On 19 October 2015, the Irish Studies Network Workshop on Irish Literature – Irish Writers and China was held at the School of English and International Studies (SEIS) in Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU). This event was organized by the Irish Studies Centre of SEIS, BFSU, inviting Professor Jerusha McCormack, the guest professor of BFSU Irish Studies Centre, Professor Feng Jianming from Irish Studies Centre of Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, Professor Cao Bo from the Centre for British-Irish Literatures of Hunan Normal University, and Associate professor Chen Li from Irish Studies Centre of BFSU, to present their papers on the theme of Irish writer and China. The workshop is co-chaired by Professor Chen Shu and Professor Wang Zhanpeng from Irish Studies Centre of BFSU.
Professor Jerusha McCormack took “The Poet and The Martyr: Guo Moyuo and Terence MacSwiney” as the title of her presentation. In the workshop, by analyzing Guo Moruo’s work The death of the Victory, she introduced in details Terence MacSwiney’s heroic deeds during his participation in the Irish Republican Army and his significant international influence. In addition, she attempted to re-interpret the history of Easter Rising of 1916 from a religious perspective, e.g. the crucifixion and .resurrection of Jesus.
Professor Feng Jianming delivered a paper entitled George Bernard Shaw and James Joyce in Shanghai, in which he traced the two important Irish writers’ encounters with Shanghai, and further discussed the significant role of Irish Studies in the contemporary development of friendly relationship between Shanghai and Cork and other Irish cities.
The title of Professor Cao Bo’s speech is Chinese Culture in S. Beckett’s Novels. Based on Chinese classic Lüshi chunqiu, he argued that S. Beckett’s Novels were deeply influenced by traditional Chinese legends and classical music.
Associate Professor Chen Li made links between Irish Renaissance, May Fourth Cultural Movement and China’s new craze for traditional culture at present days. She concluded that traditional classics as “feudal rationality” are unable to provide reasonable resources for China’s modernization process. Her title of the speech is Cultural Politics of Ancient Heritage: Ireland and China.
In the discussion session, there was an active interaction between teachers and students. Finally, Professor Chen Shu summarized the event and commented on each speech. Both teachers and students said that they have benefited a lot from this literary workshop. Academic fruits from the communication have provided the scholars in the related fields clearer thoughts and direction. This workshop has also deepened the collaboration and dialogue between scholars from different universities of the Irish Studies Network in China.
