The "In Search of Early Chinese Empires: The Dynamics between Excavated Manuscripts and Transmitted Texts," aims to explore the interplay between archaeological discoveries—particularly bamboo-strip and wooden-tablet manuscripts—and transmitted texts from the Qin and Han dynasties. The conference is co-hosted by the University of Notre Dame, Hong Kong Baptist University, and Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University UIC.
Over the past 30 years, the discovery of numerous archaeologically excavated manuscripts has significantly advanced our understanding of the early Chinese empires, the fountainhead of Chinese civilization. In collaboration with Notre Dame's international partner institutions, this conference will convene approximately ten scholars trained in the West and ten scholars trained in China. This exchange of ideas and methodologies in historical studies seeks to build a bridge between East and West, enhance Notre Dame's international reputation and engagement, and further its aspiration to become the world’s most global, multicultural, and multilingual institution.
The conference will be held in person and live-streamed on YouTube, welcoming students, faculty, and the broader Notre Dame community with an interest in empire studies. As it is being hosted in China, the event will also be open to Notre Dame alumni in Hong Kong and Mainland China.
