Adviser
Hong Ou
Hong Ou (born 1946), is not only a distinguished professor at Sun Yat-sen University and the first Ph.D. in English Language and Literature in New China, but also the founding figure and leading voice of the Lige School of Poetry in contemporary China. Originating from his seminal 1982 poem "The Bastard Child of Poetry," the Lige School advocates for a poetics of cultural hybridity, rooted in the tension and synthesis between Chinese and Western traditions. As both a scholar and a poet, Ou Hong has championed the integration of rigorous academic research with creative poetic practice, fostering a community of scholar-poets at Sun Yat-sen University. His theoretical framework, notably the concept of "Native Consciousness" introduced at Oxford in 1989, emphasizes grounding foreign literary studies in local cultural perspectives. Under his guidance, the Lige School has developed into a dynamic movement defined by methodological self-consciousness, cross-cultural dialogue, and a commitment to authenticity—treating poetry not as a static form but as an active, boundary-crossing practice. Ou Hong thus stands as the central architect and spiritual guide of this influential school, which continues to shape modern Chinese poetic discourse through its embrace of hybrid identity, intellectual lyricism, and transformative creative freedom.
Editor-In-Chief
Guangkui Zhang
Guangkui Zhang, one of the important members of the "Lige School" of poetry in China, is a distinguished scholar-poet and innovator whose work spans rigorous academic research, prolific creative writing, and groundbreaking performative theory. He holds a PhD in Literature from Sun Yat-sen University and completed postdoctoral research in Philosophy at Nankai University.
Currently a Professor, Chair of the Professorial Committee, and Director of the Center for Poetry and Drama at College of International Studies, Shenzhen University, he also holds significant leadership roles in the academic community, including as a Board Member of the Chinese Association for American Literature Studies and Vice President of the Guangdong Association for Foreign Literature Studies. His scholarly research focuses on English poetry, poetics, and translation theory, evidenced by two monographs and over sixty academic papers. Parallel to this, he is a prolific poet and translator, having published four collections of original poetry (in both English and Chinese) and five translated works. Zhang’s most distinctive contribution is his original “Poepera” (poem + opera) theory, which conceptualizes poetry as “interpretive kinetic art onstage.” He actively moves poetry from the page to a multidimensional performance, integrating recitation with musical, dramatic, and choreographic elements. This innovative synthesis of critical theory and performative practice is a recognized academic contribution, demonstrated through his adaptations of classical and original works for the stage.
He further shapes literary discourse as the editor-in-chief of the international journals Verse Version and Journal of Language.
Associate Editors
Yanni Lei
Yanni Lei, PhD, one of the important members of the "Lige School" of poetry in China, is Associate Professor at Department of English, School of Foreign Languages, Sun Yat-sen University. She is also supervisor of PhD candidates and cooperative supervisor of post-doctoral scholars. She takes charge of the English Poetry Studies Institute in Sun Yat-sen University. She has been vice president of Guangdong Society of Foreign Literature since 2025. Her research interests include English poetry and poetics, the study on novel and drama, and the study on literary and cultural theories. She has published dozens of academic articles in renowned international journals.
Simone Chiatante
Simone Chiatante is a distinguished Italian linguist, translator, and published author. In recognition of his significant cultural contributions to Shenzhen, he has been formally appointed as the Global Communication Ambassador by the Shenzhen Daily newspaper and serves as an International Experience Officer for the Qianhai authorities. He is also a recognized expert in Chinese tea culture. His recent literary work includes RESPIRO, a bilingual collection of metropolitan haiku. Professionally, he is an active publishing partner of the Subway Dharma Collective, an independent publishing house based in Italy.
Goran Gatalica
Goran Gatalica is a physicist, writer, haiku poet in Zagreb, Croatia. He works to make the sciences more open, accessible, and inclusive for young people. Alongside his scientific work, Gatalica is an accomplished poet, having published six award-winning books of poetry. His literary achievements include the prestigious Dragutin Tadijanović Award from the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts. His poetry and haiku have been featured in numerous Croatian and international publications, appearing in more than fifty journals and anthologies worldwide.
Editorial Board
John Wilkinson
John Lawton Wilkinson (born 1953) is a distinguished contemporary English poet. He co-founded the Cambridge poetry society the Blue Room and won the Chancellor’s Medal for Poetry in 1974, heralding a career that has produced seven major collections, from Effigies against the Light (2001) to Reckitt’s Blue (2013).
His work is informed by a significant academic career, including fellowships at Harvard University and the National Humanities Center, and professorships at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago. A scholar-poet, his critical insights are collected in The Lyric Touch (2007), complementing a substantial and influential body of poetic work.
Jieyun Ding
Ding Jieyun, Associate Professor, specializes in Literary Theory and Philosophy of Literature. She is a faculty member at the School of Foreign Languages, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics. Her academic contributions include co-authoring one digital textbook and one teaching reform textbook on Business English. She has led one provincial-level teaching reform project and participated in eight projects at the provincial, municipal, departmental, and university levels. Professor Ding has received multiple teaching awards at both provincial and university levels and has guided students to achieve awards in national and provincial competitions.
Editorial Office
Lanhui Liu
Lanhui Liu serves as Director of the Editorial Department for Journal of Language, and Verse Version. She is an Associate Professor at the College of International Studies, Guangdong Baiyun University, where she teaches English Literature. Her research focuses on British & American literature, Comparative culture and English education.
Jieying Wu
Jieying Wu serves as the Deputy Director of the Editorial Department for the Journal of Language and Verse Version, where her responsibilities include departmental organization and managing the registration of article metadata to activate Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) via Crossref for these journals as well as for Academic Research in East Asia. Concurrently, she works as a Lecturer in English at Guangdong Baiyun University.
Atefeh Esmaeilirad
Atefeh Esmaeilirad is an Australian poet, artist, and architect. For the Journal of Language and Verse Version, she oversees page and cover design, in addition to managing daily editorial office operations.