Campus Digest

Renowned scholar discusses early state systems at transdisciplinary lecture hosted by Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology

Monday, 29 December 2025

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Professor John Baines delivers a lecture titled “Kings, Elites, and Their Organization: Comparing Early Egypt with Late Shang China”.
(from left) Professor Martin Wong, Professor John Baines, Mr Baher Sheweikhi and Dr Louis Ng
The speaker, guests and HKBU representatives at the "Encounters in the Old World, East and West: From a Transdisciplinary Perspective" series.

 

The Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology successfully held the eighth lecture in its "Encounters in the Old World, East and West: From a Transdisciplinary Perspective" series on 27 November, supported by the Eurasia Foundation (from Asia). The event featured Professor John Baines, Professor Emeritus of Egyptology at the University of Oxford, who delivered a lecture titled “Kings, Elites, and Their Organization: Comparing Early Egypt with Late Shang China”.

Guests attending the lecture included Mr Baher Sheweikhi, Consul General of Egypt in Hong Kong, and Dr Louis Ng, Museum Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum. HKBU representatives included Professor Martin Wong, Provost; Dr Albert Chau, Vice-President (Teaching and Learning); Professor Daniel Lai, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; and Professor Wong Man-kong, Director of the Academy of Chinese, History, Religion and Philosophy. Professor Adam Schwartz, Associate Director of the Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology was the host of the lecture.

Professor John Baines provided a deep analysis of the similarities and differences between early Eastern and Western state systems. He explained that early Egypt built a highly centralised court system around the pharaoh and noble elites, while Shang dynasty in China established royal authority through clan structures and ritual bronze inscriptions. Despite these differences, both civilisations used high-quality art as a key medium for state ideology, reflecting shared political concerns and the aesthetic of power among their ruling classes.

The Academy has always been devoted to promoting cross-civilisation research and international academic exchange. Mr Sheweikhi commended the event for its exceptional academic standard. He also underscored the unique significance of the dialogue between Egyptian and Chinese civilisations, two of the world's most pivotal ancient centres, which provided a compelling illustration of the mutual enrichment that arises from intercultural engagement.

Dr Louis Ng highlighted how the lecture's comparative framework provided profound scholarly context for the Hong Kong Palace Museum's ongoing ancient Egypt exhibition.