Serbian sinologist Pusic: The envoy of cultural exchanges between China and Serbia

Radosav Pu?i?, is a second-generation Serbian sinologist and scholar of Chinese philosophy and culture. As a professor at the Department of Oriental Studies and director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Belgrade, Pušić has made important contributions to the study and dissemination of Chinese culture by publishing more than 30 academic papers and books in influential academic journals in China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Serbia.

Read the Tao Te Ching to open the way to explore Chinese philosophy

Having received his primary and secondary education in Serbian schools, Pusic showed a keen interest in subjects such as history, literature, and philosophy, and showed exceptional talent in the classroom. At the age of 16, he read a copy of the Tao Te Ching, translated from German into Serbian, and thus began his exploration of Chinese philosophy. Although his environment did not provide educational resources related to Chinese culture, his intellectual curiosity and curiosity about the unknown world prompted him to spontaneously start looking for information and books about China.

In 1981, Pušić entered the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Belgrade, where he took a course in Chinese. Although there were 27 students learning Chinese at the time, by the third grade, he was the only one who insisted on learning Chinese. This experience demonstrated Pusic's dedication and perseverance in learning Chinese. From 1985 to 1988, Pucich went to China to further his studies, studying at the Beijing Language Institute and then at Nanjing University. He spent a year at the Beijing Language Institute, where he systematically studied Chinese and improved his language skills. Subsequently, he studied at the Department of Philosophy of Nanjing University for two years, specializing in ancient Chinese philosophy, involving the historiography of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, ancient philosophy, Zen Buddhism and other fields. This study abroad experience has given Pusic a deeper understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture.

After returning from his studies, Pušić worked as a Chinese teacher at the Faculty of Foreign Chinese of the University of Belgrade and a teacher of ancient philosophy at the Faculty of Philosophy. At the same time, he pursued a master's degree and a doctorate, and received his doctorate in 2001. This series of learning and teaching experiences not only enriched Pusic's academic knowledge, but also strengthened his enthusiasm and motivation for sinology research. Despite facing great linguistic and cultural barriers, Pusic's determination and perseverance allowed him to constantly overcome the difficulties and strive to learn Chinese and gain an in-depth understanding of Chinese history, culture, and philosophy. This experience deepened Pusic's desire and pursuit of Chinese culture, and laid a solid foundation for his future development in the field of Sinology.

In 2002, Pušić officially started his academic career as a lecturer at the Faculty of Languages of the University of Belgrade. While continuing to teach Chinese courses, he also began his academic research work. In 2006, for his outstanding academic achievements and strong influence in the field of Serbian sinology, Pušić was elected Director of the Confucius Institute in Belgrade and CEO of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Belgrade.

He is involved in various fields of sinology such as Chinese philosophy, art, and history

Pusic's sinological studies are known for their rich variety of themes and in-depth explorations in various fields such as Chinese philosophy, art, and history, and he is adept at summarizing complex historical events and schools of thought in concise words.

In Pusic's view, Chinese philosophy is one of the most valuable and great treasures in the world, and through the translation and study of ancient Chinese philosophical thought, cultural exchanges and cooperation between Serbia and China can be promoted. He has translated and published many Chinese works such as The Son of Heaven: Ancient Chinese Philosophy - Laozi, Confucius, Mozi, Zhuangzi, and Tao Te Ching. It is worth mentioning that Pusic was the first sinologist to translate the Tao Te Ching directly from ancient Chinese into Serbian, and thanks to the direct translation from Chinese, Pusic was able to more accurately convey the philosophical ideas and cultural connotations of the Tao Te Ching. His understanding of Chinese and his proficient use of the Chinese language make his translations more able to capture the profound philosophies contained in the original works, closer to the original style of the originals, and allow readers to better understand and appreciate the ideas contained therein. Commenting on the characteristics of his translation of the Tao Te Ching compared to previous translations from English to Serbian, Pusic said: "First of all, I translated from Chinese into Serbian, and this is what makes it different from other translations. Talking to someone in their language is not the same thing as talking through an interpreter. Second, if my life and my view of the world and my understanding of philosophy are different from those of other scholars, then these differences or characteristics are reflected in my translations. ”

