Chinese Traditional Culture Day Successfully Held at the No. 40 Secondary School in Riga, Latvia 中国传统文化日活动在拉脱维亚里加第40中学成功举办
On the afternoon of 22nd September 2023, the Confucius Institute at the University of Latvia held a wonderful Chinese Traditional Culture Day at the No.40 Secondary School in Riga, which attracted a lot of students, parents, and teachers to participate in the event enthusiastically. The event was attended by the leaders and key guests, including the Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Latvia, Prof. Dr. Pēteris Pildegovičs, the Chinese Director, Prof. Dr. Shang Quanyu, the new Chinese Director, Prof. Dr. He Dong, the Principal of the Riga Secondary School No.40, Ms. Vediščeva Jeļena.
The event kicked off with bilingual speeches from Director Shang Quanyu and Director Pēteris Pildegovičs. They introduced the brief history of the establishment and development of the Confucius Institute at the University of Latvia, the Chinese language teaching in Latvia by the Confucius Institute at the University of Latvia, as well as all kinds of regular cultural activities, Chinese Bridge competitions, and China study tours organized every year. They hoped that Chinese language teaching courses could be carried out in more schools in Latvia, so as to provide sufficient learning opportunities and convenient learning conditions for native lovers of Chinese language and culture.
Immediately after the speech, the host of the event, local Chinese language teacher Ms. Ma Xiaoxiao (Madara), introduced the programme and content of the event, as well as the Chinese traditional talent performances and experiences on site, including workshops on celadon pattern design, paper-cutting art, blow-painting skills and Chinese knot weaving. She particularly recommended Chinese martial arts (Taijiquan and Wudang style boxing) teacher Zhong Mengting and her martial arts experience workshops. Visitors can learn traditional Chinese crafts and experience the charm of handmade arts in these workshops.
Afterwards, a short promotional video about the Confucius Institute at the University of Latvia was shown on the big screen to give the audience an in-depth understanding of the Confucius Institute. The video also showed the tireless efforts of the Confucius Institute at the University of Latvia in Chinese language teaching, cultural exchanges and friendship between China and Latvia throughout Latvia.
Next was a performance by the Chinese volunteer teachers. Wang Beiya’s guzheng performance, with its melodious sound, brought the audience into a peaceful world of music. Zhong Mengting’s Taiji and Wudang style boxing performance, with its smooth and precise moves, demonstrated the power and beauty of traditional Chinese martial arts and left a deep impression on the audience.
After the performances, the hosts invited the audience to actively participate and experience the activities of each workshop and taste the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival food, mooncakes. Audience members rushed forward to actively experience traditional crafts such as paper-cutting skills, celadon porcelain pattern design, blow painting art and Chinese knot weaving. Everyone’s creativity and enthusiasm brought the event to a climax – participants at the venue showed off their debut works and excitedly took photos with the volunteer teachers with their works in hand. The event allowed participants to deepen their understanding of Chinese culture and inspired them to seek knowledge about China, Chinese language, and Chinese traditional culture. At last, the Chinese Traditional Culture Day came to a successful end with laughter.
[Confucius Institute at the University of Latvia, Correspondent: Guo Mengran, Photographs: Bai Bingyu, Bao Chuanhui]
2023年9月22日下午，拉脱维亚大学孔子学院在里加第40中学举办了一场精彩的中国传统文化日活动，吸引了许多中小学生、家长和教师们的热情参与。出席活动的领导与主要嘉宾有，拉脱维亚大学孔子学院拉方院长贝德高教授，中方院长尚劝余教授以及新到任中方院长何东教授，里加40中学校长叶莲娜女士。
活动在尚劝余院长和贝德高院长的中拉双语致辞中拉开帷幕。二位院长介绍了拉脱维亚大学孔子学院的成立与发展简史，拉大孔院在拉脱维亚的汉语教学情况，以及每年举办的各类常规文化活动、汉语桥比赛、中国游学项目等。他们希望汉语教学课程可以在拉脱维亚的更多学校开设，为中国语言文化的本土爱好者们提供充分的学习机会和便利的学习条件。
紧接着，活动主持人、本土汉语教师马笑笑（Madara）女士介绍了本次活动的节目与内容，以及现场的丰富多彩的传统才艺表演和体验，包括青花瓷图案设计、剪纸艺术、吹画技巧和中国结编织等工作坊。她特别推荐了中国武术（太极拳和长拳）钟梦婷老师和她的武术体验工作坊。观众可以在这些工作坊中学习中华传统工艺，感受手工艺术的魅力。
随后，大屏幕播放了拉脱维亚大学孔子学院的宣传短片，让观众深入了解了孔子学院。视频也展示了拉脱维亚大学孔子学院在拉脱维亚全域的汉语教学、文化交流以及中拉两友谊等方面所做的不懈努力。
接下来是中国志愿者教师们的节目表演。汪贝娅的古筝表演，琴声悠扬，将观众带入了一个宁静的音乐世界。钟梦婷的太极与武当拳表演，一招一式流畅而精准，展示了中国传统武术的力量与美，给人留下了深刻的印象。
节目表演结束后，主持人邀请现场观众积极地参与和体验各工作坊的活动，品尝中秋节传统美食，月饼。观众们纷纷涌上前，积极体验剪纸技艺、青花瓷图案设计、吹画艺术和中国结编织等传统工艺。大家的创造力和热情将活动推向高潮——现场参与者们纷纷展示自己的处女作，兴奋地拿着作品和志愿者老师合影留念。本次活动让参与者们加深了对中国文化的理解，激发了他们对中国、中文和中国传统文化的求知热情。最后，中国传统文化日活动在欢声笑语中落下帷幕，圆满成功。
【拉大孔院讯 通讯员：郭萌冉 摄影：白冰玉、鲍传惠】
