Meet Cindy
Founder & Principal Teacher
I founded Chenghuai to share my love of Chinese literature, philosophy and aesthetics. Literature is where this journey begins: its beautiful language, its understanding of human nature, and the questions it invites us to ask open the door to deeper reflections on life and the beauty of the world.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in Chinese Language and Literature and a master’s in Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature and Culture. At university, I studied under novelist Yan Zhen and literary scholar Yang Yu. After graduation, I worked as a journalist and translator, with three of my book translations published by CITIC Press.
At Chenghuai, I bring these experiences and interests into close teaching and interactive conversation. Through the study of Chinese language, philosophy and aesthetics, I hope to help learners think independently, develop a richer inner life and find their own way to live poetically in the world - with compassion, curiosity and an eye for everyday beauty.
Education & Professional Background
Education & Literary Training
- Bachelor’s degree in Chinese Language and Literature.
- Master’s degree in Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature and Culture.
- Studied under novelist Yan Zhen and literary scholar Yang Yu.
Journalism & Translation
Journalist at the Xiamen Radio and Television Newspaper.
Chinese translator of three English-language books, all published by CITIC Press:
The Very Picture of You
The Trials of Tiffany Trott
Gunn’s Golden Rules
A Letter to Parents:
Walking the Path of Classical Learning
致家长的一封信：慢溯经典的旅程
Dear Parents and Friends,
尊敬的家长朋友：
In an era that relentlessly prizes speed, efficiency, and instant returns, establishing a classical Chinese humanities studio here in Sydney may seem distinctly out of step with the times.
见字如面。在这个凡事讲求速度、效率与即时回报的时代，在悉尼创办这样一间古雅的现代“书塾”，或许显得有些逆流而行。
Parents often ask me: in a world moving at such a relentless pace, why ask our children living overseas to spend precious hours deconstructing the origins of an ancient character, reading centuries-old literature, or pondering the vastness of time and nature?
常常有家长问我：身处生活节奏飞快的现代社会与多元文化环境，为什么还要让孩子花费宝贵的时间去琢磨一个汉字的字源，去诵读几百上千年前的古文，去讨论浩瀚星空与流转光阴？
My founding intention is simple: language is never merely a set of test questions, nor is it just a functional tool for daily communication. It is the true dwelling place of one's spirit. Embedded within the Chinese language is an ancient, living cosmology, profound human warmth, and an enduring moral resilience. If a child’s encounter with this language remains confined to repetitive drills and exam mechanics, it would be an immense missed opportunity to connect with a profound civilization.
我的初衷很简单：语言，从来不只是一张试卷上的几道考题，也不仅仅是日常交流的工具，它是一个人的精神安居之所。 汉语里沉淀着数千年中国人最深邃的宇宙观、最动人的悲喜性情，以及在沧桑巨变中立身处世的坚毅风骨。若孩子们与这门语言的相遇，仅仅停留在字词默写与应试技巧，那将是对这门博大文明最遗憾的擦肩而过。
In our studio, we consciously step away from short-term expediency. We seek to accompany each learner “from one character to a world of ideas.” We deconstruct linguistic roots, wander through timeless literature, and encourage students to question freely and reason with rigor. We hope that classical wisdom will eventually become their inner anchor—cultivating an eye for beauty, a compass for integrity, and the confidence to speak their minds with poise.
在这间书塾里，我们不以功利为目标，也不追求立竿见影的速成。我们希望陪着孩子“从一个字出发，走向一个浩瀚的思想世界”。我们探寻字理，漫步经典，在沉静的课堂中启发他们大胆质疑、自由思辨；我们更期待这些经典的字句，最终化作他们面对现实生活时内心的定力、审美的敏锐，以及能清晰道出心中所想的从容气度。
Yet I wish to share an honest truth with you: genuine education is an intellectual awakening, not a standardized assembly line.
但我同样想诚恳地与您分享：教育是一场灵魂的唤醒，而绝非标准化的流水线制造。
As the ancient proverb reminds us: “The teacher opens the door, but the path is walked by the student.” The finest school cannot force learning upon an unwilling heart. How deeply a child drinks from this wellspring ultimately depends on their own curiosity, self-discipline, and willingness to engage.
俗话说：“师傅领进门，修行在个人。” 再好的学校也有未能领悟的学生，再用心的先生也无法替代学生自身的成长。孩子们在书塾里究竟能吸收多少 、走得多深，最终取决于他们自身的内驱力、专注度，以及在文字面前是否保有那一颗敏锐、好奇的心。
A true humanities education is like gentle rain nourishing the soil—silent, deep, and revealed only across the seasons. If you share our faith in the power of patient growth, I warmly look forward to walking this enduring path alongside you and your child here in Sydney.
深邃的人文浸润，如春雨润物，往往要行至水穷、坐看云起时，方见其力量。如果您也笃信“慢即是快”的生长法则，愿与我们怀抱相同的从容与敬畏，我期待与您和孩子在悉尼相逢，同行致远。
Warmly,
Cindy
Founder & Principal Teacher
Chenghuai Chinese Academy
创办人 / 教师
澄怀书塾