Event Details
WHAT: "Homer in Beijing: In Search of a Chinese Odyssey", an in-person discussion between Jeremiah Jenne and Alan Babington-Smith on how Chinese epics such as "Journey to the West", "Three Kingdoms", and the "Shijing" compare with Homer's "Odyssey"
WHEN: Wednesday, Aug 12 2026, from 7-8 PM (Beijing Time). Drinks and canapรฉs from 6:30 PM
WHERE: La Maison Lyonnaise 2F, 44 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing
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MORE ABOUT THE EVENT: Christopher Nolan's film The Odyssey brings Homer's hero to Beijing this August. It's the story of Odysseus: husband, father, king of Ithaca, veteran of the Trojan War, and a man seemingly committed to taking the scenic route home.
Homer's epic poem, the basis of the new film, has been part of the Western canon for more than 2,000 years and was among the first books printed in the original Greek. It is the quintessential hero's journey, full of adventure, romance, gods, and monsters, but with a morality and message that became part of the foundations of Greco-Roman culture and Western civilisation.
But what about China? Is there a Chinese equivalent of the Odyssey? How do Odysseus and his companions hold up against the heroes of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" or "Outlaws of the Marsh?" Does Odysseus' long voyage home from Troy compare to the adventures (and misadventures) of the travellers in "Journey to the West"? Is there anything equivalent to Homer's hexameters among the 305 poems collected in the Classic of Poetry, the "Shijing"?
Join historian Jeremiah Jenne and RASBJ president Alan Babington-Smith for an epic discussion and debate. For your safety and for that of your fellow audience members, please refrain from angering any particularly powerful and vengeful sea deities on your way to the event.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Jeremiah Jenne is a historian, writer, and travel guide based in China for over two decades and loves nothing more than the story of a good journey epically told. He is the co-host of the podcast, "By Their Own Compass", which explores history's most fascinating travelers and their adventures.
Alan Babington-Smith has known, studied, admired and loved Homer's Iliad and Odyssey since childhood. Since his MA studies, he has read and recited them regularly in the original Greek. He last talked about Homer at TEDx Great Wall. He is co-founder and President of RASBJ.
HOW MUCH: RMB 250 for RASBJ members, RMB 350 for non-members. You may find payment by Alipay easier than by Wechat; you can also pay by credit card. Kindly note, RASBJ does not issue fapiao. Interested in becoming an RASBJ member? Please sign up at https://rasbj.glueup.cn/org/rasbeijing/memberships
HOW TO JOIN THE EVENT: Please click "Register" or "I Will Attend" at least 48 hours before the event and follow the instructions. After successful registration you will receive a confirmation email. If you appear not to have received it, please check your spam folder. If payment is not received 48 hours before an event, the correlating registration will be suspended.
REFUND POLICY: Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable. However, if RASBJ cancels the event, all registrants will be refunded in full.
