Seeking Ecological Wisdom in Ancient Chinese Classics, African Officials and Scholars Enjoy Immersive Experience of Fine Traditional Chinese Culture

Written by: Tan Chaoping, Liu Xinting, Chen Dan, Cen Jingzhe

Edited by: Xiang Runyuan

Translated by: Li Tingting, Xiao Liang

Source: Publicity Department of the Party Committee

On April 18, the FourthFineTraditional Chinese Culture Inheritance Event was held at the library of Xiangtan University. Centered on the theme“Building an Ecological Civilization and China-Africa Cultural and People-to-People Exchange,”the event took classic quotations from President Xi Jinping’s thought on ecological civilization as its guiding thread, with ancient texts and traditional crafts serving as connecting mediums. Through cross-cultural dialogue, it showcased the contemporary value of ecological wisdom embedded in Chinese culture, aiming to build a bridge for ecological and cultural exchanges between China and Africa.

Attendees included Edson Ulisses de Carvalho Alves Barreto, Director of the Human Resources Office of the Presidency of Angola,Xu Zhiyun, Director of the Ancient Books Department of Hunan Library,and Ge Fei, Vice President of Xiangtan University. Twenty officials and scholars from nine African countries, dressed in Hanfu,enjoyed an immersive experience of the ecological wisdom and unique charm of fine traditional Chinese culture.

The venue has been meticulously curated into two main sections: an exhibition of ancient books on green ecological civilization and an intangible cultural heritage exchange program.

Ranging from theTao Te Ching’s principle that“the Dao models itself after nature”to the Book of Rites’ideal that“all things grow together without harming one another”and from facsimile pages of rare ancient manuscripts to the tracing and interpretation of classic citations in Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, the exhibition employs visual displays, bilingual annotations, and comprehensive English commentary as its medium. Through this format, China’s time-honored ecological wisdom unfolds gracefully like a traditional long scroll. Chinese and African guests paused to admire the exhibits, appreciating the rich visuals and texts while deeply experiencing the profound philosophical heritage behind China’s ecological civilization.

At theevent, participants tried ancient book binding and woodblock printing, creating a lively interactive atmosphere. During the book-binding session, guests handmade booklets inscribed with ecological maxims. They gained deeper understanding of traditional ecological concepts such as“harmony between humanity and nature”,“green development”and“coexistence of all living things”, appreciating the beauty of Chinese characters stroke by stroke. Filled with the fragrance of ink, the woodblock printingactivityintegrated traditional craftsmanship with modern cultural and creative products. Woodblocks carved with the portrait of Laozi and horse totems were printed on rice paper, canvas bags and T-shirts, conveying the philosophy ofpeaceand blessings for courage and perseverance. Under the guidance of heritage artisans, the guests completed procedures including inking, paper mounting and peeling, embracing the timeless charm of traditional Chinese craftsmanship.

Within the exhibition hall themed around great leaders, numerous woodblock prints of Chairman Mao were solemnly exhibited. Interpreters narratedChairman Mao’sextraordinary deeds and noble aspirations, impressing the visiting guests deeply. The interactive area presented a warm atmosphere. A Rwandan visitor spelled out the words“CHINA”and“RWANDA”on a letter puzzle board. This simple yet sincere gesture embodied the enduring China-Africa friendship, becoming a heartwarming highlight of the event.

“I feel extremely fortunate to experience China’s intangible cultural heritagewithexquisite Hanfu,”said Edson Ulisses de Carvalho Alves Barreto. He pointed out that China’s traditional concepts of harmony between humanity and nature and ecological conservation are highly consistent with Angola’s environmental philosophies. Throughtheseexperiences, he profoundly perceived the integration and mutual learning of ecological philosophies between China and Africa.