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Abstract: Culture is the soul of a country and a nation.Culture invigorates the country, and culture strengthens the nation.Without a high degree of cultural confidence, without the prosperity of culture, there will be no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.Culture is the backbone and soul of a nation. It casts the heart and character of a nation and a nation. Only with cultural confidence can a nation stand in the forest of nations in the world.Only when the people have faith can a country have strength and a nation have hope.Cultural confidence is a crucial factor in achieving these goals.
To be the "ferryman" of Chinese calligraphy and classical culture going overseas
-- Guo Chunxing, a calligrapher in foreign languages
(上)
(on)
Dou, sui
On the afternoon of September 2, I approached Guo Chunxing in the setting autumn sun.
I carefully looked at the resolute man in front of me, recalling the CCTV to welcome the eighth batch of martyrs to fight against the United States to aid Korea's remains to return to the live program, his figure emerged in my mind. Flicking dust from his black suit, he spoke of the solemn scene he had just received at the airport as one of 10 representatives of shenyang's outstanding veterans. "These young soldiers gave their lives for their country, and what can we do for our country in peacetime?" Tears glinted in the eyes of the 60-year-old ex-soldier, and I hurriedly comforted him: "Soldiers like you who can spread Chinese culture with unique calligraphy after retirement can be said to be 'able to take the sword to set the universe, and able to write the pen to settle the world'. Now German, English and Chinese calligraphy has gone abroad, you should be proud of it."
(On September 2, 2021, Guo Chunxing, as one of the ten representatives of Shenyang Excellent ex-servicemen, received the remains of the eighth batch of martyrs returning from South Korea at Taoxian Airport)
"Strictly speaking, writing in foreign languages does not belong to traditional Chinese calligraphy," he said. It is just a special symbol with Chinese calligraphy elements for foreigners to understand. At best, it is a boat carrying Chinese calligraphy to the sea.
One, the flower is fragrant outside the wall
There was a magazine on the table with a bright red cover that attracted me. When I picked it up, it was a special issue of the 100th Issue of Dusselon, sponsored by the German-Chinese Friendship Association, and I felt a strong atmosphere of traditional Chinese festivals. The red cover of Guo Chunxing's work "Friendship Forever", written in English and Chinese, strongly shocks my vision.
He said that this is the current vice president of Liaoning Province friendship With Foreign Countries Association Mr. Li Chengzhi and secretary General Ms. Pang Linna, a few years ago to visit Germany to bring the English and Chinese calligraphy selected by german-Chinese Friendship Association, as the cover of the 100th issue. The Liaoning Provincial Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries regularly orders his works to present to foreign friends, including the president and many political leaders, as well as to the eight foreign consulates in Shenyang.
(Four consul-generals of the U.S. Consulate General in Shenyang have received calligraphy in English and Chinese as gifts from Guo chunxing. This picture is "Peace All Year Round and Peaceful Coexistence", which Guo Chunxing presented to Consul General Anne Lishan who just arrived at her post on Mid-Autumn Festival in 2019.)
He also thanked Cui Kai, the former vice president of Liaoning Federation of Literary and Art Arts and the former vice president of China Literary and Art Critics Association, and Cui Xiao, the former rotating president of international Drama Association, who successively presented their works to the Prime minister of New Zealand and theater masters from more than 20 countries.
(Mr. Cui Kai and Dr. Cui Xiao, the former rotating president of the International Theatre Association, have presented Guo Chunxing's English and Chinese calligraphy to drama masters in more than 20 countries.)
Guo Chunxing said with emotion: "It is very difficult for calligraphy to go abroad without the support of relevant institutions and leaders. The first time you stepped out of China was when you saw the award-winning Chinese calligraphy "One World One Dream" hanging on the wall of the US Consulate General in Shenyang.
(Mr. Tan Sen, the former Consul General of the United States Consulate General in Shenyang, presented the certificate for Guo Chunxing's award-winning work. This work "One World One Dream" has been hanging in the United States Consulate General in Shenyang for 4 years.)
