Archive for category: Article

On November 26, 2024, the 7th Macao Forum for Chinese Culture, jointly organized by the Centre for Chinese History and Culture at the University of Macau and the Think Tank of United Citizens, was successfully held. This forum coincided with the launch ceremony of the main project of the 3^rd Festival of  Chinese Culture of UM. The theme of the forum was “Macao Culture and Chinese Modern Civilization,” aiming to explore the value and contributions of Macao’s traditional culture to modern Chinese civilization.

Chairperson Chen Bingbing of the Think Tank of United Citizens and renowned writer, one of the forum’s initiators, Lu Xinhua, both delivered speeches. Chairperson Chen stated that this forum not only enriches the connotation of Macau as a “cultural base,” but also shapes Macau’s cultural foundation, providing valuable insights for preserving the Chinese cultural context and promoting the creative transformation and development of Chinese culture. This forum serves as both a reflection on past achievements and a vision for future development. Lu Xinhua pointed out that the academic and cultural influence of the forum is the result of collaborative efforts from all sectors. And then, the officiating guests conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The forum was organized into four sessions, each featuring keynote speeches and discussions. Over the course of one day, more than 20 experts and scholars delivered insightful presentations on topics including the influence of Macao culture on modern Chinese civilization, the contributions of Macao culture to contemporary Chinese civilization, Macao literature and culture, as well as modern Chinese literature and culture. Scholars and experts from various fields such as history, philosophy, thought, culture, and literary arts engaged in in-depth discussions, enhancing cultural confidence and promoting cultural heritage. This made the forum a feast of intellectual exchange and academic dialogue.

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.”

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.

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.

The first “Macao International Children’s Literature Award Ceremony” was held on 16 August 2024 in the auditorium of the Library of the University of Macau (UM), attracting more than 200 children’s literature writers and research experts. The award is jointly established by the Centre for Chinese History and Culture (CCHC) of UM along with several other institutions. Initiated in September 2023, it was aiming for promotion of the development of children’s cultural and creative industries and enhancing Macao’s influence in the international field of children’s literature.

Mok Kai Meng, vice-rector of UM, delivered a welcome speech, emphasizing the importance of the competition to the future cultural development of the country and the nation. Wu Yiqin, vice chairman of the Chinese Writers Association, mentioned in his speech that this award is of great significance to cultivating young people’s literary interest and cultural self-confidence, and injects new vitality into Macao’s cultural prosperity. Lo Song Man, vice president of the Federation of Associations of Cultural Sectors of Macau, quoted data and pointed out that nearly 40% of local writers pay attention to children’s literature, mostly educators, which helps their works to be close to children’s growth and education. Yu Qi, the representative of the Jiangsu Association for Friendship and International Exchanges, said that the establishment of the award responded to the call of the party and the state to discover and promote outstanding children’s literature works.

Guests who attended the award ceremony also included Yin Rutao, Deputy Director of the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, and Cheng Yanxi, Representative; Xu Xinyuan, the Member of the Administrative Committee of the Cultural Development Fund of the Macao SAR Government; Ma Yingying, President of the Associação dos Autores de Macau; Wang Quangen, Professor from Beijing Normal University; Fang Weiping, Professor from Zhejiang Normal University; Wang Binbin, Professor from Nanjing University; Li Xuewu, Professor from Jinan University; Cui Qinglei, Executive Editor of “Contemporary Chinese Literature Research” of the China Writers Association; Jiao Heran, Editor from the “Wenyi bao” newspaper; and Pang Chap Chong, Dean of Students at UM and others.

On 17 August, CCHC held the “Chinese Children’s Literature Seminar” to deepen the academic discussion and exchange of children’s literature. Zhu Shoutong, director of CCHC of UM, pointed out that children’s literature, as a bridge connecting the past and the future, adults and children, has unique value and mission. He encouraged interdisciplinary communication and integrated multiple perspectives into the research as well as creation of children’s literature, so as to make it an important carrier to reflect the spirit of the times and inherit the essence of culture.