The Jiangsu Week event kicked off on May 20 at the China Pavilion of the World Expo in Osaka, Japan.
The exterior wall of the China Pavilion is designed like a slowly unfolding scroll of history. The poem “Mooring by Maple Bridge at Night” by Zhang Ji, which is probably the most well-known Chinese poem about Suzhou, is displayed on the facade of the pavilion. And visitors from various countries and regions are seen standing in a long queue at the entrance, waiting to take photos with the building which elucidates the concept of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.
At the souvenir store of the China Pavilion, coasters featuring patterns about 12 Chinese zodiac signs in the style of Suzhou’s Taohuawu New Year woodblock painting are nearly sold out. Taohuawu New Year woodblock painting, a national-level intangible cultural heritage item, is characterized by cheerful and vibrant colors. Visitors cannot resist the temptation to buy coasters featuring their own zodiac signs.
In the ICH performance area of the China Pavilion, a performance “Mooring by Maple Bridge at Night” integrating Kunqu opera and Pingtan was staged, attracting crowds of audiences. “We have incorporated Kunqu opera and Pingtan into this performance based on the poem of the same name, hoping to leave a lasting impression on the audiences,” said Wang Bin, head of the Pingtan Troupe of Jiangsu Provincial Performing Arts Group.
The Suzhou embroidery exhibition area was filled with visitors who were amazed by this exquisite Chinese traditional craft. Yu Junyao, a Suzhou embroidery artist, was stitching a goldfish pattern when a Japanese visitor asked “How can the silk thread be so thin?” Yu told her that Suzhou embroidery is renowned for its elegance and exquisiteness, adding that a single thread can be split into 128 strands.
Exhibits include some of the most iconic works of Suzhou embroidery. Yao Huifen, a national-level ICH representative inheritor of Suzhou embroidery, noted that the exhibition allows more people to appreciate the charm of Suzhou embroidery and further enhance the international reputation of this traditional craft. A Japanese visitor told the reporter, “Double-sided embroidery is incredibly charming. I’ve learned a lot at the China Pavilion.”
