The Charhar Diplomacy Lecture was held today at the Ho Yin Convention Centre at Taipa Campus, City University of Macao (CityU). Professor Yuan Canxing, senior fellow of the Chahar Institute and featured speaker on CCTV’s Legal Forum TV program, delivered a lecture titled Macao, China and the World in the Ming Dynasty. Rector Jun Liu of CityU and Wang Jiangyou, deputy secretary general of the Chahar Institute and director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office, attended the event.
Rector Jun Liu extended a warm welcome to Professor Yuan Canxing in his opening address. He noted that Professor Yuan, who has long been engaged in the studies of Chinese social history, is the author of numerous important works related to history, including The Two Hundred years of the Grand Council; Power, Trade, and Merchant Guilds in the Qing Dynasty; and Tribute, War, and Trade: Ming Dynasty in the Age of Discovery. Today’s lecture, Rector Liu added, will guide faculty and students in reviewing the historical development—from first contact, conflict, to integration—between the Chinese and Portuguese during the mid to late Ming Dynasty, highlighting Macao’s pivotal role as a cultural and economic bridge between China and the west in the early era of globalization.He further emphasized that CityU is committed to developing the ability of students to tell China’s stories; to support this mission, the University has established several academic research platforms, including the City University of Macau-Charhar Center, the Macao Research Center for Chinese Culture, the Center for China and the World, and Cross-Strait Cultural Research and Exchange Center, providing diverse opportunities for research and engagement in related fields.
In his lecture, Professor Yuan began with Portugal’s global expansion during the 16th and 17th centuries, structuring his narrative around three key themes: tribute, war and trade, which together illustrate Macao’s role in the global interactions of late Ming Dynasty.He pointed out that many conflicts during this period were closely tied to the tribute activities and trade, stressing that when tribute activities were in smooth operation, trade between China and other powers prospered; when tribute activities were obstructed, it often led to war. This macro view, he suggested, offered critical insights into the late Ming era.
Citing historical resources, Professor Yuan highlighted the importance of interpreters in the age of globalization. After the Portuguese settlement in Macao, he added, the city gradually evolved into a vital trading hub and a center where Chinese could learn some Portuguese language. He noted that Zheng Zhilong, father of Zheng Chenggong, was among the interpreters in Macao.
Throughout his lecture, Professor Yuan cited various references to share the interesting historical stories related to Macao. He mentioned that despite its small size, how the city served as a crucial “pivot” in the evolution of politics, military affairs, and trade dynamics in the Far East.
The lecture received an enthusiastic response from faculty and students, with the capacity crowd at the convention centre. During the Q&A session, Professor Yuan engaged in lively interactions with the audience, providing humorous and concise answers to their questions on topics such as the influence of external force on Ming dynasty policies and the flow of silk and silver between China and the world.
Also, in attendance were Chao Peng and João Simões, program coordinators of CityU’s Institute for Research on Portuguese-speaking countries; Librarian Shi Limei; and representatives from the Chahar Institute.
Photo credit: CityU Reporter
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