Introduction
The Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS) was established in 1967 on the basis of a broad concept of Chinese Studies, with missions to encourage comprehensive and comparative research into the multifarious Chinese culture and to advance academic excellence in the field both locally and abroad. The Institute centres itself around the idea of an international academic community through its constant communication and exchange with other researchers and institutions of Chinese Studies across the world, as well as its various scholarly publications and conferences.
Under the Institute of Chinese Studies are the T. T. Ng Chinese Language Research Centre, the Research Centre for Contemporary Chinese Culture, the D. C. Lau Research Centre for Chinese Ancient Texts, and the Research Programme for Lingnan Culture, each of which maintains its own academic programmes and publication activities. The Institute also collaborates with external academic partners and there are two affiliated units: the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation Asia-Pacific Centre for Chinese Studies (CCK-APC) and the Ecole française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO).
Periodicals and book series published by the Institute and its various units include the ICS Bulletin, Journal of Chinese Studies, Studies in Chinese Linguistics, Current Research in Chinese Linguistics, Twenty-First Century, Research Programme for Lingnan Culture E-Newsletter, the Pre-Han and Han Concordance Series, the Six Dynasties Concordance Series, and the CHANT (CHinese ANcient Texts) Series. Two key digital repositories have also been established at the Institute: the CHANT Database and the Digital Repository of Rare Books, Calligraphy, and Paintings of Guangdong Literati and Gentry from the Ming Dynasty to the Republican Era.
