Contemporary Sinology: an answer for the world?

China studies: linking the world

Mr.and Mrs.Walls attend the "Symposium on China Studies 2014" together[photo by He Keyao/Chinaculture.org]

When talking about linking China to the world, some might say it in an opposite way—linking the world through China. Professor Jan Walls is one of them. For him, Chinese culture not only has made him find a way to live, but also a way to love and most of all, whom to love.

Walls, 73, is professor emeritus at Simon Fraser University and the president of Canadian Society for Asian Arts. As one of the most well-known international Sinologists, Walls speaks fluent Mandarin and counts Chinese literature and art works as his personal treasures.

"The Chinese language is like a ‘black hole' for me. Once I get close to it, I just can't pull myself out of it," Prof. Walls said.

Walls started to learn the Chinese language at the age of 19. As a freshman in college, he felt confused about his future and had no career plan. However, deep in his heart, a strong curiosity about "mysterious Eastern civilization'' had drawn his attention to Chinese culture.

"The most attractive beauty of this culture lies between the lines of words," he explained. As a renowned translator, Walls has translated hundreds of Chinese classic poems into English and also did the English version of the 60-part series Modern Chinese Painters with his wife, Yvonne L. Walls, also a Sinologist.

"We were classmates during postgraduate studies," Walls smiled when asked about his love. He met his wife when he was doing a master of arts degree in East Asian languages and literature while she was doing Eastern and Western literature comparative studies in the same university. Their common love and interest in Chinese culture drew their hearts together and they married before graduation.

With the popularity of Chinese culture overseas growing, more and more people from different countries become friends and even families due to their shared interest.

"We have been together for 47 years and both of us teach Chinese," Jan Walls said with a sense of happiness.

Among his many titles, Walls is also the founder and director of the Centre for Pacific and Oriental Studies, the former first secretary for Cultural and Scientific Affairs at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing and a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal honoree. For him, Chinese culture is not only the subject of his study, but a bridge by which he connects himself to the world.

Sinologists celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival	Sinologists gather in Beijing