In recent weeks, the National Social Science Fund MajorResearchProject "Literature and Art Theory of Ancient India" has started its research work, under the guidance of Prof. Yin Xi’nan, its chief expert as well as a professor in the Institute of South Asian Studies, a Key Research Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences at Sichuan University. Its classification and studies on resources of ancient Indianliterature and art theory will be an effective encouragement for researches onOriental literature, Oriental art, Oriental aesthetics, amongothers. Recently, the sub-projectsof this major project,such as"History of Ancient Indian Music Theory", "History of Ancient Indian Poetry Theory", "History of Ancient Indian Art Theory" and "Collections of Ancient Indian Literature and Art Theory Literature",held series of webinars and online discussions..

Awebinar on "The History of Ancient Indian Music Theory", a sub-project of major projects of the National Social Science Fund

During the webinar,Xia Fan, a professor of Musical Instrument Engineering Department of Sichuan Conservatory of Music as well asdirector of the sub-project of "History of Ancient Indian Literature and Art Theory", reviewed the previous research results, sorted out the development of "differential music" (sruti) in Indian music theory. He also made an introduction ofthe preliminary results of rhythm research in Chapter 28of Natyshastra.

Zhuang Jing fromConservatory of Music of Minzu University of China, is committed to study music rhythm through Indian instruments. At the same time, she uses her rich experience in field investigation to explore the characteristics and inheritance system of Indian music and dance from the perspective of anthropology.

Awebinar on "The History of Ancient Indian Poetics Theory", a sub-project of major projects of the National Social Science Fund

Like Sanskrit literature, Tamil literature has a long history. Zhang Qi (SouthAsiaSoutheastAsianLanguage&CultureCollege,YunnanNationalities University ), a member of the task force for"History of Indian ancient poetry theory", reported to the experts and scholars on the recentresearch onTamil classicTholkappiyam.

Wang Jing, associate professor of the Department of South Asian Studies, School of Foreign Languages, Peking University, reportedher research design. Based on the study of Indian medieval Hindi poetry and poetry theory,sheintended to make a further research onpoetic theory in Hindi literature theory works.

ASeminaron "History of Ancient Indian Art Theory" of the major sub-project of the National Social Science Fund

Prof. Liu Zhen, a professor at the Institute of Literature and History of Fudan University as well as amember of thetask force forthesub-project on“History of Ancient Indian Art Theory,” suggested that the notes and illustrations in Sanskrit art theory should be included in the research category.Wang Fangfromthe University of Munich took the Buddhist principle to explore the mutual influence of ancient Indian art theory and ancient Chinese art theory. Qin GangfromSilpakorn University(Thailand) discussed the measurement system andmudrain ancient Indian architecture and sculpture.

A webinaron "Collection of Ancient Indian Literature and Art Literature", a sub-project of major projects of the National Social Science Fund

Task force members of the sub-projecton"Collection of Ancient Indian Literature and Art Literature" reported the preliminary preparation of literature collection in various languages and action plan for the next step.The task force is made up by researchersfrom Sichuan University, Peking University, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Southwest University, Yunnan Nationalities University, Inner Mongolia University and other academic institutions.