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Zhuhai Historical and Cultural Study Group: Love the Country, Love Macao·Pass the Flame

On December 8, 2023, the second Festival of Chinese Culture series “Love the Country, Love Macao · Pass the Flame” Zhuhai Historical and Cultural Study Tour was successfully launched. The event was hosted by the Centre for Chinese History and Culture (CCHC), UM. The group consisted of 15 undergraduates, postgraduates and Chinese cultural promotion ambassadors from the UM, led by Prof. YEUNG Siu Kwai, Director of Editorial and Publication Division and Dr. LAO Keng Chong, Master’s Program Instructor of CCHC. The tour aims to better enable Macao teachers and students to enter the mainland China, experience the profound national culture, and enhance national consciousness and national identity.

In the morning, the group visited the ancient Jiexia Villages of Zhuhai, Fang Yi Temple, as well as architectural clusters which are located in Doumen Town, Nanmen Village with rich overseas Chinese culture, a long history of overseas Chinese houses, abundant resources, unique Southern Song Dynasty royal family heritage and Lingnan style as a whole. This place is an important base for learning and inheriting the culture of overseas Chinese and carrying forward the spirit of overseas Chinese. Teachers and students of the group were immersed in the strong cultural atmosphere and cultivated patriotism as well as enterprising spirit.

In the afternoon, the group went to the Yang Paoan Museum. In the Museum, the group listened carefully and read the life story of Yang Paoan, and deeply felt the revolutionary spirit of the martyrs of the labor movement who were loyal to the Party and had strong faith in the revolution. The group also recollected the red stories of the martyr Yang Paoan who protected faith with his life and actively participated in the revolutionary struggles with courage and dedication, and felt the patriotism and spirit of the revolutionary predecessors who sacrificed themselves in order to pursue the truth and justice and dedicate to the revolutionary cause.

During this study tour of Zhuhai’s history and culture, Macao teachers and students were able to study the famous history and culture of Zhuhai, to understand and experience the essence of the overseas Chinese culture and the red culture, to further deepen their understanding and knowledge of Chinese culture, which expands the influence of China’s history and culture.

From 20th to 25th December 2023, the “Guizhou – Zunyi Red Culture Study Camp”, jointly organised by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Macau (UM) and the Centre for Chinese History and Culture, was successfully carried out. The team received strong support from the UM and a warm welcome from the people of Guizhou. There were 36 participants from the postgraduates of  Master Programme for Chinese History and Culture of UM, teachers from Macao Primary and Secondary Schools of Chinese History and Culture Promotion Base, and Macao Chinese History and Culture Promotion Ambassadors. The purpose of this study tour is to let the Macao teachers and students retrace the path of the Red Army’s Long March, to learn the spirit of the Long March, to experience the vastness and depth of Chinese culture, and to enhance national awareness and pride. During the five days, the team toured the Xijiang Thousand Houses Miao Village, the Chinese Miao Culture and Art Museum, visited the Red Army’s Four Crossings of the Chishui River Memorial Museum, the Xifeng Concentration Camp, the site of the Zunyi Conference, and visited the Qingyan Ancient Town, etc., to gain a deeper understanding of Guizhou’s red culture as well as the characteristics of the local folklore and culture.

On the 20^th December, the study team toured  the Xijiang Thousand Houses Miao Village, which have 1285 Miao families of wooden foot-hanging buildings built on the mountain and water, layer upon layer. Instead of a village, it is more like a forest of hammock buildings, spreading from the top of the mountain to the foot of the mountain, wrapping the whole mountain tightly. Here is known as Chinese Miao Culture and Art Museum, is the study of the Miao history and culture of the “living fossil”. On this tour, the team has learnt about the long history of the Hmongb in China, and felt the cultural characteristics of the Hmongb, and their national self-confidence has been increasing.

On 21st December, the team came to Danzhai Wanda Town, which is a town based on the traditional characteristic architecture of the Hmongbo and Gam groups. As the saying goes, “Danzhai on the clouds, the great beauty of the non-heritage”. The team could have a great experience of the historical and cultural core of Danzhai’s minority nationality customs. Then, the team learnt about the intangible cultural heritage of “batik making”, exchanged ideas face-to-face with the “representative bearer of the indigo dyeing craft”, and participated in the millennium batik experience, completing the various processes from drawing patterns, dyeing, rinsing and dewaxing, etc., and gradually revealing the patterns to the final appearance of the batik. As the pattern gradually appeared, the beautiful pattern was finally presented, the students and teachers felt a sense of achievement and pride.

Afterwards, the team went to visit Qingyan Ancient Town, a “5A Grade Scenic Spot”. In the ancient Qingyan Ancient Town, there were locals wearing national costumes, and a variety of weird and wonderful vendors, and the team couldn’t help but get into this kind of cozy life. The traditional buildings in the lanes and alleys, and the mysterious folk customs were enchanting.

