Together with Wah Yan College Hong Kong,we also welcomed students and faculty from Wah Yan College Kowloon through TBC’s ChinaContact program. Their cultural and educational journey began with visits to Tsinghua University and Peking University, fostering deeper ties with these leading mainland Chinese institutions. They also explored the Ancient Observatory, marveling at the intricate large-scale bronze astronomical instruments, primarily designed by Belgian missionary Ferdinand Verbiest. This visit provided those students with insight into the pivotal role played by Verbiest and other Western missionaries in the introduction of modern science and technology to China.
Additionally, TBC Executive Director, who also is an alumnus of Wah Yan College Kowloon, Simon Koo, guided the group through TBC’s collection of ancient books and precious collections left by Western missionaries. This immersive experience enhanced students’understanding of the significant contributions of historical scholars in facilitating cultural exchanges between China and the West.
The visit to the Chinese Archaeology Museum also left an indelible impression on the group. Through an immersive exploration of ancient historical settings, the students and faculty admired over 6,000 precious artifacts spanning from the Paleolithic Age to modern times, and experienced the innovative integration of technology—such as naked-eye 3D and scene simulation—with history. This experience further deepened their comprehension of traditional Chinese culture, bridging past and present.
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.”