Greater Bay Area Masters’ Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition “Chinese Heart · Return Tribute” Successfully Held

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The “Chinese Heart, Return Tribute – Greater Bay Area Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Macao’s Return” organized by the University of Macau Alumni Association and sponsored by the Cultural Development Fund, was grandly inaugurated at the Centre for Chinese History and Culture (CCHC) of the University of Macau (UM) on the afternoon of November 5, 2024. The exhibition showcased nearly 60 outstanding works from over 30 calligraphers and painters from the Greater Bay Area, featuring rich content and diverse themes to jointly celebrate the dual celebrations.

The exhibition is part of the UM Festival of Chinese Culture series, co-organized by the Macao Calligraphy Academy, and supported by the CCHC and the Alumni and Development Office of the UM. During the opening ceremony, Mr. Ao Peng Kong, Chairman of the General Assembly of the UM Alumni Association, delivered the opening speech, expressing hope that through the theme of calligraphy and painting, cultural exchanges and cooperation in the Greater Bay Area would be promoted, resonating with more people in celebrating the return together.

Prof. Zhu Shoutong, Director of CCHC, welcomed the distinguished guests and exhibitors at the opening ceremony and encouraged everyone to experience the charm of the campus. He emphasized the importance of alumni to the university, believing that leveraging alumni power could not only strengthen cohesion, but also enhance the school’s brand image. The exhibitors demonstrated their cultural accomplishments through their brush and ink works.

Mr.Chau Veng Tang, Vice President of the Macao Calligraphy Academy, stated that their team actively co-organized this event and broadly mobilized their council members and members to create and submit works, jointly telling Chinese stories through calligraphy and painting to make this wonderful event possible.

During the event, exhibitors participated in an on-site calligraphy and painting gathering, each displaying their talents in a lively atmosphere, adding more cultural elements to the celebration of Macao’s return.

The Preliminary Round of the 3rd “Melco Macao Star-Youth Talent Competition” Held at the University of Macau

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The preliminary round of the 3rd “Melco Macao Star – Youth Talent Competition” was held from November 2nd to 3rd at the E21A Black Box Theatre, University of Macau (UM). 1,284 young participants from 60 schools and organizations in Macao enthusiastically participated, with 191 programs competing and 50 programs advancing to the next round. The preliminary competition was supported by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government and jointly organized by Melco Group, National Conditions Education (Macau) Association, and the Centre for Chinese History and Culture of UM. Mr.Wang Haitao, President of the National Conditions Education (Macau) Association, Mr.Lou Shenghua, Vice President, and preliminary round judges Mr.Xu Qing, Ms.Chen Yaming, Ms.Lu Jia, Sheng Mei, Ms Liu Changmei attended the opening ceremony held on the morning of November 2nd at the Black Box Theatre.

This year’s competition featured many spectacular performances of excellent traditional Chinese culture, including poetry recitation, Chinese classical dance, ethnic dance, traditional musical instruments, and lion dance performances. There were also intangible cultural heritage performances such as Nanyin Music and diabolo, with all performing teams demonstrating thorough preparation, which was both moving and surprising.

Building on the success of the previous two competitions, the 3rd “Melco Macao Star – Youth Talent Competition” continues to promote Chinese culture and cultivate patriotic sentiments among local youth, while also serving as a tribute to the dual celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 25th anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland. The competition was honored to be selected as a supporting event for the 2024 Greater Bay Area Youth Public Welfare Annual Conference organized by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, fully demonstrating the competition’s prestige and reputation. This year marks the “dual celebration” of the 75th anniversary of the nation’s founding and the 25th anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland. The organizers believe that through this competition, they can not only showcase the talents of Macau’s youth but also inspire their patriotic love for the country and Macau, demonstrating to the world the diverse talents and positive spirit of Macau’s new generation after the return, and tell the “Macau story” of the successful practice of “One Country, Two Systems.”

