Václav Algirdas Zheng

History PhD + Postdoc @JohnsHopkins | Premodern East Central Europe, Czech & Polish Renaissance, Utopia, Future, Historical Theory & Historiography

[Václav Algirdas Zheng @VACLAVZHENG]

Two surprises with Kielce: the best (i bardziej twórczy) kotlet schabowy I’ve ever had and the strongest wind — “wieje jak (na dworcu) w Kielcach” no doubt.

[Václav Algirdas Zheng @VACLAVZHENG]

Best Cracow exhibition on East Central European gothic art and late medieval religious experiences. “Gotyk w Karpatach” w Krakowie (MNK). Must see!

[Václav Algirdas Zheng @VACLAVZHENG]

@kalinah I don’t think he had any…

[Τμήμα Φιλοσοφίας, ΕΚΠΑ (Dept of Philosophy, NKUA) @OfNkua]

Συμμετοχή του καθηγητή Γ. Στείρη @gsteiris στο κλειστό Συμπόσιο (Ρώμη, 13-15/5) της διεθνούς ερευνητικής ομάδας που συγγράφει το "Cambridge History of Platonism in the Modern Age: Platonism and the Italian Renaissance" (Cambridge University Press, 2027).
https://t.co/ATyxl3Pfjd

[Václav Algirdas Zheng @VACLAVZHENG]

Basic point one: maybe political scientists still do, but no historian today would personalize a country as a person. Point two: this kind of searching for freedom sentiment indeed existed in certain eras (Brian Porter-Szűcs may concur), but not true throughout its entire history. No the book will not be sold in mainland China.

[Václav Algirdas Zheng @VACLAVZHENG]

In Chinese, the book is rather titled “Poland that Rejects Vanquishing: From a Non-Existing Country to Back to Europe, A-Thousand-Year History in Search of Freedom,” followed by the blurb: “Partitioned by the Superpowers, twice Conquered, Polish People just wants their own State!”

[Václav Algirdas Zheng @VACLAVZHENG]

@pdabrow Haha. Ironically, the analogy does not work as Taiwan has never been partitioned, nor did it have a thousand year of history (not even a Sarmatian myth). But not way to criticize much since historical writing in many EE and Asian countries fails in the same way.

[Václav Algirdas Zheng @VACLAVZHENG]

@DullClayCutter @antiwestoid1 You can always trust the Zhonghua Shuju editions, it’s like the Chinese Loeb/I Tatti/TEAMS. “A Book to Burn” 焚書 is just a perfect title. It also works anaphorically well with his 藏書 “A Book to Keep Hidden.”

[Václav Algirdas Zheng @VACLAVZHENG]

@DullClayCutter Do it! <戰國論> <鬼神論> and <童心說> are also good to start with. Li is particularly known for his theory of gyermeki lélek.

[Václav Algirdas Zheng @VACLAVZHENG]

@JaycelAdkins “The best history” usually does not go to surveys.

[Václav Algirdas Zheng @VACLAVZHENG]

@ted_huang 壓軸的......or in certain theatrical/performative contexts.....攢底的(到了底了)...

[Václav Algirdas Zheng @VACLAVZHENG]

Completely agreed! I tried to offer a short course on John Lukács seven years ago, but nobody recognized him. His Student’s Guide to the Study of History should be the history 101 text for all, then The Remembered Past, The Future of History, and We at the Center of the Universe.

[eburke @JamesWHankins1]

Another example of a great historian that ‘elite’ academia had no time for. In a functioning meritocracy he would have been teaching in the Ivy League.

[Václav Algirdas Zheng @VACLAVZHENG]

@aliciaandrz Next comes dr hab.

[Václav Algirdas Zheng @VACLAVZHENG]

“自古以来” “不可分割的一部分” “境外势力” “帝国主义亡我之心不死” If you look at the author’s affiliation, you will find this contemporary, ideology-laden political rhetoric all too familiar. I suspect this part was drafted by a local student or requested by the university. @MidEastCritique

[Václav Algirdas Zheng @VACLAVZHENG]

@wenqing18973238 可以说几乎当下北美高校所有做中国考古的大佬都是张的徒子徒孙。可惜他英年早逝

[Václav Algirdas Zheng @VACLAVZHENG]

Exciting new book by Christopher S. Celenza @CelenzaChris on rewriting the premodern history of Western Thought! Curious to see if anyone would like to write a review essay on this book alongside James Hankins' The Golden Thread @JamesWHankins1.

https://t.co/ecYL6NtJ9l

[Václav Algirdas Zheng @VACLAVZHENG]

AAS Vancouver. Saturday at 2pm. On Utopian history in ancient and medieval China. Drop by and have some fun! @AASAsianStudies #AAS2026

(Taking an Asian retreat from European history)