Xiangjun Feng, University of Toronto will bring us to the close of this semester's Classical Chinese text-reading series.

Classical Chinese in Mexico, in 1923, on Mesmerism: Two Examples

Feng writes:

In what contexts do we usually encounter Classical Chinese? In the “Sinosphere,” in the premodern times, and on non-Western topics. These, however, do not make the full picture. The two texts we will read together were written by Chinese immigrants in Mexico in the modern days, and they talked about a topic that was explicitly from the Western tradition: mesmerism. We will together feel how Classical Chinese might (or might not) become different because of this unique context. We will also get a quick glance at the transnational history of mesmerism in the early twentieth century. 

The group meets monthly during the semester to explore a variety of classical Chinese texts and styles. Other premodern texts linked to classical Chinese in Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese have been explored. Presentations include works from the earliest times to the 20th century. Workshop sessions are led by local, national, and international scholars.  Participants with any level of classical Chinese experience are welcome to attend.  

• At each session, a presenter guides the group in a reading of a classical Chinese text. Attendees discuss historical, literary, linguistic, and other aspects of the text, working together to resolve difficulties in comprehension and translation.

• No preparation is required; all texts will be distributed at the meeting.

A light dinner will be served.