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The Man Who Made China a Literate Nation , by Mark O'Neill, was published in English only in 2023. In this talk, the author describes Zhou's extraordinary life of 111 years, as the father of Hanyu Pinyin, the system of writing Chinese characters with Romanised letters in use since 1958. More than one billion Chinese have learnt it. Zhou chose to return to the mainland in 1949 and lived through the campaigns of the Maoist period, spending 28 months in a labour camp in Ningxia. He wrote 49 books, and in the last 20 years of his life, he earned a reputation as one of China's most outspoken public intellectuals. He lived so long thanks to an innate optimism, intellectual curiosity about everything and a Buddhist-like humility to see himself and his belongings as of little value.

Attendees may also like to read Mark's article on Zhou Youguang, which was published in the 2023 volume of the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, China.

Agenda

Speakers

Tickets

  • RAS China member and friend

    RMB 50

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    Includes one drink.

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  • Non-member

    RMB 150

    Public Price

    Includes one drink.

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  • Members of other RAS branches (Beijing, Hong Kong, Korea, etc.)

    RMB 50

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    For members of other RAS branches and chapters.
    You may be asked to provide proof of membership.
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  • RAS China institutional member

    RMB 50

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    Max. 5 tickets per RAS Institutional member. Includes one drink.

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  • Members of the Duke Kunshan University Community

    RMB 50

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    This ticket is available for all members of the DKU community who register with a valid @dukekushan.edu.cn email address. Includes one drink.

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