Jiangmen Historical and Cultural Experience Tour

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From 8th to 10th November, 2024, the Centre for Chinese History and Culture at the University of Macau, in collaboration with the Colstory and Culture at the U, Cinta Escola, jointly organized the Jiangmen Historical and Cultural Experience Tour. This in-depth study tour aimed to lead students to the Greater Bay Area for inspection and exchange, to broaden their knowledge, enrich their spiritual outlook, and deepen their understanding of the country. Through on-site visits and exchanges, it is expected to stimulate students’ interest in the excellent culture of China and cultivate their understanding of Chinese history and culture.

November 8th – Cultural Background of Jiangmen

Jiangmen is a famous hometown of overseas Chinese in China, with abundant historical and cultural resources. In 2007, Jiangmen’s world heritage was listed in the World Heritage List by UNESCO, becoming the first world heritage project in Guangdong Province. In the China Hometown of Overseas Chinese Museum, teachers and students learned about the “Gigs Trade” that prevailed in the middle and late Qing Dynasty, and recognized the hard journey of overseas Chinese pioneers who built local infrastructures around the world with their own lives and sweat.

November 9th to 10th – Visit to Watchtowers and Villages

In Kaiping and Taishan, students visited watchtowers and villages, learning about the architectural background and characteristics of watchtowers from the Ming Dynasty to the Republic of China era. Kaiping watchtowers are a typical representative of overseas Chinese culture, carrying a wealth of historical information and cultural connotations. In Zili Village, Liyuan, and Meijia Courtyard, teachers and students visited the rapeseed flower fields and watchtower clusters, understood the spirit of “self-reliance” and the historical background of the characteristic architecture of watchtowers, and discussed the profound significance of Chinese and Western cultures. In Chikan Ancient Town, students learned about the rise and development of the two major families, the Situ and Guan, and gained a deeper understanding of their significant impact on the economy and people’s livelihood at the time.

Through this study trip, students visited many historical sites and gained an in-depth understanding of the local cultural heritage and historical background. The visits allowed students to feel the breadth and depth of Chinese culture, stimulating their enthusiasm for learning history and cultural heritage, and strengthening their appreciation and understanding of the beauty of Chinese culture. This study not only expanded the students’ horizons and enhanced their understanding of national culture but also laid a solid foundation for promoting Chinese culture.

“Legacy of Golden Stone” Suzhou-Hong Kong-Macao Seal Carving Joint Exhibition Opening Ceremony Successfully Held

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On October 22, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., the opening ceremony of the “Legacy of Golden Stone” Suzhou-Hong Kong-Macao Seal Carving Joint Exhibition was grandly held at the Centre for Chinese History and Culture of the University of Macau, E34 Cultural Building. This event, as one of the series of activities for the “3rd Festival of Chinese Culture” at the University of Macau, was jointly organized by CCHC of the UM, Suzhou Overseas Friendship Association, Changshu Overseas Friendship Association, and Changshu City International Cultural Exchange Promotion Association. The event attracted many artists, scholars, and guests from Suzhou, Macao, and Hong Kong.

The guests attending the event included: Wang Yang, Standing Committee Member of Suzhou Municipal Committee, Minister of United Front Work Department, Secretary-General of the Municipal Committee, and President of Suzhou Overseas Friendship Association, Wan Sucheng, Director of the Propaganda and Culture Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao, Song Yonghua, Rector of the University of Macau, Ho Teng Iat, All-China Women’s Federation Standing Committee Member and President of Macau Association of Fellows Provincials From Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai, Deng Bing, Deputy Minister of the United Front Work Department of Suzhou Municipal Committee and Vice President of Suzhou Overseas Friendship Association, Sam Chin Peng, Founding President of Macau Jiangsu Soviet Union, Xu Aoao, Retired President of Macau University of Science and Technology, Academician of the International Academy of Astronautics, and Permanent Honorary President of Macau Jiangsu Soviet Union, Fu Zimei, President of the People’s Daily Macau Branch, Liu Gang, President of Xinhua News Agency Macau Branch,  Tchu Angela, President of the Macau Suzhou Friendship Association, Wu Wenjin, Deputy Minister of the United Front Work Department of Changshu Municipal Committee and Executive Vice President of Changshu Overseas Friendship Association, and Zhu Shoutong, Director of CCHC.

