17 October 2026 – 1872 Young Writers’ Class Lecture The Literary Nature of ‘Practical Writing’: Centred on Han Yu Speaker: Professor Wang Hong
A Masterclass in Literature: Exploring the Literary Charm of "Practical Writing"
— A Record of the First Major Lecture of the 1872 Hong Kong Young Writers’ Class for the 2026–27 Academic Year
As the first major lecture of the 2026–27 academic year for the “1872 Hong Kong Young Writers’ Class”, our school (Chinese Foundation Secondary School, CFSS) recently had the honour of welcoming Professor Wang Hong, a professor from the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Sichuan University and a renowned cultural scholar, to our school hall. She delivered a fascinating academic lecture entitled “The Literary Nature of ‘Practical Writing’: Centred on Han Yu”. The event was met with an overwhelming response, with a packed hall. It attracted over 400 teachers and students from our school and dozens of secondary schools across Hong Kong, who gathered together and immersed themselves in a rich academic atmosphere. It was a truly grand occasion.
Breaking Stereotypes: Rediscovering the Legacy of Han Yu
During the lecture, Professor Wang Hong, drawing on her profound academic foundation and employing accessible language, guided the students on a journey across a millennium to re-read the works of Han Yu, the foremost of the Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song dynasties. Professor Wang pointed out that while “practical writing” often leaves a dull and rigid impression, in the hands of Han Yu—whether in memorials to the throne, letters, or elegiac writings—it perfectly married practicality with a high degree of literary merit, achieving the ideal of “literature as a vehicle for the Way” (wényǐzàidào) and blending reason with emotion. Through Professor Wang’s incisive analysis, students from various schools not only appreciated the profound beauty of classical literature but also shattered their traditional perceptions of practical writing.
Nurturing Grace: Warm Interactions and Inter-school Exchange
Professor Wang Hong’s amiable and gentle scholarly demeanour was warmly received by all the teachers and students present. At the close of the lecture, Professor Wang interacted cordially with our teachers, students, and the gathered learners, and posed for group photographs. In the photographs, the students are seen clustering around Professor Wang with beaming smiles, vividly demonstrating their profound affection and respect for this cultural scholar.
This masterclass was not merely a baptism of literary knowledge, but also a profound cultivation of the cultural literacy of CFSS students and students across Hong Kong. Furthermore, it highlighted our school’s role as a key base for the “1872 Hong Kong Young Writers’ Class” and our unwavering commitment to promoting inter-school academic exchange. Our school will continue to introduce high-quality academic resources and build a broad learning platform, allowing the seeds of literature to take root, sprout, and thrive in the hearts of every student across Hong Kong.
