On the afternoon of April 8, the Library and the School of Journalism and Communication jointly hosted a themed lecture titled “Seeing the Mind Through Words, Discovering Meaning Through Books — A Cultural Journey of Reading and Life” at the Library Lecture Hall. The event featured Song Wenjing, Director of the Theory Research Department at Qingdao Painting Academy, a renowned calligrapher and painter, literary critic, and book collector, as the keynote speaker. Vice President Zhao Yuxin attended the event, along with representatives from the Library, the School of Journalism and Communication, and faculty and students. The lecture was hosted by Jia Shiqiu, Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication.

In his opening remarks, Zhao Yuxin noted that the lecture, held during National Reading Month, aims to encourage faculty and students to return to in-depth reading and to appreciate the deeper meaning of “seeing the mind through words and discovering wisdom through books.” On behalf of the university, he expressed a warm welcome and sincere appreciation to Song Wenjing, and encouraged participants to make books their lifelong companions, engage in focused reading, broaden their perspectives, cultivate their character, and draw strength for personal growth through reading.

During the lecture, Song Wenjing began with the origins and evolution of Chinese characters, drawing on his personal experience in reading, book collecting, and academic research to share insights into the humanistic value of reading and the deeper enjoyment it brings to life. He explored the intrinsic connection between reading and personal development, encouraging faculty and students to embrace lifelong reading, nourish their minds through classics, and continuously refine themselves.

During the interactive session, faculty and students actively raised questions on topics such as reading methods, the inheritance of traditional culture, and calligraphy creation. Song Wenjing responded to each question in detail, drawing on his practical experience. At the conclusion of the lecture, he donated a piece of calligraphy to the university library, leaving a meaningful cultural memento for the event.

This lecture combined intellectual depth with rich cultural value, providing a high-quality platform for cultural exchange among faculty and students. It further promoted the concepts of in-depth reading and cultural inheritance, fostering a strong reading culture across campus.

Looking ahead, the university will continue to organize a variety of cultural and reading activities, further enrich campus cultural life, and steadily advance the development of a vibrant, reading-oriented campus.