In his monograph Zen Buddhism and Its Influence on Chinese Art, Pusic introduces the origins of Zen Buddhism and the important Zen concepts of Tao, Qi, Being, and Self, and explores Zen Buddhism's understanding of mental silence, intuitive experience, and comprehension beyond words. At the same time, Pucich further explored the close connection between Zen philosophy and Chinese art, mentioning that Zen Buddhism emphasizes integration with nature, and in artistic creation, this means that artists seek to express the beauty of nature, rather than simply imitate it. By observing the changes in the natural world and feeling the breath of nature, the artist is able to better express the vividness and charm of the natural world. For example, a landscape painting may not only depict the form of mountains and rivers, but also convey the artist's perception and experience of nature. Zen Buddhism also encourages individuals to be creative and pursue inner freedom. In artistic creation, this means that artists are not bound by traditional rules and are free to express their thoughts and feelings. This form of freedom can be a unique brushwork, a personalized composition, or an innovation and breakthrough in traditional art forms. Through an in-depth analysis of the relationship between Zen Buddhism and art, Pusich reveals the important influence of Zen Buddhism on Chinese art aesthetics, as well as the Zen spirit and Zen state contained in artworks.

In his monograph "The Fire Phoenix: The Essence of the History of Chinese Civilization", Pu Xiqi introduces the development of Chinese civilization to readers in a special way, and gradually shows the evolution and colorful connotations of Chinese civilization through stones, wells, rice, tea, and Chinese elements such as water and dragon, fire and phoenix, totem and shaman. For example, for the interpretation of the image of the Chinese "dragon", he not only makes a simple traditional interpretation, but through a comprehensive analysis of history, mythology and culture, on the basis of presenting the mysterious beauty of the dragon, discusses the important position of the dragon in Chinese culture from multiple perspectives such as history, art and literature, and shows the spiritual pursuit and cultural emotion shaping of the dragon to the Chinese people. From these cultural symbols, concepts and things, the book extends a series of themes that reveal the foundation of Chinese civilization, including the cosmology of the unity of heaven and man and the simple dialectical theory of yin and yang contained in Chinese civilization.

Provide many opportunities for the Serbian people to learn about China

As the director of the Confucius Institute, he is committed to promoting the Chinese and Chinese languages and cultures, as well as promoting cultural exchanges between China and Cyprus. Under Pusic's leadership, the University of Belgrade has made significant progress in Chinese language teaching and Chinese studies. Through academic lectures and cultural exchange activities, Pusic has provided Serbian people with more opportunities to learn more about China and deepened their understanding and knowledge of Chinese culture.

As early as 2012, Pusic gave a lecture on "Traditional Chinese Fitness Exercises: Qigong and Tai Chi", which gave students an in-depth understanding of the concept of balance between body and mind in traditional Chinese culture. In his lecture on "Public Diplomacy and China's Economic Growth," Pusic introduced students and guests to the importance of public diplomacy in international relations and delved into China's role and influence in global affairs. Pucich believes that as China's position in international geopolitics continues to rise, its multilateral trade activities, foreign investment, technological innovation and contribution to global supply chains have all played an important role in the development and stability of the world economy. When talking about the impact of China's economic development on Serbia, Pusic believes that China's economic growth has provided more investment and infrastructure projects for Serbia and its surrounding areas, created more employment opportunities, and is conducive to the development of the local economy and social stability. Through detailed case studies and analysis, Pusic presented the audience with China's role in the international arena and its potential for cooperation with Serbia.

In 2009, Pusic founded the first and only Sinology magazine in Serbia, the Journal of the Confucius Institute in Belgrade, and opened up cultural exchange columns such as "China and the World", "China and Serbia", and "Chinese Writers' Literature", and was listed as a core journal by the Scientific Review Committee of the Ministry of Education of Serbia in 2016. The catalogue and editor's notes of this journal are published in three languages, Chinese, English and Serbian, and is the only journal in the Balkans that deals with Chinese culture and is published in three languages, which is one of Pusic's important contributions to the field of Chinese cultural studies. In 2016, when they learned of President Xi Jinping's state visit to Serbia, Pusic and the Confucius Institute made meticulous preparations in advance and prepared a special gift for President Xi Jinping - a set of Journal of the Confucius Institute in Belgrade, published in Chinese, English and Serbian, which was presented to President Xi Jinping by the Presidential Office of Serbia. This gift not only represents the respect and friendship of Pusic and the Confucius Institute in Belgrade to the Chinese leaders, but also demonstrates the deep foundation of cultural and academic exchanges between Serbia and China. Through this journal, Pušić has built an important platform for cultural exchanges between Serbia and China, promoting mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. As the editor's message of the journal reads: The purpose of the Confucius Institute is to connect people who love Chinese culture and language in Serbia and the surrounding regions through the voice of the Confucius Institute, and to actively participate in their own efforts to enhance Serbia's understanding of China and the world.