"Chronicles of Daily Life in Tang Poetry": A Lecture by Professor Wang at our school
On the morning of September 20, 2025, despite the issuance of a strong wind warning and an amber rain warning signal by the Hong Kong Observatory, the enthusiasm of the students from the "Gifted Youth Writing Class" remained undeterred. Early in the morning, the student leaders from the school warmly welcomed writers from various schools across Hong Kong, presenting each guest and student with packages of drinks.
The school was honored to host Professor Wang Hong, a professor from the Chinese Department at Sichuan University, a national teaching model, the vice president of the Du Fu Research Society, and a member of the teaching team for the "Hong Kong Young Writers' Class" under the China Merchants Group. Professor Wang's lecture was titled " Chronicles of Daily Life in Tang Poetry."
Professor Wang's presentation was very relatable, combining examples from daily life with insights shared with the two to three hundred students from dozens of secondary schools across Hong Kong. She illustrated that Tang poetry is not only a treasure of Chinese poetic culture but also a record of the lives and emotions of the Tang people. Through these time-traveling records, we can glimpse various aspects of life in the Tang Dynasty, including family relationships, friendships, everyday trades, customs, and daily necessities. From the struggles of common people to the refined interests of scholars, the sounds, colors, and scents of the Tang era come alive, allowing us to feel the warmth and texture of a bygone time, even after a thousand years. Professor Wang encouraged us to view Tang poetry as the "life notes" of the Tang people, interpreting them from the perspective of daily life to gain a deeper understanding of their historical and literary value.
