On October 17, the 894th anniversary of Zhu Xi’s birth was commemorated in Youxi County, Sanming City, Fujian Province. The main ceremony took place at the newly completed Integrated Hall of the Zhu Xi Cultural Park, with over 300 guests, scholars, descendants of Zhu Xi, and representatives from various sectors attending to honor this influential figure.
The day prior, the third Kaoting Forum was inaugurated in the same locality. As part of the forum, a series of events have been taking place, including the launch of the new book “Chronicles of Nanxi Academy,” a signing ceremony for collaborative efforts in Asian Zhu Xi cultural exchange, and performances such as “Music with You” featuring traditional Guqin music. Participants have enjoyed a rich feast of Zhu Xi culture through various artistic and literary showcases.
In an exclusive interview, Chen Lai, the Dean of the Institute of Classical Studies at Tsinghua University, emphasized the importance of preserving and promoting Zhu Xi’s culture. He pointed out that the influence of Zhu Xi’s thoughts extends beyond theoretical realms, significantly impacting practical applications.
In recent years, Sanming has focused on the creative transformation and innovative development of traditional Chinese culture, especially in establishing a “Zhu Xi Cultural Ecological Protection Zone.” The city has launched five major initiatives: protection, academia, dissemination, education, and exchange, aimed at deeply exploring the essence of Zhu Xi culture and actively building its brand.
Among these initiatives, a cultural courtyard centered on “Zhu Xi’s Family Instructions” has been recognized by the China Folk Art Association as the “Chinese Woodcarving Art Museum.” The Ziyang Park has integrated Zhu Xi cultural elements into its “One River, Two Banks” ecological landscape project, creating a picturesque waterfront with themes of blooming peach trees and fragrant osmanthus. The city is also advancing academic research on Zhu Xi’s contributions, publishing over 20 scholarly works, including “A Biography of Zhu Xi,” “The Great Dictionary of Zhu Xi,” and “Chronicles of Nanxi Academy.”
Currently, in Youxi County—the birthplace of Zhu Xi—the city has developed a foundational Zhu Xi cultural city with constructs like Dali Park, Ziyang Park, a ten-mile cultural corridor, and the Zhu Xi Cultural Park. Ongoing projects include the second phase of the Zhu Xi Cultural Park and the construction of Zhu Xi Ancient Street, in addition to improving the displays in the Youxi Museum that focus on Zhu Xi’s legacy.
The third Kaoting Forum has also showcased innovative cultural products themed around Zhu Xi, drawing considerable attention. Fujian Province, positioned at the forefront of cross-strait development, is leveraging Zhu Xi’s philosophies as a unique bridge to foster unity between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. Sanming City has actively utilized its status as a cross-strait rural integration pilot area by organizing diverse activities such as the “Zhu Xi Culture Study Camp” and “Students from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan Walk the Zhu Xi Path,” aiming to strengthen emotional bonds among people across the strait through Zhu Xi’s cultural teachings.
Additionally, the city has established the “Six Advances” of Zhu Xi culture, promoting its integration into government bodies, rural areas, schools, communities, tourist attractions, and families. Programs such as initiation and adulthood ceremonies and cultural festivals for school students help weave Zhu Xi’s principles into moral education for the youth. Activities like “Zhu Xi Speaks,” “Zhu Xi Cultural Promotion Week,” and “Zhu Xi Reading Clubs” have been organized to immerse the community in traditional cultural values.
Located at the source of the Min River, Sanming boasts abundant tourism resources. Plans to promote a “Zhu Xi Path” cultural tourism route include educational trips focused on Zhu Xi’s teachings, heritage exploration, and academy visits, while also developing “Zhu Xi Feast” and “Zhu Xi Mushroom Banquet” culinary experiences to empower the cultural tourism economy.
