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Seminar

Methods of East Asian Classical Studies, 46th Seminar
A Platform for Rising Scholars (Session 17)

Date
Saturday, June 23rd, 2018, 2:00 pm
Venue
Kyōto University, Yoshida-South Campus, Academic Center Building, North Wing, Fourth Floor, Room 4119
Speaker
Dr. FENG Yujie (Sichuan University)

Basic Information

Summary

Theme: The Casting and Mystical Power of Swords and the Daoist Conception of the Body
Language: Mandarin

Host

Creation for a Next Generation Hub for East Asian Classical Studies—Accelerating Research and Education through International Collaboration

Reports

Date: Saturday, June 23rd, 14:00 
Location: Kyōto University, Yoshida-South Campus, Academic Center Building, North Wing, Fourth Floor, Room 4119 
Theme: The Casting and Mystical Power of Swords and the Daoist Conception of the Body 
Speaker: Dr. FENG Yujie (Sichuan University) 
Language: Mandarin 
 
Summary:  Dr. Feng Yujie gave a lecture to graduate students entitled, “The Casting and Mystical Power of Swords and the Daoist Conception of the Body.” There were not only students from the humanities, but also those from the sciences, who attended the presentation. 
 Dr. Feng gave his explanation by dividing the topic into four sections: 1. The relationship between swords and the human body in early times, 2. The rise of the Faith in the Daoist Sword of the Law and the Way of Sword Liberation, 3. The emergence of the Theory of the Qi Sword and the revised Neijing tu, 4. The Knowledge based on the metaphor drawn between a human body and a furnace. Finally, Dr. Feng argued that, for ancient Chinese people, the relationship model between sword and body reflected both changes and constants in their views on the human body.  
 During the Q&A after the lecture, vigorous debates developed in regard to topics such as interpretations of the Neijing tu, the direction of characters engraved on wooden swords, the relationship between swords and copper mirrors as well as the technology at the time used in casting these items, and the concept of “unity between man and sword.” The discussion spanned various fields such as Daoism and Archeology. Additionally, Dr. Feng also talked about research concepts and methods. 
 We would like to give thanks to Dr. Feng who gave a lecture on a very stimulating subject as well as everyone who participated in the discussion for taking time out of their busy schedules. 
 
(WANG Yiran, Ph.D. Candidate, Kyōto University) 

About the Platform for Rising Scholars

 The Platform for Rising Scholars was started in 2016 as part of the Creation of a Next-Generation Hub for East Asian Classical Studies: Accelerating Research and Education through International Collaboration (headed by Saitō Mareshi), with hopes of providing young researchers with an opportunity to share their research and communicate with one another. This platform encourages promising researchers, including graduate students, post-doctors, assistant professors, and lecturers, to present their research outside of their home institutions. Commentators are likewise selected from among young researchers for the purpose of promoting inter-institutional communication.