On March 17, a Chinese Bridge cultural experience activity themed Bridged by Chinese, Refreshed by Art was successfully held in Room 400, Jingde Building. International students from multiple countries gathered together. Under the guidance of Teacher Chen Yang from the Chinese Language Curriculum Center, they learned about Peking Opera and painted facial masks by hands.
With vivid and easy-to-understand explanations, Teacher Chen introduced the historical background, role classification and facial mask culture of Peking Opera. She illustrated the symbolic meanings of different colors: red for loyalty and righteousness, black for integrity and impartiality, white for resourcefulness, and blue and green for bravery. The students listened carefully and asked active questions, gaining a clear understanding of the characters and oriental aesthetics behind the masks through interactive communication. The teacher also displayed classic mask samples and demonstrated painting skills such as line drawing, coloring and blending, enabling students to directly appreciate the exquisiteness of this intangible cultural heritage.
In the creative session, international students picked up brushes and painted freely on blank masks. Some chose Guan Gong’s mask dominated by bright red to show uprightness; others depicted Bao Zheng with bold dark colors to highlight his unyielding spirit; some integrated creative elements such as marine patterns with traditional decorations to present unique works. The activity was filled with the fragrance of ink and cheerful laughter. Xueyan, an international student from Mongolia, shared excitedly, “Peking Opera masks are bright in color and rich in stories. Painting them by myself helps me better understand the charm of Chinese culture.” Many students said they would keep their works and share the beauty of Chinese national essence with family and friends.
In the pleasant spring days, artistic charm lingers on. These colorful hand-painted masks are not only creative works, but also cultural symbols witnessing friendship and integration between Chinese and foreign youth. In the future, the college will continue to take the Chinese language as the bridge and culture as the bond, tell authentic Chinese stories, promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning, and let youth shine brightly in cross-cultural integration.
Written by: Chen Yang
Preliminary Review: Zhang Min
Final Review: Zhang Yuanyuan
