by Xinhua writers Zhang Yunlong, Lyu Qiuping

BEIJING, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Scholars attending the inaugural World Conference of Classics, which concluded in Beijing on Friday, have called for broader global engagement with China's ancient texts and philosophies.

They urged moving beyond a traditionally Western-centered perspective in classical studies to foster a more inclusive understanding of global antiquity.

Addressing the conference during its opening ceremony on Thursday, Martin Kern, a sinologist and professor at Princeton University, underscored the transformative potential of cross-cultural study.

Kern, who is also president of the American Oriental Society, said that without engaging with other civilizations, "we deprive ourselves of fundamental insights into our own fields and civilization."

The incredibly rich traditions of ancient China, he said, can contribute a wealth of new perspectives to the study of other civilizations and global antiquity as a system.

Imre Galambos, Emeritus Professor of Chinese at Cambridge and Qiushi Chair Professor at Zhejiang University, echoed Kern's call for a broader perspective, noting that ancient texts shape cultural identities and moral frameworks, in an interview with Xinhua.

He urged scholars to view classics not as a fixed canon that exists in isolation but as a way of historical engagement with the past.

For Galambos, China's growing role in the field marks a shift from a Eurocentric focus to a truly global approach that includes Chinese philosophical thought.

Experts also highlighted philosophical similarities between Chinese and Western traditions.

Theodoros Papangelis, head of the Greek delegation from the Academy of Athens to the conference, pointed out that both China and Greece have long respected their own classical traditions.

"The classical past is a persistent force informing cultural perceptions in both China and Greece," Papangelis said, noting how these traditions have contributed to each nation's resilience through historical challenges.

Similarly, Prof. Hans van Ess, chair at the Institute of Sinology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany, observed that Chinese and Greek classical traditions share many parallels.

Expanding on this, Van Ess explained that the four cardinal Confucian virtues emphasized by Mencius -- Ren (benevolence), Yi (righteousness), Li (propriety) and Zhi (wisdom) -- have much in common with the Aristotelian cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance.

"There are some differences, but there are many similarities," he remarked, adding that understanding these values can counter the perception that Chinese thought is esoteric or inaccessible to Western audiences.

Underscoring the significance of hosting the World Conference of Classics in China, he told Xinhua in Chinese, "By bringing in scholars of Western classical literature and philosophy, the event allows them to see firsthand the importance of Chinese traditions. Many of my Western colleagues are surprised to discover the depth and significance of these traditions -- something they previously may not have fully realized."

Scholars hailed the establishment of the Chinese School of Classical Studies in Athens, Greece, a development which was announced during the event, as a new platform for civilizational exchange and mutual learning for China, Greece and other nations.

Galambos told Xinhua that such initiatives could inspire scholars worldwide to view their own histories through a global lens. "China's participation transforms classical studies from a Eurocentric endeavor into a truly global discourse," he added.

As the conference drew to a close, scholars expressed optimism that deeper engagement with China's classical legacy could provide vital insights into modern issues, fostering shared values and advancing mutual understanding between East and West. Enditem

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