[Academic Forum] The Second International Forum on the Study of Warring States, Qin, and Han Bamboo and Wooden Slips Held at Wuhan University

From May 10 to 11, 2025, the “Second International Forum on the Study of Warring States, Qin, and Han Bamboo and Wooden Slips (International Symposium on Newly Unearthed Bamboo and Wooden Slip Manuscripts)” was held at Wuhan University. The forum was co-hosted by the Center of Bamboo Silk Manuscript of Wuhan University, the Institute for Research in Humanities of Kyoto University, and the Department of Asian History at Seoul National University.

Since 2021, initiated by Professor Chen Wei (Wuhan University), Professor Miyake Kiyoshi (Kyoto University), and Professor Kim Byungjoon (Seoul National University), the three institutions have regularly conducted online joint reading sessions of Warring States, Qin, and Han bamboo and wooden slips. These sessions have served as platforms for sharing the latest research findings and strengthening academic exchange and collaboration among faculty and students from the three sides. Between 2021 and 2024, a total of 15 online reading sessions were held, featuring discussions on 43 academic papers with over 60 faculty members and graduate students participating.

On October 26, 2023, the format was expanded to the combination of online and in-person reading sessions. From May 17 to 18, 2024, the “First International Forum on the Study of Warring States, Qin, and Han Bamboo and Wooden Slips” was successfully held at Seoul National University, further expanding the scale of in-person presentations. The “Second International Forum on the Study of Warring States, Qin, and Han Bamboo and Wooden Slips” held at Wuhan University continued this format. This year’s forum focused on the theme of “Research on Newly Unearthed Bamboo and Wooden Slip Manuscripts.” A total of 14 papers were presented, covering topics such as interpretation and compilation of newly published slips from Liye, Yuelu Academy, Peking University, Zhangjiashan, Shuihudi, and Zoumalou. The discussions included legal documents, administrative texts, bureaucracy and geography, as well as customs and ethnic practices. The ample time allocation allowed for thorough presentations and discussions. Scholars in attendance widely acknowledged the importance of these reading sessions for promoting academic exchange and mutual progress among the three institutions.

Group Photo of Participants