First Joint Conference Since Signing a Memorandum of Understanding
Four Internationally Renowned Scholars Lead Research on Mountains, Seas, and Island Chains

From November 6 to 8, 2026, National Chung Cheng University (CCU) and the National Palace Museum (NPM) jointly hosted the international conference “Mountains, Seas, and Island Chains: The Eurasian Silk Roads.” Bringing together scholars from nine countries and regions, the conference explored historical connections and cultural circulation across Eurasia through four keynote lectures and seven thematic sessions. It was the first international academic conference jointly organized by the two institutions since they signed a memorandum of understanding, marking a new chapter in their museum–university partnership.

The conference opened at the NPM’s Southern Branch, with the opening ceremony chaired by Professor Wen-Fang Mao, Dean of CCU’s College of Humanities. NPM Secretary General Yao-Feng Wang and CCU Vice President Her-Terng Yau delivered opening remarks. The conference then moved to CCU’s College of Humanities for its remaining two days. Vice President Yau noted that CCU had ranked among the world’s top 100 and Taiwan’s top three in Classics and Ancient History in the QS World University Rankings by Subject for five consecutive years. He emphasized that the collaboration with the NPM brought together research on museum collections and the university’s expertise in literature and history, further expanding scholarly exchange across regions and civilizations.

Secretary General Wang expressed hope that the memorandum of understanding signed by the NPM and CCU would provide a foundation for deepening their long-term collaboration in teaching, research, exhibitions, and educational outreach, while advancing interdisciplinary learning and talent development for students.

The keynote program brought together prominent international scholars in Chinese studies and history: Takeshi Hamashita, Head of the Research Department at Toyo Bunko in Japan, Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo, and an International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Christopher P. Atwood, Presidential Distinguished Professor of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States; Tian Yuan Tan, Shaw Professor of Chinese at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, a Yushan Scholar supported by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, and a Chair Professor at CCU; and Ronald C. Po, Associate Professor in the Department of International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom.

The four lectures examined, respectively, the tribute system and Asia’s hydrospheric networks; historical narratives of the Mongol Empire; the circulation of texts and sounds, from Journey to the West to local historical sources; and maritime knowledge reflected in Qing-dynasty nautical charts. Drawing on textual and visual materials, the speakers explored networks of exchange connecting overland routes, seas, and islands.

A total of 23 papers were presented at the conference, covering the Maritime Silk Roads and Inner Asian networks, religious art and the transmission of religious beliefs, silk-weaving and papermaking technologies, and the circulation of classical works, texts, and images across regions. Together, they highlighted the diverse forms of exchange across land and sea.

Dean Mao emphasized that the conference marked an important starting point for the College of Humanities to develop research on Eurasian exchange through the theme of “Mountains, Seas, and Island Chains.” With the participation of international scholars, the College built on its established strengths in classical Chinese studies and history to connect maritime, Inner Asian, and island studies around shared questions spanning regions and disciplines. These efforts laid a foundation for international research collaboration and the development of early-career scholars, while fostering a distinctive approach to humanities research grounded in perspectives from Taiwan.

CCU’s College of Humanities hoped to sustain the international exchanges initiated by the conference. By bringing together the resources of a national museum and a university in Chiayi, the College aimed to establish lasting academic partnerships, support early-career scholars in research across regions, and expand the international connections of humanities research in Taiwan.