Then we must thank The secretary General sun Delan and Director Pang Linna of liaoning Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. It was July 2017, and I led a delegation of six artists from Liaoning to Germany for cultural exchange. It was an ice-breaking trip. It was at the Chinese Cultural exchange meeting of The University of Dusseldorf that my live calligraphy performance and the 9 English and Chinese works embroidered by Ms. Yang Xiaodong, the fourth generation non-hereditary person of Manxiu, made a sensation. After being discovered by Mr. Feng Haiyang, consul General of The Chinese Consulate General in Dusseldorf, Germany, In the name of the Consulate general, I was invited to take my wife and interpreter to the Chinese Festival held in Germany in September of that year, and then I went there for two consecutive years. If there is no epidemic, I will go there every year."
In Germany, I have to thank many local media, especially Ms. Qin Shuguang, reporter of Huashang Daily. For several years she helped to promote her name in the media. Through her, she also gave her works to local celebrities, including Mr. Gao Niansheng, the famous editor of the German-Chinese dictionary and the German translator of Selected Works of MAO Zedong.
(This is the photo of journalist Qin Shuguang giving the translator Mr. Gao Niansheng a copy of "Respected, All the Best" written by Guo Chunxing.)
In fact, he said his English level is very average, trying to translate the classic culture is very difficult. Thanks to the support of his wife, Wu Xiuping, who is an English professor at the university, and his classmates and fellow translators. "There really should be half of her in the MEDALS." Because he did not understand German and other foreign languages, are through the help of foreign friends to translate and write.
(It was under the guidance of Vice Consul General Tian Qiru that I went to Germany for the first time to participate in the Chinese Festival and wrote Alles Gute in German.)
As a list of thanks rolls off, Guo's innermost feelings of gratitude overflow.
Guo chunxing has participated in the China Festival held three times in a row in NRW, Germany. The festival is co-sponsored by three German cities and is arranged around the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. The main activity is Chinese folk art performance. It was held in Dusseldorf city Hall Square in 2017 and 2018, and in Cologne cathedral Square in 2019. In 2020, it was scheduled to be held in Duisburg, but was cancelled due to the epidemic. With the improvement of the popularity of the Chinese Festival, the scale of the festival has been constantly improved, and the number of participants has grown from thousands to tens of thousands.
Participated in the Chinese Festival in Dusseldorf, Germany for the first time, and the time was one day. Guo chunxing has no experience, and he didn't expect people to like his German, English and Chinese calligraphy so much. Thanks to some German translators from the Consulate General.
(For the first time, the German "Good Luck" was presented to mayor Geisel of the host city Dusseldorf.)
In the face of a long queue for words, he hurriedly managed to eat a box lunch, and then continued to write in the evening. He ran out of a thick pile of rice paper and a small amount of cardboard brought from China, but we still refused to leave. Someone simply brought white cloth and silk and asked him to write directly on it. Later, he found that there was no place to mount the xuan paper works abroad, so it was not convenient to hang them.
(Guo Chunxing participated in the Chinese Festival in Dusseldorf, Germany for the first time and his works were loved by local citizens.)
The second year to participate in the Chinese festival activities have experience. He brought cardboard that could be hung without framing, and he brought a lot of pre-framed classic rolls. According to the arrangement of the consul General, the long scroll of The Diamond Sutra was donated to the government of the host city Dusseldorf, which was the highlight of the opening ceremony of the Chinese Festival. The band played and consul General Feng Haiyang and Guo Chunxing presented the long scroll of The Diamond Suscriptures to Mayor Geisel of the host city. More than 6,000 words, 24 meters long scroll slowly unfolded, the scene is very impressive. Mr. He Wenbo, the cultural Consul, translated and explained the contents of the long scroll: "The Diamond Sutra inspires people to overcome all difficulties and fears in life and work with the great wisdom of the diamond and reach the shore of happiness, tranquility, happiness and success." Guo chunxing found that the audience did not understand and applauded out of courtesy and respect. There was no way to connect the profound cultural connotations just explained with the unfamiliar words in front of us.
