Campus Digest

Professor Chang Chuen Memorial Lecture explores formation of early dynasties

Wednesday, 26 November 2025

The Department of History held the 35th lecture of the Chang Chuen Memorial Lecture Series on 28 October, featuring Professor Fang Hui, Chair Professor and Director of both the Institute of Cultural Heritage and the University Museum at Shandong University. Professor Fang’s talk, titled “From the Beginnings of Kingdoms to the Formation of Dynasties”, shared insights based on the latest findings from the “Project to Trace the Origins of Chinese Civilisation”.

The “Project to Trace the Origins of Chinese Civilisation” is a major research project, supported by the state that integrates multiple disciplines to investigate ancient Chinese history and culture. Professor Fang pointed out that new discoveries in the Erlitou site suggest that the conventional understanding of the founding of the Xia dynasty and the nature of its early statehood may need to be reconsidered. Drawing on legends about the early Xia and related archaeological evidence, he shared an in-depth analysis of the historical process through which early Chinese civilisation evolved from “kingdoms” to “dynasties”.

The lecture was chaired by Professor Sammy Li Kin-sum, Associate Professor of the Department of History, who also presented a souvenir to Professor Fang on behalf of the Department. Established in 2001 through the generous donations of the late Professor Chang Chuen’s family, former students, and colleagues, the Chang Chuen Memorial Lecture Series commemorates Professor Chang’s significant contributions to the Department of History and to the field of historical studies. The inaugural lecture was held in 2004.