To further promote the overseas dissemination of outstanding traditional Chinese culture and enhance young students' capacity for international dialogue, from August 13 to 21, 2026, a Nanjing University delegation consisting of 14 undergraduates and 4 postgraduates from the Schools of Philosophy, International Studies, and Foreign Studies, led by Associate Dean Shao Jiade, conducted a research training expedition in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Centered on Dialogue and Modern Reflection: Chinese-Western Classical Civilizations, the project received academic guidance from experts at the University of Göttingen, Leiden University, and Ghent University. Through academic lectures, campus immersion, cultural site visits, and field exchanges, the team studied European Sinological research advances, explored the overseas communication of traditional Chinese culture, and reflected on cross-civilizational dialogue and digital-era cultural dissemination paths.

Academic Lectures: New Trends in European Sinology

The team held in-depth academic exchanges on philosophy and Sinology across the three universities, exploring feasible modes of symmetrical dialogue between Chinese and Western thought.

At the University of Göttingen, the team attended a thematic lecture on German Sinology, which further enhanced their understanding of approaches to Sino-Western intellectual dialogue. At Leiden University, the team attended the lecture "The Leiden Approach: Methods of the Global and Comparative Philosophy Project Group" where they gained a clearer understanding of the methodological frameworks for cross-cultural research. At Ghent University, through seminars and academic discussions, the team explored the latest developments in Belgian Sinology and engaged in discussions on innovative approaches and practical pathways for the international dissemination of classical culture in the digital intelligence era.

These lectures deepened the team's understanding of both the diversity and the shared concerns of Chinese-Western classical scholarship. Yet the greater takeaway lay in the students' own transformation: they returned not only with enriched knowledge, but with a renewed sense of purpose as young scholars capable of bridging traditions and contributing meaningfully to a truly global philosophy.

Cultural Exchanges: Innovative Paths for Traditional Culture Dissemination

The team participated in a symposium at the Chinese Consulate General in Frankfurt and observed local Chinese language teaching at the Frankfurt Huayin Chinese Language School.

At the Chinese Consulate General in Frankfurt, Consul Xue Yun and Vice Consul Ye Siyuan introduced the Consulate's key responsibilities and the current status and practical strategies for promoting traditional Chinese culture in the Frankfurt area. The delegation also engaged in in-depth discussions on topics including the feasibility of promoting AIGC-generated videos featuring traditional Chinese culture in Germany and potential forms of dialogue between Chinese classics and German civilization.

At the Frankfurt Huayin Chinese Language School, the team observed local Chinese language teaching practices and engaged in practical exchanges with frontline educators around the key question of "how to effectively communicate traditional culture to international audiences." By observing classroom teaching at the Frankfurt Chinese Language School, the team understood that overseas cultural communication must adapt narrative strategies to local audiences’ language proficiency and life experience.

These two exchanges enabled team members to recognize that advancing cross-civilizational exchange requires both a strong foundation in Chinese excellent traditional culture and a deep understanding of Europe's diverse historical and cultural contexts. Through mutual understanding and equal dialogue , participants further developed their capacity for intercultural communication.

Cultural Site Visits: New Approaches to Sino-Western Civilizational Dialogue

Across Frankfurt, Göttingen, Leiden and Ghent, the team visited museums, historic landmarks and academic institutions, gaining insights into cross-civilizational interactions reflected in material heritage and urban memory .

The collections and rare books preserved at Göttingen State and University Library and Leiden University Library reflect distinctive approaches to Sinology research. Cultural sites such as the Former Residence of Zhu De, Goethe's Residence, and the World Museum Leiden bear witness to the long history of China-Europe cultural exchanges. These visits enabled team members to gain deeper insights into the overseas dissemination of Chinese excellent traditional culture and encouraged them to explore effective pathways for dialogue and mutual learning between Chinese and Western cultures.

Research Outcomes and Future Plans

Before departure, the team completed systematic pre-training and literature review on European academia and Sino-Western comparative studies, laying a solid theoretical foundation.

Integrating high-level academic dialogues, diplomatic exchanges, special resource investigations and urban historical research, the project effectively broadened students' international horizons and enhanced their cross-cultural research and academic thinking capabilities.

In follow-up work, participants will organize lecture records, field notes and reflection journals to carry out thematic research on European Sinology's origins and modern implications, material-culture-based cross-civilizational communication, comparative Chinese-Western philosophy, and AI-driven innovative paradigms for overseas traditional culture dissemination. The team will refine practical field achievements into standardized research outputs, contributing to classical civilizational studies with NJU's academic strengths.

Writer : Dong Xinran

Picture : Zhong Lingxiang Wu Yijie Ma Yuqian