On the occasion of the  135th  birth anniversary of Pearl  S. Buck, the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature (1938), this international symposium seeks to revisit her life and  writings   from   the   perspective   of  exchanges   and   mutual   learning   among civilizations. Hailed as “the most influential Westerner to write about China since the 13th  century’s Marco Polo”, Pearl  S. Buck not only introduced Chinese literature and culture to global readers through her literary writings, but also participated actively in transnational   cultural   dialogue,   humanitarian   engagement,   and   the   shaping   of international understandings of China.

Pearl S. Buck’s connection with China was both profound and lifelong. Raised in Jiangsu  Province  and  deeply  immersed  in  Chinese  language  and  culture  from childhood, she developed a unique understanding of Chinese society and everyday life that later shaped her literary vision. From  1919 to  1934, Pearl  S. Buck taught  at the University of Nanking, now Nanjing University. During her years  in Nanjing,  she completed  some  of her  most  influential  works,  including  East   Wind,    West  Wind(1930),  The  Good Earth  (1931),  Sons  (1932),  and  TheMother  (1934).  The  former residence where  she  lived  and wrote  on  the  Gulou  Campus  of Nanjing University stands  as  an  important   site   of cultural  memory  and  intercultural   exchange.  Her writings on Nanjing and China, together with her efforts to promote Chinese literature and to  advocate  for  China  internationally  during  World  War  II,  have  secured  her lasting significance in the history of Sino-American cultural relations. At a time when geopolitical   tensions,   cultural    misunderstandings,   and   ideological    polarization continue to challenge international communication, Pearl  S. Buck’s  commitment to human-centered  understanding  across  cultures  remains  remarkably  relevant,   and reminds us that genuine dialogue begins with empathy, dignity, and the recognition of shared humanity.

Hosted    by    Nanjing    University,    the    symposium     aims    to    provide    an interdisciplinary   platform   for   scholars   working    in   literature,    culture,   history, communication, translation, and related fields to explore the enduring value of Pearl S. Buck’s works and thoughts. Particular attention will be given to the role of literature in  fostering  cross-cultural understanding  and to the  significance  of Pearl  S.  Buck’s legacy for current discussions of cultural exchange, international communication, and dialogues  among   civilizations.  Topics  may   include,   but  are  not  limited  to,   the following:

· Pearl S. Buck’s representations of China in socio-historical contexts

· Pearl  S. Buck’s Nanjing narratives and their historical and cultural meanings

· Pearl S. Buck and the international representation of China during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression

· Pearl S. Buck’s fiction and nonfiction writings on the “several worlds”

· Cross-cultural comparison in Pearl S. Buck’s nonfiction writings

· Translation, adaptation, and transnational circulation of Pearl S. Buck’s works

· Pearl S. Buck’s contribution to the construction of confidence in Chinese culture and the global circulation of Chinese literature

· The reception of Pearl S. Buck in 21st-century China and its implications

· Comparative perspectives on Sino-American literary and cultural interactions

· Cross-cultural dialogues and global humanities

· Pearl S. Buck and contemporary global communication

· Pearl S. Buck and cross-cultural understanding in the digital age

Scholars, researchers,   and  graduate  students  are  warmly  invited  to   submit proposals. A roundtable forum will also be held during the conference on “Pearl S. Buck and the Future of Sino-US Cultural Exchanges.”

Organizers

School of Foreign Studies, Nanjing University

Center for the Study of Contemporary Foreign Literature and Culture Pearl S. Buck Memorial Hall

RUC National Reading and Education Institute

China Association for the Study of American Literature

Conference Dates

June 25-27, 2027

Conference Venue

Gulou Campus of Nanjing University

Working Languages

English/Chinese

Important Dates

Abstract Submission Due: March 1, 2027

Contact Us

Dr. LIU Yang

Email: cflc@nju.edu.cn