Late Ming Zhuangzi "Fan Fiction": Fang Yizhi's "A Letter From Huizi To Zhuangzi" 

Abstract:

Fāng Yĭzhì’s (方以智, 1611-1671) Yàodì Páo Zhuāng 藥地炮莊(ca. 1663, Monk Yàodì Concocts* a Zhuāngzĭ) is an exceptionally complex text.  The present talk introduces one of the most distinctive essays contained within Yàodì Páo Zhuāng, an early work of “fan fiction” entitled Huìzĭ yŭ  Zhuāngzĭ shū  惠子與莊子書 (“A Letter from Huìzĭ to Zhuāngzĭ”), in which Huìzĭ writes to Zhuāngzĭ from beyond the grave to complain about how he is depicted in the Zhuāngzĭ, among other concerns.  This work of “fan fiction”, modeled on Zhāng Zìliè’s (張自然; 1597-1673) Yŭ gŭrén shū 與古人書 “Letters to the Ancients”, is known as one of the Lúshān èr shū 廬山二書 “Two Writings from Lúshān” finished in 1652.  The other of these “two writings”, which shall be discussed en passant, is the complex Xiàng Zĭqī yŭ Guō Zĭxuán shū 向子期與郭子玄書 (“A Letter from Xiàng Zĭqī [Xiàng Xiù (向秀; ca. 227-272)] to Guō Zĭxuán [i.e., Guō Xiàng (郭象; ca.  252-312)]”).  This talk will argue that Fāng Yĭzhì’s use of this “fan fiction” format is not merely a literary novelty, but a sophisticated philosophical method for re-engaging and resolving long-standing interpretive problems in Zhuāngzĭ studies.

Biography:

John R. Williams is interested in the history of Chinese philosophy, especially the traditional reception of the Zhuangzi.  He currently teaches at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, where he received support under Shenzhen’s Peacock Talent Program.  He obtained his Ph.D. from the Department of Philosophy at National University of Singapore, where he was awarded the President’s Graduate Fellowship.  His background also includes prolonged studies at the International Chinese Language Program at National Taiwan University.

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“The Prism of Interpretation: Tradition and Textual Community in Fang Yizhi's Commentary on the Zhuangzi”

 Abstract:

Interpretation is an act that involves not only the relationship between a text and an interpreter, both a host of factors that mediate that relationship— including received readings of the text, contemporary events, and the communities in which the interpreter is a member. Fang Yizhi’s Yaodi pao Zhuang presents a reading of the Zhuangzi that is at once steeped in exegetical tradition, engaged with the ideals of his family and monastic community, and responsive to the historical events that took place during his life. Written in the wake of the fall of the Ming and explicitly communal in form, Fang’s commentary illuminates the prismatic nature of interpretation.

Biography:

Jesse Chapman earned a PhD in Chinese Language from the University of California, Berkeley in 2015, and he has since served as a postdoctoral fellow in Chinese Studies at the Center for East Asian Studies at Stanford University and taught courses at the University of Oklahoma-Norman, the University of California-Merced, NYU, UCLA, and Portland State University. His scholarly interests center on exegesis, the interpretation of signs, and the relationship between technical texts and historical and literary writing. His publications include a monograph, titled Celestial Signs and Classical Rhetoric in Early Imperial China (SUNY Press 2025), as well as several articles and book chapters like “Unwholesome Bodies: Reading the Sign of the Amputated Foot in Early China” (Asia Major, 2017), “Lao-Zhuang in the Vernacular: Two Evolutionary Readings,” (Journal of Modern Chinese History, 2017), and “Celestial Signs in Three Historical Treatises” (in Technical Arts in the Han Histories, SUNY, 2021).

Eating healthy doesn't have to be boring or difficult! Join us for this workshop and discover fun and easy ways to make better food choices on campus. Learn about the facts regarding your daily food intake and how to design your own healthy meal plan. Don't miss out on this opportunity to fuel your body and mind for success!

Remarks: This is a HMAW1905-recognized event in the “Personal Enrichment & Community Service” category under the "Self-directed Experience" of HMAW1905: Behavioral Foundations of University Education: Habits, Mindsets, and Wellness. To receive 1.5 hours, you must attend the event in full and miss no more than 10 mins.

