"The Beauty of Chinese Characters" Shines in Vienna: An Integration of Spiritual Order and Culture Along the Beijing Central Axis
On June 21, 2024, a cultural symposium with the theme of the Golden Mean: "The Beauty of Chinese Characters" was held at Vienna City Hall in Austria. Renowned cultural scholar Yu Dan delivered a keynote speech entitled "The Roots of Chinese Characters", discussing the cultural connections between Beijing's Central Axis and the symmetrical structure of Chinese characters with Austrian scholars, officials, and other participants. The symposium elaborated on the spiritual order and philosophical foundation of Chinese culture which can be summed up as the doctrine of the golden mean and upholding of harmony. Sponsored by the Beijing Central Axis Protection Foundation, the cultural event was organized by Beijing Institute of Culture Innovation and Communication under Beijing Normal University in collaboration with the Nouvelles d'Europe.
The Golden Mean: "The Beauty of Chinese Characters" Cultural Event
This symposium is part of a series of cultural events with the theme of Golden Mean 2024: "The Beauty of Chinese Characters". "The Beauty of Chinese Characters", a cultural brand created by Beijing Normal University (BNU) in 2015, aims to promote innovation and international communication of the culture of Chinese characters. BNU has launched a series of events with this brand, including the "The Beauty of Chinese Characters" Global Youth Design Contest which has held itinerant exhibitions in the United States, France, Austria, Japan, Romania, and China’s Hong Kong and Macao.
2018 "The Beauty of Chinese Characters" Global Youth Design Contest Grand Prize goes for the design "The Beauty of Chinese Characters: Basic necessities of life"
From the 2017 "The Mind Gives Birth to All Things" to 2018 "Harmony in the Family is the Basis for Success in Any Undertaking", the campaign has attracted young designers from China, the U.S., South Korea, France, Malaysia, and beyond. The contests received nearly 4,000 entries spanning from visual communication, product design, spatial design, to fashion design.
These events help Chinese characters and culture to be better understood and loved by people of other nations. The unique cultural connotations and aesthetic appeal of Chinese characters provide an innovative medium for promoting Chinese culture and international exchange.
Exploring Spiritual Order: Modern Interpretations of the Beauty of Chinese Characters and the Golden Mean Philosophy
Stretching 7.8 kilometers from the Bell and Drum Towers in the north that sound melodious bells to Yongding Gate in the south that stands for the steadfast watch, Beijing's Central Axis dominates the layout of the historical city with its grand scale. The renowned architect Liang Sicheng once praised this axis: "Beijing's unique majestic order stems from the establishment of this central axis; the undulating rhythm and symmetrical distribution of forms and spaces all rely on this axis as their foundation; its imposing grandeur lies in this north-south extending, all-encompassing scale."
As our gaze extends along this axis, we can't help but wonder: How is this historical and cultural spine of the capital intricately connected to the essence of Chinese culture—its written characters?
Professor Yu Dan, Dean of the Beijing Institute of Culture Innovation and Communication at Beijing Normal University
Professor Yu Dan, Dean of the Beijing Institute of Culture Innovation and Communication at Beijing Normal University, shared her insights into the beauty of the golden mean and harmony in her lecture. She compared the urban spatial layout of Beijing's Central Axis and its iconic historical buildings with Chinese characters' symmetrical and balanced structure by taking some examples including the character "宁" (níng) and Wanning Bridge, "门" (mén) and Zhengyang Gate, "宫" (gōng) and the Forbidden City, "景" (jǐng) and Jingshan Park, and "金" (jīn) and the Outer Golden Water Bridge. Yu Dan said that the Chinese spiritual order and philosophy are based on the doctrine of the golden mean and upholding of harmony. She elaborated on the cultural threads woven into Chinese characters and inspired the audience to discover the unique beauty of Chinese characters by surrounding the topics such as "the rules of agriculture", "harmony in a family makes everything successful" and "the mind gives birth to all things".
At the end of the lecture, Professor Yu also highlighted the original intention and the global impact of "The Beauty of Chinese Characters" Global Youth Design Contest and its itinerant exhibitions around the world. She said this cultural program works as an effective approach to promoting Chinese culture and international exchange.
Integration of Technology and Art: Innovative Communication of Chinese Character Culture with AIGC
A standout feature of the event was the seamless integration of technology and art. Alongside the thought-provoking lecture, a digital art short film driven by AIGC (Artificial Intelligence Generated Content) technology was played at the event. This film not only showcased the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture but also promoted the aesthetic charm of Chinese character culture to the international stage through new technologies.
