China News Service, Beijing, February 12th: Overseas Chinese often tell "who am I" through the Chinese dragon?

　　——Exclusive interview with Argentine sinologist Wu Zhiwei

　　Author Tan Xinzhang

　　The Spring Festival, which carries profound historical and cultural significance, is even more significant in 2024 - this is the first Spring Festival after the United Nations designated it as a holiday, and it is also the year of the most special auspicious animal "dragon" among the twelve Chinese zodiac signs. Argentinian sinologist Gustavo Ng recently said in an exclusive interview with China News Service's "East-West Question" that overseas Chinese use different animal images, aesthetic symbols, etc. to tell themselves and express their identity. Among all expression methods, accounting for The dominant status symbol is the Chinese dragon. Overseas Chinese often tell "who I am" through various forms and symbols of the Chinese dragon.

“The identity of the dragon connects the Chinese people together”

　　Given the different languages, how do Chinese living overseas tell the locals "who am I?" Is it through the twelve zodiac animals, traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy, or the red lanterns and traditional Chinese clothing? Wu Zhiwei said that overseas Chinese often proudly display various Chinese dragon symbols to local people. For example, he said that when they decorate their houses, they will use items containing Chinese dragon elements; when they give gifts to local friends (such as desk calendars), the image of the dragon will appear; when celebrating various Chinese lunar festivals, they will organize dragon dance performances and dragon boat competitions. and other activities.

Jia Chen Daji Wang Boxun 98-38cm heavy color on paper 2024. Traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy have become an important channel to display Chinese dragon symbols. Photo courtesy Wang Boxun

　　In Wu Zhiwei's view, overseas Chinese hope to use the dragon to convey at least two meanings: first, "this is us Chinese, the descendants of the dragon"; second, "the identity of the dragon connects all us Chinese together." Through this information, the Chinese community successfully differentiated the Chinese dragon from the dragon in the local mainstream cultural perception. Because in some countries, many dragons recognized by local people are evil monsters or even the incarnation of the devil, but Chinese dragons are seen as benevolent and friendly existences that are beneficial to the people and the world.

“Zodiac Horoscope Book” Becomes a Bestseller in Argentina

　　In today's world, people in many countries have a strong interest in Chinese zodiac culture, and Argentina is one of them. Argentinian Ludovica Squirru has published a book about zodiac signs every year for more than 30 years. For many years, this zodiac fortune book became a best-seller of the year, which shows how popular Chinese zodiac culture is overseas.

　　"Chinese zodiac culture is a kind of folk wisdom, passed down from generation to generation." Wu Zhiwei himself has also published 4 books related to the zodiac. Through related research on Chinese zodiac culture and divination, he has a deep understanding of the character of the dragon and the people who belong to the dragon. The characteristics have their own unique interpretation: "Dragon has grand beliefs and persistent beliefs, which makes people born in the year of the Dragon firm in their behavior. They have full confidence to give life extraordinary meaning and value. They are born with the ability to understand the real world. All wisdom, that is to say, they are born with a clear understanding of what is right and what is wrong."

On February 7, Feng Shiping, a folk paper-cut artist in Fuxing District, Handan City, Hebei Province, was creating paper-cut works for the Year of the Dragon. Photo by Hao Qunying

　　Based on this, Wu Zhiwei believes that people who belong to the dragon tend to make rational judgments about the way the world is to distinguish right from wrong, and then take decisive actions to change things they think are wrong, pursue perfection in the real world, and strive to make things better. People around you benefit a lot. It is this firm belief that gives people who belong to the dragon a sense of attraction and cohesion, and also inspires others. Therefore, people who belong to the dragon can easily be elected as leaders by others.

　　Wu Zhiwei said that zodiac culture can become a "window" for other countries to understand China. Due to various prejudices and anti-China propaganda in some Western countries, people in certain countries have misunderstandings and rejections of China in certain areas. With the help of zodiac culture, it is easier to communicate with the people of these countries and let them We can understand that China is not a so-called "threat" at all, but a peace-loving, warm and friendly country.

On February 7, 2024, at the Haikong Global Premium Duty Free City in Haikou, Hainan, a cosmetics brand launched a limited-edition model for the Year of the Dragon to attract consumers. Photo by Luo Yunfei

"Twelve Zodiac Culture Station" celebrates the Chinese New Year

　　In Latin America, many countries will hold Spring Festival celebrations. For example, Panama will designate the Chinese Spring Festival as a national holiday starting in 2022. Argentina is no exception and is somewhat representative. In Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, the obelisk, a landmark building in the city center, has been lit up in "Chinese red" for many years to celebrate the Chinese New Year; large-scale Spring Festival celebrations are held every year, and come to participate in the activities and share the peace The number of happy local people has also increased year by year, reaching nearly 200,000 in recent years. Not only that, the Spring Festival celebrations have gradually expanded to other cities in Argentina.

On the evening of March 18, 2019, crosstalk performing artists Jiang Kun (left) and Dai Zhicheng performed crosstalk at the Starlight Grand Theater in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photo by Mo Chengxiong

　　Wu Zhiwei introduced that in addition to the annual "Happy Spring Festival" celebrations, Argentina will also hold a "Chinese New Year Road" event this year, passing through the "Twelve Zodiac Cultural Stations". The "Dragon Station" is located in China Town, where people can enjoy dragon dances, traditional musical instrument performances, and experience the charm of Chinese calligraphy on the spot; the "Rabbit Station" is located in the Salta Provincial Theater, where Sichuan opera performances with Chinese characteristics are staged; the "Cow Station" Located in Puerto Madero, it hosts exciting dragon boat races; "Monkey Station" is an online event where people can participate through streaming platforms, and so on.

　　Wu Zhiwei vividly talked about the vivid scenes of celebrating the Chinese Spring Festival in Argentina: "During the festival, you can see dragon and lion dance performances, which are exactly the same as in China...Children usually sit on the shoulders of their parents, scrambling to try to touch them Touch the dragon's tail to wish for good luck throughout the year. Argentinians consider this a precious gift from China and the Chinese people, and it is a fascinating and magnificent gift."

A shop painted with a dragon pattern in the "Chinatown" of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Photo by Sheng Jiapeng

　　The United Nations recently designated the Chinese Spring Festival as a United Nations holiday. In Wu Zhiwei's view, this is a recognition of China's friendly sharing of its traditional culture with the world, and also promotes the recognition of other countries and cultures. "In the past few centuries, the United States and some Western countries have imposed their culture on the cultures of other countries and peoples, despising, suppressing or dissolving the cultures of other countries. Recognizing the importance and importance of Chinese culture with thousands of years of history The richness of China’s splendid history and culture opens the door to respecting and valuing all cultures created by people around the world.” (End)

Interviewee profile:

　　Gustavo Ng, Argentinian sinologist, well-known media person, expert on China issues, winner of the 16th China Book Special Contribution Award. In 2011, he founded "Contemporary" magazine to systematically introduce China's economy, society and culture to Latin American readers and promote exchanges between China and Latin America. He is the author of "Year of the Rooster", "Year of the Dog", "Year of the Ox", "Everything You Need to Know About China", "10,134 Kilometers Across China", etc.