English version and translator-in-chief for the Chinese version); (4) J. Habermas: Faktizit?t und Geltung, Sanlian Bookstore, Beijing, 2003. ( translator for the Chinese version). Research fellows of the division are Yu Zhenyua, Sheng Banghe, Zhao Xiuyi, Gu Weimin and Xiong Yuezhi.
Head of the Information Center of Modern China's Thoughts and Culture is Prof. Lin Zaiyong.

(3) Researchers in the Institute

Currently there are 13 fulltime and 20 guest research fellows working in the Institute.

Table 1: Information of Fulltime Research Fellows

Name Research Field Birth Date Academic Title
Yang Guorong History of Modern China's Thoughts October 1957 Professor, Doctorial Advisor
Gao Ruiquan History of Modern China's Thoughts June 1948 Professor, Doctorial Advisor
Tong Shijun History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture September 1958 Professor, Doctorial Advisor
Yu Zhenyua History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture October 1967 Professor
Hu Xiaoming History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture August 1955 Professor, Doctorial Advisor
Xia Zhongyi History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture November 1949 Associate Professor
Wang Jiafan History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture September 1939 Professor, Doctorial Advisor
Hu Fengxiang History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture February 1951 Associate Professor
Chen Weiping Cultural Construction in contemporary China June 1951 Professor, Doctorial Advisor
Chen Qinjian Cultural Construction in contemporary China March 1948 Professor, Doctorial Advisor
Sheng Banghe Cultural Construction in contemporary China August 1949 Professor, Doctorial Advisor
Li Xuechang Cultural Construction in contemporary China Feruary 1949 Professor
Lin Zaiyong Cultural Construction in contemporary China September 1965 Professor

Table 2: Information of Guest Research Fellows

Name Research Field Birth Date Academic Title Institution
Luo Gang History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture September 1967 Associate Professor Chinese Literature
Gu Weiming History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture December 1961 Professor History
Zhao Xiuyi Cultural Construction in contemporary China September 1938 Professor Philosophy
Yi Huili Cultural Construction in contemporary China May 1953 Associate Professor History
Xia Zhongyi History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture November 1949 Associate Professor Chinese Literature
Li Cunshan History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture May 1951 Editor-in-Chief China's Social Sciences Journal
Li Weiwu History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture February 1949 Professor Philosophy at Wuhan University
Yang Guoqiang History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture May 1948 Researcher History Institute of Shanghai Social Sciences Academy
Fu Jie History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture September 1961 Associate Professor Chinese Department in Fu Dan University
Zheng Jiadong History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture September 1956 Researcher Philosophy Institute of China's Social Sciences Academy
Xiong Yuezhi Cultural Construction in contemporary China December 1949 Researcher History Institute of Shanghai Social Sciences Academy
Li Zonggui Cultural Construction in contemporary China September 1952 Professor Philosophy Department of Zhongshan University
Xu Jilin Cultural Construction in contemporary China March 1957 Professor History
Yuan Jin Cultural Construction in contemporary China March 1951 Professor Chinese Department of Shanghai University
Thomas A.Metzger History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture 1933 Researcher Honored Stanford University
Christopher Harbsmeier History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture 1950 Professor Oslo University
Liu Shuxian History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture 1934 Lecture Professor Hong Kong Chinese University
Du Weiming History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture 1940 Professor Harvard University
Cheng Zhongying History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture 1935 Professor Hawaii University
Lik Kuen Tong History of Modern China's Thoughts & Culture 1935 Professor Fairfield University
Gunnar Skirbekk International Communication of Culture in Modern China 1937 Professor University of Bergen

(4) Publication
The Institute has its journal Thoughts and Culture.

(5) Research Projects
The Institute has been conducting many research projects. Major projects are listed in the following table.

Table 3
Name of the Project Character of the Project Person in Charge Financing (RMB) Scheduled Time for Completion
Chinese Philosophy in the 20th Century Ninth-Five Project supervised by China's Ministry of Education Yang Guorong 30,000 2001
China's Trend of Irrational Thoughts in the 20th Century Doctor- Bases Project supervised by China's Ministry of Education Gao Ruiquan 18,000 2000
Philosophy & Social Thoughts in Modern China Project supervised by Social Sciences Academy of Shanghai Gao Ruiquan 25,000 2000
Marxist Philosophy with the Philosophical and Cultural Traditions of China Project supervised by Social Sciences Academy of China Chen Weiping 29,000 2000
Review on China's Academic Studies in the last Century Project supervised by Social Sciences Academy of Shanghai Lin Zaiyong 20,000 2000
Trends and Schools in History Study in modern China Doctor- Bases Project supervised by China's Ministry of Education Hu Fengxiang 18,000 2000
Trend of Nationalism in Japan and China at the Turning Period of 20th Century Project supervised by Social Sciences Academy of China Sheng Banghe 39,000 2001
Legend of Zhongfeng Bird and Its Impact upon China's Thoughts, Culture & Arts Project supervised by Social Sciences Academy of China Chen Qinjian 22,000 2000
Folk Culture & Literature in the Region of Wu-Yue Ninth-Five Project supervised by China's Ministry of Education Chen Qinjian 22,000 2000
Ethical Modes in the Enterprise Culture of Baoshan Steel Co.Ltd. Ninth-Five Special Project supervised by China's Ministry of Education Cui Yimin 20,000 2000
China's Philosophy of Culture in the 20th Century Ninth-Five Project supervised by China's Ministry of Education Li Weiwu 18,000 2000
Psychological Study on China's Intellectual in the 20th Century Project supervised by Social Sciences Academy of Shanghai Xu Jilin 12,000 2000
Modern Transmission in China's Literature Project supervised by Social Sciences Academy of China Yuan Jin 30,000 2001
Basic Targets,Principles for Constructing Communist Culture with Chinese Characteristics Project supervised by Social Sciences Academy of China Li Zonggui 60,000 2001

（6）Academic tradition

The institute inherits a distinguishing academic tradition created by the some of most renowned scholars of the earlier generation in Chinese humanities, Feng Qi, Chen Xulu, Qian Gurong, and Wang Yuanhua among others. This tradition pursues interdisciplinary studies by integrating perspectives informed by philosophy, history and literature.

