International Conference: Rethinking Comparison in Sinology
Call for Papers - Rethinking Comparison in Sinology
The Department of Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Malta, with the support of the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta, is pleased to announce the second edition of the Chinese Studies Conference in Malta. Following the success of our 2023 gathering, we once again invite scholars from around the world to join us in Malta to engage with one of the most enduring and foundational questions in Sinology: comparison.
From its earliest formulations, Sinology has been shaped by comparative frameworks, for instance, through the application of Greco-Latin linguistic models to Chinese, and the use of Western aesthetic values to interpret Chinese art. Similarly, from at least the late Ming and Qing dynasties onward, Chinese intellectuals also engaged in cross-cultural comparison, seeking to “open their eyes to the world” and to assimilate Western knowledge. This phenomenon may also be understood from a cognitive perspective: we make sense of the unfamiliar by relating it to what we already know. In this process of assimilating and accommodating new knowledge, comparison plays a fundamental role in enabling cognitive integration. But what do we actually mean when we speak of “comparison”? What are the possibilities and the limitations of comparative work in Sinology, both historically and in the present? What is comparable, and how or why should we compare at all? This conference invites renewed reflection on comparative methods and epistemologies in Chinese studies, drawing on both historical practices and contemporary critical perspectives.
We welcome proposals for individual papers and panel sessions from across the Humanities within Chinese Studies. Submissions that engage directly with comparative methodologies, materials, or case studies are particularly encouraged. Possible areas of focus include, but are not limited to:
- Linguistics: Theoretical and applied linguistics, linguistic typology, historiography of linguistics.
- Literature: Comparative poetics, reception studies, translation theories.
- History: Transcultural historiography, global connections, comparative empires.
- Cultural Studies: Diaspora communities, folk/vernacular cultures, subcultures.
- Film & Media: Cross-cultural adaptations, visual semiotics, streaming platforms.
- Communication Studies: Intercultural dialogue, digital discourses, propaganda/rhetoric.
- Religious Studies.
Instructions for abstract submissions:
Individual abstracts (200-250 words) should be submitted in a Word document and must include the paper title, the author’s name and affiliation, email address, and a brief bio.
Panel proposals should be submitted in one Word document and must include a provisional panel title and 3-4 paper abstracts, each no more than 250 words with their own title. Please also include the name of the panel organiser, chair and participants, along with a short bio and the contact details for each person.
All abstracts and panel proposals must be sent by email by 28 February 2026. Requests or queries may be addressed to Dr Wei Chen or Dr Nan Hu.
Conference location: University of Malta, Valletta campus
Conference dates: 4 to 6 November 2026
Conference language: English
Deadline for abstracts: 28 February 2026
Notification of acceptance: 30 April 2026
Conference Committee: Dr Wei Chen, Dr Nan Hu, and Prof. Dennis Mizzi
More information is available on our webpage.
Participants experiencing financial hardship may be eligible for partial waivers of registration and cultural excursion fees. Those interested are encouraged to contact the organising committee for further details.
We warmly welcome scholars at all career stages to contribute to this timely dialogue on comparison in Sinology and look forward to vibrant exchanges in Malta.
