China's Poetic Soul & Economic Miracle: An Unlikely Pairing | Silk & Steel Podcast

Join host Carl Zha on the Silk and Steel Podcast for a captivating conversation with Professor Guilhem, a seasoned sinologist with decades of deep experience in China. We explore his incredible personal journey, from discovering Chinese characters by "chance" in the 1960s to becoming a leading voice on both classical poetry and modern economic reform.

Professor Guilhem shares amazing stories of his early travels to "wild" parts of Indonesia and being among the first Westerners in post-1979 China, including an unforgettable archaeological discovery in Xinjiang. He reveals the 5-year, immersive process behind his groundbreaking new book on Chinese poetry, which combines beautiful French translations, deep historical context, and stunning photography that blends the classical with the modern.

We also dive into his parallel expertise in China's economy, tracing its rapid transformation from the early reforms to its current focus on innovation and AI, offering a unique perspective that challenges conventional Western narratives.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:30 - How a Young Student Fell in Love with China by "Chance"

04:45 - Adventurous Travels in 1970s Indonesia & Lombok

06:50 - Studying China from Hong Kong During the Cold War

08:45 - Being Among the First Westerners in China in 1979

10:30 - The Wild West: Traveling in 1980s Xinjiang

12:15 - The Spark: How Poetry Became a 40-Year Passion

14:20 - The 5-Year Project: Creating a New Kind of Poetry Book

18:10 - The Book's Unique Features: Photos, History & "Living" Poetry

20:45 - The Ancient Art of Using Poetry in Daily Communication

24:30 - A Personal Example from the "Zuo Zhuan"

26:50 - Witnessing 50 Years of China's Transformation

29:15 - From Doubt to Fascination: Analyzing China's Economic Reforms

32:00 - Studying Border Trade, Drug Trafficking & Innovation

35:10 - China's Innovation Policy & Challenging Western Critiques

38:00 - The Intersection of a Poetic and an Economic Mind

The UK Column is an independent media organisation and receives no corporate or foundation funding. We rely on the generosity of individual readers, viewers and listeners, so if you enjoy our quality reporting, please consider supporting us.

🌐 Explore all our written and video content on the UK Column website https://www.ukcolumn.org/

💪 Support our independent journalism here https://support.ukcolumn.org/

🛍️ Check out our shop here https://shop.ukcolumn.org/