On the afternoon of November 13, 2024, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS) was honored to invite Professor Lo Yuet Keung from the National University of Singapore (NUS), to give a lecture titled "The Classic of Change: Do You Want to Change Your Life?" Dr. Jianing CHEN from the CCGC program moderated the event.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Professor Lo opened the session with information about the Master's program in Chinese Studies at NUS, sharing valuable insights for prospective applicants.

With an engaging and accessible approach, Professor Lo demonstrated how the ancient wisdom of the Book of Changes remains relevant in today's world. He cited many examples from both Eastern and Western traditions, ranging from Sun Tzu's the Art of War to the Bible, and from historical anecdotes to everyday life experiences, explaining complex concepts in simple terms. In the presentation, he emphasized the importance of understanding oneself and others, and the critical step of putting the Book of Change’s teachings into action.

The lecture sparked lively discussion during the Q&A session, with attendees exploring nuanced cultural concepts across languages. They explored various relationships between concepts such as "internal（内）" and "external（外）," "self" and "自我", "individual" and "environment," "action（有为）" and "non-action（无为）," "乐" and "happiness," as well as "神" and "god." Professor Lo particularly emphasized how language shapes our understanding of cultural concepts, encouraging students to think beyond linguistic constraints in their academic work.

The event concluded with Professor Tze-ki Hon, Dean of the FHSS, presenting a UIC commemorative gift to Professor Lo.

This lecture not only deepened the UIC community's understanding of the I Ching but also showcased how ancient Chinese wisdom can meaningfully contribute to cross-cultural dialogue in the modern world.

Reporter: Peici ZHANG

Photographer: Fuman ZHAN

Edited by Dr. Jianing CHEN