Presentation of the first Grand Ricci Thesis Prize - September 16, 2025

The Prix de thèse Grand Ricci, to be held every two years, aims to reward outstanding theses that also contribute to enriching lexicography from Chinese into French.The winner of the 2025 edition, Alexis Balmont, received the prize, consisting of a check for 2,000 euros and a Grand Ricci glass slip, from Claude Haberer, president of the association, with warm congratulations from Professor Pierre Marsone, representing the jury.

Mr. Balmont's thesis focuses in particular on early medieval Chinese Christian texts derived from Nestorianism. They thus come from Eastern Christians who, from the 7th century onwards, strove to express the truths of Christianity through Confucian, Taoist or Buddhist notions. The thesis has the originality of using other languages for Syriac or even Arabic sources.

The Association Ricci is the publisher or co-editor of the Grand Ricci (Grand dictionnaire Ricci de la langue chinoise), the Dictionnaire Ricci des pantes de Chine, the Dictionnaire Ricci du droit chinois, the Dictionnaire Ricci chinois-français in one volume, and is preparing the publication of the Dictionnaire Ricci des inscriptions sur bronzes chinois. The Grand Ricci is also available online on the Pleco and Brill platforms.

For more information about the Prix de thèse Grand Ricci 2027, write to the Association View e-mail