On April 25, the YCA Library hosted an informal discussion over tea with Professor Zhang Longxi to celebrate this year’s World Book and Copyright Day. Professor Zhang delivered a literary lecture titled “Potion and Poison: Chinese and Shakespearean Dialectics,” in which he explored themes of healing and harm through a comparative reading of the Chinese works Mengxi Bitan (Brush Talks from Dream Brook by Shen Kuo of the Song dynasty) and Yinlun Qipian (Seven Discourses on Causality by Liu Yuxi of the Tang dynasty), alongside Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
Prof. Zhang Longxi, a Foreign Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities and the Academy of Europe, is Honorary President of the International Comparative Literature Association, Lide Chair Professor at Yenching Academy, and Xiaoxiang Chair Professor at Hunan Normal University.
Challenging traditional approaches, Prof. Zhang argued that rereading Shakespeare within world literature frameworks unlocks fresh interpretations. His insights underscored the power of cross-cultural dialogue in reshaping how we engage with classics, a timely contribution to ongoing discussions on cultural diversity in literary studies.
The lecture led to thought-provoking discussion among students, who explored several key questions:
· What distinguishes Chinese tragedies from their Western counterparts?
· How do theatrical traditions influence the way performances are interpreted and understood?
· Can literary translation truly capture the essence of a text across languages?
· What are the existing pathways for the global dissemination of Chinese literature?
Several students shared their thoughts after the lecture, offering reflections that highlighted the personal and intellectual resonance of the event.
Yang Shenshen (Cohort 2023, China): Potion and Poison is an interesting title, because the two words are pronounced similarly and have a dialectical relationship. Prof Zhang started with Shen Kuo’s Mengxi bitan and Liu Yuxi’s Jianyao (On Medicine), guiding us to think about the role of poison in Romeo and Juliet, and he expanded the discussion from personal influence to social governance. This lecture invited a new perspective to read and understand Shakespeare and I saw more possibilities of a dialogue between Chinese and Western cultures.
Zhang Xiaoyue (Cohort 2024, China): Prof Zhang opened a new window for us to enjoying world literature through cross-cultural study. He started with a discussion of “potion” and “poison” in Chinese literary classics, and went further to the core of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, revealing the dialectical relationship between potion and poison. In this dialogue between Chinese and Western literary works, I appreciated the universal values they express.
Kai Moreno Momiejo (Cohort 2023, Spain):The tea-time salon was an invaluable chance for me to delve into world literature and comparative literature. As the world grows into a tightly knitted net, it’s important to focus on the themes and development in Chinese culture and art connected to other cultures, because such a highlight helps mutual communication.
Andrew Rule (Cohort 2024, United States): I have faith in the value of literature, always. Prof Zhang’s comparative study of descriptions of potion and poison in Chinese literature and Shakespeare’s works alone is highly enlightening; yet, the professor unveiled the metaphor hidden behind the dialectical pair of potion and poison, pointing that this could be applicable to the entire society, from medicine to state governance, and even to literature itself. Ancient Athenians believed that tragedy was a curing “poison” that could treat social ailments. It’s thrilling to listen to Prof Zhang Longxi who integrates his profound expertise on Shakespearean studies and extensive knowledge of world literature. This lecture revealed a deep insight: a great literary work can reflect a panoramic view of human literature and society at large through its microscopic narrative.
