International Conference on Medieval Chinese Stone Inscriptions Convenes Scholars for In-Depth Dialogue

The University of Chicago Center in Beijing
20th floor, Culture Plaza
No. 59A Zhong Guan Cun Street
Haidian District Beijing 100872

The Conference on Medieval Chinese Stone Inscriptions was held on December 6-7, bringing together more than 150 scholars and researchers on site for in-depth discussions on the study of medieval stone inscriptions. The event attracted experts from the fields of history, archaeology, art history, philology, and religious studies, highlighting the inherently interdisciplinary character of epigraphic research.

The conference aimed to provide a comprehensive platform for the examination of newly discovered materials, innovative research approaches, and evolving theoretical perspectives in the field. Through a series of keynote lectures, thematic panels, and roundtable discussions, participants explored a wide range of topics, including the relationship between inscriptions and historical writing, regional and chronological variations in epigraphic practices, and the social, religious, and political dimensions embedded in stone-carved texts.

The meeting opened with remarks from the organizing committee, who emphasized the significance of stone inscriptions as primary sources for reconstructing medieval history. They noted that recent archaeological discoveries, together with advances in documentation and digital research methods, have greatly expanded both the sources and methodologies available to scholars, making sustained academic exchange increasingly important.

The academic program was organized into several thematic sessions. Presentations addressed funerary inscriptions, Buddhist and Daoist epigraphy, commemorative steles, and the interaction between inscriptional texts and manuscript traditions. Particular attention was devoted to methodological issues, including textual interpretation, material analysis, and the integration of epigraphic evidence with archaeological and historical data.

Throughout the two-day meeting, lively discussions underscored the value of collaborative and cross-disciplinary approaches. Participants shared ongoing research, engaged in critical dialogue, and reflected on future directions for the field, fostering an atmosphere of rigorous inquiry and open scholarly exchange.

By convening a large and diverse community of specialists, the conference highlighted recent advances in the study of medieval Chinese stone inscriptions while strengthening academic networks and encouraging further collaboration. The event reaffirmed the central role of epigraphy in the study of medieval society and demonstrated the continued vitality and relevance of this field of research.