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About Us

English

About Our Centre

Introduction

As a research centre within Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the Centre for Chinese Language and Culture (CCLC) was officially established in April 1994. It carries the legacy of NTU’s predecessor, Nanyang University (Nantah), founded in 1953, and is entrusted with the mission of advancing the study and research of the Chinese language and culture, while preserving Nantah’s pioneering educational spirit.

In its first decade, the Centre provided NTU students with a wide range of electives in language, literature, cultural studies, economics, history, and ethnology—amounting to about fifty courses in total. From 1997, the Centre began admitting graduate students pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees, and in 2000, it introduced a Minor in Chinese, covering fields such as politics, society, history, philosophy, language, and literature. Both its course offerings and graduate research projects have placed a strong emphasis on local and regional perspectives.

Research and publication have always been at the heart of CCLC’s mission. Beyond studies on China’s language, literature, and culture, the Centre has consistently placed strong emphasis on the Chinese communities of Singapore and Southeast Asia. Its key areas of research include Chinese language and dialects in Southeast Asia, Southeast Asian Chinese literature, and the history and folklore of Chinese communities in the region. In addition, the Centre engages with broader topics on Singapore’s society and language, and has gradually expanded its scope to encompass wider Southeast Asian and even global issues, such as Chinese migration and transnational networks.

Following the establishment of NTU’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) in September 2003, CCLC transferred its teaching responsibilities to the Division of Chinese, which has since become the flagship programme in NTU’s humanities. The Centre now focuses exclusively on research projects, complementing the Division of Chinese in advancing academic excellence in the field.

Looking ahead, CCLC will continue to pursue studies related to both China and the local context. At the same time, it remains committed to its distinct Nanyang perspective—an enduring hallmark and unique responsibility.

Academic Activities

Over the past two decades, the Centre has successfully carried out multiple research projects and organised a wide range of academic activities, including international conferences, public lectures, academic talks, and workshops, as well as publishing various scholarly books and journals. In addition, the Centre regularly conducts internal academic seminars to enhance scholarly exchange, benefiting visiting scholars, research fellows, faculty members, and graduate students.

Mission

  • Promoting Research
    Actively promote, coordinate, and encourage both specialised and interdisciplinary research on Chinese language and culture, with a focus on Chinese communities and China.

  • Facilitating Scholarly Exchange
    Provide a platform for international and local scholars to interact, fostering the exchange of the latest research findings and academic ideas across disciplines.

  • Organising Academic Activities
    Host a wide range of academic events, including international conferences, the “Tan Lark Sye Professorship in Chinese Language and Culture” public lectures series, public forums, and thematic seminars.

  • Publishing Scholarly Works
    Edit and publish academic books, monographs, and journals related to Chinese language, literature, and culture.

Main Research Areas

  • Chinese Traditions and Culture

  • Chinese Languages and Dialects

  • Chinese Literature

  • Chinese Migration and Networks: Local and Global Issues

  • Chinese Education in Southeast Asia

Major Academic Publications

1. Nanyang Series of Humanities StudiesLearn More

Launched in 2006, the Nanyang Series of Humanities Studies comprises four sub-series: “Studies on History of Nanyang University,” “Diasporic Chinese Studies,” “Literary and Cultural Studies,” and “National Boundaries and Cultural Configurations.” To date, 21 monographs have been published under this series, including 6 in “Studies on History of Nanyang University,” 4 in “Diasporic Chinese Studies,” 6 in “Literary and Cultural Studies,” and 5 in “National Boundaries and Cultural Configurations.” All titles in this series are rigorously peer-reviewed.


2. Nantah Series of Chinese Language and CultureLearn More

The Nantah Series of Chinese Language and Culture features academic monographs and collected volumes on Chinese language and culture, traditional Chinese literature and folklore, and Chinese literary studies. Most contributors are scholars from around the world, conducting independent research or collaborating with the Centre as research fellows. Since 1996, a total of 23 scholarly works arising from various research projects have been published under this series.


3. Tan Lark Sye Professorship in Chinese Language and Culture Public Lecture SeriesLearn More

Since 2007, the Centre has invited distinguished scholars—including Professor Chen Pingyuan (Peking University), Professor Jin Guantao (Taiwan Chengchi University), Professor Wang Hui (Tsinghua University), Professor Zhou Min (University of California, Los Angeles), Professor David Wang (Harvard University), Professor Mark Elliott (Harvard University), Professor Michael Szonyi (Harvard University), Professor Jing Tsu (Yale University), Professor Lydia Liu (Columbia University), and Professor Yunxiang Yan (University of California, Los Angeles)—to deliver lectures under the Tan Lark Sye Professorship in Chinese Language and Culture. Revised versions of these lectures have been compiled and published as part of the this series, making their insights accessible to a wider audience.


4. The International Journal of Diasporic Chinese StudiesLearn More

Since 2009, the Centre has co-published the International Journal of Diasporic Chinese Studies (biannual) together with three international partners: Centre for Chinese Studies, University of Manchester; Centre for Overseas Chinese Research, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (renamed Center for International Migration and Overseas Chinese Research in 2015); and Global Publishing, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. The inaugural issue was released in 2009.


5. The Nantah Journal of Chinese Language and CultureLearn More

The Nantah Journal of Chinese Language and Culture was an international scholarly journal with contributions anonymously peer-reviewed by renowned scholars worldwide. Since its launch in 1996, seven volumes (14 issues) were published before the journal ceased publication in 2013.