“Genesis and Spirit – Tea for Harmony · Yaji Cultural Salon: Exhibition of the Tea Culture of Zhejiang” opens at Hong Kong Central Library (with photos)
******************************************************************************************
The cultural exchange programme “Genesis and Spirit – Tea for Harmony · Yaji Cultural Salon: Exhibition of the Tea Culture of Zhejiang” will be held from tomorrow (August 5) to August 15 at the Exhibition Gallery of the Hong Kong Central Library to showcase 40 intangible cultural heritage (ICH) items from Zhejiang including six national items related to “traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China” and other items of different levels. The exhibition has also arranged for demonstrations by ICH bearers and experiential activities for the public.
Addressing the opening ceremony today (August 4), the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, congratulated the country again on its successful inscription application of the “traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China” on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization last year. He pointed out that the successful application was attributable to the spearheading of Zhejiang Province. The province has a rich culture of tea and has been contributing tireless efforts to preserving and inheriting the ICH items. This exhibition brings together people from both Zhejiang and Hong Kong, transmitting the idea of Tea for Harmony and facilitating the exchange of tea culture between the two places. While providing Hong Kong people with chances to learn more and experience the traditional tea processing techniques and the depth and richness of tea culture, the exhibition also helps to echo the theme of “Genesis and Spirit” and the fact that Hong Kong and the Mainland share the common historic origins and roots in culture.
Other officiating guests included the Director of the Asia Tourism Exchange Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr Zhang Dong; the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Lin Nan; Second-Grade Inspector of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism Mr Dai Yan; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu; the Chairperson of the ICH Advisory Committee, Professor Ricardo Mak; First-Grade Consultant of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Division of International Cooperation and Exchange Bureau (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs Office) of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Mr Wu Jun; the Secretary, Deputy Director of the Zhejiang Provincial Center of Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection, Mr Wu Yanfei; and the Head of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office (ICH Office), Ms Joyce Ho.
The tea-related world ICH items of Zhejiang showcased in the exhibition include West Lake Longjing tea processing technique, Wuzhou juyan tea processing technique, zisun tea processing technique and Anji white tea processing technique, temple fair (ganchachang) and Jingshan tea banquet. Other ICH items in the exhibition are indigo-dyed cloth printing and dyeing techniques, Shengzhou bamboo weaving, iron casting technique, traditional firing technique of Longquan celadon and firing technique of zisha.
Various ICH bearers from Zhejiang are invited to demonstrate on-site Shengzhou bamboo weaving, Wuzhou juyan tea-tipping technique of the Song dynasty and Putuo Mountain Buddhist tea ceremony. Members of public can also join the experimental activities including “traditional qipao making technique (meiruyi): embroidery”, “traditional making technique of theatrical costume (nangongxiu): the cloths in Song dynasty”, “tea dyeing technique of Xiaoshan guojiang cloth: tea dyeing” and “Wuzhou juyan tea-tipping technique of the Song dynasty: tea-tipping”. Meanwhile, the exhibition has arranged for two free talks (to be conducted in Putonghua), with the title of “Chinese Tea and Health” and “Innovation Through the Past; Accomplishment of Fruitful Achievements”, to be held at 3pm on August 6 and August 13 respectively.
The exhibition is jointly presented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, jointly organised by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, and jointly curated by the Zhejiang Provincial Center of Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection and the ICH Office. Admission to the exhibition and programmes is free. For details, please visit the ICH Office’s website at www.icho.hk/en/web/icho/genesis_and_spirit_2023.html or call 2851 6131 for enquiries.