Call for papers – International conference: Ancient Legacies and the Fable of the World: Aesop’s Fables in Asia (24–25 September 2026)

Call for papers

Ancient Legacies and the Fable of the World: Aesop’s Fables in Asia

24–25 September 2026

Aesop’s fables are undoubtedly the most widely circulated, particularly when one considers the numerous adaptations by writers in various languages and cultural contexts. The Aesopian model of the fable, notably featuring the use of allegory, anthropomorphism and the presentation of an explicit moral, may thus appear to dominate the genre across the globe. However, many other traditions linked to the fable exist, including in cultural environments where the Aesopian fable is now widely disseminated: Indian, Arabic, Persian and Chinese fables can all claim a very long history.

This conference will examine the reception of Aesop’s fables in Asia, with a view to offering a historical and comparative analysis of Aesop’s place within Asian languages and cultures. The conference will thus focus not only on the dissemination of Aesop’s fables in Asia, but also on their influence on Asian cultures, and on how they correspond with or engage in dialogue with specific fable traditions. In doing so, this conference aims to re-evaluate and recontextualise the cultural legacies of Aesop and the genre he practised – or to which he has been attributed – particularly in Asia, both as a figure of ancient authorship and as a representative of a genre that remains relevant today. In doing so, we will also be able to demonstrate how the reception of the Aesopian genre has at times enabled the resurgence or redefinition of a particular tradition of fables, across a wide variety of contexts, from the Mediterranean to the Pacific.

A few points for consideration, by no means an exhaustive list:

• General reception: when were Aesop’s fables translated in Asian countries? For what purposes and in what ways? Were they translated via an intermediary language or author?
• The concept of the ‘fable’ genre: what concepts exist in the various languages and cultures of Asia to define the ‘fable’? How are they characterised?
• The ‘competition’ between fables: has the spread of Aesop’s fables led to a rediscovery or re-evaluation of a particular fable tradition within a specific context? Or, on the contrary, has it imposed its own model?
• Translations: is it possible to outline an overview of the translations of Aesop’s fables? This could be approached through a history of translation up to the present day, or through case studies.
• The influence of Aesop’s fables: Aesopian fables are often regarded as a type of animal fable; how did this genre develop in Asian countries? Did it exist there before Aesop’s works were introduced?
• Adaptations: are there any adaptations of Aesop’s fables in Asian countries? What might their aims and target audiences be? Satire, education? A politically-minded, educated, or school-age readership?
• Illustrations: how are fables illustrated in Asia? What conventions or styles are used?
• Other fabulists influenced by Aesop whose works have been translated in Asia: Jean de La Fontaine, Ivan Krylov, and others who may yet be identified.

Call for papers

Proposals for papers should be written in French or English, be approximately 400 words in length, and be accompanied by a brief biographical note. Each presentation will last approximately 25 minutes and will be followed by a discussion.

Deadline for submission of proposals: 1 June 2026.
Notification of acceptance: 25 June 2026.
Conference dates: 24 and 25 September 2026.

Adress for sending proposals and contact : Jingjing Han, jingjing.han@ephe.psl.eu

The conference will cover the cost of dinner on 24 September and coffee breaks. Transport, accommodation and lunches are to be paid for by participants.

Organisation:

• Jingjing Han (FAn/CRCAO/EPHE-PSL)

Scientific Committee:

• Jean-Charles Darmon (ENS-PSL),
• Matthias Hayek (EPHE-PSL),
• Daniel Petit (ENS PSL/EPHE-PSL).