On the evening of July 9, 2024, the twelfth lecture of PKU-DSLLH was successfully held. Professor Chen Pingyuan, Changjiang Scholar Distinguished Professor of the Ministry of Education (China), Peking University Boya Chair Professor, and Researcher of China Central Institute of Culture and History, was invited to deliver a keynote lecture titled The Chivalric Dream of Generations of Literati （《千古文人侠客梦》）at Lingang Performing Arts Center, where Prof. Chen, together with the audience, immersed themselves in the world of martial arts.

During the lecture, Prof. Chen vividly portrayed the legendary martial arts world with lively language, rich historical materials, and profound insights. He first traced the origin of the concept of martial artists, elaborating on its evolution throughout Chinese history: in the Warring States period (476-221 B.C.), the Legalist philosopher HanFeizi's proposed in The Five Vermin （《五蠹》） that "The Confucians with their learning bring confusion to the law; the knights with their military prowess violate the prohibitions."; in the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-8 C.E.), the great historian Sima Qian composed The Biographies of the Wandering Knights （《游侠列传》） in his Records of the Grand Historian （《史记》）. Prof. Chen also shared some unique insights and profound reflections from his research on martial arts fiction, emphasizing that chivalry embodies the soul of martial artists, while martial arts serves as a mere means to fight for righteousness. The spirit of Chinese chivalry in martial arts culture is a precious spiritual wealth that, according to Prof. Chen, should be cherished, inherited, and promoted by the young.

During the Q&A session, Prof. Chen addressed questions such as "Under the impact of digitalization, can traditional martial arts novels span various media and still maintain their unique charm and influence to root in the hearts of the younger generation deeply?" and "How can martial arts novels find ways to be embraced and inherited by the younger generation confronting the prevailing trend of fragmented reading?" by combining his research and practical experience. His interaction with the audience fostered a warm atmosphere of discussion and exchange.

Zhao Yihuai, member of the Party Working Committee of Lin-gang Special Area, deputy director of Lin-gang Special Area Administration (LSAA), met with Prof. Chen and presented him with a commemorative plaque as the 12th lecturer of PKU-DSLL. Over 600 people, including related divisions of LSAA, PKU-IICSH, as well as representatives from Peking University alumni, and online registered participants attended the event. About 4,000 people watched the lecture through WeChat and Douyin lives.

Before the lecture, Professor Chen Pingyuan conducted an on-site inspection of PKU-IICSH, visited the Party-Mass Service Center and the PWA Instrumentation & Service Center for Biomedicine, and offered his kind guidance to the center's development.