This year is the Year of the Dragon in China, and it is also my zodiac year (“本命年” in Chinese). Can you guess how old I am? Chinese culture is truly fascinating and full of meaning.
As a Chinese American, I am also responsible for learning and understanding Chinese language and culture as well. At the age of 4, I started to learn Chinese literature and culture, such as Da Xue, Zhong Yong, Meng Zi, Shi Jing (《论语》、《大学》、《中庸》、《孟子》、《诗经》in Chinese), etc. My favorite quote from the Lun Yu (《论语》in Chinese) is: When you seek to establish yourself, also establish others; when you seek to succeed, help others succeed as well. The theories and thoughts of our sage Confucius have always been the path followed by Chinese civilization.
Chinese characters are also an important part of Chinese culture. I am good at Chinese calligraphy（书法）and Chinese painting art（国画）. I was fortunate enough to attend this year's Chinese Culture Festival in Washington, DC on August 31. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of The People's Republic of China and the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. Under the leadership of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, this year’s cultural festival was even more special and different from previous years. It not only shows the traditional Chinese culture all over the world but also shows the more inclusive and more integrated Chinese people, just like a bridge, bringing the cultures of China and the United States closer. This is the most meaningful event for overseas Chinese. This activity not only promotes traditional Chinese culture but also allows Chinese culture to take root in various places around the world.
At my calligraphy booth, I taught visitors to write the word well-being (Fu福 in Chinese). The word ‘福’carries deeper meanings for many children, many fields, many talents, many lives, and many blessings. It is your Fu福 when you meet a good teacher, It is your Fu福 when you are interested in something and want to study it, It is your Fu福 when you are interested in a book and it teaches you a lot of knowledge, and It is your Fu福 when you can help others. Dear friends, what do you think about your Fu福? I am very willing to study and discuss with you!
During the festival, there were children aged 3 to 4. When the young kids picked up the brush and wrote the first point on the red dot square, this was where the blessing began. With my help, they finally completed their first '福'. The smiles on their face were brighter than the Sunshine, and I felt like the sun that can warm others, I felt happiness too. When the 90-year-old grandfather held the brush with trembling hands, he was still saying something. Maybe he wanted to use his ‘福’ character to bring some good luck to his family, and maybe he prayed that he may live a longer and more wonderful life. Finally, he held my hand and said: 'This '福' is the best one I wrote, because it’s a special cultural festival”. I had also many visitors who were not Chinese. They all wrote down the '福” in their minds, writing their version of the Chinese character “福” in their hearts. This phrase conveys the idea of individuals creating their interpretation of the '福' character, which symbolizes blessings and good fortune. They seem to be very interested in the brush in their hands! It is because they are very interested in traditional Chinese culture. I think this is also the meaning of this Chinese cultural circle. At this moment, I think that I am a good cultural messenger, not only do I want to inherit it, but also spread it.
I often think that we are all inheritors and promoters of traditional Chinese culture. As long as you have a sincere heart, everything will go as it should, smoothly, and successfully, and be the descendants of Yan and Huang (炎黄子孙) in your heart!