At the ceremony, Wu Wenjin delivered a speech stating that artists from the three regions used handmade knives as brushes and stones as paper, integrating the essence of Chinese culture and the spirit of the times into a small space, not only showcasing the unique charm of seal carving art but also reflecting our firm belief in jointly inheriting and promoting the excellent traditional Chinese culture. In the future, it is hoped that based on a good foundation of exchange and cooperation, we will continue to make good use of the “Excellent Traditional Chinese Culture Hong Kong and Macao Tour” as a platform for exchange, continuously deepen the connotation of activities, and use culture as a link to expand the exchange and cooperation between Changshu and Hong Kong and Macao in the fields of art, science and technology, talent, and industrial projects, further stimulating the strong power of patriotism and love for Hong Kong and Macao.

Rector Song reviewed the recent activities held by the UM, especially the “One Country, Two Systems” themed activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland. He emphasized that the University of Macau has always been committed to cultivating more patriotic and Macao-loving talents. Cultural Building, as a landmark building of the University of Macau, symbolizes the university’s emphasis on humanities, traditional culture, and Chinese art. Song Yonghua also highly praised the excellent national culture of Suzhou and Changshu, especially mentioning the Suao Pavilion, which is based on the prototype of Canglang Pavilion, as an important architectural representative of the University of Macau, guided by history and carrying culture.

Wu Wei, President of Yushan Seal Society, introduced the history and experience of Yushan Seal Society in detail in his speech, stating that Yushan Seal Society has been committed to promoting the popularization and improvement of seal carving art. He mentioned that Macao has a profound connection with Yushan Seal Society, and this joint exhibition not only showcases the essence of seal carving art from the three regions but also promotes cultural exchange and integration. He also revealed that the joint exhibition displayed more than 110 seal carving works, each of which is a testament to the artists’ efforts and wisdom.

The opening ceremony also included a ceremony to present the original stone seals to the UM, jointly issued by Wu Wei, President of Yushan Seal Society, Ho Pan, Vice President of Hou kong Seal Society, and Tang Changcheng, President of Hong Kong Seal Society. Wu Jianzhong, the University Librarian, accepted on behalf of the university and returned a collection certificate. Subsequently, 14 guests jointly performed the ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the official opening of the “Legacy of Golden Stone” Suzhou-Hong Kong-Macau Seal Carving Joint Exhibition. After the opening ceremony, the guests visited the exhibition and the Suao Pavilion, and took a group photo there.

The “Legacy of Golden Stone” Suzhou-Hong Kong-Macao Seal Carving Joint Exhibition not only provided a platform for artists from the three regions to showcase their talents and exchange skills but also promoted in-depth cultural exchange and integration, making a positive contribution to the inheritance and development of Chinese culture.

Delegation from the China Confucius Foundation Visited the CCHC at UM (Oct 31, 2024)

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2024年10月31日，中國孔子基金會一行莅臨澳門大學中國歷史文化中心，進行座談交流。此次會議包括國際儒聯副理事長、澳門中華優秀傳統文化協會會長陳志玲，澳門中華優秀傳統文化協會理事長、《蓮花時報》社長王海濤，以及澳門大學中國歷史文化中心主任朱壽桐等重要人士。

會議中，與會者詳細了解了澳門在孔子學堂建設、傳統文化普及推廣、學術課題研究及青少年教育等方面的情況。雙方表示希望加強與尼山世界儒學中心和中國孔子基金會的交流合作，建立定期聯繫機制，以優勢互補、資源分享的方式，促進山東優質文化資源進入澳門，推動澳門青少年及市民前往儒家文化的發源地，深入體驗和學習。

此外，與會者強調，應充分利用儒學中心（基金會秘書處）的資源和平台優勢，借助澳門的傳統文化資源和中西交流的便利條件，進一步推動孔子學堂等優質文化資源在澳門的傳播與普及，助力中華優秀傳統文化的創造性轉化與創新性發展。作為“西學東漸”的重要橋頭堡，自回歸以來，澳門在中西文化交流中發揮了重要作用。未來，雙方希望加強在青少年教育、儒家經典跨語言誦讀及孔子學堂推廣等方面的合作，共同助力中華優秀傳統文化在澳門的普及與傳播。

Festival of Chinese Culture Launches Themed Activities in Nanjing

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To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland, on the afternoon of November 1st, 2024, the main campus of Jiangsu Second Normal University hosted the themed activities of the Macao Festival of Chinese Culture: “Understanding a Different Macao.”

