More than a tool for a living: Peter K. Bol on true value of history

How can we make thousands of years of imperial history accessible to learners around the world? From using a catchy children's tune to teach Chinese dynasties, to launching expansive open-access platforms, Professor Peter K. Bol reimagines how we connect with the past.

In this discussion, he takes us behind the scenes of the China Biographical Database (CBDB), a monumental project uniting scholars from China, the US and Europe. This massive cross-border effort proves that international academic collaboration is about much more than sharing data – it represents a shared commitment to safeguarding humanistic values in a digital world.

Addressing universal anxieties about the utility of a history degree and the modern obsession with academic rankings, Professor Bol delivers a reminder: the humanities are not just tools for making a living, but essential pathways to self-cultivation.

 

Executive producer: Zhang Jingwen

Producer: Yang Sha

Directors: Zhong Xia, Zhang Yuying

Video editor: Zhong Xia

Videographers: Gao Zhihong, Leng Junpeng

Cover photo: Liu Shaozhen