Guoxue Cultural Festival promotes national learning

Guoxue, the study of traditional Chinese philosophy, literature and history, has seen a resurgence in recent years thanks to China's efforts in increasing promotion.

In Beijing, the country's first ever Guoxue Cultural Festival kicked off Saturday night at Guozijian, China's highest academic institution during the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.

In Beijing, the country's first ever Guoxue Cultural Festival kicked off Saturday night at Guozijian, China's highest academic institution during the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The festival opened with performances by Ha Hui, the image ambassador of Guoxue. Ha elaborately incorporated the essence of Li, an important part of traditional Chinese philosophy, into her poem recital and singing.

Although, Ha's singing was backed by Chinese court music, her performance refreshed spectators with a rearrangement of ancient tunes, with the help of modern musical instruments.

Ha said the songs are part of the neo-classical music road she's been pursuing over years to further her singing career.

Ha Hui said, "The so-called neo-classical music is my rough definition of my music works, which combine together poem reading, etiquette of daily behaviors, and court music. I'm still on my early phase exploring this art genre. It's not merely a music form, but something with a more wider connotation."

The open air performance Saturday night was held in front of the Biyong Hall of Guozijian, which is regarded as the highest institute of learning in China's traditional educational system. It houses the Confucius Temple, where emperors in imperial China regularly conducted ceremonies honoring Confucius, the greatest--all-time Chinese thinker and social philosopher.

Ha Hui said, "China is a country with a prolific portfolio of fine cultural traditions. As a singer, I'm doing what I can to promote our cultural legacy to people worldwide in an artistic means."

In recent years, there's been nationwide enthusiasm for the study of Confucianism. And the study of Guoxue, meaning the study and appreciation of traditional Chinese history, culture, arts and literature, is increasing.

The first Guoxue Cultural Festival also encompasses Confucius worshipping ceremonies, Guoxue forums and exhibitions detailing Confucius' theory of ethics.