On November 15, 2025, Fujian Normal University (FNU) hosted an academic symposium titled “Tradition and Innovation: The Disciplinary Development of Ryukyu Studies” at Hongda Hall on its Qishan Campus. The event celebrated the 30th anniversary of FNU’s Institute for China-Ryukyu Relations and focused on advancing the field of Ryukyu Studies. It was jointly organized by the Institute, the College of Chinese Language and Literature, and the University Library.
Experts and scholars from more than twenty universities and research institutions participated, including representatives from the University of the Ryukyus, Waseda University, Okinawa International University, Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, Musashino Art University, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the First Historical Archives of China, Beijing Language and Culture University, and several other leading Chinese universities and museums.
At the opening ceremony, Lin Yue’en, Secretary of FNU’s Commission for Discipline Inspection, highlighted the distinctive strengths and academic history of the Institute, noting its long-standing exchanges with institutions such as the University of the Ryukyus and Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts. He underscored the university’s recent achievements in Ryukyu Studies and shared his vision for the discipline’s future development.
Professor Kogure Kazuhiro, Vice President of the University of the Ryukyus, reflected warmly on his personal experience of studying and living in China, expressing his sincere appreciation to the scholars whose dedicated work has advanced Ryukyu Studies. Professor Mori Tatsuya, Vice President of Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, and Professor Naoko Iwata, Director of the Austronesian Cultural Research Institute at Okinawa International University, both expressed their hope that exchanges between Fujian and Okinawa could be deepened across economic, cultural, and artistic fields. They called upon scholars from both regions to embrace a spirit of mutual respect and learning to jointly pioneer a new era in China-Ryukyu studies and looked forward to expanding future academic cooperation. Professor Kenichi Uezato of the University of the Ryukyus voiced strong confidence in the research on China-Ryukyu historical relations. He noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, expressing his hope that scholars from China and Japan can, through exchange and mutual learning, promote the steady and long-term development of Sino-Japanese friendship. Finally, Professor Wang Yaohua, a representative scholar from our university, reviewed the rich achievements of China-Ryukyu cultural exchanges from cultural and artistic perspectives.
During the keynote session, Professor Xie Bizhen, Director of the Institute for China-Ryukyu Relations, presented “A Review and Outlook of China-Ryukyu Relations Research”. Thematic discussions followed, with scholars sharing insights on research methodologies, key topics, and future directions for Ryukyu Studies in China, sparking lively and substantive dialogue.
The symposium also featured the launch ceremony for the Historical Digital Museum of China and the Ryukyus. Congratulatory letters were shared from Mr. Ōshiro Hajime, Vice Governor of Okinawa Prefecture, and the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University.
Founded in 1995, the Institute for China-Ryukyu Relations is China’s only research institution dedicated to this field and has earned wide academic recognition. This year, FNU’s Ryukyu Studies program was selected for the prestigious “Endangered Disciplines” Support Program by the Chinese Academy of History—one of only six projects chosen nationwide and the only one from Fujian Province. This achievement underscores the program’s academic strength and influence. The symposium provided a high-level platform for scholarly exchange and will help solidify the academic foundation for the continued development of Ryukyu Studies at FNU.
