Postgraduate Avivi Hau Wai-man: hoping to pass on the wisdom of the classics through technology
While I'm still young, with energy and ambition, I want to take the first step and see how far I can go!
It is often said that university students should accomplish four things: "enrol in student associations, live in a hostel, participate in exchanges, and do an internship." Avivi Hau Wai-man, a first-class honours graduate from the Department of Chinese at Lingnan University, has done them all during her four years here. She has won several scholarships, including the AIA Scholarship and the HSBC Greater Bay Area (Hong Kong) Scholarship, and, this year, she was one of just six students to be awarded the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Scholarship in Hong Kong.
When asked about her own motto, Avivi cited the famous Qing dynasty scholar Zang Yong (臧庸). "He said there are two key principles for studying the classics: first, diligence; second, attentiveness." Learning has no limits, and Avivi has made the most of her time at university. In addition to joining the Lingnan University Toastmasters Club to expand her network, she has also actively promoted Hong Kong creative writing, encouraging young writers to meet and exchange ideas. This summer, she participated in Lingnan's internship programme, and worked at a tech innovative venture capital corporate in the Greater Bay Area, stepping outside the arts world to learn about business.
A key turning point in Avivi’s life came during an exchange programme at Peking University. Despite the freezing winter weather, her enthusiasm for classical studies was not dampened. "The opportunity to study at Peking University was exciting. It was rare and precious, and I got to experience a different city and deepen my understanding of classical studies," she recalls. At Peking University, the academic atmosphere was strong, with extremely comprehensive courses on philology. Although the subject was initially challenging, Avivi was determined to master it, believing that only by in-depth study can she truly comprehend the complexities of ancient texts and extract their essence. Despite the many demands, she finds immense joy in the process.
I am fortunate to have read the wisdom and insights passed down by those who came before us. Not only do I admire them, but I also hope to pass on their intellectual legacies in a more direct and agreeable way in the future.
Avivi laughs when she describes herself as having always been “biased towards the humanities—a typical liberal arts student.” She is grateful that Lingnan offers a variety of interdisciplinary courses and activities that combine the humanities and sciences, enriching her intellectual experience. "How can we use artificial intelligence to make our research more convenient and diverse? This is an area we should explore. From the research of leading sinologist Prof Martin Kern, it's clear that the West has already embraced this technological trend, so we shouldn’t lag behind."
Influenced by her mother, who taught Chinese, and now nurtured by Lingnan’s close teacher-student relationships, Avivi’s passion for erudition has gradually taken shape. The road ahead may be long and exacting, but she has resolved to pursue her dream: “While I'm still young, with energy and ambition, I want to take the first step and see how far I can go!”
The literary quest is long, and Avivi admits she doesn't yet know where it will lead. To her, ancient books, which have survived for hundreds of years, are certainly cultural treasures. Currently enrolled in the MPhil degree in Chinese at Lingnan, she is focusing on the study of classical texts, planning to contribute to society through her sustained efforts and to fulfil her ideal of "diligence in study, learning to resolve doubts, and using her knowledge and abilities to benefit society."
