The Romanian Cultural Institute in Beijing is pleased to invite you to the conference "Dimitrie Cantemir, Pioneer of Romanian Culture Worldwide: A Distinguished Contemporary of Emperor Kangxi", held by Professor Ștefan Lemny at Beijing Foreign Studies University, on Monday, March 10th, starting at 3:00 PM.
Dimitrie Cantemir (1673-1723), the ruler of Moldova, is one of the most prominent intellectual figures, both for the diversity and originality of his work and for its significance in the modern evolution of Romanian culture. Furthermore, he is the first major figure who contributed to the promotion of national culture beyond Romania's borders, anticipating, two centuries in advance, the achievements of renowned compatriots of world prestige, such as Brâncuși, Enescu, Ionesco, and others.
The conference aims to evoke the complexity of this precursor of Romanian cultural presence in the world from a comparative perspective, considering his contemporaneity with one of the most illustrious figures in Chinese history, Emperor Kangxi (1654–1722). Despite the geographical distance and the differences between the brief reign of the Romanian prince and the long reign of the Chinese sovereign, their examples are relevant due to the same creative passion that animated them, their contributions to the development of the arts and sciences in their countries and era, and the enrichment of humanity's cultural heritage.
In conclusion, historian Ștefan Lemny will present his book published in France in 2009, Les Cantemir: L’aventure européenne d’une famille princière au XVIIIe siècle, a book that has been translated and republished several times by Polirom. His lecture will also be accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation.
Ștefan Lemny began his academic journey in Romania at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Iași, a prestigious institution known for its research in the humanities. He obtained his bachelor's degree in history here, laying the foundation for his career in the field. Later, he continued his studies in France, where he earned his PhD at the Sorbonne University (Université Paris-Sorbonne, Paris IV). His doctoral thesis focused on the cultural connections between Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe during the Enlightenment, marking the beginning of a career dedicated to researching transnational relations and the circulation of ideas in the modern period. Currently, Ștefan Lemny is the Head of the Modern History Collections at the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. In this role, he coordinates and promotes research in the field of modern history and is actively involved in the conservation and discovery of valuable historical documents from this period. He also collaborates with multiple international academic institutions, publishes scholarly works, and participates in international conferences on topics such as the Enlightenment, historical sensitivity, and the formation of national identity. Due to his remarkable contributions to academic research both in France and internationally, Ștefan Lemny has become a leading voice in the study of European cultural history. He brings together Romanian historical culture with the broader European context, offering profound academic perspectives and a valuable intercultural approach.
Entry is free, with prior registration atema.stoian@icr.ro. We look forward to seeing you!
