Masterclass and Lecture with Prof. Martin Kern (Princeton)

On July 14 and 15, 2026, the IDK Philology will welcome Prof. Martin Kern to Munich. The renowned sinologist is a Professor for Asian Studies at Princeton University and conducts research on text cultures of the first millennium BCE in China. As director of the International Center for the Study of Ancient Text Cultures at Renmin University in Beijing, Prof. Kern is also committed to the interdisciplinary study of texts from various cultures, which is also a central focus of the IDK Philology.

On July 14 (6:15–8:00 p.m. in the Philologicum conference room), Prof. Kern will deliver a guest lecture open to the university community on the topic “Writing and Community in 300 BCE China: The Canonical Poems (Shi 詩) at the Chu 楚 Capital of Ying 郢.” Based on the archaeological data of tombs and the material, visual, and textual analysis of their bamboo manuscripts, this lecture identifies the Poems and other literary texts as the teaching tools of a class of low-ranking intellectuals at the Chu royal court. It reconstructs the social context of manuscript culture in its procedures of writing, reading, teaching, and learning at the only preimperial Chinese site that has yielded large collections of literary writings.

On July 15, he will lead a masterclass with the members of the IDK Philology, which will feature text discussions and a review of his forthcoming lexicon on philological practices in a global comparison. The IDK will also benefit from Prof. Kern’s experiences and insights into the academic job market during a career talk.

Text: Marco Pouget

Poster: Valentin Bernadou