Chinese Culture in the Modern Globalized World

Guest lecture by Torbjörn Lodén

Ever since the collapse of the imperial order and its universalistic ideology, attempts to redefine the indigenous cultural heritage and define a new Chinese culture for the modern world have been central concerns in China. During the past few decades the question what traditional Chinese culture may contribute to the world today and in the future has come to the foreground. In his lecture Torbjörn Lodén will explore these two closely interconnected themes: on the one hand different ways of understanding what Chinese culture is and, on the other hand, the role that Chinese culture may play in the modern globalized world.

Torbjörn Lodén is Professor emeritus of Chinese language and culture at Stockholm University, a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities and a visiting Professor at Beijing Normal University. His research has focused on different aspects of Chinese intellectual history and literature. His most recent books are Kinas vägval – från himmelskt imperium till global stormakt (SNS, 2012), Tolv lektioner i kinesiska (Atlantis 2013, together with Wan Xinzheng), and Konfucius samtal (Appell förlag 2016).