Professor Yu Dan, Dean of the Beijing Institute of Culture Innovation and Communication at Beijing Normal University
The film, a result of interdisciplinary collaboration between Beijing Normal University's Beijing Institute of Culture Innovation and Communication, School of Arts and Communication, and School of Chinese Language and Literature, combined AIGC technology with Chinese character art. Centered on the theme "Golden Mean", it explored Chinese philosophical concepts of balance and harmony. With AIGC technology, artists are able to transcend traditional boundaries of art works and create a visual work that is both classical and modern in terms of style, offering viewers an unprecedented aesthetic experience.
The playing of the short film aroused great interest of the audience and sparked their discussion. It not only showcased the structural beauty and deep connotations of Chinese characters but also, through technological means, enabled the audience to experience the beauty of characters and urban landscapes in a time and space travel. With the innovative communication means, Chinese characters can be showcased in a dynamic and interactive experience rather than to be limited to a static display.
Moreover, the production and presentation of this film marks a successful exploration of the potential of AIGC technology in cultural communication. It demonstrates that technology not only serves as a tool for artistic creation but also drives cultural inheritance and innovation. As AIGC technology continues to evolve, it is reasonable to believe that the technology will play an increasingly significant role in future cultural communication, helping people worldwide gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of Chinese character culture as well as the unique charms of other cultures.
A Bridge of Cultural Exchange and Fusion: Chinese Culture Resonating with Overseas Scholars
Ernst Woller, President of the Vienna State Parliament, Addresses the Event
Ernst Woller, Speaker of the Vienna State Parliament, and Yang Wenxu, Minister Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Austria were also present at the event. In his speech, Woller warmly welcomed Professor Yu Dan and emphasized the crucial role of cultural exchange in fostering friendship between China and Austria. He stressed that cultural diversity and sharing is the cornerstone for promoting international exchange and cooperation.
Minister Counselor Yang Wenxu of the Chinese Embassy in Austria Addresses the Event
Minister Counsellor Yang stressed that cultural exchange is a vital link among different countries and nations, with this event serving as a vivid example of Sino-Austrian cultural exchange. He noted that in-depth discussions on the cultural connotations of Chinese characters and the Central Axis would further promote cultural exchange and cooperation between the two countries. The Chinese embassy is committed to making more efforts to promote cultural cooperation between China and Austria, and contributing to mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
Professor Yu Dan Presents Book to Cultural Scholars from Vienna
When the free Q&A session began, the audience's enthusiasm for participation immediately heated up. Scholars of Chinese culture from Vienna, Poland, and those based in Austria eagerly raised their hands to take part in a warm and lively exchange with the renowned cultural expert, Professor Yu Dan.
Polish Cultural Scholar Expresses "I Love You" in Chinese and Gives Professor Yu Dan a Big Hug
A particularly touching moment came with the close communication between Professor Yu Dan and a cultural scholar from Poland. The Polish scholar who was greatly inspired by Professor Yu’s lecture walked to the Chinese professor and gave her a big hug. She spoke "I love you" in Chinese as a way of expressing her gratitude to Professor Yu for her excellent speech. This warm gesture resonated with the audience. The hall was filled with a jubilant atmosphere as well as applause and cheers of the audience. The audience's positive feedback and enthusiastic response not only showed the success of Professor Yu Dan's excellent presentation but also vividly demonstrated their love and respect for Chinese culture.
Distinguished Guests Pose for a Group Photo
The success of the cultural symposium Golden Mean: "The Beauty of Chinese Characters" in Vienna has garnered widespread acclaim and high praise from the international community. The charm of Chinese characters with a history of thousands of years, together with the majestic scenery of Beijing's Central Axis, constituted a vibrant scroll painting of Chinese culture. This event was not just a forum on Chinese character culture but also a platform for in-depth dialogue and exchange between Chinese culture and European culture, marking a solid step towards promoting cultural exchange and mutual learning between China and the West.
It is reported that more exhibitions of the Beauty of Chinese Characters will be held at the Vienna Chinese Culture Center of the Nouvelles d'Europe. Looking ahead, it is reasonable to believe that the barriers between different cultures will gradually be broken down, and the exchange and mutual learning of human civilizations will become more profound and extensive following more cultural exchange activities between China and the West. Let us continue to work together on exploring and innovating new ways of cultural exchange, and jointly build an open, inclusive, and harmonious cultural world.