Academia and Life: A Self-Portrait by Ji Xianlin

Author: Ji Xianlin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The selection criteria for the essays in this book adhere to the principle of not including translated works or essays and miscellaneous articles, nor selecting general prefaces or postfaces. Instead, it focuses on showcasing the depth and breadth of Professor Ji's academic research. It carefully selects outstanding works from his long-term studies in ancient Indian languages like Tocharian, ancient Indian history and literature, the history of Indian Buddhism, the history of Chinese Buddhism, the history of Buddhist Central Asia, the history of sugar, and more. Additionally, it includes essays on emerging disciplines such as the history of Sino-Indian cultural exchange, the differences and commonalities between Chinese and Western cultures, aesthetics and ancient Chinese cultural theory, German and Western literature, comparative literature, and folk literature. Notably, a significant number of newly written works have been included, making Essentials of Ji Xianlin's Academic Writings even more theoretically innovative and valuable in terms of scholarly analysis.
The specific field of study that Professor Ji Xianlin specialized in, such as Indian Buddhist linguistics, can be considered a relatively niche discipline. In this regard, our academic biography has already elaborated on his thoughts, so I will not repeat it in the preface of this book. Instead, I wish to clarify the significance of studying Eastern literary thought and culture in the context of globalization, as well as the value of academic innovation by Chinese intellectuals. I believe this is also the ultimate focus of Professor Ji Xianlin in his later years.