On the afternoon of June 15, the 23rd lecture of Peking University Dishui Lake Lecture (PKU-DSLLH) was successfully held. Cao Wenxuan, Boya Chair Professor of the Institute for literature and creative writing of Peking University, was invited to deliver a keynote lecture titled Reflections on Literary Sensibility at the Lingang Performing Arts Center.

During the lecture, Prof. Cao first initiated his discussion by expounding on the "significance of literature," emphasizing the crucial historical role that "sensibility" plays in literary creation. He then painstakingly unraveled the subtle realms of sensibility within literary writing along a framework of five dimensions: "keen sensibility," "rich sensibility," "unique sensibility," "nuanced sensibility," and the "infinitude of sensibility."

Drawing upon his extensive creative practice, in-depth analysis of classic works, and vivid storytelling, Professor Cao elucidated: Without keen sensibility, creators struggle to discern the raw material within life. A creator who remains disengaged from life and fails to extract stories from it through persistent effort will ultimately lack the rich sensibility needed to sustain their work. Unique sensibility serves as the stepping stone into the hallowed halls of art. "To venture where others do not go, to behold the vistas others cannot see" – this is the very secret that allows writers and artists to claim their laurels. Their distinction lies not in receiving life's robust signals, but in capturing its faintest whispers. Hence, safeguarding nuanced sensibility and assiduously focusing on minute details to "amass grains of sand into a pagoda" is paramount. Compared to Artificial Intelligence's prowess in data processing, the human creator's profound sensitivity to subtle emotions, grasp of the nuanced aspects of human nature, and unique perception of life's texture constitute the irreplaceable core competitiveness of artistic creation. As societal development and cultural progress advance constantly and incessantly, humanity's new sensibilities will never be exhausted. Therefore, sensibility is inexhaustible, and creators must remain perpetually vigilant to capture its nascent emergence.

During the Q&A session, the audience posed practical questions focusing on topics such as "the rationale behind creating the character 'Bronze' in the work Qingtong&Kuihua (《青铜葵花》), "the proper approach to reading," and "how contemporary teenagers burdened by academic pressure and lacking life experience can come to understand suffering." Prof. Cao shared his insights in response, drawing upon his own creative experiences. He expressed the belief that suffering is an inescapable part of the human journey—intrinsic to the very essence of life. Each generation, he emphasized, endures its own distinct forms of suffering. Crucially, one should not evade suffering, but confront it with grace and equanimity. For young people, he suggested, reading serves as a vital means to comprehend suffering and cultivate a tragic sensibility; this, in turn, can enhance their resilience—empowering them to draw fortitude from tragedy and thus navigate life's inevitable frustrations, both major and minor, with greater composure.

The 27th Shanghai International Film Festival opened on June 14, featuring the screening of the film Qingtong&Kuihua adapted from the literary work of Prof. Cao. Using this work as an example, Prof. Cao emphasized the crucial role of literary reading and cultural accumulation in both creative production and audience reception. He noted that the enduring qualities embodied in classic books are the collective legacy forged by generations of readers. "Treasure is not in the distance; it lies right at your feet." The raw materials and inspiration for creation are inherently embedded in this principle. To cultivate the vision that discerns such wealth, one must engage in persistent reading. Only through accumulating knowledge and deepening insights from great books can we transform literary sensibility into literary expression.

Huang Jijun, Deputy Director-level Inspector of the Party Working Committee of Lin-gang Special Area, attended the event and presented the commemorative plaque. Over 800 attendees participated on-site, while the live-streaming on new media platforms attracted a cumulative online audience exceeding 100,000 views.

Before the lecture, Pro. Cao conducted an on-site inspection of PKU-IICSH, visited the Party-Mass Service Center, and offered his kind guidance to the center's development.

Initiated with the support of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Lin-gang Speacial Area Administration (hereinafter referred to as Lin-gang Special Area, or LSAA), Peking University Dishui Lake Lecture Hall (PKU-DSLLH) is a collaborative effort involving Peking University International Sci-Tech Innovation Center at Lin-gang Special Area, China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (PKU-IICSH), Peking University Office of Science and Technology Development, and Office of Humanities and Social Science, and enjoying an active participation from Peking University Press, Peking University Alumni Association, and other relevant offices and departments. Leveraging Peking University's profound academic foundation and expert resources in the humanities and social sciences, PKU-DSLLH focuses on key areas including economic development, humanities and arts, and social governance.

Since August 2023, PKU-DSLLH has been hosting monthly lectures featuring renowned professors or expert scholars from Peking University, who provide specialized lectures and engage in in-depth discussions with residents in Lin-gang. As of this month, PKU-DSLLH has held 24 lectures, attracting over 9,000 on-site attendees and accumulating nearly 1 million online views—effectively enhancing the cultural image and urban competitiveness of the Lin-gang Special Area.