Meet Our Rising Star – Professor Ge Liang, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

 

A scholar at the Academy of Chinese, History, Religion, and Philosophy, Professor Ge Liang is both an academic researcher and a creative writer. By maintaining this dual commitment to rigorous research and literary production, he has developed a body of work that has earned accolades across both domains.

Professor Ge has published refereed papers in tier-1 journals such as Literature Review, and his exploratory articles on contemporary Chinese urban literature and culture have been widely cited. Professor Ge has also authored 24 books and over 100 articles, many of which are translated into English, Spanish, and Russian, and thus reach a wider audience beyond the Chinese community, which have appeared in peer-reviewed literary journals.

The Research Office (RO) talked with Professor Ge to learn how he is able to balance two identities in an interesting and rewarding way:

 

RO: What is your main project at the moment?

Ge: My current research project focuses on creative writing and intangible cultural heritage. I am concentrating on Kwon-glazed Porcelain (Canton Porcelain), an art form unique to Lingnan, as both a cultural researcher and a novelist, and trying to use the universality and extensive reach of novels to draw social attention to these oral traditions and expressions.

The project combines creative writing with empirical research, allowing me to intervene in the narrative as a researcher and to present my research and fieldwork findings. This is how I explain the anthropological, folkloristic, and sociological value of Kwon-glazed Porcelain, and I also hope to raise awareness about the importance of preserving Hong Kong's living heritage.
 

RO: What initially drew you to contemporary Chinese literature and creative writing?

Ge: Contemporary Chinese literature, shaped by the New Culture Movement and the May Fourth Movement, reflects both the inheritance of classical Chinese literature and the profound influence of Western culture. This synthesis has refreshed the aesthetic sensibility of Chinese literature and resulted in a wealth of outstanding works, creating abundant opportunities for scholarly inquiry and exploration. 

In academic research, learning to empathise with the subjects of study and understanding the mindsets, joys, and sorrows they experience during the creative process infuses my commentary with greater warmth. This was my original motivation for my writing and its foundation.

RO: How do you balance your academic research and creative writing?

Ge: I believe that academic study and creative work are intertwined, serving to sustain and inspire one another. Scholarly experience provides the structural logic and fieldwork rigour essential for textual construction, while creative practice enriches research by broadening its horizons and imbuing it with a strong, empathetic resonance.

Over the years, I have sought to integrate research insights into fiction with the approach I call “the harmony of art and literature” (藝述相和). For instance, my work Hair Cutting draws upon research into intangible cultural heritage, while Food is Heaven focuses on the Lingnan region, and a conversation with modern history through the lens of a cultural studies scholar.

RO: How does HKBU facilitate your growth as both a researcher and a writer?

Ge: HKBU offers abundant research resources and an inclusive academic environment, providing a solid basis for scholarly inquiry while stimulating the imagination and expanding intellectual horizons. The Department of Chinese has a storied history as a nursery for literary talent where the dialogue between teacher and student in creative writing embodies the spirit of mutual growth.

During my nearly two decades at HKBU, I have produced a number of monographs and the 'Homeland' novel series (家國長篇小說系列), and received the Lu Xun Literary Award, first prize at the Dream of the Red Chamber Award, and the Artist of the Year Award from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.

RO: How do specific qualities of the HKBU research environment assist your current project objectives?

Ge: The research environment at HKBU embraces diverse perspectives and emphasises the convergence of cultural forms. This has inspired me to develop cross-cultural research projects and courses that explore various intersections, including intangible cultural heritage and literature, and urban culture and literature, as well as theatre and literature.

RO: How do you maintain a work-life balance while juggling two vocations?

Ge: Beyond my academic work, I enjoy the cinema – an interest that has inspired several of my writings, such as Painting Colours (繪色), and the novel The Years (戲年). 

Writing is my lifelong passion and a daily practice of reflection; by assimilating these personal interests into my research, I encourage the two creative spheres to resonate with one another.

RO: One piece of advice to new generation researchers?

Ge: Work steadily, stay the course, and in time you will excel.