Fr. Seil Oh, S.J., the Vice-President of International Affairs from Sogang University, South Korea, visited The Beijing Center (TBC) on January 6th, 2025. During his visit, he met with TBC’s Executive Director, Simon Koo, to discuss strategies for enhancing the collaboration between their respective institutions.
Fr. Oh reviewed TBC’s educational programs, including the “Study Abroad” semester exchange and the “ChinaContact” short-term program. He commended these initiatives for their role in expanding students’ global perspectives and stressed the increasing importance of international exchanges, especially in a post-pandemic world. He expressed hope that Sogang University and TBC would deepen their partnership and find innovative ways to strengthen their international educational ties.
During his tour of the TBC facilities, Fr. Oh was particularly captivated by the Terracotta Warrior statue in the Hutong, a reminder of his recent trip to Xi’an. In the library, he was impressed by the extensive collection of books and artifacts, notably the “Tibet Corner” and “Yunnan Corner.” These areas showcase unique cultural items collected by TBC faculty and students during their Excursion Trips to Yunnan in the spring and along the Silk Road in the fall. Fr. Oh expressed a keen interest in the cultural richness of these displays and shared his enthusiasm for the culture of Dunhuang, a significant site along the Silk Road. He hopes that Sogang University students will have the opportunity to participate in these valuable programs and develop a deeper appreciation of China’s rich cultural heritage.
Reflecting on his visit, Fr. Oh recalled his last trip to Beijing 35 years ago. He marveled at the city’s dramatic transformation and the rapid development of China, urging Sogang University students to engage in exchange programs to directly experience the vibrancy and dynamism of this rapidly evolving country.
This is the first American edition of Anderson’s fascinating account of Britain’s first diplomatic mission to China in 1792. By the end of the eighteenth century the East India Company had been trading with Chinese merchants for two hundred years, but in a strictly limited way.
At the dawn of the Age of Enlightenment, as the 18th century drew to a close, the Western world was eager for knowledge—driven by a philosophical movement that championed reason and science. King Louis XV of France asked for the advice of his trusted Minister of State, Henri Bertin, about how to reform the spirit of the nation, after giving it some thought, Bertin famously responded, “Sire, to inoculate the French with the Chinese spirit.”
Fr. Seil Oh, S.J., the Vice-President of International Affairs from Sogang University, South Korea, visited The Beijing Center (TBC) on January 6th, 2025. During his visit, he met with TBC’s Executive Director, Simon Koo, to discuss strategies for enhancing the collaboration between their respective institutions.
Imagine traveling across continents in the 1600s to reach China—a world almost entirely unknown to Europeans at the time. That is exactly the experience of Magalhães, a Portuguese Jesuit missionary who spent over 20 years in China.