Introduction
Date: 7 June 2025 (Saturday)
Time: 4:00 pm-5:30 pm
Venue: MPA, Main Library, The University of Hong Kong Libraries
Dunhuang is a cultural treasure of China, encompassing history, art, religion, philosophy, and scholarship. It symbolizes the magnificent achievements of human civilization made possible through cultural exchange, coexistence, and integration.
Professor Zhao and Dr. Li delve deeply into the Buddhist philosophy and aesthetics of Dunhuang. With unique perspectives, they each reveal the beauty of Dunhuang culture from their unique angles.
Speaker Profile
Dr. Shengliang Zhao
Researcher at Dunhuang Academy
Dr. Shengliang Zhao, graduated from the School of Chinese Language and Literature at Beijing Normal University in 1984 and earned his Ph.D in Literature from Seijo University, Japan in 2003. He has served as Editor-in-Chief of Dunhuang Research Journal, Deputy Director, Director and Party Secretary of Dunhuang Academy. He has also been Visiting Researcher at Tokyo University of the Arts, Visiting Professor at Tainan National University of the Arts and Researcher at Princeton University. Currently, he is Researcher and Academic Committee Chair at Dunhuang Academy, Executive Editor of Dunhuang Research Journal, Counselor to the Gansu Provincial Government and Co-Director of Dunhuang Studies Research Center at Peking University. Specialising in Dunhuang art and Chinese art history studies, Dr. Zhao has published over a hundred research papers and more than twenty books, including: Dunhuang Murals and Landscape Studies, Dunhuang Grottoes’ Fine Arts History, A Brief History of Dunhuang Grotto Art, and Essays on Dunhuang Art.
Dr. Li Shi Cheng
Founder of Chamber of Young Snow
Dr. Li Shi Cheng is the Founding Chairman of Varada Capital and Marga Group with over 40 years of international experience in real estate, finance and telecommunications. A Chartered Banker (UK) and Fellow of CPA Australia/HKICPA, he holds economics and commerce degrees from HKU and UNSW, and a Ph.D in Buddhist Studies at HKU. As a Macquarie Bank founding team member, he headed the Asian Property division and directed major REITs including Macquarie Goodman. Previously Asia Pacific Director of Century 21 and Founder of Treasure Land Property Consultants, he served on Hong Kong’s Estate Agents Authority as a founding member. As an entrepreneur, he founded multiple ventures: Treasure Land, China-way Corporation, Global Call and Marga Group. He established the Buddhist Lodge of Laity to introduce Buddhism to the public. He also founded Chamber of Young Snow, a Chinese art collection and venture supporting culture development, sponsoring HKU, Lingnan University, Peking University and Hang Seng University. He is also a founding patron of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Foundation. For over 20 years, he has been hosting two shows on Metro Finance radio, sharing insights on Buddhism and art, and has hundreds of thousands of fans in Hong Kong.
Organiser: The University of Hong Kong Libraries
Co-organiser and Sponsor: Chamber of Young Snow
Event Recap
