This research center is mainly engaged in the research of Chinese language history, Chinese paleography, Chinese Classics, and related fields, as well as the training of graduate students. This center has a long history. Since the 1950s, many renowned scholars, such as Yin Menglun, Yin Huanxian, Jiang Weisong and Ji Changhong, have laid a solid foundation to the formation and development of the center.  Language history is the primary research direction, particularly focusing on the research about the modern and ancient history of the Chinese language.  It has long since established itself as superior center for language studies in China.
The current director of the research center is Professor Feng Chuntian.  Professor Feng’s specialty is on the research of the Classics and historical linguistics, in particular Chinese diachronic grammar. He has published a number of monographs such as Research on Pre-Modern Chinese Grammar, Modern Chinese Grammar Study, Research on the Grammar of Liaozhai Vulgar Verses, Study of the Grammar of Shandong Dialect in Ming and Qing Periods, and has published a series of related papers on Chinese diachronic lexicon and grammar. He does research on the work Wenxin Diaolong, and utilizes his solid foundation in Chinese linguistics to analyze its philkosophy and cultural significance. He has published three books and many articles related to Wenxin Diaolong, which play an important role in the relevant research field.

Other important members include Professor Sun Jianyi and Associate Professor Song Kaiyu, who both participated in the writing of The Chinese Dictionary, A Brief Chinese Dictionary, Dictionary of Chinese Appellations, and A Dictionary for Tang Dynasty Poems. Professor Sun Jianyi has published works such as Examination of Chinese Characters, Words, and Morphemes. He was also the deputy editor-in-chief for the Dictionary of Chinese Appellations. Associate Professor Song Kaiyu has published several monographs such as Interpretation of Geographical Names in Du Fu’s Poetry, Research on Affixes of Shandong Dialect in Ming and Qing Dynasties, Diary of Mr. Wu in Tongcheng, and so on. He also co-authored Set Writings of Cao Zhenji. He was also a deputy editor-in-chief for the Dictionary of Chinese Appellations, A Dictionary for Tang Dynasty Poems, and Dictionary of Du Fu. In addition, they also each have issued a series of papers of Chinese diachronic vocabulary. These papers have been well received in academic circles in China. Professor Ding Xiuju is engaged in the research about Chinese rhetoric, philology, and exegesis, and has edited or participated in the writing of Entrance Examination Dictionary, Dictionary of Chinese Knowledge and others, and has published dozens of academic papers.

More than 10 academic projects from this center have been officially recognized and received awards for their excellence. For example, Chinese Dictionary, Modern Chinese Grammar Study ,and Dictionary of Chinese Appellations were awarded the first prize of outstanding achievements of Social Sciences in Shandong Province; Research on Modern Chinese Grammar won the Fifth Annual Wang Li Linguistics Award, which was set up by Beijing University. Interpretation of Wen Xin Diao Long and A Dictionary for Tang Dynasty Poems were awarded the second prize of outstanding achievements of Social Sciences in Shandong Province. A Dictionary for Tang Dynasty Poems was awarded the second prize of outstanding achievement of the Chinese Institute of Dictionaries.  This research center has already taken on a number of provincially and nationally funded academic projects, from the National Social Science Fund and Social Sciences Planning Projects of the Ministry of Education and Shandong Province, and has participated in all kinds of projects including those under the auspices of the National Social Science Project Planning Committee.

At present, this research center’s two main goals remain producing high quality academic work and high quality training to graduate students, both in the fields of Chinese Classics, Chinese paleography, and historical linguistic studies. Within several years, its specific research projects will be mainly focused on the history of modern Chinese and the research of Shandong dialects in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. To complete a series of works with scientific value and real academic influence, it is going to strengthen scientific concepts and expand academic horizons.