Hong Kong Central Library | Hok Hoi Lectures on Chinese Wisdom and Life Pursuits

Description

Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) and the Hok Hoi Library, the “Hok Hoi Lectures on Chinese Wisdom and Life Pursuits” will invite scholars to deliver lectures on cultural insights from Chinese literary classics in simple language, with a view to enhancing public understanding of Chinese culture. Teachers, students and other members of the public are welcome to join us to pass on the heritage of Chinese culture.

Speaker: Dr. TONG Tsz-ben, Benson

Registration:https://www.hkpl.gov.hk/tc/extension-activities/registration/293370

Lecture Summary

Li Bai, a representative figure of Tang poetry, is renowned for his bold, unrestrained, and magnificent poems, holding a lofty position in the history of Chinese literature. However, in today's fast-paced life, Li Bai's poetic art is often simplified to a symbol of romanticism, neglecting its profound stylistic innovation and historical and cultural connotations.

This lecture will focus on Li Bai's ballad and folk song poems, analyzing their artistic achievements and historical significance from a stylistic perspective, guiding the audience into the creative world of this "Poet Immortal" and allowing them to experience the enduring charm of classical poetry. How do the free structure, exaggerated rhetoric, and mythological imagery of the ballad form embody Li Bai's boundless imagination? How do the folk song style and subject matter of the folk song poems blend tradition and innovation? Through close reading of representative works such as "Dreaming of Visiting Mount Tianmu," "Midnight Song of Wu," and "Quiet Night Thoughts," the lecturer will analyze how Li Bai expanded the expressive scope of traditional poetry through stylistic innovation. Through this lecture, participants will not only gain a deeper understanding of Li Bai's poetic art but also draw wisdom and inspiration from it to navigate life's ups and downs.

Speaker Introduction

Li Bai holds a PhD in Chinese Language and Literature from Hong Kong Baptist University. He is currently an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Director of the Master of Arts in Chinese Literature program, and Director of the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, and Associate of Arts programs in Chinese and English. He teaches courses including "Special Topics in Classical Chinese Poetry," "Chinese Literature Research Project," "Chinese Literary Philology and Research Methods," "Introduction to Classical Chinese," "Creative Writing Workshop," and "Chinese Communication Techniques." His research areas include classical Chinese literature, literary theory and criticism, stylistics, Wang Anshi studies, creative writing, and overseas Sinology. He is the author of the monograph *A Study of Wang Anshi's Poetry and His Poetics: A Closer Look at the Evolution of Tang and Song Poetry*, and his papers have appeared in academic journals such as *Sinological Studies*, *Soochow Journal of Chinese Literature*, *Journal of Humanities in China*, *Chinese Rhyme Literature Journal*, and *Taipei University Journal of Linguistics*. He has received the "Young Scholar Award of the East Asian Sinology Research Association", the "Ho Kin Ming Chinese Creative Writing Award" (Excellent Award) in Theory, the "International Chinese Poetry Cup" Excellent Award and the "Hong Kong Metropolitan University President's Outstanding Inspiring Teaching Award".

The lectures are also one of the activities in the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit https://ccpo.gov.hk/en/.

Remarks:

• The lecture will be conducted in Cantonese. Admission is free. Interested parties may reserve seats via this webpage from 9:00 a.m., 17.7.2026 (Friday) onwards. Limited seats are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

• Participants should be seated 15 minutes before the lecture commences.

• Lecture quota and admission arrangements will be updated from time to time. Please note the latest announcements made by the HKPL and follow the instructions of venue staff.

• The lecture may be recorded in video and/or audio format for review.

• If Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above or a Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or "extreme conditions" announced by the Government is in force 3 hours before the lecture commences, the lecture will be cancelled.