Professor Feng Qi (馮契), an initiator of the Philosophy Department at the University,
was a disciple of Jin Yuelin (金岳霖), an outstanding philosopher of the Qinhua School. Feng was remarkable in the articulation of this interdisciplinary tradition in his historical study of Chinese philosophy. His solid logical analyses and sophisticated theoretical thinking have been reflected in his influential works such as The Logical Development of Ancient Chinese Philosophy and The Revolutionary Progress of Modern Chinese Philosophy. He summarized his own approach in this way: Philosophy is the synthesis of the history of philosophy, while the history of philosophy is the unfolding of philosophy. Similarly, late Prof. Chen Xulu in history also followed the principle of uniting philosophy and history in his honorable works The Process of Metabolism in the Society of Modern China. In addition, the interdisciplinary perspective combining literature philosophy has been also well embodied in the study of Prof. Qian Gurong and Prof. Wang Yuanhua.

(7) Research Achievements

Since 1996, researchers of the Institute have made significant contributions to the development of Chinese humanities. Nearly 30 books have been published by the Sanlian Book Press, the Shanghai People's Publishing House and other reputable presses. About 10 of these works have been circulated internationally and some translated into foreign languages. More than 100 papers have been published in China's Social Sciences and other major academic journals. Many have been widely cited and highly evaluated in the academic circle, including Positivism with Modern Chinese Philosophy, Inner Logic in the Formation of the Thoughts Trend of Evolutionism in Modern China, Critical Exposition on the History of New Confucianism, Thought Trends in Modern China, The Metaphysical Dimension of Science: The Formation and Transformation of Scientism in Modern China, The Geist Tradition of Modern China，Christianism and the Society in Modern China, East Asia: Pilgrimage toward Modern Times and The Transition of the Rural Regions in Changshu in the 20th Century, just to name a few. More details of some works are following:

I Wang Jiafan: Upset in One Hundred Years & Returning after One Thousand Years 百年颠沛与千年往复, Shanghai Yuandong Press, Shanghai, 2001
Focusing on the issue of modernization in the last century in China, the book explores how a nationality with its splendid civilization have been so pressed, bewildered and rough in his road to modernization.

II Wang Jiafan: On Chinese History 中国历史通论，East China Normal University Press , 2000.
By studying the integration of social groups in the process of historical transformation, this works demonstrates quite a few insights on the history of ancient Chinese civilization.

III Eds. Li Xuchang: The Transition of the Rural Regions in Nanhui in the 20th Century 20世纪南汇农村社会变迁, ECNU Press, Shanghai,2001.
As the second book of "the series on the transition of rural regions in Jiangshu, Zhengjian and Shanghai", this works is an achievement in light of the methodological method of historic- social study.

IV Yang Guorong: Ethics and Existence: An Treatise on Moral Philosophy, Shanghai People Publishing House, 2002.
This book explores the metaphysical foundation, rather than specific issues, of morality. More philosophical thinking is embodied in this book than in the author's other ten-odd books. In the in-depth discussion on themes such as the necessity of morality, the sources of obligation, the moral self, morality and knowing, morality and language, and virtue and happiness, some remarkable insights emerge through his comparative study of Western and Eastern philosophy.

V Xu Jilin: Thougts Map of the New Century 新世纪思想地图, Tianjin People Publishing House，2002.
Consisting of four parts respectively investigating thinkers, people of importance, cities and culture, the works embodies strong consciousness of problems and broad horizon toward society.

VI Yu Zhenhua: How Is Metaphysical Truth Possible: A Systematic and Critical Exposition of Modern Chinese Philosophy 形上的智慧如何可能？--中國現代哲學的沉思，Shanghai，East China Normal University Press , 2000.

As far as its content is concerned, How Is Metaphysical Truth Possible, in the first place, is a historical study of modern Chinese philosophy. During the encounters with Western philosophy, new philosophical schools emerged in modern China like mushrooms after a rain; in many cases these schools affected one another. Two approaches to this complicated phenomenon have usually been taken: the case study, focusing on a particular philosopher such as Fen Youlan 馮友蘭, Xiong Shili 熊十力 and Mao Zedong 毛澤東, and the study of currents of thought, such as positivism, liberalism, and socialism. However, Yu displays his broad view and great courage by taking the whole of modern Chinese philosophy as his research object through a problem-focused approach. He argues that modern Chinese philosophers did share a common issue: How is metaphysical truth possible in an age of science? The issue consists of five aspects: first, science and philosophy; second, being and Tao; third, intuition and intellect; fourth, the expressible and the inexpressible; and fifth, freedom and the realms of living. These aspects constitute a framework in which Yu explores the rich thought on metaphysics in modern China.

VII Hu Fengxiang: Social Transformation and Cultural Tradition 社会变革与文化传统, Shanghai People Publishing House, 2000.