On 22^nd December, the team went to visit Xifeng Concentration Camp. Xifeng Concentration Camp was the largest secret prison for communists and patriotic progressives set up by the Kuomintang during the War of Resistance to insist on the reactionary policy of “passive anti-Japanese and active anti-communist”, and was one of the four major concentration camps set up by the Kuomintang during the War of Resistance to the Japanese, along with Bai Gongguan（Chongqing ）, Zhazidong Concentration Camp（Chongqing ）, and Shangrao Concentration Camp（Jiangxi）. During this visit, the team deeply understood the revolutionary martyrs’ indomitable and resolute spirit of resistance and struggle, and they expressed that they would inherit the martyrs’ legacy, carry forward the spirit of the martyrs, and strive for progress in their future study and life.

On 23rd December, the team visited the Red Army’s Four Crossings of Chishui River Memorial Park, which is mainly composed of a memorial tower, a relief wall, a ferry monument and an exhibition gallery. In the Memorial Park, the team learnt about the whole process of cross the Chishui River four times, and realised how difficult it was for the Red Army to achieve the great success of the Four Crossings of Chishui River.

Afterwards, the team arrived at The Pass of Mount Lou, the “Battle of The Pass of Mount Lou” was the key battle of the Zunyi Battle, and the first major victory of the Red Army since the Long March.

On 25th December, the team visited the Zunyi Conference site. The Zunyi Conference was a life-and-death turning point in the history of the Communist Party of China, which established the new central leadership group represented by Mao Zedong. The exhibition hall, conference room, revolutionary cultural relics, historical information and historical photos in the Zunyi Conference site let the team have a deep understanding of the revolutionary spirit of the revolutionary martyrs who were courageous in struggle, indomitable and not afraid of sacrifice. It also let them  learn about the red history of the Zunyi Conference during the long march of 25,000 miles, Cross Chishui River four times with ingenious military move and other red histories in order to carry on the revolutionary traditions of the Zunyi Conference. Also, the revolutionary culture is used to disseminate and nourish the socialist core values. It will also open up broader prospects for the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

By the “Guizhou – Zunyi Red Culture Study Camp”, the team explored the red history of Guizhou, for having in-depth understanding and experience of the essence of Guizhou culture. This activity is a trip to inherit the revolutionary spirit and continue the red gene, which promotes the knowledge of the students on Chinese history and culture, and the indispensable red revolutionary culture.

In order to demonstrate the charm of calligraphy in the Greater Bay Area, This Side of the Scenery 2023 ——Shenzhen Nanshan, Zhuhai Xiangzhou, Hong Kong, Macao Regional Calligraphy Exchange Exhibition was held on 11th December 2023 in the Library of the University of Macau (UM), and the exhibition was last to 19th December. The exhibition is directed by the  Nanshan District Publicity Department of Shenzhen CPC  and the Shenzhen Calligraphers Association, organised by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Macau, the Centre for Chinese History and Culture (CCHC) and the Associação Nacional dos Calígrafos de Macau, and co-organised by the UM Library, Shenzhen  Nanshan Federation of Literature and Art Circles, and Shenzhen Nanshan District Calligraphers Association, Zhuhai Xiangzhou District Calligraphers Association and China Calligraphers Association (Hong kong ).

The exhibition brought the audience and the authors of the calligraphy to appreciate the exhibits and exchange the ideas of writing skills related issues. The atmosphere was hot. Calligraphers from the four regions through this exchange platform, mutual appreciation, to promote the development of calligraphy in the four regions and contribute to the Bay Area calligraphy style. The 112 pieces of calligraphy works on display, bot cursive, running script, clerical script, regular script, seal script and other styles of calligraphy, reflecting the writing style of calligraphers from different regions. The works on display are either calm and steady or expressive, with a rich variety of forms and outstanding styles that embrace the spirit of traditional culture and contemporary Chinese values. It demonstrates not only the artists’ noble moral qualities and profound artistic attainments, but also their strong patriotism and sincere love for their country, as well as their passion for promoting the traditional art of calligraphy.

Literature and art are the trumpets of the times and can best represent the spirit of an era. Prof. Zhu Shutong, Director of the CCHC, said that it was remarkable that this exhibition was persistently held in the past few years under the influence of the epidemic. Through the This Side of the Scenery 2023, calligraphers from the Greater Bay Area have been meeting friends through calligraphy, promoting the development of calligraphy in the four regions, as well as promoting the development of the whole region with the vitality of culture. The exhibition also showed the calligraphy of four regions from different perspectives to reflect the artist’s artistic vision, spirituality, aesthetics, pen and ink skills and the value, that has also become a cultural brand of the Bay Area with a good brand effect and influence.

Chang Hongcai,  Chairman of Shenzhen Nanshan District Calligraphers Association, named the calligraphy exhibition as This Side of the Scenery 2023. In his view, the four calligraphy exchange exhibition is the use of calligraphy as a link between the four cultures, and across the different, looking for the same. The Calligraphy Exchange Exhibition of the four regions uses calligraphy to enhance cultural recognition and love among each other, and to strengthen cultural cohesion. To this end, he wrote a pair of couplets in simplified Chinese script, “The sound of the guqin is as clear as the sound of running water; the dream of poetry is as warm as spring.” to sing the good times of literature, calligraphy spring breeze, the font is dignified and thick, without losing the lively fun.

