Topic: The Timeless Charisma of Su Dongpo

Speaker: Prof. Mo Lifeng

Guest MC: Prof. Ge Jianxiong

Date: Sunday, Nov.10th, 2024

Time: 3:30 pm - 4:45 pm

Venue: E205, Administration Building

Language: Chinese

Abstract: 

On a moonlit night in Huangzhou, Su Dongpo drifted across the Red Cliffs and composed his famed line: “East flows the mighty river, sweeping away the heroes of times past.” Indeed, Su himself stands among these timeless figures. Despite facing numerous hardships throughout his life—including persecution stemming from political rivalries and three periods of exile—Su's resilient spirit never wavered. His brilliance and reputation attracted both admiration and jealousy, yet he maintained an extraordinarily balanced approach to life, combining unwavering strength with remarkable composure. What truly sets Su apart is his ability to maintain dignity and poise in the face of adversity. His moral courage in confronting court politics, coupled with his genuine concern for common people's welfare, commands profound respect. Perhaps most admirably, he maintained his optimistic outlook even in the darkest times. As he famously wrote, "In my straw cape, I brave the wind and rain", embodying the spirit of a truly extraordinary soul who continues to inspire generations.

Speaker Profile:

Professor Mo Lifeng (born 1949, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province) is a distinguished academic at Nanjing University. After completing his secondary education at Suzhou High School in 1966, he spent a decade farming as part of the Down to the Countryside Movement. In 1978, he entered Anhui University's English Department, before transferring to Nanjing University's Chinese Department as a postgraduate student in 1979. There, under the mentorship of Professor Cheng Qianfan, he specialised in Classical Chinese Literature, earning his doctorate in 1984.

Currently, Professor Mo serves as a Senior Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences at Nanjing University and directs the University's Chinese Poetics Research Centre. He also holds the position of Director at the Jiangsu Provincial Museum of Culture and History. His academic appointments include membership of the National Ancient Text Compilation and Publication Planning Group, the Ministry of Education's Social Sciences Committee, Advisory Board Member of the Tang Dynasty Literature Society, and Honorary President of the Song Dynasty Literature Society. Recognised as both a distinguished scholar in Jiangsu's social sciences community and Ambassador for the 'Reading Jiangsu' initiative, Professor Mo has authored several influential works, including "A Critical Biography of Du Fu", "Mo Lifeng's Lectures on Du Fu's Poetry", "Ten Lectures on Du Fu", and "Selected Poems of Du Fu".