At a Beijing forum attended by young international Sinologists, Yang Huilin, a retired professor of the School of Liberal Arts, Renmin University of China, spoke about romanticism and philosophy in perceptions of age, citing verses from Huanxisha — Visiting Qingquan Temple at Qishui, a poem by Su Shi in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127):

"Says who that one cannot find youth again? Even the stream before my door flows (backward) heading west," he quoted.

In China, rivers typically run from west to east. Through this imagery, Su expressed optimism about life, enhanced by what Yang described as an "interesting metaphor" and "the distinctive imagination of an intellectual". Understanding such nuance, he added, is essential to the study of Sinology.

He went on to quote from Zhuangzi (The Book of Chuang Tzu), the Taoist text named after the thinker who lived more than 2,200 years ago: "One knows that east and west are opposites, yet neither can exist without the other. One then understands how the world functions and how roles are set."

He explained that his intention was not only to test the audience's Chinese language ability, but also to illustrate that Sinology is fundamentally about understanding cultural differences as well as shared ground. Its depth, he noted, requires scholars to probe beyond surface knowledge.

Yang's encouragement and hopes for younger-generation Sinologists were echoed by other senior speakers at the recent International Symposium on Young Sinologists and Mutual Learning among Civilizations. The three-day event was jointly organized by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation and Renmin University of China.

The symposium provided a platform for academic exchange while also serving as a training camp for scholars devoted to Chinese studies from universities in China and abroad. Activities included themed seminars and a guided tour of the National Museum of Classic Books.

"Youth is a golden period for academic pursuits," said Zhang Donggang, secretary of the CPC Committee of Renmin University of China, at the seminar."Beyond understanding China through classical texts, it is equally important to feel the pulse of the country via one's eyes and ears, by walking, and with a heart."