On October 20, 2023, the “Opening Ceremony of the Exhibition: Beholding the Shooting Stars — The 100th Anniversary of the Publication of Call to Arms” and the “Academic Symposium on Lu Xun’s Literature and Chinese Language and Culture” were held, which were organized by the Lu Xun Museum in Beijing (the Memorial Hall of the New Culture Movement in Beijing) and the University of Macau (UM), and co-organized by the UM Library, the Centre for Chinese History and Culture (CCHC) of UM, and Research Centre for Humanities in South China of UM. The opening ceremony of the exhibition was held in the Sky Garden on 2/F of the Library (E2) of UM, followed by a symposium in the conference room of the Humanities and Social Sciences Building (E21A) of UM, where many scholars, teachers and students gathered to explore the masterpiece of Mr. Lu Xun, a great master of literature, and to discuss Lu Xun’s literature from the angle of Chinese language and culture.

Huang Zhihu, Deputy Director of the Research Office of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao S.A.R.

Jiang Yixin, Deputy Director of the Lu Xun Museum (Beijing New Culture Movement Memorial Museum)

During the opening ceremony of the exhibition “The 100th Anniversary of the Publication of Call to Arms”, Huang Zhihu, Deputy Director of the Research Office of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao S.A.R., firstly delivered a speech in which he said that, with the support of our country, Macao is accelerating the construction of “One Center”, “One Platform” and “One Base”. In this exhibition, visitors were able to witness Mr. Lu Xun’s precious handwriting, and to feel the national soul, patriotism and literary creativity from a close distance, which is conducive to promoting Macao’s humanistic culture construction, academic research and exchange of ideas. Then, Jiang Yixin, Deputy Director of the Lu Xun Museum (Beijing New Culture Movement Memorial Museum), delivered a speech, in which she said that in Call to Arms, Lu Xun’s unique and insightful literary reflections on the times, history, nationalism and human nature have reached a remarkable high altitude and have had far-reaching impacts. It is meaningful that this event can be held in Macao which is at the forefront of combining Chinese and Western cultures. Zhu Shutong, Director of CCHC of UM, said, A Madman’s Diary is the first modern vernacular novel in China, which opened up the real vernacular written language writing, and Lu Xun played an important role in shaping the soul of Chinese people. By focusing on the whole process of the birth of Call to Arms and through in-depth academic research, we can better grasp the significance of Lu Xun’s modern Chinese writing to Chinese culture. After the official announcement of the opening of the exhibition, Qin Suyin, Deputy Director of the Research Department of the Lu Xun Museum (Beijing New Culture Movement Memorial Museum), finally introduced the contents of the exhibition to the audience.

After the opening ceremony, guests and scholars moved to the conference room for the Academic Symposium on Lu Xun’s Literature and Chinese Language and Culture. At the beginning, two research librarians from the Lu Xun Museum in Beijing, Jiang Yixin and Liu Jing, gave speeches on the topics of “From ‘call to arms’ to Call to Arms: On the Occurrence of Lu Xun Literature of ‘Sound the Alarm’” and “‘Jin Xinxian’ in Call to Arms-Preface”. At the discussion session, several doctoral students from UM expressed their own opinions and made brilliant speeches with new perspectives. At the end of the symposium, Zhu Shoutong concluded that Lu Xun’s research is not only related to the study of social phenomenon, but also the study of risk. Teenagers of UM are expected to study hard to establish a solid foundation, have the courage to take risks and climb the mountain in the path of study like Lu Xun.

Guests who attended the symposium were included Jiang Yixin, Deputy Director of Beijing Lu Xun Museum (Beijing New Culture Movement Memorial Museum), Research Librarian, Editor-in-Chief of Lu Xun Research Monthly; Liu Jing, Director of the Department of Display and Exhibition of Beijing Lu Xun Museum (Beijing New Culture Movement Memorial Museum); Qin Suyin, Deputy Director of the Research Office of Beijing Lu Xun Museum (Beijing New Culture Movement Memorial Museum), Research Librarian; Huang Zhihu, Deputy Director of the Research Office of the Liaison Office of the Central Government in Macao SAR; Wu Jianzhong, UM Librarian; Leong Tak Hoi, Assistant Librarian; Tam Sik Chung, Acting Master of the Shiu Pong College, UM; Jiang Yi, Representative of the Henry Fok Pearl Jubilee College, UM; Zhang Yue, Assistant Dean of the FAH, UM; Zhu Shoutong, Director of CCHC of UM; Cheang Neng Ian, Vice Director of CCHC of UM; Chen Zhong, Vice Director of the Confucius Institute of UM; Zhang Jian, Chair Professor of Chinese Language and Literature, Wang Sihao, Associate Professor, Liu Hongyong, Associate Professor, Wei Chu Xiong, Emeritus Professor of the Department of History of UM, and Lao Keng Chong, Part-time Lecturer of CCHC of UM and so on.

https://cchc.fah.um.edu.mo/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/UM holds symposium on Lu Xun and exhibition to commemorate 100th anniversary of The Scream.pdf