In the afternoon of Nov. 14th, the lecture hall in the campus library was crowded. Here, Alan Macfarlane, Professor Emeritus of Anthropological Science of King’s College at the University of Cambridge, was giving his lecture on the topic: Japan through the Looking Glass.

Japan through the Looking Glass is a book written by Professor Alan Macfarlane, which depicted his experiences while living in Japan, experiences from which he extracted his unique ideas. After a brief introduction of his book and Japan’s history of interaction with China and America, Professor Alan elucidated Japan’s distinct features. According to his observations, Japan is a country full of contradictions. It is a known fact to be observed in many other countries, including China, where in different aspects of society, foreign principles and ideas are adapted to the needs or requirements of a traditional society and where this adaptation is a form of rejection.  In this sense, ‘Japan is everything! But it is neither western nor eastern’ professor Alan concluded humorously, with listeners bursting into laughter.

During the Q&A session, Professor Alan patiently answered several questions raised by students, in details. After that, he accepted our short interview and told us that this was his second time in Wuhan. ‘The students here are wonderful, among the best of the world’, he said.

Except for the lecture, Professor Alan Macfarlane also attended a meeting with university council’s Vice Chair Luo Yuting and the Vice President Tan Guangming. They discussed on the details of the exhibition regarding Ye Junjian, the alumni of both WHU and Cambridge University, exhibition to be held next year at Cambridge University. Furthermore, Professor Alan Macfarlane was invited as a Guest Professor at Wuhan University’s Chinese Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies.

(Edited by Diana & Sijia Hu)