Bulletin Number One 1985

International Conference on Sung China by Chang Chun-shu The Sung dynasty (960-1279) in Chinese history is on the one hand a period of selective renewal of ancient traditions and on the other an age of tremendous innovation. Its developments in many areas — government, social structure, economy , military, diplomacy, philosophy, literature, art, and science — have been crucial and their influence has literally extended to the present age. In recent years, not only have Chinese historians been very active in the study of Sung history, Western scholars have also shown an increasing interest in Sung studies. Many symposia and conferences on Sung studies have been held — a manifestation of the importance given to the history and culture of the period by, the international academic community. The International Conference on Sung China, held by the History Department of the University on 18th - 20th December, 1984 ， is yet another effort of the scholars. Following the University's aim to promote cultural interflow between China and the West, the History Department invited well-known scholars in the field from all over the world to attend the Conference. At the opening ceremony, Professor Chang Chun-shu, Chairman of the History Department, made the welcoming remarks and Professor Bay-sung Hsu, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, delivered the opening address. The Chairman of the Conference was Professor Chang Chun-shu. The invited panelists included Professors Deng Guangming (Beijing University), Chen Lesu (Jinan University, Guangzhou), Li Jiaju and Wang Zengyu (Institute of History, The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing), Qi Xia (Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei), Zhu Ruixi (Institute of Modem History, The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing), Sung Shee (Chinese Culture University, Taipei), Wang Te-yi and Liang Keng-yao (National Taiwan University, Taipei), Huang K'uan- ch'ung (Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica, Taipei), Chang Yuan (Soochow University, Taipei) from Asia; Professors James T.C.Liu(Department of East Asian Studies, Princeton University), Chan Hok-lam (University of Washington), Tao Jingsheng (Department of Oriental Studies, University of Arizona), Winston W. Lo (Department of History, Florida State University), Brian McKnight (Department of History, University of Hawaii), Hoyt Tillman (Department of History, Arizona State University) from the United States; Professor Klaus Flessel (Institut fur Sinologie, Universt ä t Erlangen) from West Germany; Professor Wang Gungwu (Research School of Pacific Studies, Australian National University) from Australia; as well as scholars in Hong Kong: Chuan Han-sheng of New Asia Institute of Advanced Chinese Studies, and Chang Chun-shu, Lo Chiu Ching, Thomas H.C. Lee, Wong Yuk Tong and Chao Hsiao-hsuan of this University. The Conference has indeed seen the gathering of world-renowned scholars, most of whom have published significant works on Sung studies. We were particularly honoured by the presence of Professor Deng Guangming, the foremost authority on Sung history, who presented an important paper at the Conference. Altogether twenty-five papers were presented and discussed during the three-day Conference, and a wide-range of topics were covered: historical literature, historiography, thought, education, governmental institutions, economy, society, military system, wars ， diplomacy, science, and so forth. Some of the papers present real breakthroughs in the study of Sung history. The Conference was a tremendous success in many respects. It expanded the domain of international Sung studies, made significant contributions to many special fields of Sung history and culture, and opened new frontiers for future research. The Conference also provided a unique opportunity for the participants to learn in detail about the stat e of Sung scholarship outside their respective parts of the world. For those scholars who were long separated from one another for non-academic reasons, the Conference gave them the first chance in more than three decades to meet each other and paved the way for further intellectual contacts. The proceedings of the Conference will be published as soon as possible. In his concluding remarks, Professor Chang Chun-shu pointed out that research methods and approaches of the social sciences should also be employed and be integrated with hose of the humanities for future studies on Sung history and that scholars all over the world should join hands to strive for new breakthroughs. At the end of the Conference, participants suggested that the next International Conference on Sung China be held at the University o f Hawaii. Apart from the University, financial support was provided by the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia. NEWS 5