Happy Chinese New Year: Wing Chun event held in Sri Lanka
From January 5th to 6th, 2024, the "Wing Chun Heritage, Empowering Bridge Building -- An Introduction and Showcase of Wing Chun" event, jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, the Network of International Culturalink Entities of China, and China Cultural Center in Sri Lanka, with the collaboration of Wushu Federation of Sri Lanka, was successfully held in Colombo and Matara, Sri Lanka. The event on Jan. 5 was held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo, where a delegation of 7 representatives from the nationally recognized intangible cultural heritage project, Wing Chun, conducted performances, interactive teaching sessions, and thematic lectures. The delegation also presented souvenirs and training equipment to the Wushu Federation of Sri Lanka. The event was attended by Cultural Counselor of Embassy of China in Sri Lanka Mr. Zhang Yingbao, Sri Lankan Member of Parliament Hon. Gamini Lokuge, and more than two hundred representatives from various sectors in Sri Lanka.
In his speech, Mr. Zhang Yingbao expressed that Wing Chun holds a special place in Chinese culture. Originating in the coastal areas of Fujian, it spread to Guangdong and Hong Kong before reaching distant corners of the Earth. Today, Wing Chun is recognized as a national-level intangible cultural heritage in China, highlighting its historical and cultural significance. Beyond geographical and cultural boundaries, it boasts over 10 million practitioners in more than 80 countries and regions, making it one of the world's largest individual Chinese martial arts communities. This global influence demonstrates its artistic appeal and its ability to connect people from different backgrounds.
Hon. Gamini Lokuge mentioned the long-standing cultural exchange between China and Sri Lanka. Wushu has a broad fan base in Sri Lanka, with most universities establishing their own Wushu associations under the guidance of the Wushu Federation of Sri Lanka. The visit of the Wing Chun delegation provided local Wushu enthusiasts and practitioners with a close-up experience and learning opportunity, fostering cultural exchanges. He expressed hope for more extensive cultural exchange projects between China and Sri Lanka, connecting people through shared interests and passing down the tradition of friendship through generations.
Master Zheng Zujie, a representative inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage Wing Chun, recorded a special video expressing regret for not being able to visit Sri Lanka. He extended wishes for the enduring friendship between China and Sri Lanka, thanked everyone for their attention to Wing Chun, and invited them to visit China, hoping for the success of the event.
Chinese martial arts have a strong grassroots foundation in Sri Lanka. Since the 1980s, with the deepening of friendly exchanges between China and Sri Lanka, Chinese martial arts have experienced rapid development in the country. Sri Lankan martial artists have achieved numerous awards in the South Asian Games and various world martial arts championships. The event invited the ninth-generation inheritor of Wing Chun, Ye Shaorong, and his team to Sri Lanka for exchange lectures, receiving warm welcomes from various sectors. Master Ye Shaorong and his team demonstrated Wing Chun techniques and provided on-site teaching, allowing participating students to grasp the basics of Wing Chun. This showcased the strength and beauty of Chinese martial arts and the rich traditional cultural connotations of Wing Chun.
On Jan. 6, the delegation visited the training venue of the Wushu Federation of Sri Lanka in Matara, where they jointly organized a Wing Chun teaching exchange day. Facing more than 300 Wushu coaches and martial arts enthusiasts from all over Sri Lanka, the delegation explained, demonstrated, and corrected the techniques of the students one-on-one. Many attendees were enthusiastic practitioners of Chinese martial arts, practicing diligently and expressing their desire for future reunions with the delegation in Sri Lanka.
As the first of series of "Happy Chinese New Year" celebration event, the "Wing Chun Heritage, Empowering Bridge Building -- An Introduction and Showcase of Wing Chun" event in Sri Lanka is a continuation of the "China Stories" series. Through the brand of martial arts, efforts are made to tell the story of Wing Chun's inheritance overseas, further opening the door to cultural exchanges between China and Sri Lanka and achieving mutual understanding. China Cultural Center in Sri Lanka will continue to organize more culturally diverse and distinctive exchange programs, providing opportunities for the people of Sri Lanka to deepen their understanding of Chinese culture.
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