Call for Papers — The Middle without Boundaries? | City University of Hong Kong | May 28–31, 2026
Building on a growing international conversation about China’s middle period (220–1600) and the success of the previous three Middle-Period China Humanities conferences, we are pleased to invite proposals for The Middle without Boundaries? The Fourth Middle-Period China Humanities Conference, to be held May 28–31, 2026, at City University of Hong Kong in Kowloon, Hong Kong. This marks the first time the conference series will be held in Asia, and we are excited to take this step together with you.
Three years after scholars gathered at Yale University to ask whether we are “Stuck in the Middle,” this conference seeks to continue those rich intellectual exchanges and to move beyond conventional boundaries—chronological, disciplinary, and geographical—in order to explore fresh approaches to this long and diverse era.
We invite proposals from scholars across the humanities that engage with China between 220 and 1600, including but not limited to the fields of history, art history, literature, religious studies, and historical geography. This conference aims to serve as a welcoming venue for conversations that embrace a broad range of approaches, from the more conventional to the experimental. We are especially interested in papers that address larger thematic questions or adopt innovative methodologies. In order to make the most of the gathering of scholars from different disciplines and dynastic specializations, we will give priority to papers that span more than one dynastic period, situate China in a broader geographical context, or employ interdisciplinary perspectives.
Following the successful format of this conference series, each accepted paper will be discussed in at least two sessions: first in a discipline-specific panel and then in an interdisciplinary panel, allowing participants to engage with their work from multiple perspectives. To align with this format, we welcome individual paper submissions rather than organized panels. As a core tradition of this series, papers may be written and discussed in either Chinese or English (and all papers should have abstracts in both English and Chinese). While we will not translate everything, panel moderators/interpreters will be present to summarize discussions when necessary.
To foster collegial exchange beyond the panel rooms, we will also organize historical site and museum visits in Hong Kong. Please indicate your ranked preferences for these activities on the application form.
To apply, please complete the application form (available on the conference webpage: https://www.cah.cityu.edu.hk/events/4thmpch-Conference) and return it to cah4chinahumanities@cityu.edu.hk by November 15, 2025. Please note that Ph.D. holders and Ph.D. students will use different application forms.
The maximum capacity of this conference will be 150–160 participants. Applicants will be notified of the results by the end of January 2026. Accepted participants will be asked to submit a paper of no more than 7,000 English words or 10,000 Chinese characters by April 15, 2026. We encourage participants to present work in progress that will spark debate.
Attendees are responsible for arranging their own transportation and accommodations, as is standard for this conference series. Limited financial support is available for Ph.D. students, awarded based on demonstrated need and the scholarly potential of the proposed paper. If you are a Ph.D. student and would like to apply for financial support, please indicate this on the application form.
For any inquiries, please write to cah4chinahumanities@cityu.edu.hk.
We look forward to receiving your proposals and welcoming you to Hong Kong for an engaging, collegial, and wide-ranging exploration of China’s middle period!
Warm regards,
The Conference Organizing Committee
IIYAMA Tomoyasu (Waseda University)
LI Yiwen (City University of Hong Kong)
LU Chia Hui (City University of Hong Kong)
Jason PROTASS (Brown University)
TSUI Lik Hang (City University of Hong Kong)
Lei XUE (Oregon State University)
ZHANG Wanmin (City University of Hong Kong)
Sponsored by the Tin Ka Ping Foundation
Hosted by the Department of Chinese and History, City University of Hong Kong
