TBC Donated to Casa Ricci and Bethel
Last year, The Beijing Center (TBC) celebrated its 25th anniversary with a dinner that was not just about marking a milestone but about embodying the Jesuit tradition of service and community impact.
Library Tour: A Look Inside Kircher’s China Illustrata
Athanasius Kircher was a renowned Jesuit scholar of the 17th century, he was called the “Renaissance man” and is often described as an enigmatic intellectual, due to his wide range of interests in subjects like linguistics, geology, music, etc. He is also credited as the founder of Egyptology, although later on, most of his translations needed to be corrected.
Beijing’s Historic Central Axis: A UNESCO World Heritage Site
We are thrilled that the Beijing’s Historic Central Axis, an architectural marvel that runs through the core of the Chinese capital, has been granted World Heritage status by UNESCO.
Interview with Yenching Scholars: TBC as an East-West Cultural Bridge
During Koen and Dario’s visit to TBC, they interviewed Executive Director Simon Koo to learn more about TBC’s history, responsibilities, and mission.
Commemorating the 414th Anniversary of Matteo Ricci’s Death
Today, we commemorate the 414th anniversary of the death of Matteo Ricci (October 6, 1552 – May 11, 1610), the “first person who bridged East and West”.
Library Tour: Exploring the First European Book on the Chinese Language
This book, written by John Webb, was published in 1669 and holds the distinction of being the first European book on the Chinese language.
Commemoration of the 433rd Anniversary of the Birth of Johann Adam Schall Von Bell
Today marks the 433rd anniversary of the birth of Johann Adam Schall von Bell (May 1, 1592 – August 15, 1666)
TBC’s 25th Anniversary: Featured in Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific’s 2024 Annual Report
The paper commemorating the 25th anniversary of The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies (TBC) finds itself showcased within the pages of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific’s 2024 Annual Report.
TBC Participates in the 2024 AmCham China Education Working Group Kickoff Meeting
Recently, TBC participated in the Education Committee kick-off meeting hosted by American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China). The meeting focused on enhancing dialogue about education initiatives between the U.S. and China, bridging educational institutions from both countries, and uncovering potential collaborative opportunities with the business sector.
Fr. Antonio Spadaro’s Journey in China
In December 2023, TBC (The Beijing Center) welcomed an old friend—Fr. Antonio Spadaro SJ, an Italian scholar, writer, and a key advisor to Pope Francis. He previously visited TBC in 2019, delivering an academic lecture on “Cultural Fusion in the World.” This time, TBC was honored to host Father Spadaro once again.
LIBRARY TOUR – EYEWITNESS TO THE FALL OF THE MING DYNASTY, PART 2
One of the most interesting books TBC has in historical collection the original Latin edition of Historia Tartaro-Sinica nova, written by the Belgian Jesuit Francois de Rougemont, and is his eyewitness narrative of the Ming-Qing Transition. That includes the Manchu campaigns against Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga) and the foreign missionary activities in China in the mid-17th century.
The Beijing Center celebrates 25 Years; elects Fr Stephen Tong SJ as board chairman
To mark the 25th anniversary of the only Jesuit institution in mainland China, The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies (TBC) gathered friends and alumni on the evening of 28 November to cherish the sweet memories of the past and look forward to the bright future.
LIBRARY TOUR – EYEWITNESS TO THE FALL OF THE MING DYNASTY, PART 1
Earlier in TBC’s blog series, we introduced the missionary-produced atlases of China, shedding light on their geographical contributions. If you’re intrigued, feel free to explore it here. However, the missionaries influence went beyond mapping terrain that they also played a crucial role in documenting significant historical events. Join us as we uncover their accounts, revealing a narrative that goes beyond maps and extends into the rich tapestry of China’s history.
NIGHT MARKETS ON THE SILK ROAD
Before arriving in China, many of my close Chinese friends and neighbors would tell me tips and tricks on navigating the markets as if they were treacherous roads. At that time, I didn’t take it too seriously. I already had some sense of what night markets are like from previous experiences in Asian countries, so I was confident I knew how it worked. I had no idea how vital those tips would be on the Silk Road Excursion this semester.
CHINA TOWN HALL: KUNMING
Following the insightful discussions at the 2023 CHINA Town Hall event in Beijing on October 12, the Kunming Liya Center, a satellite site of The Beijing Center (TBC) and a partner venue of the 2023 CHINA Town Hall, organized an in-person discussion on October 20. The participants from the U.S., France, and the U.K. represented various fields, including medicine, business, self-media, and public welfare. After watching the interview with the U.S. Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, TBC’s Executive Director, Simon Koo, led the discussion on the theme of “What Changes Are Needed to Adapt to Life and Work in Kunming after the Pandemic.”
CHINA TOWN HALL RECAP
On October 12, the 2023 CHINA Town Hall program brought together influential voices for an insightful discussion on U.S.-China relations. Hosted live from Beijing, the event featured Ambassador Nicholas Burns engaging in a webcast conversation with Stephen Orlins, President of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. Among the partner venues was The Beijing Center (TBC), where TBC Executive Director Simon Koo led an on-site discussion covering a broad spectrum of topics, including the Israel-Hamas conflict, technology competition, and global development.
Ferdinand Verbiest’s 400th Birth Anniversary Event at TBC
October 9, 2023, marked the 400th anniversary of the birth of Ferdinand Verbiest. On this significant day, HE Bruno Angelet, the Belgian Ambassador to China, along with Sinology experts and scholars from both China and Europe, alongside representatives from various fields, convened at TBC. Together, they traced the footsteps of Ferdinand Verbiest, reflecting on the remarkable achievements of this Belgian missionary.
BRIDGING HORIZONS: CHINA TOWN HALL AT TBC
This October, TBC is excited to be a Beijing partner of the CHINA Town Hall event series, held by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. We invite you to join us on Oct 12 from 7:00 am to 9:00 am CST, for the 2023 CHINA Town Hall program, which will feature Ambassador Burns in conversation with the National Committee on U.S. – China Relations President Stephen Orlins, followed by an on-site discussion moderated by TBC Director Simon Koo about U.S.-China relations and its impact on Higher Education in China.
Hong Kong Diocese Group Visited TBC
Under the invitation of the Hong Kong Liaison Office, Hong Kong Diocese Group Visited TBC on September 18th. The visit, spanning five days, was marked by a series of exchange activities in Beijing. As the only member institution of the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU) in mainland China, TBC extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegation.
ENGLAND, CHINA, AND THE WEIGHT OF HISTORY: EVENT RECAP
How does history shape your impressions of other countries?
Dr. Liu Xin, an expert on Sino-UK relations and author of Anglo-Chinese Encounters Before the Opium War: A Tale of Two Empires over Two Centuries (2022), recently spoke at The Beijing Center about her in-depth study of that very question. After all, the first ever contact between China and the United Kingdom on record was a conflict. Was it fate, then, that the two countries should have entered into such a rocky relationship later during the 19th century?