Hello TWOC readers!
Earlier this year, the term “Odyssey Years” gained popularity as a viral expression on the Chinese internet. In July, an interview about The Odyssey between film director Christopher Nolan and Zhong Shu, a Chinese podcaster and classics PhD candidate, went viral for its insightful discussion of Homer’s epic. These are just a few examples of a growing interest in ancient Greek and Roman civilizations in contemporary China.
In European and North American universities, the unmodified noun “classics” conventionally refers to the study of ancient Greece and Rome; in China, however, “classics” (gudianxue, 古典学) encompasses the study of ancient civilizations more broadly, including Chinese, Greco-Roman, and other traditions.
We spoke to a few young Chinese scholars of the classics to explore what happens when those long positioned outside the putative lineage of Western civilization become researchers, interpreters, and teachers of knowledge about its supposed origins.
Read on to find out more:
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Greek Expectations: Why Are Young Chinese Scholars Studying Western Classics?
As more Chinese scholars of ancient Greece and Rome navigate the barriers of Western classics, they bring fresh perspectives to the study of antiquity. Read More
The 2026 Halloween Costume Guide (Chinese Memes Version)
From a series of memes featuring a somber possum to the unlikely romantic pairing of the Monkey King and Lin Daiyu, here are some of this year’s viral trends that might inspire your Halloween costume. Read more
Big-Result Theory: The Chinese Internet on Shortcuts to Success
From marrying rich to getting paid on time, da jieguo has become the catchphrase of Chinese hustle culture as well as a way for young netizens to mock society’s obsession with status and success. Read more
Chinese You Need
Swallowing the Dictionary: Bao, Boba, and the English Appetite for Chinese Words
Stuffed buns and bubble tea are two of the latest delicacies to be added to the English language’s ever-growing menu of mouthwatering Chinese terminology. Read more
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