Address by Director of Centre

Address by Director of Centre for Chinese History and Culture, Prof. ZHANG Yan

From the perspective of appreciating art, Macao resembles a unique and enchanting scroll, quietly unfolding along the shores of the South China Sea. This land, with Chinese culture as its foundation, also integrates vibrant colors from diverse cultures, weaving together a unique cultural ecology that is distinctly Macao. Leveraging its unique geographical advantages, it has nurtured a distinctive historical landscape. The central question that has become a focus of common concern and reflection among various sectors of Macao society is how to further construct a traditional cultural identity order with Chinese culture as the mainstream within this cultural tapestry.

In February 2017, with the strong support of the Central People’s Government and the Macao SAR Government, the University of Macau officially established the Centre for Chinese History and Culture (CCHC). The establishment of this Centre represents a significant stroke of bold ink on the canvas of Chinese cultural dissemination in Macao. Its mission is to gather collective efforts, integrate diverse resources, and create a multi-dimensional platform for showcasing Chinese historical and cultural heritage. This Centre is not only a hall of art for conveying the essence of thousands of years of Chinese culture, but also an academic fertile ground for researching Chinese history and gathering the insights of experts and scholars. Furthermore, it serves as an important bridge for popularizing historical culture among the youth of Macao and for promoting Chinese culture to Portuguese-speaking countries. Like a magnificent scroll filled with memories and re-framed, the stories of China and Macao unfold here, narrating their tales to the world.

The understanding and inheritance of Chinese traditional culture among primary and secondary school students in Macao is akin to the delicate and profound process of ink seeping into rice paper in traditional Chinese painting. The Centre has established promotion bases in local schools to use Macao’s stories as a medium for disseminating Chinese culture, showcasing the historical roots and vibrant vitality of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle. This process resembles the meticulous craftsmanship of Song Dynasty paintings, using the cultural essence of predecessors as ink to convey a deep understanding of life, intricately carving beautiful details, and creating classics in Chinese art.

The Centre also collaborates with cultural associations in Macao to conduct various activities related to Chinese historical and cultural themes, akin to interdisciplinary collaborations with artists from different fields. This approach seizes the opportunity for Macao to build “One centre, One platform,” working together to create cultural and artistic works that embody the spirit of the times. It actively integrates into the grand blueprint of the national “Belt and Road” initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, positioning itself as a pioneer in promoting Chinese historical culture overseas, especially to Portuguese-speaking countries.

From the perspective of artistic inheritance, the Centre fully leverages the academic and research advantages of the University of Macau. Through collaborations with Tsinghua University and East China Normal University, it gathers outstanding faculty to offer a Master’s degree program in Chinese History and Culture, becoming an important cradle for cultivating talent in Chinese history and culture in Macao. This process is akin to a painter dedicating decades to mastering unique techniques, tirelessly passing on the essence of culture to the next generation. By developing history and Chinese teaching materials and organizing the “CCHC Lecture Series”, the Centre allows the seeds of national cultural identity to take root and grow in the hearts of young people. As a research base for Chinese history and culture, the Centre’s academic focus is on the cultural relationships between China and the world, as well as comparative studies. It regularly collaborates with important cultural organizations globally and locally in Macao to host high-level Chinese cultural forums, such as joint exhibitions and exchange meetings among artists. These efforts contribute to the promotion of traditional culture and the development of new Chinese culture, helping to lay a solid foundation for the inheritance and innovation of culture.

The cultural integration pattern formed in Macao since its opening has provided a unique perspective for academic research and artistic creation, offering rich resource advantages for the study and promotion of Chinese history and culture. Since the establishment of the Centre, it has successfully organized multiple large-scale cultural seminars. Leveraging its influence in the field of historical culture, the Centre has helped young people clarify the relationships between Macao’s culture and other cultures, much like an artist organizing the elements of a painting. While preserving the precious spiritual resources of local culture, the Centre transforms research findings into historical wisdom, injecting modern vitality into traditional Chinese historical culture, making this cultural tapestry more vivid and dynamic. After eight years of relentless efforts and deep accumulation, the Centre has achieved significant results in various aspects of its work, becoming an important driving force for cultural inheritance and innovation.

Li Xuefei, Director of Department of Education and Youth Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, along with Wan Sucheng, the Director of the Department of Publicity and Culture, have expressed full recognition and high praise for the Centre’s key position and outstanding contributions in the field of cultural inheritance.

