The University of Macau’s Centre for Chinese History and Culture Successfully Hosts Themed Lecture “Cross-Boundary Symbiosis: Opening New Perspectives on the Heritage Preservation and Development of Xiangyunsha”

On the morning of November 10, 2025, to deepen traditional culture education and promote the preservation and development of intangible cultural heritage, the Centre for Chinese History and Culture (CCHC) at the University of Macau (UM) successfully held a themed lecture titled “Cross-Boundary Symbiosis: Opening New Perspectives on the Heritage Preservation and Development of Xiangyunsha” at Cultural Building. The lecture specially invited Prof. Wen Xia from the School of Design at Foshan University as the keynote speaker, moderated by Prof. Zhang Yan, Director of the CCHC at the UM, and attracted many participants including faculty and student representatives from the UM and Chinese Culture Promotion Ambassadors.

At the opening of the lecture, Prof. Zhang Yan, representing the organizing unit, extended a warm welcome to Prof. Wen Xia, the keynote speaker, distinguished guests, Prof. Ma Xinlin, Dean of Central Wenshi Yanjiuguan Painting & Calligraphy Academy and other UM staff.

Prof. Wen Xia systematically expounded on the cultural connotations and modern value of Xiangyunsha, a traditional Lingnan silk craft with nearly a thousand years of history, centering on the integration of “intangible cultural heritage with art and technology.” Since 2019, Prof. Wen and her team have actively explored the combination of digital technology with art and design to promote the living heritage preservation and innovative development of Xiangyunsha. She provided detailed insights into the team’s research achievements in the digital preservation of Xiangyunsha, including establishing a digital database for Xiangyunsha, developing the “Xiangyun Liusha” APP mini-program, and constructing a visual knowledge graph, thereby transcending spatial and temporal limitations to bring Xiangyunsha into modern life.

Furthermore, Prof. Wen Xia shared her practical achievements in teaching and social service. She has led students on multiple occasions to conduct field research in Xiangyunsha production areas and guided students to participate in design competitions and innovation and entrepreneurship projects. She also shared experiences in empowering rural revitalization through art, emphasizing that cross-boundary integration is not only technological innovation but also an embodiment of cultural confidence, opening up important pathways for the sustainable development of intangible cultural heritage.

During the lecture, Prof. Wen Xia displayed numerous physical samples of Xiangyunsha fabrics and design works, vividly presenting the perfect combination of traditional craftsmanship with modern technology and art design. The audience responded enthusiastically, with many expressing that through this lecture they gained a deeper understanding of the contemporary value of intangible cultural heritage and its preservation pathways.

At the conclusion of the lecture, Prof. Zhang Yan, Director of the CCHC at the UM, and Ms. Kuan Sio In, Principal Admin Officer of the CCHC, presented appointment certificates as “Chinese Culture Promotion Ambassador Supervisors” to Prof. Ma Xinlin and Prof. Wen Xia respectively, jointly advancing the preservation and innovation of traditional Chinese culture to a new level.

This lecture represents one of the important activities of the CCHC at the UM in promoting excellent traditional Chinese culture education. Looking ahead, the CCHC will continue to expand diverse educational formats, guiding younger generations to strengthen their cultural confidence at the intersection of history and reality, and consciously shoulder the mission of preservation and innovation in this new era.