Sharing for the “Digital History Lab Summer Internship Scheme”

Report by Ms. LI Yuji

This summer, students from different academic disciplines participated in the STEM Internship Scheme to became members of the Digital History Lab led by Prof. Stuart MCMANUS. We have completed two key tasks that presented us with exciting and unique challenges.

First, we had the opportunity to participate in EvaHan2023 hosted by the Machine Translation Summit, an esteemed series of international workshops that centered on the information processing of ancient Chinese. This venture was an entirely new experience for all of us. We were thrilled to be a part of such a prestigious event, but we also realized that it would require us to delve into uncharted territory.

One of the major hurdles we faced was our lack of prior experience in utilizing Natural Language Processing (NLP) models for the processing of Classical Chinese texts. It was a novel endeavor that demanded us to quickly familiarize ourselves with NLP techniques and methodologies. We dedicated a significant portion of our time to grasp the fundamentals of building NLP models, which involved a week-long intensive learning process. Fortunately, we soon learned to navigate the unfamiliar territory and devised innovative solutions that allowed us to successfully complete the tasks assigned to us in EvaHan2023.

Second, we undertook an intriguing research project focused on the reuse of ancient Chinese classical texts in the works of Matteo Ricci. This endeavor allowed us to explore the intersection of different disciplines, bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds such as social sciences, engineering, and natural sciences. Initially, we were strangers to one another, but as we delved deeper into our research, we discovered the pleasure of collaboration.

Working alongside my colleagues was an enriching experience. Each team member brought their unique perspectives and expertise to the table, creating a harmonious blend of knowledge. It was fascinating to witness the synergy that emerged as we combined our strengths and insights. Despite our different academic backgrounds, we found common ground and successfully completed our research project on the reuse of classical thoughts in Ricci’s works.

The process of amalgamating our individual achievements, with each person’s specialized knowledge from diverse fields, was akin to constructing a masterpiece with LEGO bricks. We took pleasure in meticulously refining and polishing our findings, just as one would delight in assembling intricate LEGO structures. The collaborative effort brought us closer together and fostered deep friendships among us. The bonds we formed during this research endeavor will be cherished for years to come.

In summary, our summer research experience was immensely rewarding and unforgettable, thanks to the unwavering support of our professor. As time swiftly passes by, I am certain that the knowledge we acquired during this period will remain etched in our memories. The beautiful moments shared with my colleagues will always hold a special place in my heart.

The Digital History Lab
Members: Prof. Stuart MCMANUS (PI), Leo TAM, LI Yuji, QIU Shuyang, LIU Songyu, Daniel NG, Warner WONG, YU Letian

 

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World History Seminar (2023-24)

Organisers: Centre for Comparative and Public History, Department of History, CUHK
Enquiry: 3943 8541

 

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Interdisciplinary Reading Group on Changsha Wuyi Square Documents

Thanks for the generous sponsorship from the Research Institute for the Humanities at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, a group of doctoral and master’s students from the Departments of History, and Chinese Language and Literature have formed the “Interdisciplinary Reading Group on Changsha Wuyi Square Documents”. They will organise a series of reading sessions throughout the 2023-24 academic year. Each session will invite scholars from around the world who are engaged in the study of excavated documents to share their research insights, aiming to broaden the research perspectives of the reading group members.

The first session will be hosted by Mr. LAU Tsz Kwan. His sharing is titled “Bureaucracy, Official Titles, and Manuscripts: A Case Study of Orientational Officials in Linxiang County”. The details are as follows:

For any inquiries, please contact the organisers, Mr. CHAN Wai (wchan@link.cuhk.edu.hk) or Mr. HO Kwok Shing (hokwokshing@link.cuhk.edu.hk).
For more information on the reading group and its schedule, please visit http://bit.ly/44D1TXM.

 

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For teachers and students who have information to share with the Department, please email your articles in both Chinese and English to chanfiona@cuhk.edu.hk by 4:00pm every Monday.