(Consul General Feng Haiyang and Guo Chunxing presented the Long scroll of The Diamond Sutra to Mayor Geisel of Dusseldorf)
After the exhibition began, when the main guest came to his booth on behalf of the Consulate general, he took out a piece of calligraphy in English and Chinese "Heaven and Man Are One", on both sides of which were written "Wish people a long life, A Long Life together" and presented it to Mayor Geisel. This time Mayor Geisel understood and understood the connotation of calligraphy. He thanked Guo repeatedly and hugged guo happily. The audience at home and abroad were moved by the content of the work, cheering and clapping for a long time. However, the long scroll of tang and Song ci calligraphy presented to other distinguished guests was not well received by foreign friends due to the difficulty of translation.
(Guo Chunxing presented to Mayor Geisel the calligraphy work "We Are One", on both sides of which are written "I wish you a Long Life, A Long Life together".)
Oh, my friends in other countries like Chinese works with words and names that they can understand. This time he specially brought hundreds of cards and finished writing before the end of the activity.
The third time I went to the China Festival was in Cologne. The plan is for three days. With the previous two experiences, he decided to concentrate on creating works that foreigners could understand. First, it was written and framed in China and presented to Mayor He Ke of cologne, the host city. Ms. Meng Zhou, who served as the Chinese culture adviser for three consecutive mayors of Cologne City government, will be the interpreter. Ms. Meng Zhou is the overseas cultural consultant of the Beijing CPPCC. In 2016, she was awarded the "Jinghua Award", the highest honor for Overseas Chinese, by the Beijing Municipal Party Committee and government. She was also awarded the honorary title of "Economic Ambassador" of Cologne city, and was praised as a rare "Civilian Ambassador" for sino-German friendly exchanges. She is also the most important promoter of Guo chunxing's cultural exchange activities. Guo chunxing said that her confident and cultural atmosphere, coupled with excellent translation, really won her over. Applause broke out before the 24-meter roll was fully unrolled.
(Guo Chunxing presents the long volume of Tao Te Ching to He Ke, mayor of Cologne, Germany (second from left) translated by Ms. Meng Zhou (first from left))
Guo then unrolls a calligraphic display of Great Virtue All Things, created especially for Mayor He Ke in English and Chinese. The mayor was pleasantly surprised when she recognized her Chinese name, He Ke. After that, GUO Chunxing explained the English content of the book. She surprised all the dignitaries and vips by cheerfully explaining what she understood. The audience applauded, she said, "English words can be written like this!" .
(Guo Chunxing presents Great Virtue All Things to The Mayor of Cologne, Germany)
Three days of Chinese festival, every day before Guo Chunxing's booth for word people have to queue up dozens of meters. Guo Chunxing let the audience first write their names on the paper, whether it is German, English, French, Russian or Arabic, he can quickly write "Chinese characters" appearance, quite a bit of "Cang Jie word" feeling, and then write a blessing on the side. The event also marked the upgrade of "German, English and Chinese writing" to "foreign Chinese writing" in multiple languages. All the audiences who got calligraphy were jubilant, holding calligraphy everywhere to tell each other, taking photos to show off. After these live ads exploded, word seekers exploded, writing hundreds of works on the spot every day. Every night when it comes to clearing up, people are also reluctant to leave. Over the past three years, about thousands of works have been donated.
Guo chunxing presented the calligraphy work Harmony Harmony to Dr. Ralf Heinen (Dr. Han Neng), the deputy mayor of Cologne, Germany, and his daughter
Local culture art see Guo Chunxing can make all kinds of text can be written in Chinese characters on the spot, a series of concentrated reflection of traditional cultural values of classical words "hold world with virtue", the nature of the tao, "" hold world with virtue," nature and humanity ", "on good if water" and other popular English Chinese calligraphy, It has become a "cultural brand" on the "China Festival". We propose that guo Chunxing prepare for the preparation of the "International Painting and Calligraphy Multicultural Exchange Association", please guo Chunxing as the president, in order to promote Chinese culture in Germany for a long time.
