Xuemo suggested that today’s global crises reflect an imbalance between external institutions and inner spiritual cultivation, calling on people to “let their hearts belong to themselves” and to counter material desires with compassion and conscience
LONDON, ENGLAND, March 24, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ — The International Forum on Xuemo’s Works, alongside a book launch event for his newly translated volume Reclaim the Throne of Your Heart, was held on the afternoon of March 21 at SOAS University of London. The gathering brought together scholars from several leading UK institutions—including the University of Bath, University of Oxford, University of Westminster, University of Warwick, and SOAS—alongside translators and cultural figures. The forum provided a platform for in-depth discussion on the literary works of contemporary Chinese author Xuemo, exploring themes of cross-cultural communication and the global resonance of his latest English publication. It marked one of the most significant academic events in recent years within UK higher education focused on a contemporary Chinese writer.
Organized under the theme “Literature and Civilization: A Cross-Continental Dialogue,” the forum highlighted the work of Xuemo, a leading voice in western Chinese narrative literature. With over 80 works published by 2026, his writings have been translated into 28 languages. Rooted in the landscapes of northwest China and enriched by traditional Chinese philosophy, Xuemo’s work continues to draw significant academic interest internationally.
In his keynote address, Xuemo observed that the uninterrupted continuity of Chinese civilization for over five millennia stems from two key foundations: the unified organizational system formed since the Qin Dynasty, and the philosophy of mind cultivated by Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. He suggested that today’s global crises reflect an imbalance between external institutions and inner spiritual cultivation, calling on people to “let their hearts belong to themselves” and to counter material desires with compassion and conscience.
A central focus of the forum was the English translation of Reclaim the Throne of Your Heart, rendered by Dr. Yukteshwar Kumar, Director of Chinese Studies at the University of Bath. Dr. Kumar noted that Xuemo’s work addresses universal human struggles such as anxiety and loneliness, carrying forward traditional Eastern values of benevolence, harmony, and the unity of humanity and nature—values he argued offer potential for healing both individuals and society.
Professor Hugo de Burgh, a renowned scholar in media and communication who formerly founded the China Media Centre at the University of Westminster, observed that English-language readers are drawn to Chinese fiction for its unique historical depth. He remarked that Xuemo’s work focuses on the reconstruction of values, emphasizing humanity and emotion over class and material interests, portraying characters who live outside prevailing ideologies yet embody the resilience of traditional culture.
Amie Arnold, Cultural and Tourism Ambassador for China, shared her reflections on reading Xuemo’s novel Desert Rites. Drawing on passages about the fragility of life, she highlighted the novel’s philosophical reflections on letting go of attachments and cherishing the present.
A roundtable discussion featured former BBC editor Shirong Chen, who addressed the challenges posed by the short-video era to deep textual engagement, stressing the need for cross-cultural communication to balance intellectual depth with audience accessibility.
The event also included a literary and musical performance, in which Xuemo and Professor Cheng Yu, a renowned pipa and guzheng artist, presented an improvisational interpretation of the Tang dynasty poem “Yangguan Sandie.” A book donation ceremony followed, with the Xuemo Foundation contributing over 100 copies of his works to SOAS University of London to support the study and dissemination of Chinese literature in international academia.
Scholars at the forum agreed that the significance of Xuemo’s writings extends beyond literature, offering philosophical resources rooted in Eastern thought that speak to the broader spiritual challenges of the global era. As Professor de Burgh remarked, “Literature remains one of the most powerful means of transforming hearts and minds.”
For more information about Xuemo’s latest English work Reclaim the Throne of Your Heart, visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GLR41JHW.
Ida Liu
Ruxue International Media Inc,
www.xuemobooks.com
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