Hans van de Ven gives a lecture at Peking University

In 2022, Peking University (PKU) welcomed Hans van de Ven, an internationally renowned historian, as a visiting professor in the Department of History. His arrival marked the beginning of a five-year tenure, during which he aims to bridge the academic worlds of China and the West through extensive research on modern Chinese history. 

Hans van de Ven's "bond" with China began in his high school years in the Netherlands. Realizing how little he knew about China, he developed a deep curiosity about the distant nation. This interest led him to pursue Sinology at Leiden University. 

His passion for Chinese history deepened as he went on to earn a Ph.D. in History and East Asian Languages from Harvard University. This solid academic foundation paved the way for a prolific 30-year teaching career at the University of Cambridge, where his research primarily focused on the history of the Communist Party of China and modern Chinese history. 

Hans van de Ven in his office at PKU

Prof. Van de Ven’s fascination with China extended beyond academic research. Prior to joining Peking University, he frequently visited China, leaving his mark in cities such as Shanghai, Nanjing, and Changsha. These travels further fueled his willingness to engage more deeply with Chinese history and culture. 

In 2019, Van de Ven was invited by the Department of History at PKU to participate in an academic conference. During a conversation with Prof. Wang Qisheng, the department head, Van de Ven expressed his interest in teaching at the University. His proposal later became a reality, and in 2022, he officially joined PKU as a visiting professor. 

In his first year, Prof. Van de Ven taught a course titled "Asia in World War II: China, India, Indonesia, 1937-1952," which attracted many students. Fluent in Chinese, he guided them through a century-old history of Asia, examining the impact of the war and the subsequent nation-state building from a global perspective. 


Hans van de Ven’s tenure at PKU not only enriches the University with his academic expertise but also strengthens the bridge between Chinese and Western academic communities. His work, much like the history he studies, transcends time and space, connecting different cultures and eras. 

Van de Ven noticed early on that while many Chinese scholars and students are well-versed in the history of Europe and the United States, they often know less about the histories of countries like Indonesia and Vietnam. He observed that this gap is common in other academic circles as well. 

To address this, at the 2023 Beijing Forum—a global event organized by PKU in November—Prof. Van de Ven organized a sub-forum titled "The End of Empire, the Second World War, and the Transformation of Asia." He invited scholars from Indonesia, India, and other countries to engage in discussions with Chinese scholars, fostering a trans-Asian perspective on the region's transformation from European colonialism to modern nationhood. 

At the forum, Prof. Van de Ven, along with a panel of historians from various countries, joined dynamic discussions on a wide range of issues, making the examination of Asia’s transition a key theme. They explored the region's shift from being dominated by European empires to its emergence as a collection of modern nations. 


"Globalization" is a keyword Prof. Van de Ven constantly emphasizes. He believes that the key to reducing misunderstandings is a willingness to communicate openly and courageously. 

As globalization deepens, Van de Ven hopes to see more Chinese scholars and their Western counterparts build stronger connections, overcoming differences with "just a bit more confidence and courage." 


Written by: Wang Yu Hsuan
Edited by: Dennis Meng
Source: PKU News & Media Center