I’m very much behind this Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. It didn’t just embody the spirit of these Games and show off the depth and breadth of Chinese culture — it also showed China’s peace and friendship toward the people of the world.
The ceremony was steeped in cultural heritage. When that enormous scroll appeared as if by magic amid the heavy tones of the guqin, and unrolled before everyone’s eyes, the whole stadium was stunned. This giant LED screen — 147 meters long and 27 meters wide — was the scroll that would unfold five thousand years of Chinese history, and the opening ceremony’s performance began from it. The “Ancient Echoes,” the Four Great Inventions, Chinese characters and opera, the Silk Road — China’s splendid culture was displayed as if by magic. The presentation was freehand and romantic, yet also concrete: symbols like the Four Great Inventions were woven throughout, letting Chinese and foreign audiences alike take in the essence of Chinese civilization directly.
More than the brilliant creativity and high technology of the artistic program, what I appreciate is the unity, fraternity, generosity and benevolence of the Chinese people that it implies. China’s strength was not built in a day. The powerful Qin, the great Han, Tang, Yuan, Ming, Qing, and down to today’s People’s Republic of China — this unity of many ethnic groups is China’s great trend and the source of China’s strength. Since ancient times, China has treated others with courtesy and won people over with virtue, making outstanding contributions to world peace and shared prosperity.
Since Zhang Qian of the Western Han was sent as an envoy to the Western Regions, exchanges between China and Central Asia were very frequent. Central Asian Ferghana horses were highly prized by Han emperors, and Central Asian crops such as alfalfa were introduced to China. Over 2,000 years ago, China was already trading goods with Central Asia and Europe along the Silk Road, exporting silk, tea and other goods. From the Han dynasty onward, the Korean peninsula and Japan had trade and exchanges with China. Starting in the Eastern Han, Indian Buddhist culture began to spread to China, eventually taking root there and then traveling via China to the Korean peninsula and Japan. During the prosperous Tang dynasty, Chang’an became one of the world’s most important cities, tolerantly embracing cultures from all over. With Tang support, Silla unified the Korean peninsula and maintained very close ties with China. Japan repeatedly sent envoys to Tang, wholly learning and adopting Tang politics, economics, society and culture, even modeling Japanese characters on Chinese ones and building its capital in imitation of Chang’an. In the Song dynasty, shipbuilding and maritime trade flourished, and the compass was already in use for navigation, pushing foreign trade beyond any previous level. The Yuan dynasty had a vast territory and great national power, and China had extensive exchanges with European countries as well as the Ilkhanate, the Golden Horde and many others. Marco Polo is the most famous representative of this. In the Ming dynasty, Zheng He’s voyages to the Western Seas were a feat in the history of navigation; the treasure ships of the eunuch Zheng He were far sturdier and more massive than Columbus’s ocean-going vessels. China’s policy at the time was to proclaim national prestige, not to plunder and colonize, so from nearby Southeast Asia to distant Somalia in East Africa and the Arabian peninsula, everyone welcomed them with joy. … Napoleon once said, do not wake the sleeping giant. But more than 100 years ago, Western bandits ignored that advice, came to the giant’s home, and not only stole things but killed people and set fires. From then on, of course, the giant was awakened. Later, the giant treated this band of bandits with forbearance. This is exactly the generosity and benevolence bred by our great China’s ancient, radiant civilization.
The Chinese people are great in their tolerance, embracing all rivers and seas, benefiting all things without contending. A strong nation, but one that does not bully the weak; many inventions and creations, but no willingness to do evil. Since ancient times we have been a nation in pursuit of a harmonious society. Dynasty after dynasty has demonstrated the pursuit of peace and love. (Think of gunpowder — invented by the Chinese, used by the Chinese for entertainment, while Westerners used it for war…) That is the China in the bones!
Peace and love are the eternal theme, our dream, and the dream of the whole world. The theme song of this Olympics, “You and Me,” took everyone by surprise — no one expected it to be so tender, not swallowing mountains and rivers, not surging and magnificent, but carrying the tenderness of moonlight, reaching straight to the softest place in people’s hearts. The lyrics are only 12 short lines, the melody simple and beautiful, using plainness to highlight greatness, conveying big emotions through a small perspective, with a strong human touch. Understand? My friend, that is the tender side of us Chinese, the benevolence bred over thousands of years of civilization.
The Chinese people welcome guests from all sides with a brand-new bearing. At the very moment the main torch was lit, the giant seemed to bow and salute the whole world, interpreting love and peace to the world, interpreting the Olympic spirit to the world.
World, did you see? Beijing welcomes you!
Sharing: 2008 Olympics Opening Ceremony Beijing Olympics theme song MV “You and Me” (FF not supported…)