European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA) is a learned society of over 1,900 top scientists and artists. Among its members are 33 Nobel Prize winners. On the morning of March 3rd, European time, European Academy of Sciences and Arts conducted a ceremony to accept Mr. Shunqing Cao into the academy as a member. Being the dean of College of Literature and Journalism, Sichuan University, Mr. Shunqing Cao is an outstanding professor and advisor of doctoral students.
Mr. Shunqing Cao has brought forth the Variation Theory of Comparative Literature. Being internationally recognized, this theory has been acclaimed as seminal by well-known scholars from countries such as the U.S.A, France, Germany, Holland, Denmark, Belgium, Spain, India and so on. As of this time, Mr. Cao is one of a few Chinese or ethnic Chinese members of EASA.
A New Voice
Indicating a new trend, Variation Theory of Comparative Literature is a new theory regarding current research in the field of comparative literature. David Damrosch,an elected Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and professor at Harvard University, points out:Variation Theory of professor Cao has rectified Huntington’s radical clash of civilization as well as the opinion to deem civilizations all the same.Professor “Dam”(sound translation) of Leiden University Holland, an academician with EASA, remarks to the effect that Professor Cao’s Variation Theory marks the advent of a new stage in world comparative literature. Professor Shunqing Cao suggests: “Only by fully recognizing the heterogeneity among civilizations, can we realize mutual attestation, cross interpretation and complementarity among different civilizations, which can facilitate the fusion, innovation and insight into different cultures.
In 2013, Mr. Shunqing Cao published his book The Variation Theory of Comparative Literature through Springer-Verlag in Germany. This theory has offered a new basis for research work in comparative literature between the east and the west.
In 2014, Mr. Shungqing Cao became president of China Comparative Literature Associationat at its 11thannual meeting. The book Translation and Study of Chinese Literature in English World has over 4.4 million words and provides a comprehensive summary of Chinese literature dissemination and acceptance patterns in the English speaking communities. And Mr. Cao is the chief author.
In 2018, Mr. Shunqing Cao was elected the primary scientist of Global Dissemination of Chinese Language, Literature and Culture, which is one of 12 key academic subjects/research fields at Sichuan University in its construction of world first-class university.