(Calligraphy work "As Good As Water" presented to Mayor Link of Duisburg at the third Chinese Festival in Cologne, Germany)
It is not simple to repeat what seems simple. In 2000, inspired by the word "And" of Mr. Xu Bing's "Tianshu", Guo Chunxing has been studying And developing English And Chinese calligraphy for 21 years, And has held two English And Chinese calligraphy exhibitions in China. Mr. Nie Chengwen, the former vice chairman of the Chinese Calligraphy Association, saw the work and began to write with pleasure: "Written in English and Chinese, it has a unique style, can be seen and tasted, and is as picturesque as a song." Hu Chongwei, vice chairman of Liaoning Literary and Art Federation and chairman of Calligrapher's Association, wrote an inscription for the book exhibition: "Combining Chinese and Western elements, creating a school of its own". Mr. Cui Kai, the former vice chairman of Liaoning Federation of Literary and Art And the former vice chairman of China Literary and Art Critics Association, not only appeared at the exhibition to encourage, but also made a preface entitled "Follow the right Path, Take the Right Path and be bold and innovative" for his published collection of Grassroots Calligraphy works.
I was even more surprised to see a proofreading copy on Guo chunxing's desk. This is his great book, "English Chinese Writing English Rhyme thousand character, Di Zi Rules, Three Character Classic", co-authored with Professor Zhao Yanchun of Shanghai University, to be published by Shanghai University Foreign Languages Press. I went from amazed to shocked when I saw it. This book translated every sentence of three Chinese classics with the same number of English words, which is a miracle in the field of translation. This has become an important milestone for "bringing Chinese cultural classics to the world". At present, China is short of good translators who understand both traditional culture and foreign languages. Mr. Zhao Yanchun can translate it like this, it is very remarkable. No wonder he is known as "the most beautiful translator in Contemporary China", "Divine translation" and "divine restoration", which is worthy of the name!
The collaboration between Guo Chunxing and Zhao Yanchun is an artistic creation. Guo Chunxing can "copy and create" Mr. Zhao Yanchun's translated works by the way of "Cang Jie", and has the aesthetic feeling of Wei Bei calligraphy that is highly consistent with the structure of Chinese characters, which can be described as a miracle. Two people who have created miracles can work together to publish a book, is the opening of the school, a perfect match, is worth writing.
These three works are the classic texts for the initiation and literacy education of children in the past dynasties in China. They cover astronomy, geography, history and many cultural allusions. They are of high cultural value and can be spread in such a calligraphy way that foreign friends can understand.
"Blossom inside the wall red outside the wall". Now as long as a search on the Internet "Guo Chunxing", his German, English and Chinese calligraphy and very weibei flavor of Chinese calligraphy has become a "phenomenon" hot topic, most of which originated from overseas Chinese festival.
National honor
The story happened in the third Cologne Chinese Festival, an Australian Chinese collector old gentleman around Guo Chunxing's booth for two days. While others would happily take a group photo and leave if they wanted a piece of work, he kept his eyes firmly fixed on the "Hongmeng Harmony" hanging on the wall, as if he wanted to take away the word in front of him with his eyes. No matter how high he offered, Guo would not sell. It turned out that this picture was framed before Guo Chunxing went abroad and had another ownership.
(For the third time at the Cologne China Festival, Mr. Guo had hung Hung Harmony prominently, proud that China had designed such a software.)
At that time, "Hongmeng" had just come into the market, and Guo Chunxing thought it was very good to use "harmony" instead of "hun dun". Guo chunxing wrote this word many times and gave it to many people. He believes the word is his correct interpretation of the central concept of "zhonghe" in the Four Books and Five Classics of China.
Guo chunxing said, "In fact, foreigners are very averse to the idea of" peace "and think we are too" ambitious ". The Chinese civilization has continued to this day thanks to the concept of "harmony with the world". The "Tao Te Ching" can also be found as the basis for the spread of harmony as the highest concept of Chinese culture in the world.
Finally, he wrote a piece of calligraphy to the old gentleman in Australia, and the old gentleman did not want to pay him. He said he was representing the consulate general and never received a tip for three years. It seems to be a personal act, but it represents the image of Chinese artists. But under, the old gentleman must give him a piece to hang in front of the old jade do memorial. "I have traveled to many places in my life, and I have never met an artist who gave away money."
