Peking University, June 30, 2023: A delegation from Peking University (PKU) was invited on June 20 to attend the celebration of the 5th anniversary of the Confucius Institute at the University of Luxembourg and deliver a special Guqin and Kunqu Opera performance entitled “Ming He Qing Shang.”
The event was graced by Hua Ning, Chinese Ambassador to Luxembourg, Professor Marie-Hélène Jobin, Vice-Rector of the University of Luxembourg, Guo Zhiyao, Deputy General Manager of Bank of China (Europe), Nicolas Mackel, CEO of Luxembourg for Finance, Xie Zhujun, President of China-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce (CHINALUX), and Jacques Bortuzzo, Vice President of CHINALUX.
PKU Delegation and Ambassador Hua Ning (seventh from the right)
Guqin is a living heritage of China, dating back to the Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century - 256BC). The sound of the guqin is characterized by its quiet, ethereal, and distant tone. The instrument is played in a way that suppresses vibrations, resulting in an undulating and lingering sound with abundant empty notes in between. Kunqu is one of the oldest forms of Chinese opera and was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The art form combines song and recital with a complex system of choreography and acrobatics.
At the ceremony, Chen Jun, associate professor at the PKU School of Arts, introduced the performance by the PKU delegation and explained the history of the guqin and kunqu. Chen Jun said, “In Chinese culture, guqin and kunqu are like two triangles with opposite directions. Guqin is the positive triangle, which has traveled a long way from ancient times and permeated all aspects of Chinese society and Chinese culture, while kunqu is the inverted triangle, which synthesizes many aspects of Chinese culture in the form of music and performance into a highly concentrated art form.”
Guqin and Kunqu Opera Performance
PKU delegation’s performance appears in local newspaper in Luxembourg
In the subsequent two days, the delegation brought their performance to two of the best secondary schools in Luxembourg, offering more Luxembourg youths with the opportunity to get up and close to Chinese culture. As a part of PKU’s “Global Engagement Year” events, the exceptional performance was well-received by the students, who enthusiastically participated by asking questions and volunteering to come on stage to take part in the experience.
Luxembourg students learning about Guqin and Kunqu
*This story is part of the special coverage of PKU’s “Global Engagement Year.”
Reported by: Guo Yasong in Luxembourg
Translated by: Sun Yiwei
Edited by: Su Huangyi
Source: PKU News (
Chinese)
