China News Service, Beijing, February 9th: Sinologists from all over the world receive “dragons” to wish the Chinese New Year
Author Luo Haibing and Sun Chenhui
"Good luck in the Year of the Dragon, the spirit of the Dragon and Horse!" "Happy New Year, all the best!" "The career is rising steadily, the family is happy and healthy, and the life is full of sunshine!"... On the occasion of the Spring Festival in the Year of the Dragon in the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese Lunar Calendar, Sinology around the world Recently, families have sent New Year greetings through the "East-West Question" column of China News Service.
Video: Overseas sinologists wish China good luck in the Year of the Dragon.
Source: China News Network
Italian sinologist Pietro De Laurentis wishes everyone New Year greetings in Tuscany, the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Greek sinologist Dimitra Amarantidou sent New Year blessings in Greece. He will celebrate the Chinese New Year with his Greek sinologist friends.
"After the three-year interruption caused by the epidemic, travel between the East and the West is possible again. I am very happy to now be able to visit China again and see my Chinese friends again." German Sinologist Karl Bu Songshan -Heinz Pohl) sent blessings for the Year of the Dragon in Trier, Germany, Marx’s hometown.
"The dragon walks in the dragon, and the dragon soars across the world!" Australian sinologist Colin Mackerras, Brazilian sinologist Rogério Fernandes de Macedo, Thai sinologist Charassri Jiraphas, Bangladeshi sinologist Shu Le, Young Indian sinologist Vikash Kumar Singh and British sinologist James Trapp received the "dragon" to wish the Chinese New Year and started discussions around dragon culture.
"The formation of many Chinese characters is related to the word 'dragon'." In the view of Richard Sears, an American sinologist and the "Uncle of Chinese Characters" who founded the Chinese Character Etymology Network, whether it is "Dragon Xinglulu" who recently debuted in the C position, , or the "dragon and phoenix presenting auspiciousness", "dragon soaring and tiger leaping" and "dragon horse spirit" commonly used by people to describe beautiful things, are all reverence and creative use of the Chinese cultural element "dragon". As an iconic cultural symbol of China, the dragon will promote more people’s understanding of Chinese zodiac culture and Chinese character culture. He hopes that in this Year of the Dragon, everyone will become more and more prosperous, "not just in terms of money, but also in knowledge."
"We always misunderstood the 'dragon' as an animal that thirsts for revenge and unleashes the fire of hatred in front of humans. Until I learned Chinese, sailed in the river of Chinese culture and literature, and realized that everything here is different and Unique. The 'dragon' brings good luck and blessings, gives people strength, determination and willpower. It does not breathe fire but breathes white clouds." Egyptian sinologist Mira Ahemd also wished Chinese writers and poets have more creativity, "please don't stop creating."
Dragon is an important image in Chinese mythology. In traditional Chinese culture, the dragon symbolizes bravery, independence, majesty, strength and wisdom, as well as auspiciousness, harvest and luck. In the view of Azerbaijani sinologist Agshin Aliyev, today's China is like a soaring dragon. Over the past five thousand years, it has overcome various difficulties and turned over rivers and seas like a dragon. From a poor and backward agricultural country, Gradually emerged as the world's second largest economy. He hopes that in 2024, China will continue to be prosperous, the country will be peaceful and the people are safe, the economy will take off, and the people will be happy and healthy.
"In the West, many people feel that China is a dragon. But I think that on the one hand, China has the spirit of a dragon, and on the other hand, China is more like a beautiful and energetic lady. Her vitality can bring blessings to the whole world. ." Spanish sinologist Ignacio Ramos Riera hopes that the East and the West can further deepen mutual recognition and respect.
“May the spirit of the dragon inspire us to face challenges with tenacity and determination.” said Indonesian sinologist Chandra Setiawan. In Indonesia, the Spring Festival is also an important festival for the Chinese community. "They decorate for the festival, prepare a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner, and gather with friends and family to celebrate. This persistence and inheritance of traditional culture not only reflects the Chinese community's respect for their ancestors, but also promotes cultural exchanges between Indonesia and China ." He looked forward to further strengthening cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in the future and jointly writing a better chapter of friendship.
While sending blessings, sinologists talked about their indissoluble bond with China.
The Year of the Dragon has special significance for Uruguayan sinologist Rovita. In 1976, the Year of the Dragon, Lovita came to China for the first time and spent the first Spring Festival in China. "This year will be my fifth Year of the Dragon in dealing with China. I take this opportunity to congratulate everyone."
Russian Sinologist Aleksei Rodionov came to China this year to attend the first World Sinologists Conference. He looks forward to participating in more Russian-Chinese cultural exchange activities in the Year of the Dragon and contributing to the bond of friendship between the two peoples.
Austrian sinologist Jiagu Richter hopes that the spirit of promoting understanding through understanding, building tolerance through understanding, and promoting mutual trust through tolerance can be spread. She hopes that the war in the Year of the Dragon will end as soon as possible and that the world will return to the path of peace and common development.
"I hope that in the new year everyone will become a peacemaker." French sinologist Benoît Vermander said that the world has been full of violence, conflict and danger recently. “Everyone must encourage each other, remain hopeful and, more importantly, learn how to reconcile and how to transcend conflict.”
“I didn’t build myself a house with a high door. The whole world is my brother’s house. A brother’s heart is warm and open. This heart is a towering door. / This heart is a majestic house.” Sinologist from North Macedonia Igor Radev used a 1939 poem by North Macedonian poet Kocho Racin (1908-1943) to express his hopes for the Lunar New Year. "We are now in a divided world, and we hope that the whole world can realize the ideal of the world for the common good." (End)