MODERN APPROACH PROMOTES OLD WAYS
Storied Donglin Academy undergoes far-reaching revamp
Many Chinese may not have heard of the Donglin Academy, but nearly all of them are familiar with the 17th century couplet that goes, “The sounds of the winds, rain and reading enter our ears and the affairs of the family, state and world draw our attention.”
The couplet, which is learned at school, was written by Gu Xiancheng (1550-1612), a bureaucrat and educator during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Gu and a group of other scholars repaired the storied academy in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, in 1604.
Founded in 1111, the academy was considered unique because it aimed for scholars to use their knowledge for the betterment of the nation. Some of the scholars’ peers in similar establishments, who mainly recited ancient texts and lacked motivation to foster change in society, were thought to be too divorced from reality.
The couplet is located in Yiyong Hall at the academy — a sprawling site in downtown Wuxi that passes on neo-Confucian traditions.
With its charming stone memorial archway, the academy is among the city’s most iconic landmarks, and in 2006, it was named a National Key Relics Conservation Unit by the State Council, China’s Cabinet.
Rong Junyan, director of the academy’s administration office, said: “Donglin Academy is a really good place for people to learn about traditional Chinese culture. I can walk around it for hours and never feel bored.”
However, most people used not to share Rong’s sentiments.
Despite its reputation, the site was popular solely with older people from other Chinese cities, but these visitors spent only about 20 minutes touring the academy, Rong said.
The administration office found that this problem needed to be addressed.
Rong said, “If a historic venue like the Donglin Academy had continued to put only ancient couplets and calligraphy on its walls, it would be difficult to attract younger audiences and share with them the culture, history and meaning of these relics.”
At the start of last year, the academy, with support from the Wuxi government, set out to revamp its offerings to the public. This work resulted in a stunning transformation of the site centered on a life experience center, which was established by the end of the year.
The center offers a program comprising lectures, art performances, reading activities, healthcare programs, cookery and a cultural creation market.
In the past, visitors took photos while enjoying a leisurely stroll through the academy grounds. Now, they can embark on a full day’s activities, starting with a tai chi class in the morning followed by a gastronomical experience that involves savoring local snacks and desserts while sipping exquisite blends of tea.
Arts enthusiasts can also enjoy folk music performances and local opera shows in the mornings and afternoons. Bamboo sculpture and Wuxi-style embroidery feature among the lectures given by local masters of intangible cultural heritage in the afternoons.
Visitors who love to work with their hands can choose from six classes — pottery, metal, stone, wood, leather and plant-weaving — based on the Confucian classic text The Book of Rites.
The new approach adopted by the academy is in line with the concept put forward by President Xi Jinping to keep Chinese history and culture alive and strong, and to preserve the roots of the Chinese ethos.
Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee, has on many occasions underlined the significance of preserving traditional Chinese culture, noting that historical and cultural heritage is an irreplaceable precious resource.
During Xi’s trip to Fujian province last month, he learned of the achievements of renowned 12th century philosopher Zhu Xi, who exemplified the merits of Confucian ideologies.
During his visit Xi said: “Without this 5,000-year Chinese civilization, how could we find something with Chinese characteristics? And without Chinese characteristics, how could we find the path that has led us to today’s success?”
He Yun’ao, director of the Institute of Cultural and Natural Heritage at Nanjing University, said that although traditional Chinese culture is often associated with classical literature, archaeological relics and intangible heritage, it should not be viewed as being separate from modern society.
“Traditional Chinese culture is deeply rooted in our language and way of life. It influences every Chinese’s thinking and behavior,” he said.
“Modern China is a continuation of this 5,000-year-old Chinese civilization.
If we desert our traditional culture, the faith, cultural identity, creativity and spiritual home of the Chinese would no longer exist.”
Chinese society has always paid attention to traditional culture. However, although schools, museums and cultural institutions often host related lectures, programs and performances for the public, many experts agree with Rong that such efforts are insufficient unless steps are taken to make learning about the past interesting for modern audiences.
Over the years, He, who is also a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, has submitted numerous proposals to protect and popularize traditional culture and heritage by using modern approaches.
“We should better use modern tools, such as digital media and fashion design, to promote traditional culture. We need to tell cultural stories in different forms, on different platforms, and through creative ways so that it becomes part of our modern life,” he said.
Liu Tong, a history professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, said traditional culture research should be combined with public education and promotion. He suggested that such efforts include talent from across society and should not be limited to professional researchers.
“Many people and grassroots groups in Shanghai are doing voluntary work to promote and popularize traditional culture at museums and historical sites,” Liu said. “Their work is as important as the studies done by scholars.”
One example of a modern approach at work can be seen in Shanghai, where fans of ancient music and artists have established a guqin (Chinese zither) troupe called Zi De.
Instead of performing on traditional stages, Zi De’s creations take the form of videos featuring artists in ancient Chinese costumes, playing traditional instruments. The backdrop used in the videos has the appearance of aged rice paper, making a production resemble an animated Chinese ink painting.
Zi De’s creations have attracted millions of views on Chinese and international websites. The troupe has more than half a million subscribers on YouTube and 620,000 followers on the video-sharing site Bilibili.
One Bilibili user said: “This is the perfect way to showcase traditional culture to young people in the modern era. We have always known that traditional culture is good, but a modern approach is required to illustrate this.”
Zhang Wei, director of Shanghai’s animation industrial association, said he is pleased to see ancient Chinese music attracting more attention from the public through the group’s creative works.
“Such is the development of Chinese culture. We need to find new ways to keep it alive and be accepted by more people,” he said.
With this aim, the Donglin Academy has enrolled young talent for its traditional culture educational programs, including Li Meilin, who used to run a handicraft studio in Wuxi before teaching leather and wood-crafting classes at the academy.
Li said that in addition to regular programs, the team at the academy provides tailor-made experiences for visitors.
“Many parents hold birthday parties for their kids, but these activities mostly center around a big meal and a luxury cake. Some parents told us they felt such celebrations lacked an element that would make them more memorable and meaningful,” Li said.
As a result, the academy designed a birthday ceremony for a group of children based on traditional Chinese rituals, such as wearing a Han costume, practicing traditional etiquette, reading classical essays, and taking part in a gratitude ceremony.
“During this ceremony, which is aimed at encouraging children to be thankful, they embraced their parents. Some children even broke down in tears, but I believe such a birthday experience will be unforgettable,” Li said.
The new activities have been well-received. In the first three months of this year, the academy welcomed 80,000 visitors, a considerable rise in numbers compared with previous years.
Rong, the administration office director, said, “There has been an obvious rise in the number of local and young visitors, and they are staying at the academy longer than before, as there are now more interesting things for them to do here.”
Chen Feiyang, the academy’s executive director, said more ventures, such as a reading center and cultural creation center, are planned.
“We won’t rush to introduce them. Only when we take confident steps toward the future and offer high-quality programs will people be motivated to visit us,” Chen added.