First National Academic Conference on Dongjiang Culture held in Our University

On the morning of December 10^th, the First National Academic Conference on Dongjiang Culture was inaugurated at our university. The vice-mayor of Huizhou, Lin Tianhao, leaders of our university, Yang Haitao, Zhao Rixing, Li Shaochun, Lai Meiqin, Xu Wanhong, and about 80 professionals and scholars from different places throughout China attended the opening ceremony. The vice-president of our university, Xu Wanhong, was the host of the ceremony.

During the opening ceremony, President Yang made a speech extending a warm welcome to each of the leaders, professionals and experts in attendance. He then briefly introduced Huizhou and our university. He pointed out that the future development of our university focuses on servicing local districts, cultivating practical talents, upgrading the research on international education and developing students creative capabilities. Moreover, our university will endeavor to bring up practical and motivated young adults who will make great contributions to the economic development of the local area. This seminar is considered a significant step that it can propel the development of Huizhou s economy and society by exerting the strengths of talents and technology from higher educational institutions. This is in accordance with the principal Based on Huizhou, Provide services to Huizhou handed down from the municipal government. In addition, the opening of the seminar also stimulates the scholastic atmosphere on our campus, highlights our educational characteristics, and promotes regional cultural development. In all, this seminar can be seen as an important scholastic exchange opportunity for our university.

The vice-mayor of Huizhou, Lin Tianhao, stated in the opening speech that Huizhou played an important role in Yuedong history, possessing a profound historical culture related to the humanities, politics and the local economy. Huizhou, he said, would forge its own cultural identify, holding new innovative multi-cultural standards, which would help further develop the cultural industry, promote cultural exchanges and help cultural businesses prosper. The vice-mayor hoped that the levels of historical and cultural research regarding Dongjiang culture would be further enhanced, regional cultural exchanges would be promoted, the competitiveness of Huizhou and other regions would be improved, the overall educational standard of Huizhou University would continue to improve, and that more high quality talents from the Dongjiang River area would be cultivated through the platform of the National Scholastic Seminar on Dongjiang culture.

After the opening ceremony, seven professional scholars from different regions gave speeches on the theme of the seminar. Professor Li Jikui form Sun Yat-San University was the host the seminar.

Professor Cheng Xiaojun from the Politics and law Department of our university spoke on the theme of analyzing Dongjiang Culture and Sidong Culture , briefly elaborating the points in his paper The Discussion on the Name of Dongjiang Culure. He advocated that the concepts of Dongjiang Culture should replace Sidong Culture . He pointed out that Dongjiang Culture refers to the cultural phenomena that happened along the Dongjiang River based in Huizhou, including all cultural phenomena from the beginning of recorded history to the present, the material culture and the means for cultural transference. Dongjiang culture is a unique cultural system formed by particular historical circumstances among other reasons. Professor Cheng stated that we have to make great efforts to research, develop and exploit it.

Professor Ji Manhong from the history department of Ji Nan University discussed the topic The Development and Change of Huizhou Feng Lake College in the 19^th Century, presenting his own inspection of the process of development and the receding of Feng Lake College in the 19^th century. He also explored the history of the last hundred years regarding the hardships of traditional colleges and their close relation with country s politics, particularly in regards to the times of transformation.

Professor Yang Feng from the Politics and Law Department of our university spoke about research on the characteristics and causes of Dongjiang scholarship in the Ming Dynasty, pointing out that the development of scholarship has had a significant influence in terms of increasing Huizhou s reputation, promoting regional development, and shaping the practical and compassionate personalities of Huizhou people.

Vice-researcher Liu Chan, from the Classical Literature Institution of Jinan University, vice-professor Xiao Hongsong of Hebei University, and other representatives also made reports during the seminar.

The cultural world is now developing with variety and diversity. Under these conditions, the seminar aims at identifying regional characteristics, promoting innovation and prosperity in the study of Dongjiang River culture and raising the theoretical level of study. Hopefully this seminar can stimulate the scientification, theorization and systematization of cultural study in Huizhou City and the Dongjiang River Area, and thus establish a new milestone in the study of Dongjiang River culture.

This seminar lasted two days, and more than 80 professional scholars from different places of China were in attendance. The groups discussion was held on the afternoon of Dec. 10^th. On the morning of the 11^th, there were large-scale speeches and a closing ceremony.

Vice Mayor of Huizhou City Lin Tianhao President of Huizhou University Yang Haitao Professor Li Jikui from Sun Yat-sen University Professor Cheng Xiaojun from Huizhou University Group photos of all attented delegates