Embassy marks International Chinese Language Day with culture and performance

The Chinese Embassy in the United States on Tuesday welcomed more than 500 people to celebrate International Chinese Language Day with an event filled with vibrant colors and rhythmic energy.

Themed "Chinese: Sparking Colorful Dreams", the gathering offered a direct window into Chinese heritage through hands-on cultural exhibits and high-octane performances by a delegation from the education department of Henan province.

Teachers and students from Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia, as well as members of the Henan delegation, lined up to experience interactive cultural booths such as the Henan Meets The World exhibition. Many tried on the elaborate headpieces of Yu Opera, while others practiced the delicate art of paper-cutting or attempted Chinese calligraphy. The immersive setting allowed the young visitors, most of whom have been learning some Chinese, to feel the pulse of Henan's ancient culture, from the martial arts energy of Shaolin Temple to the artistic elegance of Central China.

The Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister Qiu Wenxing explained the historical significance of the day, which coincides with Guyu, or Rain of Millet, one of the 24 solar terms of the Chinese calendar. He noted that the United Nations designated this day to honor Cangjie, the legendary figure who is said to have invented Chinese characters more than 5,000 years ago, bringing Chinese civilization out of ignorance and toward a bright future.

"The season of Guyu is a beautiful time for sowing hope and nurturing harvest," Qiu said in his remarks. "Let's use Chinese language as a medium to light up colorful dreams, sow the seeds of friendship and understanding, and work hard to welcome a better tomorrow for China-US relations together! "

Qiu focused on the philosophical foundation of three Chinese characters to interpret the essence of the China-US relations.

The character ren (人), which means person, suggests that people should support each other, just as the two strokes in the character, Qiu said, citing the well-known saying "United we stand, divided we fall".

"So it applies to China-US relationship: I can say cooperation, the two countries prosper together; confrontation, the two countries both lose," Qiu said.

The second character, xin (信), consists of the characters "人" (person) and "言" (yan), meaning what a person says.

"Literally, xin means a person should stand by their words," Qiu said. "On China-US relationship, the two countries should honor their commitments and accumulate mutual trust."

The third character, he (和), which consists of the characters for "thousand", "person" and "mouth", and suggests seeking harmony in unison with the same spirit. "China and the US should live in harmony; both sides should respect each other's social system, development path, culture, and history," Qiu said.

Candice Bobo, interim head of school at Creative Minds International Public Charter School, emphasized the power of language as a bridge.

"At Creative Minds International, we believe deeply that learning a language is one of the most powerful things a young person can do," Bobo said. "It doesn't just give you words, it gives you a window into another way of thinking and another way of being in the world," she said, noting that moments when young people feel connected to something vast and ancient and beautiful are the moments that change lives.

Wang Huaxing, the director of the External Cooperation and Exchange Department of the Henan Provincial Education Department, also spoke about the cultural richness of Henan as the birthplace of Chinese characters. She concluded her remarks with a heartfelt wish, saying, "May the friendship between American and Chinese youth last forever".

A kung fu performance by Songshan Shaolin Wushu College featured a human tower built with remarkable steadiness and strength, drawing loud cheers and applause from the audience. A traditional musical ensemble featuring the pipa, suona, sheng and erhu performed a medley from the classic show Journey to the West, bringing the legendary stories to life.

During the interactive session, students competed for a chance to learn martial arts on stage, with dozens rushing forward to follow the masters' lead to practice punches and kicks with excited faces and high spirits. The hall rang with their collective shouts as they mirrored their teachers' powerful movements.

In the back of the hall, 10-year-old Leo, a local student, practiced a tai chi move he had just learned.

"I liked the martial arts the best, especially when they built the tower and didn't move at all," Leo told China Daily. "The music was also cool because it sounded like a story. It makes me want to visit China and see more of the kung fu," he added

A day earlier, the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations also held a Chinese Language Day event at UN Headquarters in New York, while celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Chinese Translation Service. More than 200 guests, including national representatives, UN staff and media, experienced traditional Chinese crafts such as paper-cutting and floating-lacquer fan painting, and enjoyed artistic performances.