Beijing

The Beijing Centre, People's Republic of China

The Centre is currently being relocated

Although some of the most renowned EFEO sinologists - Paul Pelliot, Henri Maspero, Rolf A. Stein - conducted research projects in China throughout the 20th century, it was not until 1997 that a permanent EFEO Centre was established in Beijing to replace the branch office set up in Fouzhou in 1994. The Beijing Centre is part of a cooperative effort undertaken with the History of Science Institute of the Chinese Academy of Science. The School also works in collaboration with the Fudan University, the History Institute and Archaeology Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Normal University of Beijing, the University of Tsinghua and the National Library.

Over recent years EFEO members in Beijing have carried out several research projects in history, anthropology, sociology of religion and history of science. Likewise guest scholars from French and European institutions have stayed at the Centre to conduct extended research.

Current research program:

• Water systems and society in northern China
• Daoism and local society: liturgical structures in central Human
• Epigraphy and oral history of Beijing temples
• Architecture and history of Ming and Qing coastal defenses*
• Cultural and social history of printing and publishing in Huizhou

These research programs are all collaborative endeavors carried out in partnership with Chinese institutions. Several receive major funding from international research foundations.

The Center publishes Faguo hanxue - Sinologie française. This annual journal printed in Chinese is made possible with support from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Initially focusing on works in sinology undertaken in France, the journal has become increasingly thematic. Today the journal publishes articles by Chinese and French specialists on joint research results. Articles by Chinese specialists working in cooperation with the EFEO are also printed in this journal. The Centre publishes in addition bilingual (Chinese and French) special issues for the monthly HAS (History, Archaeology, and Society) lecture series. These lectures provide an intercultural forum for leading French and Chinese scholars in various branches of the humanities and social sciences.