A Commemorative Event on the 150th Anniversary of John Leighton Stuart

The year 2026 marks the 150th anniversary of John Leighton Stuart’s birth.

Born in Hangzhou, John Leighton Stuart lived a life that connected China and the United States, intersecting with education, faith, culture, and politics.

Drawing on his memoirs, correspondence, and writings by his contemporaries, this event will feature multi-voice readings and thematic dialogue to revisit Stuart and the era in which he lived.

Taking the idea of the “bridge” as our central theme, we will reflect on how Stuart sought to build connections across cultures and societies, and further ask: What makes such bridges possible? Why are they so difficult to sustain? And how might we continue the work of cross-cultural understanding and friendship today?

• Event Highlights

Hearing the Voices of History

Through a multi-voice reading, we return to the historical moments preserved in the texts and encounter their original resonance.

Crossing Time through Image and Sound

Images and texts intertwine, bringing memories and perceptions across different eras to life.

The Possibilities and Limits of the “Bridge”

Between history and the present, we explore how understanding becomes possible—and where its boundaries lie.

Renewing Connections Today

Within a contemporary context, we reconsider the possibilities of cross-cultural understanding and public dialogue.

• Event Information

Date 2026.06.24

Time 14:00–16:30

Venue Hangzhou