Scholars Advocate for 'Cool China' to Enhance Cultural Understanding
Experts emphasize the importance of accessible media in promoting Chinese culture globally.
At the Wuyi Forum held in East China's Fujian Province, academics underscored the potential of popularizing 'Cool China' as a means to bridge cultural gaps between nations.
Robert Chard, a former professor and sinologist from the University of Oxford, highlighted the growing interest of Western youth in Chinese culture and urged scholars to engage broader audiences through accessible media formats including books, films, and video games.
Chard indicated that cultural properties such as the video game _Black Myth: Wukong_, the classic narrative _Romance of the Three Kingdoms_, and Liu Cixin's sci-fi series _The Three-Body Problem_ successfully present facets of Chinese culture to global audiences.
Chard noted the international appeal of _Black Myth: Wukong_, which gained traction not only for its technological innovations but also for its roots in Chinese mythology, specifically the adventures of Sun Wukong, a revered character in Chinese lore.
He also pointed out that children in the UK exposed to video games based on _Romance of the Three Kingdoms_ have shown renewed interest in historical figures and events, promoting a deeper engagement with Chinese history and culture.
The English translation of _The Three-Body Problem_ and its recent adaptation into a television series have further shaped international perceptions of China.
Liu Mengfei, a scholar and observer in the gaming industry from Beijing Normal University, emphasized the significance of video games as powerful mediums for cultural expression and value dissemination.
She noted that platforms like YouTube host a myriad of analyses on _Journey to the West_, underscoring how gaming can stimulate curiosity about Chinese cultural heritage.
Despite the potential, Liu warned that games rich in cultural narratives face significant challenges in reaching international markets due to inherent cultural barriers.
She called for a comprehensive cultural export strategy marrying historical storytelling with modern educational content and multimedia engagement.
The forum also addressed the preservation of traditional Chinese culture in the digital era.
Xiao Xiangrong, dean of the School of Arts and Communication at Beijing Normal University, advocated for a dual approach that involves introspection into China's extensive historical legacy while fostering cross-cultural exchanges to cultivate a harmonious cultural synthesis.
The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in cultural preservation was a focal point of discussion as well.
Jiang Changjian, a host at the sub-forum, showcased AI's capabilities by generating a poem for scholar Meng Man in mere seconds using the DeepSeek model.
Fan Di'an, chairman of the China Artists Association, remarked on the digital age's potential to engage audiences with traditional Chinese culture, asserting that modern technologies offer immersive experiences and broader visual perspectives, enriching interactions with ancient art.
John Shanahan, associate dean at DePaul University's College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, noted the benefits of digital intelligence in classical text research, particularly with Chinese classics.
He shared insights on how modern technologies are advancing beyond mere digitization to reconstruct ancient scripts, facilitating deeper historical understandings.
Some participants cautioned against the limitations of AI in replicating traditional cultural elements.
Ye Peigui, vice chairman of the China Calligraphers Association, expressed that while AI can imitate the physical form of calligraphy, it lacks the expressive depth characterized by human artistry.
He stated, "True artistry lies in imperfection," emphasizing the philosophical nuance that transcends technical precision.
Meng Man echoed this sentiment, asserting that the natural imperfections inherent in human expression contribute to the profundity of art.
Chard, in an interview, remarked on the challenges of employing AI for interpersonal understanding and language translation, suggesting that language learning remains essential for genuine cross-cultural communication.
The Wuyi Forum included five parallel sessions covering various topics from Confucianism to scholarly discourse on Zhu Xi, a significant figure from the Song Dynasty, classical studies, and modernity.
The Cross-Straits High-Level Academic Consortium on Chinese Civilization was also inaugurated during the event, led by Renmin University of China in collaboration with various educational institutions.
The forum brought together over 100 scholars from China, South Korea, the UK, and other countries to engage in meaningful discussions on cross-cultural exchanges.
Robert Chard, a former professor and sinologist from the University of Oxford, highlighted the growing interest of Western youth in Chinese culture and urged scholars to engage broader audiences through accessible media formats including books, films, and video games.
Chard indicated that cultural properties such as the video game _Black Myth: Wukong_, the classic narrative _Romance of the Three Kingdoms_, and Liu Cixin's sci-fi series _The Three-Body Problem_ successfully present facets of Chinese culture to global audiences.
Chard noted the international appeal of _Black Myth: Wukong_, which gained traction not only for its technological innovations but also for its roots in Chinese mythology, specifically the adventures of Sun Wukong, a revered character in Chinese lore.
He also pointed out that children in the UK exposed to video games based on _Romance of the Three Kingdoms_ have shown renewed interest in historical figures and events, promoting a deeper engagement with Chinese history and culture.
The English translation of _The Three-Body Problem_ and its recent adaptation into a television series have further shaped international perceptions of China.
Liu Mengfei, a scholar and observer in the gaming industry from Beijing Normal University, emphasized the significance of video games as powerful mediums for cultural expression and value dissemination.
She noted that platforms like YouTube host a myriad of analyses on _Journey to the West_, underscoring how gaming can stimulate curiosity about Chinese cultural heritage.
Despite the potential, Liu warned that games rich in cultural narratives face significant challenges in reaching international markets due to inherent cultural barriers.
She called for a comprehensive cultural export strategy marrying historical storytelling with modern educational content and multimedia engagement.
The forum also addressed the preservation of traditional Chinese culture in the digital era.
Xiao Xiangrong, dean of the School of Arts and Communication at Beijing Normal University, advocated for a dual approach that involves introspection into China's extensive historical legacy while fostering cross-cultural exchanges to cultivate a harmonious cultural synthesis.
The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in cultural preservation was a focal point of discussion as well.
Jiang Changjian, a host at the sub-forum, showcased AI's capabilities by generating a poem for scholar Meng Man in mere seconds using the DeepSeek model.
Fan Di'an, chairman of the China Artists Association, remarked on the digital age's potential to engage audiences with traditional Chinese culture, asserting that modern technologies offer immersive experiences and broader visual perspectives, enriching interactions with ancient art.
John Shanahan, associate dean at DePaul University's College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, noted the benefits of digital intelligence in classical text research, particularly with Chinese classics.
He shared insights on how modern technologies are advancing beyond mere digitization to reconstruct ancient scripts, facilitating deeper historical understandings.
Some participants cautioned against the limitations of AI in replicating traditional cultural elements.
Ye Peigui, vice chairman of the China Calligraphers Association, expressed that while AI can imitate the physical form of calligraphy, it lacks the expressive depth characterized by human artistry.
He stated, "True artistry lies in imperfection," emphasizing the philosophical nuance that transcends technical precision.
Meng Man echoed this sentiment, asserting that the natural imperfections inherent in human expression contribute to the profundity of art.
Chard, in an interview, remarked on the challenges of employing AI for interpersonal understanding and language translation, suggesting that language learning remains essential for genuine cross-cultural communication.
The Wuyi Forum included five parallel sessions covering various topics from Confucianism to scholarly discourse on Zhu Xi, a significant figure from the Song Dynasty, classical studies, and modernity.
The Cross-Straits High-Level Academic Consortium on Chinese Civilization was also inaugurated during the event, led by Renmin University of China in collaboration with various educational institutions.
The forum brought together over 100 scholars from China, South Korea, the UK, and other countries to engage in meaningful discussions on cross-cultural exchanges.
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