Bulletin Summer 1977

New Programme o f Studies The programme of studies for undergraduates has been streamlined to provide for better implemen­ tation o f the dual teaching system of 'subject-orien­ tated' teaching and 'student-orientated' teaching. With the revision of core courses, it is hoped that both generalist and specialist education may be offered. Starting from 1977-78, required courses include History o f Literature, Examples and Exercises of Various Genre and Styles of Writing, and Etymology and Phonology. Elective courses are sub-divided into concentration areas: " General" and " Study of Great Works". songs o f Tun-huang in the T'ang and Five Dynasties. In this direction, the Chinese Depart­ ment has also done its part by inviting famous scholars to lecture on various special topics, e.g. Professor Liu Chun-Jo o f Minnesota University lectured on Buddhist songs, Professor Liu Ts'un- Yan o f Australian National University on the history o f Chinese fiction, Professor Ma Yau-wun o f Hawaii University on bibliography and folk fiction. And, before the introduction of the Fine Arts master's programme, we would be more than happy to admit Fine Arts graduates who wish to study the relationship between art and literature. Q. Your research interests have always been diversi­ fied. What areas o f inquiry are engaging your attention at the moment? A. It is my belief that Chinese culture is an organic whole, and the line o f distinction between litera­ ture, history, philosophy and art is extremely difficult to draw, which partly explains my rela­ tively diversified interest and the interdisciplinary approach adopted in all my research. In recent years, I have devoted much time to the study o f Tun-huang manuscripts. I was invited to Paris in 1965 by the Centre National de la recherche scientifique to study the Tun- huang manuscripts, and published Airs de Touen- Houang ( 敦煌曲 ) in 1971. Another monograph Peintures Monochromes de Touen-houang ( 敦煌 白畫） w ill be put out in Paris by Ecole Francaise d'Extrême Orient later this year. Both works are in both Chinese and French and most o f the drawings and data o f the new book have never been published. A t the moment I am carrying out two research projects, both o f which are supported by Harvard- Yenching research grants: (1) Artists and A rt Theory of the Late Ming — The aim o f this research is to examine the minor painters and their paintings through a study o f literary and historical documents. The project is near completion and articles are being published in the Journal o f the Institute o f Chinese Studies : "The A rt Theory o f Fang I-Chi" and "Chang Ta-feng and His Fam ily"; two more long articles on “ Artists and Art Theory o f the Late Ming" w ill appear in the next two issues. (2) Tz'ú-Poetry o f the Ming Dynasty - This research, also sponsored by the Harvard- Yenching Institute, was started in 1964, when I was at the University of Hong Kong. I have been to Japan, Taiwan, and Harvard University for data-collection. I completed a bibliography on the literary collections o f Ming and am now working on an Anthology o f Tz ' ú -Poetry o f the Ming Dynasty. I have also been engaged in research on the question o f legitimate succession in Chinese history since 1970 when I was at Yale University and my book A Study on the Theory o f the Legi­ timate Succession in Chinese History w ill come o ff the press toward the end o f the year.