Facing risk of losing ancient knowledge, China establishes rare disciplines school

China has established its first dedicated School of Rare and Endangered Disciplines at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing to strengthen research and preserve ancient languages, scripts and historical documents.

The new academic institution was inaugurated and will focus on specialized research areas, including ancient ethnic scripts, oracle bone studies, bamboo and silk manuscript studies, and classical studies, according to China Daily.

The initiative aims to develop academic expertise in rare and endangered fields while creating a structured platform for studying ancient writing systems, preserving historical records and examining the connections between different civilizations.

The school has developed a specialized disciplinary framework covering more than 10 ancient ethnic scripts. These include Turkic, Tangut, Khitan, Jurchen, Manchu and Tibetan.

It has also established dedicated teaching and research departments to support different areas of study. These include oracle bone and bamboo and silk manuscript studies, ancient scripts of northern ethnic groups, ancient scripts of southwestern ethnic groups, and Chinese and Western classical studies.

Together, these departments will provide an integrated academic platform for deciphering ancient scripts, organizing and examining rare historical documents, and conducting comparative research across multiple civilizations.

China launches national alliance to support rare academic disciplines

Alongside the establishment of the new school, the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences initiated the formation of the National Alliance for Rare and Endangered Disciplines.

More than 80 universities, research institutions, cultural organizations and museums jointly launched the alliance on Friday to strengthen cooperation in these specialized academic fields.

The alliance includes several prominent Chinese universities, such as Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, Beijing Normal University and Fudan University.

Research organizations, including the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, have also joined the initiative. Cultural and museum institutions, such as the First Historical Archives of China, are among its participating members.

The collaboration is expected to bring together academic institutions and cultural organizations working in rare and endangered disciplines, creating opportunities for coordinated research and the preservation of specialized knowledge.

China links rare discipline research with national priorities

Zhao Rui, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said during the inauguration ceremony that the establishment of the school and the national alliance would help advance research in rare and endangered disciplines.

He highlighted their importance in tracing the origins of civilization, border governance, cultural security and broader work related to ethnic affairs.

"We should always keep the country's vital interests in mind, closely align them with major national strategic needs, and dig deep into the historical memories and civilizational genes contained in rare and endangered disciplines," he said.

The initiative also received recognition from international academic experts working in ancient languages and historical research.

Guillaume Jacques, a senior researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research, addressed the inauguration ceremony through a video message.

He emphasized that research into ancient writing systems plays an important role in historiography, linguistics and archaeology.

Jacques pointed to the decipherment and revision of ancient scripts, including Egyptian hieroglyphs, cuneiform and Maya hieroglyphs, explaining how such research has challenged and corrected several established assumptions in Western academic circles.

He also called on the academic community to recognize the importance of supporting and nurturing young researchers specializing in ancient philology and endangered linguistics.

According to him, developing the next generation of scholars is necessary to preserve academic traditions and ensure the continued study and transmission of these rare disciplines.

New school introduces integrated undergraduate, master's and doctoral training

The School of Rare and Endangered Disciplines has also introduced a specialized model for training students and developing academic talent.

One of its key features is a dual-supervisor arrangement that pairs chief supervisors with interdisciplinary supervisors. The model is intended to provide students with guidance across specialized subjects and related academic fields.

The school will also operate an integrated undergraduate-master's-doctoral training system, creating an academic pathway across different levels of higher education.

Major national-level research assignments will guide its academic and training activities. Students will participate in document collation and practical academic research throughout their training.

The institution plans to incorporate these activities into every stage of the academic process rather than limiting research exposure to advanced levels of study.

It will also use high-quality research resources as educational materials, connecting ongoing academic projects with student learning and practical research experience.

This approach is intended to strengthen the relationship between academic research and talent development in disciplines that require specialized knowledge and long-term training.

University highlights role of rare disciplines in preserving Chinese civilization

Xu Jincheng, secretary of the Party Committee of the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the institution has consistently treated the development of rare and endangered disciplines as a strategic priority.

He linked these academic fields to the preservation and continuation of Chinese civilization, the country's long-term stability and security, and the development of an independent knowledge system.

The university considers these disciplines foundational to understanding historical records, cultural traditions and the development of civilizations.

The establishment of the dedicated school, along with the national alliance involving more than 80 institutions, is expected to strengthen academic collaboration and support research in fields that require specialized expertise.

Through its teaching departments, interdisciplinary training model and research partnerships, the institution aims to build a stronger academic foundation for studying ancient scripts, preserving rare documents and passing specialized knowledge to future generations.