The Tan Chin Tuan Foundation was established in 1976 by the late banker and philanthropist Tan Sri (Dr) Tan Chin Tuan (1908 – 2005) to share with society the rewards of a highly illustrious career. Today, the contributions of the Foundation reflect the founder’s philosophy of how money should be channelled for social good. The Foundation strives to support causes and projects that are viable, sustainable and well-managed with definable social outcomes.
A founding benefactor of Yale-NUS College, the Tan Chin Tuan Foundation pledged an endowed gift to kickstart two initiatives that would promote greater understanding about China and Chinese civilisation:
- Tan Chin Tuan Professorship in China and Chinese Studies
- The Tan Chin Tuan Chinese Culture & Civilisation Programme for undergraduates includes full scholarships for Chinese language immersion in China and Taiwan
Thanks to the generosity of the Tan Chin Tuan Foundation, a wide range of scholarly activities have been organised at Yale-NUS. These include lectures by visiting Chinese Studies scholars, academic conferences, and workshops.
The following events are kindly supported by the Tan Chin Tuan Chinese Culture and Civilisation Programme:
(Upcoming) Intertextual Dialogue Conference
5-7 May, 2022
Join scholars from all over the globe at the upcoming International Conference on Intertextual Dialogue in Early Chinese Writings.
TENG Ensemble Forefathers’ Project Workshop
17 March 2021
Co-Founder and Creative Director of The TENG Ensemble Dr. Samuel Wong delivered a performance-lecture at Yale-NUS and shared his fieldwork experience and how The TENG Ensemble innovates age-old traditions, celebrates Singapore’s unsung Chinese music pioneers, and reimagines the sounds that were carried in the hearts of Singapore’s Chinese forefathers.
Symposium on the History of Overseas Chinese in Singapore
3 February 2021
This symposium was held to reflect upon the long history of Chinese activity in Singapore, from the time of itinerant sea traders to the era of more permanent settlement in colonial times, and during the establishment of Singapore as an independent and prosperous nation. It focused on themes such as the history of Chinese education and the shaping of Chinese identities in Singapore, and new modes of research and exhibition to better study and appreciate that history, with the aim of inspiring further exploration of the complex and intricate ways in which various ethnic groups have come together to make Singapore what it is today
Ma Ming-hao—Hands-on Sessions on The Arts and Aesthetics of Chinese Calligraphy
11 February 2020
Visiting Professor and Renowned Calligraphy Ma Ming-hao provided students with the opportunity to learn and practice the basics of Chinese calligraphy while learning more about the art and aesthetics of Chinese calligraphy and its fascinating connection with poetry and other forms of traditional Chinese art. The primary language of instruction was in Chinese, but translation was provided.
Kenneth J DeWoskin—China: A 360° New Year’s Review
12 February 2019
Professor Kenneth J. DeWoskin, Senior Advisor and China Subject Matter Expert, Deloitte Services, LLP, and Professor Emeritus of Asian Languages and Cultures and former Professor of International Business, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, gave an enlightening talk on China as we entered 2019, with China pursuing an ambitious development and reform programme while facing formidable domestic and international challenges.
David Der-Wei Wang—Strange Encounters: On Sinophone Xenophone Literature
18 October 2019
This lecture was co-sponsored by the Yale-NUS Division of Humanities (Literature Major)
Elizabeth Wijaya, Assistant Professor, East Asian Cinema at the Department of Visual Studies, University of Toronto and Co-founder, E&W Films
“The ‘As If’ of Cinema between Memory and Forgetting”
15 August 2019
This lecture was co-sponsored by the Yale-NUS Division of Humanities (Literature Major)
Stephen Angle—Confucianism as a Way of Life
24 October 2018
Stephen Angle, Professor of Philosophy and Mansfield Freeman Professor of East Asian Studies, Wesleyan University
“Confucianism as a Way of Life”
In this talk, Professor Stephen Angle explored the relevance and value of Confucian thought in the context of modern, liberal democracy.
Martin Kern—Poems and Manuscripts in Early China
14 August 2018
This lecture was co-sponsored with the Ancient Worlds Study Group and the Yale-NUS Division of Humanities (Literature Major)
The International Academic Conference on Philosophy and Technology in Early China
18- 20 August 2017
The International Academic Conference on Philosophy and Technology in Early China was co-organized with the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Cambridge and the Needham Research Institute. It was held at Yale-NUS College from 18 to 20 August 2017.
William H. Nienhauser, Jr.—The Significance of Plowing in Early Chinese Texts
21 August 2017
This talk was held as part of a series of college-wide lectures organized under the auspices of the Tan Chin Tuan Chinese Culture & Civilization Programme.
Evelyn Goh—Rising China’s Influence in Developing Asia
10 April 2017
This talk was held as part of a series of college-wide lectures organized under the auspices of the Tan Chin Tuan Chinese Culture & Civilisation Programme
International Academic Conference on Excavated Manuscripts and Chinese Classical Studies 出土文獻與中國古典學國際學術研討會
7-9 April 2016
The International Academic Conference on Excavated Manuscripts and Chinese Classical Studies was co-organized with the Center for Excavated Manuscripts and Paleography, Fudan University, Shanghai. It was held at Yale-NUS College from 7 to 9 April 2016, bringing together scholars and researchers from across the globe.
Haili Kong—Time, Space & Being: Wong Kar-Wai’s Cinematic Re-making of Hong Kong
10 March 2016
Wong Kar-wai may be considered the most mythical and stylistic Hong Kong film director of all time. The lecture explored how his Hong Kong trilogy, “Days of Being Wild (1991)”, “Fallen Angels (1995)”, and “In the Mood for Love (2000)”, with their unconventional use of camera and audio-visual media, represented the intellectual reaction to Hong Kong’s identity through the lens of belonging, being, and becoming.
Bates Gill—The Enduring Paradox of US-China Relations: Admiration, Ambivalence, Antagonism
13 January 2016
This talk was held as part of a series of college-wide lectures organised under the auspices of the Tan Chin Tuan Chinese Culture & Civilisation Programme.
Michael Puett—Ritual and Sincerity: Theories from China
25 November 2015
Walter C. Klein Professor of Chinese History at Harvard University Michael Puett discussed some of the indigenous theories concerning ritual and sincerity that have developed in the Chinese tradition with the stance that these theories in China have much to offer to contemporary discussions.
This talk was held as part of a series of college-wide lectures organized under the auspices of the Tan Chin Tuan Chinese Culture & Civilisation Programme.
Jonathan Spence – A Historian’s Life
12 March 2015
Sterling Professor of History (Emeritus) Jonathan Spence reflected on the history of modern China since the 17th century at the talk, which focused on how Chinese history seemed to be constantly changing in response to China’s place in the world.
This talk was held as part of a series of college-wide lectures organised under the auspices of the Tan Chin Tuan Chinese Culture & Civilisation Programme.
Annping Chin — Confucius, You Surprised Me
11 March 2015
Through an engaging lecture, Annping Chin sought to make connections that brought immediacy to what Confucius said and what he observed about the world.
