Speaking in Mandarin to an audience of over 200 people at the Lien Fung’s Colloquium on 19 April 2008, biographer of the Chinese author Zhang Ailing, Dr Ni Wen Jian brought to life the author’s ties to Shanghai and how these ties affected her personally and professionally as a writer. The Colloquium was chaired by Professor Yue Meiquin, a playwriter and professor in the Institute of Visual Arts at Fudan University.

Dr Ni is an Associate Professor in the Chinese Literature Department at the Shanghai East China Normal University. His research focuses on 20th century Chinese literature and in recent years he has become well-known for his influence on

China’s youth for his interpretation of new age literature and cultural research. Speaking about Zhang Ailing, author of the book adapted for the recent film Lust Caution, Dr Ni explained how the author saw the opening of Chinese ports to the West from 1843 as having a destructive and negative impact. That the unique culture Zhang was part of in Shanghai was being diluted by the absorption of foreign influences.

The Lien Fung’s Colloquium was established at SMU by Mrs Ho Lien Fung in 2001 to enhance public understanding and appreciation of culture and society through lectures, talks and other events. Also known as “Lien Fung Jiang Zuo” in Chinese, the Colloquium features well-known and thought-provoking speakers from the region and internationally. Acknowledging the diversity of cultures, the lectures are delivered in the speaker’s primary language.