-Zhu Xi’s Poems- Exhibition of Works by Famous Calligraphers at Home and Abroad Launched in Youxi, Fujian

On October 16, a significant exhibition featuring the works of renowned calligraphers inspired by “Zhuzi Poetry” opened in Youxi County, Sanming City, Fujian Province. This exhibition showcases a diverse range of works from calligraphers across the Taiwan Strait, as well as from South Korea, Japan, and Indonesia, all incorporating the poetry and prose of Zhu Xi. The pieces feature various styles, including regular, cursive, seal, and clerical scripts, reflecting the essence of Zhuzi philosophy in a uniquely Chinese manner.

We spoke with Zhu Maonan, the founding president of the Taiwan Cross-Strait Zhuzi Cultural Exchange Promotion Association, who has visited Youxi multiple times in recent years. He emphasized the cultural connections shared between the two sides, stating, “We share the same language and heritage, and the diversity of Zhuzi culture provides a great platform for multi-layered exchanges between us.”

The primary objective of this calligraphy exhibition is to promote the contemporary significance of Zhuzi culture and to encourage the creative transformation and innovative development of excellent traditional Chinese culture, thereby enhancing cultural exchanges across the Strait. The Fujian Calligraphy Association has been actively working to promote “Min Pai” (Fujian School) arts, particularly through events involving the “Four Great Masters of Min Calligraphy” and has organized national calligraphy solicitation activities both domestically and internationally.

Huang Kunsheng, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the Fujian Calligraphy Association, shared his insights on the event’s impact, stating, “As one of the important forms of Chinese art, we hope that through calligraphy exchanges, we can enhance cultural identity, national pride, and historical responsibility across the Strait.” He noted that this event not only provides a platform for calligraphers from both sides to showcase their talents and share experiences but also builds a bridge for the inheritance and promotion of traditional Chinese culture and strengthens the bonds between compatriots on both sides.

Youxi County, as the host of this event, is dedicated to becoming a city rich in Zhuzi culture, marked by unique regional characteristics and profound cultural heritage. The large-scale scenario play “The Elegance of Zhuzi’s Rites and Music,” created by locals, has already been performed in Taiwan in 2018 and 2019. Additionally, Youxi has participated in six sessions of the “Eight Min Cultural Journey: Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan University Students Experience Zhuzi’s Path” study camp, as well as the fifteenth “Revisiting Zhuzi’s Path” event across the Taiwan Strait and the Shanghai Yangpu District Chinese Culture (Youxi) Study Camp for Taiwanese compatriots, which all work to strengthen the exchanges between both sides using Zhuzi culture as a link.