Tang Song Transition Project

On Saturday April 15, Doctors Hoyt Tillman and Stephen West held a planning meeting for continuing research collaboration on the Tang-Song transition project. The two discussed plans for an international conference to be held at Academia Sinica in late August to early September, 2007. Tillman and West were fortunate to have present the two scholars from East Asia who have been spearheading this projected reevaluation of the issue of changes from the Tang to the Song periods: Professor Deng Xiaonan  of Peking University’s Center for Studies of Ancient Chinese History in Beijing, and Professor Huang Kuan-chung (Kuanchong) of Academia Sinica’s Institute of History and Philology in Taiwan.

In addition, three major American specialists the Northeast attended: Professor Peter Bol of Harvard; Professor Charles Hartman of the State University of New York, Albany; and Professor Paul Smith of Haverford College. Stephen H. West joined Tillman in hosting and coordinating the planning meeting. Beyond collective research experience in various areas of Tang and Song studies, all scholars in attendance participated in planning international conferences and editing conference volumes.

During the morning of the 15th, the group focused mostly on intellectual issues and approaches. One reason the planning meeting was so crucial was to provide Professor Deng and Professor Huang an opportunity to update the Americans on the evolution and progress of their project; these explanations enabled all to have a clearer perception of the larger picture and how the projected international conference fits into on-going research collaboration within countries and across national borders. This discussion also aided in enlightening the American delegation as to just how to complement discussion groups already functioning in East Asia.

Seizing upon the opportunity of having such international scholars on campus, West and Tillman also arranged for a Roundtable on New Research on Medieval China that showcased current book projects by several authors. The event was attended by approximately 32 professors and advanced students. Two of the three presenters remarked that the occasion provided a welcomed opportunity to step back from the details to present their project to a larger intellectual community.