Contrary to perceptions of Chinese culture as static or monolithic, Professor Yu Xie of Princeton University argues that it is profoundly dynamic, multilayered, and continuously evolving. In his latest work, Professor Xie proposes that contemporary Chinese culture emerges from the synthesis of three foundational sources, each with distinct historical and ideological origins. To distinguish these sources, he assigns them symbolic colors: Yellow, Red, and Blue.

The Yellow source draws from China’s deep historical legacy—its imperial traditions, Confucian values, and millennia-old civilizational continuity. The Blue source represents Western influences that entered China—initially via Japan—beginning in the late 19th century, bringing modernization, scientific rationalism, and liberal democratic ideals. The Red source stems from Soviet influence and the revolutionary doctrines of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which have fundamentally reshaped governance, ideology, and social organization since 1949.

During this lecture, Professor Xie will explore how the dynamic interplay of these Yellow, Red, and Blue elements—sometimes conflicting, sometimes synthesizing—has created a uniquely hybrid cultural system that distinguishes contemporary China from any other society and explains both its remarkable adaptability and its internal contradictions.

Join us for an engaging IHSS Public Lecture by Professor Yu Xie as he explores the dynamic evolution of Chinese culture and society. The lecture will be followed by a panel discussion featuring economist Professor Michael Zheng Song and historian Professor Guoqi Xu, moderated by Professor Zhiwu Chen, Director of the organizing institution. The panel will offer diverse insights into the lecture’s key themes.