Guqin Played in “Chinese Corner” Activity of Confucius Institute at Latvia University

On November 13th, 2014, the Chinese Corner activity themed Guqin was held in Great Wall Restaurant in Latvian capital Riga, Chinese guqin player Tian Quan played Guqin, let the students know more about Chinese culture.
The event was organized by the Confucius Institute at Latvia University and Latvian Overseas Chinese Federation, supported by Chinese Embassy in Latvia and School of Humanities in Latvia University. More than 50 people including Confucius Institute students and Riga Chinese fans attended the event.
Tian Quan is 12th generation descendant of Yangzhou Guangling Guqin faction. He now moved to Latvia. Within more than one hour, Tian Quan played Chinese Guqin music “Plum Blossom” “geese” and”Guanglingsan” with a history of 2,000 years for students. He introduced Chinese Guqin knowledge through these songs.
Tian Quan said, Guqin is one of the art “Qin, chess, poetry and painting”, with a long history. It was one of the required courses of ancient literati, but now fewer and fewer people learns Guqin. This nearly lost art form has become one of the non-substance cultural heritage.
Tian Quan also demonstrated to the students the basic playing techniques of Guqin. The students, after listening to wonderful Guqin music and learning Guqin knowledge, all surrounded Guqin, trying to play and asking all kinds of questions in not fluent Chinese.
Chinese Corner activities have been held several times in Riga, offering a platform for young people who want to learn Chinese, practice speaking and exchange culture. Many Latvian students practice Chinese in and make a lot of Chinese friends.
After the activity, the students also discussed topics related to Chinese folk music together with local Chinese. Everyone ate Chinese food, chatting with the Chinese. The Chinese Corner became a common home of Chinese and Latvian.