“Looking at the catalogue of the manuscript, I feel as if I have returned to the time when I was studying in Madison (Wisconsin) 30 years ago. I will always remember how Prof Nienhauser sometimes moved his literature classes and Shiji (The Grand Scribe’s Records) translation workshops to his residence,” wrote Prof Chen Zhi, President of Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU), in the preface of The Narration of China, a festschrift celebrating the 80th birthday of Prof William H. Nienhauser, Jr.
Prof Nienhauser, Halls-Bascom Professor Emeritus of Classical Chinese Literature at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, is an internationally renowned Sinologist. To honour his lifelong academic contributions, Prof Chen and the Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology at Hong Kong Baptist University jointly edited The Narration of China, published as part of the series of “Ancient Languages and Civilizations” by Brill, a leading international academic publisher.
Over more than six decades, Prof Nienhauser has made exceptional contributions to the field of Chinese studies, most notably through his monumental English translation of the Shiji and his research on traditional Chinese fiction and Tang chuanqi tales. In recognition of his scholarly excellence and his role in advancing cross-cultural understanding, BNBU awarded him an honorary fellowship in 2025.
The two-volume festschrift includes 22 academic papers. “They are written by long-term friends, old colleagues, students, and junior scholars of Prof Nienhauser,” Prof Chen introduced. “We are so delighted to have received support from Professors who include David Knechtges, Edward Shaughnessy, Haun Saussy, Hans van Ess, Robin Yates, Victor Mair, Charles Hartman, Julia Murray, and Scott Cook.”
“Besides teachers and students from the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Wisconsin, there are often visiting scholars from other schools. Many of the authors of this festschrift were guests of the Nienhauser Residence,” he added.
Over the years, Prof Nienhauser’s legendary Shiji translation workshops have travelled far, finding new homes in universities around the world, carrying forward a legacy of rigorous scholarship and generous mentorship.
Collecting the latest research in Sinology from a range of perspectives, The Narration of China both celebrates and extends the intellectual journey that Prof Nienhauser began.
Part 1 of it offers an in-depth exploration of early Chinese literature and historiography. It examines how ancient texts were recovered, studied, and edited, shedding light on the evolution of pre-Qin and Han writings. Through analyses of unearthed bamboo slip poetry and Sima Qian’s Shiji, this section reveals how linguistic study and historical reflection shape our understanding of China’s earliest literary heritage.
Part 2 focuses on poetry, fiction, and anecdotal writing from the Tang dynasty onward. The 12 papers guide readers through the linguistic artistry of Tang poetry, cross-cultural encounters such as a Portuguese explorer’s impressions of Beijing, reinterpretations of Confucius in art, and narrative studies of female vengeance tales, together illustrating the diversity and vitality of Chinese literary expression in later periods.
Prof Nienhauser expressed his deep gratitude for this tribute, calling it “the most precious gift of my 80th birthday.” He warmly acknowledged the dedication and care invested in the project, and the profound academic spirit it embodies.
“I hope this volume, as invaluable as it is in terms of academic merit, would also be a treasured memento to the audience, to those who have been dear colleagues, students, and good friends of the Nienhausers,” said Prof Chen, “and to those who will always remember their hospitality and kindness, as well as Prof Nienhauser’s serious dedication to scholarship.”
From MPRO
Reporter: Cecilia Yu, Koga Song
Photographer: Hanna He, and provided by the interviewee
