Join renowned historian Mu-Chou Poo, author of Ghosts and Religious Life in Early China, as he explores the profound cultural and religious significance of ghosts in ancient China. Drawing from personal journey of puzzlement about religion and the quest to reconcile spiritual beliefs with historical realities, this lecture delves into the concept of the netherworld—was it simply an imagined paradise, or something more? By examining ghosts as “the other side of humanity,” Prof. Poo invites audiences to reflect on how these spectral figures offer insights into the hopes, fears, and moral fabric of early Chinese society. It will challenge our understanding of life, death, and the human imagination.
Dr. Mu-chou Poo is an adjunct Professor of the Department of History at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, where he was Chair Professor of History before his retirement in 2021. He taught at various places, including Columbia University and the University of California, Los Angeles. Before joining the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2009, he worked for Academia Sinica in Taipei for 26 years. His research interests include religion and society in ancient Egypt and China.
No registration is required for the webinar. Please join the meeting on Webex using this link: https://go.library.illinois.edu/WhyGhost or access the meeting using ID 2519 035 0489 and password JsQWJSrE968.