Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 1997

ICS AT THIRTY A Portrait of the Institute of Chinese Studies 1967—97 by Chen Fong-ching,Director of ICS Situated at the heart of the University, the Institute of Chinese Studies (or, as everyone calls it, the ICS) is a quiet spot, where visitors never tire of watching carps trooping in procession a r ound the central pond and time seems to hang still. This is true, but deceptive. The ICS courtyard does have a way of drawing people, staff and visitors alike, to its surrounding walkways and balconies, and one can easily be mesmerized by the window views of its offices, or lose one's thought strolling through the Art Museum. But life at ICS is never slow or leisurely, and the quietude of its corridors only belies the intensity of the efforts mounted by its people. This has always been the case, even though the people and the work done there have changed— that is not surprising, for ICS is now already reaching thirty. The ICS courtyard, where life seems to hang still.