Date: 4 September 2019
Location: Adam Smith's Library, University of EdinburghIn July 2005, Run Run Shaw Library was grateful to receive a donation from Dr. T L Sun, Former Council Member of City University of Hong Kong. Among the 386 titles and over 1,600 volumes of classics, history, poetry and other literary works, Adam Smith’s ‘The Wealth of Nations’ book (1901) was one of the literatures given to City University of Hong Kong’s library. ‘The Wealth of Nations’ Chinese edition was translated by Mr. Yan Fu, a Chinese scholar and translator most famous for introducing western ideas such as Charles Darwin’s ‘natural selection’ theory.
Poet, calligrapher and scholar Professor Pei-Kai Cheng (Chairman, Hong Kong SAR Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee) visited the University of Edinburgh’s Main University Library to introduce Adam Smith’s ‘The Wealth of Nations’ book that had been translated into Chinese. Professor Cheng emphasises the significance of Adam Smith’s literature in today’s world and its influence into Asia. The translated classic is an example of how Western literature has integrated into Hong Kong’s academic sectors which will connect the economic understandings of the West to the East. Still preserved at City University of Hong Kong’s Run Run Shaw Library, students and staff are able to experience the original works of Adam Smith, setting an example of knowledge transfer from the 18th century.
During the visit to the University of Edinburgh, Professor Cheng (on behalf of Jigu Institute) hosted the ‘Calligraphy Workshop II’ with university’s School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC). Live calligraphy demonstrations from Professor Chung-in Lee (Seoul National University) introduced students and staff from the University of Edinburgh to Chinese calligraphy and also Ancient Classics of Asia which hold the philosophical, historical and cultural knowledge reflected upon today’s world. Professor Cheng gave a live demonstration himself on Kun Qu Opera, one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera dominating Chinese theatre from the 16th to the 18th centuries. This cross-cultural exchange of both Western literature and Eastern art was able to enhance mutual understanding between different civilizations of the 21st century.
2005年7月，邵逸夫圖書館有幸收到，來自香港城市大學前校董會成員孫大倫博士捐贈的一批古籍線裝書作永久收藏。該批贈書總計有386種，超過1600多冊經史文獻、詩歌及其他文學作品，當中包括《斯密亞丹—原富》（1901年版本）。《斯密亞丹—原富》中文版由中國學者、翻譯家嚴復翻譯，他將達爾文（Charles Darwin）“自然選擇”理論等西方思想引入中國，而為後世稱道。
詩人、書法家、學者鄭培凱教授（香港特別行政區非物質文化遺產委員會主席）訪問愛丁堡大學主圖書館，並介紹中文譯本的《斯密亞丹—原富》。鄭教授強調了亞當·斯密的文學著作在當今世界的重要性及其對亞洲的影響。經典著作的翻譯彰顯西方文學與香港學術界融合的過程，同時為東西方經濟往來搭建溝通的橋梁。《斯密亞丹—原富》現仍收藏於香港城市大學邵逸夫圖書館，可供學生及教職員閱覽，親身體會18世紀西學東漸的典例。
在訪問愛丁堡大學期間，鄭教授（代表集古學社）與愛丁堡大學文學、語言和文化學院（LLC）聯合舉辦了“書法工作坊II”。李正仁教授(首爾國立大學)的現場書法展示，讓愛丁堡大學的學生和教職員一窺中國書法之氣韻，遍覽富含當代哲學、歷史和文化知識的亞洲古籍之精深。鄭教授則親自對昆曲進行了現場演示。昆曲是中國現存最古老的戲曲形式之一，也是綻放於16-18世紀中國的文化異卉。東西方文學藝術薈萃，跨文化火花之碰撞將增進21世紀不同文明的相互理解與交融。
Chinese Translation by Shuting WANG (LT)
Produced by Steve CHING (LIB)
Filmed and Edited by Dan LAI (LIB)
