Ancient culture offers renewal

Shandong Governor Guo Shuqing said cultural resources in the province should be better developed and used to offer new strength for local growth.

"Shandong is one of the birthplaces of the Chinese civilization," Guo said in his work report to this year's Shandong People's Congress that wrapped up on Feb 1.

"Confucianism and other philosophies developed by ancient local sages such as Mo-Tzu, Chuang-Tzu, Sun-Tzu, Guan-Tzu and Xun-Tzu have played important roles in Chinese history and had a great influence on world civilization," said the governor.

More work should be done to keep and develop the essence of the local Qilu culture, he added.

As the home of the Qi and Lu states at the Spring Autumn (770-476 BC) and Warring States (476-221 BC) periods, Shandong is also called Qilu.

In his report, Guo used around 2,000 words to describe the Qilu culture. The governor said its essence lies in commerce, science and patriotism, as well as the harmony between humans and nature.

"We should bear environmental protection in mind and develop a recycling economy to maintain sustainable development," said Guo.

This year, Shandong will implement a program called "Rural Memory" to protect cultural relics in the countryside including villages that have survived for hundreds of years and ancient farming tools.

"This program aims to conserve both intangible culture and the tangible landscape amid rapid urbanization to provide people a place to experience the ancient essence," said Xie Zhixiu, head of the cultural relics bureau of Shandong.

Governor Guo stressed that culture should be integrated into economic development.

"Cultural brands with Qilu characteristics should be cultivated," said Guo.

A program called "Honest Lushang" is being promoted among local enterprises using the ancient name for businesspeople from Shandong.

The program will appraise enterprises with new criteria including assessments on product quality, environmental protection, intellectual property and safe production.

"The program which encourages businesspeople to be honest will enhance the overall competitiveness of local enterprises," said Qin Yufeng, chairman of Dong'e Ejiao Co Ltd, the nation's largest producer of ejiao, a medicine made from donkey hide.

The governor also expressed his support for the 22nd International Congress of Historical Sciences.

The congress will be held in Jinan, capital city of Shandong, from Aug 23 to 29 this year, the first time it will be held in Asia.

According to the event's organizing committee, more than 2,000 historians from about 100 countries and regions will attend the congress.

"The event will be a good opportunity to showcase Chinese civilization and help Chinese culture go global," said Zhang Rong, president of Shandong University.

zhaoruixue@chinadaily.com.cn