Guo Chunxing told me that he did not love money, "' a gentleman loves money, the way to take 'the Party and the government gave me so many honors, the most beautiful Shenyang people, excellent entrepreneurial mentor, excellent retired soldiers and so on. I have to live up to that honor, that trust, that respect." He said, "What artists value is not money. It is more important to win people's respect than money. Making money is not as important as winning people's hearts." Three times to participate in the Consulate General Chinese festival, confiscation of a point of fee and tips, their own also spent a lot of mounting costs, but he felt very worthwhile, this is a sacred "sense of national honor". If the country is not strong, who will respect the artists of the country? He shared this "sense of national honor" when he stood at the martyrs' cemetery to welcome the remains of Korean martyrs back home. He said, "When a soldier goes to war, he knows he may die, but who ever asks the government for a fee?" At that time, the consulate general invited him and his wife to ask for food, accommodation and travel expenses, how much do you need to give the appearance fee? He refused outright. It's my honor to be here. I don't charge any fees or tips. I'm happy to take the money. He did what he said he would.
Culture is the soul
"A man may not have much money, but he must be worth a lot." We went out for cultural exchange activities, the success is not my calligraphy is good, but the idea behind our works is the common need of everyone, the praise of a happy life, the hope for a better future, the praise of noble morality. Through the bridge of writing in foreign languages, the soul of traditional Chinese culture is injected into the expression form of the combination of letters and calligraphy, spreading the Chinese culture "spring breeze melts rain, moisten things silently". Let foreign friends from feel fun, interesting, to understand, like, finally accept. The core of Chinese writing in foreign languages is the positive energy in Chinese traditional culture.
On the surface, it is a miracle that Chinese writing in foreign languages can go abroad and be widely praised internationally, but in fact, it reflects the necessity of internal logic in the accident. The ancients said: "Calligraphy above painting, poetry above calligraphy, classics and history above poetry." Guo Chunxing said, "To be a man must be above classics and history. Good calligraphy handed down from ancient times is the work of a good calligrapher. Of course, the so-called "man" in a narrow sense refers to our calligrapher's own character, broadly speaking, it is our "national dignity". If you want the world to understand China, first of all, your country should have a responsible image of a big country and international status. The past war against the US and aid to the DPRK and today's remarkable achievements in fighting COVID-19 show that the dignity of a country comes from strength. What you see is that I have just attended the event to welcome the remains of the martyrs of the War to resist the United States and aid Korea. It is all part of the country's efforts to export our values and positive energy to the world through the commemoration of heroes and the responsibility of all the people. It is this positive energy that is accepted across regions, across races, across cultures and across time by people around the world. We study the history of the Party, cultural confidence is derived from the concept of our traditional Chinese culture, fully in line with the common values of a community with a shared future for all mankind. On the surface is the strength of calligraphy, deep is the Chinese culture through the heart.
When I asked Guo chunxing what he planned to do in the near future, he said as he saw me off, "Now we are working on creating works in foreign languages to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Beijing Winter Olympics. Someone wants to send his works to countries along the Belt and Road and every national team participating in the Winter Olympics." I said, "That makes you an Internet sensation."
Guo chunxing said: "Most Internet celebrities are short-lived. Calligraphy kung fu in the accumulation of words, good works should stand the test of time, not in a temporary flow. I don't want to be an official or a businessman in my life. I want to rely on cultural wisdom and painting and calligraphy art to be a 'civilian artist' with money, leisure, strength, dignity and pragmatism. Don't be the first, be the only. Don't go to be what high person, capable person, celebrity, just want to be a real person. Live your life every day for the rest of your life.
(Guo Chunxing's wife, Wu Xiuping, and Wu Xiumei, president of the College of Chinese Medicine of Greater Toronto, presented Guo Chunxing's work "Tibetan Famous Poems" to Mr. Volpe, former Canadian Immigration Minister)
郭Good luck
Guo chunxing's greatest wish is to let the world know China, like and accept Chinese traditional culture through writing in foreign languages. This includes embracing the I Ching, Tao Te Ching and traditional Chinese medicine theories, as well as tai Chi culture, which truly promotes health, to fight against the common enemy of the world -- COVID-19. Let the human less disaster more blessing! Good luck
(The writer is deputy leader of preparation Group of Literary and Arts Federation of Huanggu District, Shenyang)
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