The University of Macau (UM) has identified Macaology as a key discipline in social science and has established relevant plans with the aim of developing Macaology into a “cultural business card” of Macao and accomplishing some high-quality achievements in the field within three to five years. The first International Conference on Macaology co-organized by the University of Macau (UM), Macao Foundation, Institute of European Studies of Macau, Macau Society of Social Sciences, and Union of Macao Scholars, was held at UM from 15 April to 16 April. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of Macao SAR Cheong U, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in Macao SAR Lu Shumin, Director of the Department of Education and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Macao SAR Liu Xiaohang, President of the Macao Foundation Victor Ng, UM Rector Wei Zhao, Vice President of Beijing Foreign Studies University Jin Li, Vice President of Sun Yat-Sen University Chen Chunsheng, member of the Administrative Committee of Macao Foundation Wu Zhiliang, UM Vice-rector Rui Martins, President of the Institute of European Studies of Macau José Luís de Sales Marques, and Acting Director of the Centre for Macau Studies of UM Hao Yufan, attended the opening ceremony. At the opening ceremony, UM representatives presented certificates of appointment to Dean of the School of Asia-Pacific Studies at Sun Yat-Sen University Takeshi Hamashita, member of the Administrative Committee of Macao Foundation Wu Zhiliang, and Dean of the Institute of World History at Peking University Qian Chengdan, who will serve as UM’s part-time professors specializing in the study of Macaology. Macaology is an international and synthetic discipline based on the abundant historical archives and cultural heritage of Macao. In search of Macao’s uniqueness, Macaology takes the culture and history of Macao as the object of study. In the 1980s, some Macao scholars floated the idea of creating a discipline called Macaology and held discussions regarding the concepts, contents, methods of study, and significance of Macaology. It has become the consensus among scholars that establishing “Macaology” and involving scholars from around the world to study Macao-related issues in a systematic and scientific manner so as to increase the influence of “Macao culture” are very important. The main task of Macaology is to explore the profoundness and uniqueness of “Macao culture” and to examine the forms and characteristics of different cultures as well as the effect resulted from the interaction between these cultures, from a global perspective. Since the mid-Ming Dynasty, Macao has played an important role in the Great Era of Navigation during which period westerners entered China and China served as a link with the world. Since then Macao has become an important port, a platform for the interaction between eastern and western cultures, and an incubator for new cultures. Through the interaction between eastern and western cultures, “Macao culture”, a new culture characterized by diversity, tolerance and harmony, was born. Macaology, which takes “Macao culture” as the object of study, has high theoretical and practical value. The emergence and development of “Macao culture” has offered valuable insights into how we humans should better get along with one another and know one another. The harmonious co-existence of and interaction between different nationalities, religions and cultures in Macao provides a solution to the all-pervasive conflicts plaguing the modern world: Instead of seeking victory through conquest and destruction through conflicts, we should seek harmony through diversity and common ground through difference. It can serve as a treasure trove of wisdom for solving the conflicts between different nationalities, religions, cultures, and nations, thus realizing harmonious co-existence of the human society. It can also help ensure the successful implementation of the “one country, two systems” policy in China. Given the profoundness of “Macao culture”, Macaology should not be considered a “regional” area of study. The conference has been warmly received in the international academic circle. More than 80 scholars from the Chinese Mainland, Portugal, America, Germany, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao gathered at UM to share their views on a range of issues such as the academic framework, establishment and future development of Macaology. Latest findings in the field were also presented at the conference. Conference discussions revolved around 6 topics, namely Macao and Macaology; The Academic Characteristics and System of Macaology; Macao in a Global Perspective; The Consolidation of Historical Archives; History and Culture; and Religion and Society. This is the largest international conference in recent years to discuss the study of “Macao culture”. It will surely play an important role in promoting the future development of Macaology as well as the academic prosperity of Macao.
