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Dr. Choong Hock Keong at Peking University

With a PhD degree from the Department of Philosophy at Peking University, in September 2023, Dr. Choong Hock Keong joined Xiamen University Malaysia as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chinese, with Chinese philosophy as his focus. 

Dr. Choong Hock Keong was born in Penang, Malaysia. Attracted by martial arts novels and classical Chinese literature since childhood, he spent his undergraduate years in the Department of Chinese Studies at the University of Malaya. 

"During my undergraduate studies, I was equally interested in literature, linguistics, and philosophy. However, I later realized that I was most eager to ask questions about the origin of things, and to explore the fundamental logic and meaning of the world," he said. 

As a result, after graduating from the University of Malaya, Dr. Choong Hock Keong went to Peking University to further his studies in philosophy, tasting the essence of different schools of thought, especially Taoism and Confucianism. 

Like many people new to the world of research, Dr. Choong Hock Keong also experienced anxiety and self-doubt during this period. He said that it is "the meaning of research" that has sustained him along the journey. 

"I think the essence of humanities research is to study the inner world of man. As a human being, the search for meaning is eternal. We need to locate the topics suitable for ourselves and pursue the meaning of the research - Only then we can stick to it,” he explained. 

“That is also my suggestion to students who are interested in research: Skill is not the only thing that matters. What we researchers should do is to take a balance between mastering techniques and seeking meaning.”

Dr. Choong Hock Keong's research areas include Taoism, Confucianism, the history of pre-Qin thought, philology, and hermeneutics of Chinese Philosophy. During the first semester at Xiamen University Malaysia, he was responsible for teaching “History of Chinese Thoughts” and “Classics in Chinese Philosophy”, where he shares his expertise with students.

He still remembered the first time that he stepped into the lectern. "I told my students at the first class - 'Guys, you don't have to be nervous. The most nervous person in this classroom is me.'" 

The nature of research involves delving deep into questions, while teaching requires the unfolding of knowledge in a comprehensive manner. Since embracing the role of a lecturer, Dr. Choong Hock Keong strives to present complex concepts in an accessible way, fostering students' critical thinking skills.
“I hope students can understand the thinking mode of classical philosophy, instead of simply memorizing.”

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Dr. Choong Hock Keong at Xiamen University Malaysia with his students

Meanwhile, Dr. Choong Hock Keong attaches great importance to students' feedback and adjusts his teaching style accordingly. In students’ eyes, he is a “friendly, professional and reliable” lecturer - “Once you attend his class, you are bound to be influenced by his enthusiasm.”

Looking ahead, Dr. Choong Hock Keong expressed his intention to continue exploring Taoist philosophy. At the same time, he wants to undertake some philosophical or academic history research related to Malaysia's local context. 

He shared: "Beijing has a rich academic history, while research in Malaysian Chinese is in its early stage. I hope to contribute to its growth with my efforts."

(Contributed by Wang Shengjie, Zhou Xuekangping and Zhai Fangrui)