On the evening of April 13, 2026, Professor Lin Yirong from the Department of Chinese Literature, National Taiwan Normal University, was invited to our college. She delivered an academic lecture entitled Metaphors of Objects: Intellectual Composition and Emotional Subtleties of Literati in the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Conference Room A255 of the Humanities Building.

Co-organized by the Social Science Office and the School of Humanities of Nanchang University, the lecture was presided over by Associate Professor Guo Yuxin from the Department of History. More than 40 teachers and students from the School of Humanities attended the event.

With abundant texts and images, as well as delicate observations and in-depth analysis, Professor Lin revealed how objects in classical texts serve as metaphorical carriers of life forms, emotions and ideological aspirations.

From the imaginary reality and illusion in portrait illustrations to the street performances of unrestrained literati in the late Ming Dynasty, these seemingly bizarre behaviors actually took objects as a special language. They challenged traditional ethical norms and implicitly conveyed the true feelings of marginalized intellectuals.

The lecture further extended to the subtle symbolism of minor creations adopted by loyalist scholars amid dynastic transitions. For instance, the "giant butterfly" described in Guangdong New Tales by Qu Dajun essentially embodied profound nostalgia for the fallen homeland through material imagery.

These subtle yet vivid objects not only enrich the interpretive dimensions of classical literature, but also offer a unique perspective for understanding literati’s inner worlds and the transformations of eras.

This lecture spanned across literature, visual images and physical practices, integrating elements such as memory, emotion and material culture, and fully illustrated the profound connotation of "the metaphor of objects". It not only brought cutting-edge academic achievements to the university, but also built a valuable platform for teachers and students to communicate with distinguished scholars.

After the lecture, Professor Lin engaged in in-depth discussions with the audience. She patiently answered questions raised by teachers and students, and exchanged books with participating faculty members before taking group photos as a lasting memento of the event.