Prof. Zhu Shoutong, Director of the Centre for Chinese History and Culture at the University of Macau, was invited to give a lecture titled “Telling a Different Macau from a Literary and Cultural Perspective” for the university’s “Soul Casting and Soaring: Literature, Culture, and the Literary Mind – A Series of Humanities General Education Lectures“. The lecture provided a literary and cultural interpretation of Macao’s history and the social psychological reality of Macao. Hosted by Secretary Peng Lin, she concluded that this not only presents a Macao that is different in historical and current cognition but also offers cultural insights that cannot be found in books.

Guangdong Red Culture Tour

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From October 11th to 13th, 2024, the “Guangdong Red Culture Tour” organized by the Centre for Chinese History and Culture (CCHC) of the University of Macau (UM) was successfully carried out. This event received strong support from the UM and was warmly welcomed by the people of Huizhou and Dongguan. A total of 28 participants, including teachers and students from the CCHC of the UM and Macao Chinese History and Culture Ambassadors, took part in this study camp. The camp aimed to deepen the understanding of the historical and cultural heritage of the Guangdong region among Macao’s teachers and students, and to enhance their recognition and pride in Chinese culture.

On the first day of the camp, the participants arrived at Luofu Mountain in Huizhou, known as the ” The First Mountain of Lingnan,” famous for its beautiful natural scenery and rich Taoist culture. Luofu Mountain has a profound cultural heritage, integrating Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism in one mountain. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Taoist figures such as Ge Hong, Bao Gu, and Huang Daxian practiced medicine, cultivated themselves to aid society, and wrote books here. Their miraculous legends and the beautiful landscapes became important subjects for poems and writings by famous literati like Li Bai, Du Fu, Su Shi, and Yang Wanli. Numerous poems, couplets, and cliff inscriptions also form the unique historical and cultural landscape of Luofu Mountain. The participants strolled through the mountain, feeling the fresh air and experiencing the long history and culture, gaining a deeper understanding of the natural scenery and Taoist culture in the Lingnan area.

On the morning of October 12th, the study camp visited Huizhou West Lake, known for the footprints of famous literati such as Su Dongpo. The participants enjoyed the elegance and talent of ancient Chinese literati amidst the lake and mountain views. In the afternoon, they visited the Hakka Women Scenic Area, a new era civilization practice base in Boluo County, which gathers the charm of Hakka culture spanning thousands of years. It is an industrial tourism area that integrates production and craft display, sightseeing, shopping, and Hakka cultural display, allowing people to deeply understand the history and characteristics of Hakka culture and experience the traditional handicrafts and cuisine of the Hakka people.

On the morning of October 13th, the study camp visited the Dongjiang Column Memorial Hall in Dongguan. The Dongjiang Column, also known as the Guangdong People’s Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Force Dongjiang Column, was a people’s anti-Japanese army created and led by the Communist Party of China in the Dongjiang area of Guangdong Province during the Anti-Japanese War. Here, the participants learned about the heroic deeds of the Dongjiang Column in the Anti-Japanese War and deeply felt the indomitable and selfless dedication of the revolutionary martyrs. In the afternoon, the study camp visited the Lin Zexu Memorial Hall. Through rich historical materials and cultural relics, the participants gained a more comprehensive understanding of Lin Zexu’s life and his outstanding contributions in the anti-opium campaign, enhancing their admiration for the national hero.

The study camp concluded its journey in Dongguan. Through this Guangdong historical and cultural study camp, the teachers and students from Macao visited the historical and cultural sites of Yue Dong, gaining a deep understanding and experience of the essence of Guangdong culture. This event was a journey of inheriting historical culture and continuing the national spirit, promoting the students’ understanding of Chinese culture, especially Lingnan and Hakka cultures.