In the afternoon of March 23, the first publication of the English version the Indonesian Chinese historical document “The Chinese Annals of Batavia, The Kai Ba Lidai Shiji and Other Stories (1610-1795)" (hereinafter referred to as "The Chinese Annals ") was held in Research School for Southeast Asian Studies, Xiamen University. The English version was translated by Professor Leonard Blusse, Leiden University and Professor Nie Dening, Research School for Southeast Asian Studies, Xiamen University, published by the Brill last month. Distinguished Professor Zhuang Guotu of Xiamen University, Wu Fengbin, a retired professor of Xiamen University, Dr. Chen Tianzhu, Director of Xiamen daily, Dr. Lin Cuiru, Director of the Research Department of the Overseas Chinese Museum and the Secretary General of the Overseas Chinese History Society of Xiamen, attended the ceremony.
The Chinese Annals is the historical document of the overseas Chinese in Batavia (today's Jakarta, capital of Indonesia). It was written around the early nineteenth Century. It recorded the history of the development and important historical events of the overseas Chinese in Batavia from 1610 to 1795. There are two copies of this book, one in Cornell University of the United States and the other in Leiden University. Since the former copy is earlier, The Chinese Annals is mainly based on former one as the original version, with reference to all kinds of data at the same time. This book is a representative work of international academic cooperation in Research School for Southeast Asian Studies. It is also an important historical document of the history of Indonesian Chinese, Western colonial history and Chinese and foreign relations. It is of great historical value.
Professor Zhuang Guotu, a famous professor of Xiamen University commented on the English version of The Chinese Annals. The historical records of Chinese and foreign exchanges have always been the focus of Western sinologists. The Chinese Annals, as an important record of China's relations with the West and the outside world, the publication of the translated version is of great significance to the study of Sinology in the world and to the promotion of Chinese culture and China's value system. Secondly, Professor Zhuang also gave a very high evaluation of the content and value of the book. This book is one of the only two works on Southeast Asia written in Chinese by the local people (the other is The Handbook of Lan Fang Company). It is helpful for the deeper understanding of Chinese history, Southeast Asian history and the history of Sino foreign relations. In the end, Professor Zhuang believed that only on the basis of rational analysis and scientific research can we provide important support for applied research. Pure research itself has its own value, and it is also an aesthetic and a joyful process. Therefore, the important achievement of the English version of The Chinese Annals is an important part of the pursuit of academic rationality and academic value, and is also an important part of Chinese cultural construction and academic construction.
