A ceremony to donate a Vietnamese translation of a Chinese book “Introduction to Chinese Culture” written by the Taiwanese scholar Wei Cheng-Tung, to the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi was held at the university on May 19. The Vietnamese translation was co-translated from Chinese by teachers in the Faculty of Oriental Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Professor Dr. Phạm Quang Minh, the president of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, and Lee Ming, director of the Education Division of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam, participated in the formal donation. Wei Cheng-Tung, who is now 90 years old, also personally attended the ceremony.

In his opening remarks for the ceremony, Professor Dr. Phạm Quang Minh expressed his gratitude to Taiwan’s Ministry of Education and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam for supporting the translation work. Having this renowned work translated into Vietnamese and published in this comprehensive and accessible-style book will enable more Vietnamese students to understand Chinese culture in a systematic way.

Professor Wei also gave a speech. He said that this book was first published in 1968 and on reflection, now after nearly 50 years, he still thinks the contents are quite good. Professor Wei expressed his view that although Taiwan has been influenced by American, Japanese, and Chinese cultures, Taiwan realizes the ideals of Chinese culture by establishing a democratic political system, and achieving economic freedom and equal opportunities for wealth. “Introduction to Chinese Culture” provides a Taiwanese perspective on Chinese cultures to reflect on, and gives readers an opportunity to reflect on how to pursue further enhancement and progress by understanding culture in the past.

Lee Ming, director of the Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam said that this translation was undertaken as part of the Taiwan Studies Project, a cooperative project between Taiwan’s Ministry of Education and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi from 2015 to 2018. This was a project item for the first and the second year. The University of Social Sciences and Humanities will continue to open courses with Taiwan studies themes this year. It will arrange for Vietnamese scholars to visit Taiwan for exchanges in 2018, to promote Taiwan Studies as an independent field of study among main-stream academics through cooperating with top universities in Vietnam.

Photo:Professor Wei Cheng-Tung (seated left), the author of “Introduction to Chinese Culture” (中國文化概論)’ takes a photo with other participants and Lee Ming (seated right), director of the Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam, after the ceremony.