The Centre for China History and Culture (CCHC) successfully held the 7th and 8th Lingnan Culture Advanced Seminar for Students of Hong Kong and Macao. The event is organized by the CCHC of UM, Jinan University (JNU) and co-organized with the Yuet Wah College and Sacred Heart Canossian College. Led by Dr. CHEANG Neng Ian, deputy director of the CCHC, the event aims to deepen Macao students’ understanding and inheritance of Guangfu culture, promote cultural exchange and integration, and embark on a journey to explore the essence of Lingnan culture together.
The 7th event was held from 14-16 July, 2024. On July 14, 33 teachers and students from the Yuet Wah College and 8 volunteers from JNU visited the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, also known as Chen Clan Academy, which is hailed as a “pearl of Lingnan architectural art.” The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall is the largest and most elaborately decorated traditional Lingnan ancestral hall-style building in Guangdong, embodying the essence of Guangdong folk architectural decoration art. It skillfully utilizes decorative arts such as wood carving, brick carving, stone carving, plaster molding, pottery molding, copper and iron casting, and colored painting. Subsequently, teachers and students visited the Western Han Nanyue King Museum for a tour. The palace exhibition area is centered around the ruins of the Nanyue Palace, which is superimposed with cultural layers from 13 historical periods ranging from the Qin and Han dynasties to the Republic of China. In the evening, the group took a boat trip to admire the night scenery along the Pearl River in Guangzhou. The shores of the river were ablaze with brilliant lights, and students not only immersed themselves in the profound history of Cantonese culture but also experienced the vitality of Lingnan culture nurtured by old city as they journeyed from the ancient traditional central axis of Guangzhou to the modern city’s central axis, and further to the new central axis.
On the morning of 15 July , students visited the Hung Sin-nui Arts Centre, learning about Cantonese opera knowledge and the story of Hung Sin-nui’s life. The students gained a deep understanding of the life of the founder of “Hung Art,” who, despite experiencing many ups and downs, never wavered in her pursuit of Cantonese opera. Cantonese opera, also known as Guangfu Grand Theatre, is the largest traditional opera genre in Guangdong. It is one of the cultural and artistic forms that best reflects the characteristics of Guangfu culture and is often referred to as the “Southern Red Bean” for its cultural significance. In 2009, it was inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Afterward, the teachers and students learned to sing the famous Cantonese opera piece “Zhaojun Departs for the Frontier.” Following this, they studied the knowledge and performance techniques of Cantonese opera, experiencing how actors use water sleeves in their performances and how they wield spears and swords for artistic expression. In the afternoon, the group visited the Canton Embroidery Mansion to learn about Guangxiu, a traditional embroidery craft of Guangdong Province with an enduring history and exquisite skills. Under the guidance of the staff, the students learned the unique stitching techniques of Guangxiu. They also had the opportunity to make embroidery by themselves with the help of Guangxiu artisans.
On the morning of 16 July, Professor Sun Enle from the Guangdong University of Technology (GDUT) gave a special lecture titled “Lingnan Craft Art” at Jinan University. Prof. Sun Enle provided a detailed and professional explanation of traditional Lingnan crafts such as gray sculpture and Guangxiu. The students had the opportunity to experience the creation process of gray sculpture personally. The graduation ceremony was held at noon. Guests who attended the ceremony included Guo Ning, Deputy Director of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese Affairs of Jinan University, Prof. Ye Nong, Director of the Centre for the Study of Hong Kong and Macao History and Culture of Jinan University and Director of the Institute of Macau Studies; and Mo Richong, Wang Sen, and Huang Junxiong, teachers from the the Yuet Wah College. Guo Ning presented certificates of completion to the students of the learning experience workshop. Later, students from the Yuet Wah College performed talents and fostered friendships. In the afternoon, they conducted on-site learning at the Cantonese Opera Art Museum. Afterwards, the teachers and students from the Yuet Wah College returned to Macao. The 7th Lingnan Culture Advanced Seminar for Students of Hong Kong and Macao concluded successfully.
The 8th event continued from the previous one. It took place in Guangzhou from 20-22 July, hosted by the CCHC, UM, co-organized by Jinan University’s Centre for the Study of Hong Kong and Macao History and Culture, and the Sacred Heart Canossian College. On 20 July, a group of 34 teachers and students from Sacred Heart Canossian College, led by Principal Sister So Ying Suen and Deputy Director Dr. CHEANG Neng Ian from the CCHC, arrived in Guangzhou from Macao. The teachers and students first visited the largest comprehensive museum in Guangdong Province, the Guangzhou Provincial Museum, witnessing the magnificent epics written by generations of Guangdong people.
On 21 July, teachers and students came to the Guangzhou Hung Sin-nui Art Museum. The group visited the Hung Sin-nui Art Picture Exhibition, listened to Hung Sin-nui Art Lecture, learned to sing the famous opera under the guidance – “Zhaojun Departs for the Frontier” and performed martial arts in costumes. During this process, the students not only learned about the history of Cantonese opera and the dedication of teacher Hung Sin-nui to the art and her love for the motherland, but also got a close-up experience of the charm of Cantonese opera through the learning of singing styles and movements. In the afternoon, teachers and students together visited the Sacred Heart Cathedral, experiencing the inclusive and open-minded character of the city of Guangzhou; finally, they arrived at the Guangzhou Peasant Movement Training Institute, where during the visit, the students were deeply moved by the patriotism and national spirit of selfless-dedication and self-sacrifice of the Chinese revolutionary martyrs.
On 22 July, teachers and students first visited Jinan University and listened to Ye Nong’s special lecture titled “Hong Kong & Macao and Lingnan Culture”, which further deepened their understanding of the characteristics of Hong Kong and Macao culture and Lingnan culture, as well as their relationship with the Chinese culture, which shares the same roots. In the afternoon, teachers and students visited the Gambiered Guangzhou Gauze Cultural Creative Park, located in Nansha District to experience the production process of Gambiered Guangzhou Gauze (Xiangyunsha). The teachers and students once again deeply realized the profoundness and heritage value of the Guangfu culture.
The “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Secondary School Students Guangfu Culture Learning Experience Workshop” has been successfully held for many consecutive sessions. The event not only deepens the understanding and knowledge of Guangfu culture among students from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao but also provides them with a platform to showcase themselves and interact, contributing to the prosperity and development of Chinese culture.