Enquiry email: dstohmw@ust.hk

University is an exciting time full of opportunities but can also be overwhelming. Setting achievable goals can help you make the most of your experience and achieve success and wellness. In this workshop, you'll learn how to set goals that enrich various aspects of your university life, from academics to personal growth.

Remarks: This is a HMAW1905-recognized event in the “Personal Enrichment & Community Service” category under the "Self-directed Experience" of HMAW1905: Behavioral Foundations of University Education: Habits, Mindsets, and Wellness. To receive 1.5 hours, you must attend the event in full and miss no more than 10 mins.

Enquiry email: dstohmw@ust.hk

Are you finding it difficult to stay physically active and improve your fitness level? This workshop will provide you with practical tips to overcome common barriers to physical activity. You will also identify your current physical activity level and learn practical tips to increase your activity level and improve your physical wellness.

Remarks: This is a HMAW1905-recognized event in the “Personal Enrichment & Community Service” category under the "Self-directed Experience" of HMAW1905: Behavioral Foundations of University Education: Habits, Mindsets, and Wellness. To receive 1.5 hours, you must attend the event in full and miss no more than 10 mins.

Enquiry email: dstohmw@ust.hk

How can you unlock the power of diversity to enrich your university experience and contribute to your future career success? This workshop will help you develop a deeper understanding of diversity by exploring the benefits, opportunities, and challenges of diversity in HKUST context. Overall, you will learn how to enhance your cultural competency, appreciate and celebrate diversity, and learn how to better navigate diverse environments. 

Remarks: This is a HMAW1905-recognized event in the “Personal Enrichment & Community Service” category under the "Self-directed Experience" of HMAW1905: Behavioral Foundations of University Education: Habits, Mindsets, and Wellness. To receive 1.5 hours, you must attend the event in full and miss no more than 10 mins.

Enquiry email: dstohmw@ust.hk

Audience: SENG Final Year Students

Launched in 2025, Talent Foundry is a talent development and workforce readiness programme intended for current students studying in Hong Kong with academic backgrounds in computer science, engineering, and majors related to innovation and technology (I&T). We are directly collaborating with local university faculties and industry partners to enhance student employability in the I&T field.

Talent Foundry Details:

• Career Readiness Bootcamp
• 12-months Full-time position in HKSTP Park Companies
• Financial Support (Student Award)

Insights Session Details:

• Date: 10 October 2025 (Friday)
• Time: 11:30 – 12:30
• Location: LTF
• Language: English

Register Now: Click HERE.

Dear Engineering Students,

Discover graduate career opportunities at Hilti! They are targeting Engineering students for hiring. Come and join the visit to meet the hiring manager and HKUST alumni.

About Hilti

Hilti stands for quality, innovation and direct customer relationships resulting in about 250,000 individual customer contacts each day. Based in Schaan, Liechtenstein, the company has 33,000 employees around the world who contribute to making construction work simpler, faster and safer while inspiring customers every single day with technologically leading products, systems, software and services.

This is a HMAW1905-recognized workshop series in the “Personal Enrichment & Community Service” category under the "Self-directed Experience" of HMAW1905. You must attend the event in full and miss no more than 10 minutes to get 3 hours. 

Event Details:

• Date: 15 October 2025 (Wednesday)
• Time: 13:15 – 17:30 (including travel time)
• Location: Hilti Customer Experience Center (*Coach will be arranged)
• Register Now: Click HERE.
  
  

Positions offered:

• Management Associate
• Global Outperformer Trainee

Center for Industry Engagement and Internship
School of Engineering

We are excited to invite 2025-26 Excos of Student Organizations, to our upcoming LAPSO activity, Exco Lunch Exchange! This session brings current and former Excos from various groups together to share experiences and explore effective Ways to Recruit and Engage Sub-committee members. Falling during the season of the Mid-Autumn Festival—a time for reunion and togetherness—don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to mingle, connect, and exchange ideas. Plus, enjoy a complimentary light lunch with fellow participants! 

✨Registration by 3 Oct (click here)
[First-come, first-served; max 2 Excos per society if quota is exceeded]

This activity is organized under LAPSO. Each Exco member's full participation will contribute to their participation score for the LAPSO Award (Outstanding Student Organization Award).