How to Read a University / Chen Pingyuan

**We Stand on the Eve of a Fundamental Transformation in Universities** In-depth research into the century-long history of Chinese universities. Close observation of the development of contemporary universities. Forty years of university teaching and administrative experience in mainland China and Hong Kong. **Re-examining Universities Amidst the Tension Between Ideals and Practice** "The spirit is paramount in a university. With spirit, it naturally cultivates its own atmosphere and nurtures talent. These 'spirits,' which cannot be reflected in assessment forms, are more capable of determining a university's character and destiny." In my view, all scholars who care about the fate of modern China, who seek to understand its complex past and anticipate its future advancements, should pay attention to the destiny of Chinese universities. — Chen Pingyuan "How to Read a University" is a curated selection of Professor Chen Pingyuan's discourses on universities over the past three decades. It compiles the essence of his research into the history of Chinese universities over the last century, dating back to the late Qing Dynasty, and his firsthand observations of the development path of contemporary universities over the past thirty years. The former unveils vibrant stories of venerable universities and the spirit they embody, while the latter showcases a humanities scholar's sustained attention to and constructive critique of contemporary university issues. History and reality serve as footnotes to each other in his writing; history is revisited with contemporary concerns, and reality is observed with historical context. At a time when universities face numerous challenges, their systems are becoming increasingly rigid, and their foundations are being tested, it is more crucial than ever to re-examine universities through the lens of the tension between ideals and practice. Full Title: How to Read a University: Ideals and Practices of Chinese Universities Author: Chen Pingyuan ISBN: 978-988-237-393-8 Binding: Hardcover Language: Traditional Chinese Pages: 600 Dimensions: 229 x 152 mm **About the Author** **Chen Pingyuan** A native of Chaozhou, Guangdong, he is currently a Grade One Professor of Philosophy and Social Sciences at Peking University, Dean of the Research Institute of Modern and Contemporary China at Henan University, specially appointed "Changjiang Scholar" Professor by the Ministry of Education, and a member of the Central Research Institute for Culture and History. He has served as the Head of the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Peking University, Chair Professor of Chinese Language and Literature at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and President of the Chinese Folklore Society, among other positions. He was recognized as one of the "Chinese Doctoral Graduates with Outstanding Contributions" by the State Education Commission and the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council. He has received multiple accolades, including the first, second, third, fifth, sixth, and ninth Outstanding Scientific Research Achievement Awards for Institutions of Higher Learning from the Ministry of Education, as well as the fourth Sixian Original Award, the fourteenth Wenjin Book Award, and a nomination for the fifth China Government Publishing Award. He has authored over forty books, including "The Transformation of Chinese Fiction Narrative Modes," "The Dream of Scholars and Knights Throughout the Ages," "The Establishment of Modern Chinese Academia," "Touching History and Entering May Fourth," "Left Pictures, Right Histories, and the Introduction of Western Learning to the East," "The Literary Styles of Modern China," and "The Auditory China."