Internally, as Director Li Xuefei pointed out, Macao is currently experiencing a period of vigorous development in higher education, and it should focus on excellent Chinese culture as the core of youth education, strengthening their sense of identity and pride in the motherland. The Centre carries a significant mission and prioritizes ” fostering virtue and nurturing talent” and ” strengthening internal connections and external outreach” as its main missions. The development of youth, cultural inheritance, and educational endeavors are vital to the social development of Macao and the protection of traditional culture. Director Li outlined four directions for the Centre: First, enable youth to deeply identify with Chinese culture and strengthen cultural confidence; Second, encourage youth to actively engage in the co-construction of the “Belt and Road” initiative, telling the stories of China and Macao effectively. Third, leverage Macao’s unique advantage of cultural integration between the East and West to promote mutual cultural exchange and learning. Fourth, strengthen ties with top universities in the mainland to provide talent and vision for Macao’s development. These directions align closely with President Xi Jinping’s emphasis on enhancing education for Macao’s youth and fostering a sense of patriotism and love for Macao.

Externally, as Director Wan Sucheng stated, Macao holds special significance in the development of the motherland. The Centre should align its cultural exchange efforts with mainland policies, promoting cultural integration and deep fusion, while collaborating with cultural promotion centres in various regions to advance the global dissemination of Chinese culture. In planning cultural activities, the Centre should highlight Macao’s unique characteristics resulting from the integration of Chinese and Western cultures, serving as a bridge for cultural exchanges between the mainland and the international community. The uniqueness of Macao’s culture is an essential component of Chinese culture and a practical example of a shared human destiny community. In the past, the Centre has promoted China’s developmental achievements through various forms, showcasing the charm of Chinese culture. In the future, it should collaborate with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to apply for the establishment of overseas cultural centres, create cultural brands, and take advantage of Macao’s participation in international projects to enhance its international cultural standing. With strong support from national funds in the fields of cultural arts and academic research, the Centre must deepen cooperation with the mainland and international partners, exploring new models of cultural exchange to contribute to the global promotion of Chinese culture.

Additionally, we must explore an important issue concerning cultural spirit and national confidence—aesthetic rights. Aesthetic rights are not merely a cultural entitlement; they represent the autonomy of cultural spirit. If we are enslaved aesthetically, we similarly lose our freedom in cultural spirit. Just as surrendering our choices means we must obey others’ arrangements, we must establish a discourse system centered on Chinese aesthetics to firmly grasp our aesthetic rights. One of the cores of Chinese modernization is to create a Chinese discourse system that empowers the Chinese people to control their aesthetic rights. This requires us to have firm historical and cultural confidence, with aesthetic confidence and self-reliance being crucial components of cultural confidence.

We should convey the justice of Chinese values and the grandeur of the Chinese image through the spirit of Chinese aesthetics, daring to express ourselves—particularly in cultural works that showcase our aesthetic confidence. By establishing our own discourse and narrative system, we can highlight China’s aesthetic consciousness and truly achieve cultural self-reliance.

Firmly establishing cultural confidence, upholding openness and inclusiveness, and adhering to innovation while maintaining integrity are essential paths to building a modern socialist country. Chinese culture embodies the spirit of the “Great Way,” which includes a worldview, a global perspective, and a moral outlook centered on peace and development, carrying the hopes for humanity’s future. To put historical confidence and cultural confidence into practice, we must accelerate the construction of China’s discourse power and narrative system, telling Chinese stories in Chinese terms and conveying Chinese values. As a window for the integration of Chinese and Western cultures, CCHC in Macao bears the mission of disseminating and promoting excellent Chinese culture. We aim to showcase the “beauty of Macao” through the “spirit of the University of Macau,” enabling excellent Chinese culture to “go out,” while also inviting outstanding foreign cultures to “come in,” thus promoting cultural exchange and mutual appreciation. Through promotion and exchange, Macao can not only demonstrate its unique charm but also contribute to the global dissemination of Chinese culture, allowing the world to better understand China’s cultural heritage and values.

Looking to the future, the Centre will continue to collaborate with the Macao Base for Primary & Secondary Education in Humanities & Social Sciences, creating more opportunities and environments for young people in Macao to engage with and learn about China’s outstanding traditional history and culture. By deeply exploring the rich heritage of traditional Chinese culture and Macao culture, the Centre is committed to cultivating young people as the backbone of inheriting and promoting Chinese historical culture. Leveraging its unique advantages, the Centre will contribute to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, painting a more brilliant and dazzling chapter on the canvas of culture, where history and modernity shine together, radiating dazzling brilliance.