Ying-shih Yu, Winner of 2006 Kluge Prize, to speak at Library of Congress on April 24 and April 26

Distinguished historian Ying-shih Yu, recipient of the 2006 John W. Kluge Prize for the Study of Humanity, will speak at two separate events at the Library of Congress on April 24 and April 26.

On April 24 at 9:30 A.M., Yu will speak on the current debate within the Chinese Communist Party over the roles democracy, tradition, Confucianism, and Maoism play in reinterpreting China’s history in light of the development of modern society and a burgeoning economy in a talk titled “China rediscovers its own history.” Robert G. Sutter, distinguished specialist in Asian and Pacific Affairs and American foreign policy, will act as moderator.

On April 26 at 3:00 P.M., the Library’s John W. Kluge Center and the Asian Division present Yu in a discussion titled “China’s return to tradition: How to interpret the new forces emerging in China.” In this brief talk, Yu will comment on popular attitudes and scholarly inquiry in China that go beyond the tight constraints of party-controlled historical study since the 1940s.

Dr. Yu will answer questions from the audience at both events which are scheduled to take place in Room #119 of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington, D.C. Both presentations are free and open to the public; no reservations are required.

Yu Ying-shih shared the $1 million 2006 Kluge Prize with American historian John Hope Franklin. The Kluge Prize rewards lifetime achievement in the wide range of disciplines not covered by the Nobel prizes, including history, philosophy, politics, anthropology, sociology, religion, criticism in the arts and humanities and linguistics.

Yu Ying-shih’s work examines major topics covering more than two millennia of Chinese civilization. According to Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, "Dr. Yu’s scholarship has been remarkably deep and widespread. His impact on the study of Chinese history, thought and culture has reached across many disciplines, time periods and issues, examining in a profound way major questions and deeper truths about human nature." Another scholar stated "The rare distinction of having been elected to full professorships at Harvard, Yale and Princeton undoubtedly confirms the high esteem in which he is held.”

Through a generous endowment from John W. Kluge, the Library of Congress established the Kluge Center in 2000 to bring together the world’s best thinkers to stimulate, energize and distill wisdom from the Library’s rich resources and to interact with policymakers in Washington. For more information on fellowships, grants and programs offered by the Kluge Center, visit www.loc.gov/kluge.

From an 1869 presentation of 933 volumes to the United States by the Emperor of China, the collections of the Asian Division have grown to represent one of the most comprehensive collections of Asian language materials in the world. The Division’s collections include most subject fields, covering an area ranging from the South Asian subcontinent and Southeast Asia to China, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia. For more information about the collections and programs of the Asian Division, visit the web at www.loc.gov/rr/asian.