“Story of China” Chinese Cultural Artifacts and Traditional Music

On June 27, the “Story of China” – A Lecture Series on Chinese Language and Culture, jointly organized by China Cultural Center in Stockholm and “Chinese Bridge” Club Stockholm, was successfully held at China Cultural Center in Stockholm. Focusing on Chinese cultural heritage and cultural transmission, the event invited audiences on a fascinating journey through history, art and music. They were joined by nearly 50 participants, including members of “Chinese Bridge” Club Stockholm, Chinese language learners, and enthusiasts of Chinese culture.

First Lecture: “To Keep and to Treasure” Origin and Heritage of Chinese Cultural Artifacts in Sweden, was jointly presented by Alexandra Xu from Catawiki and Xiaojun Xu from “Chinese Bridge” Club Stockholm.

Taking the audience on a chronological journey through history, the lecture explored the story of Chinese cultural artifacts in Sweden. From the ancient Silk Road that connected China and Europe, to the arrival of large collections of Chinese art in Sweden through the Swedish East India Company in the eighteenth century; from Mikael Kiöping, the first Swede to visit China in 1655, to Cai Yafu, the first Chinese to visit Sweden in 1786; from Swedish geologist Johan Gunnar Andersson’s discovery of a Peking Man tooth fossil to the replica merchant ship Götheborg returning to Guangzhou 261 years after the original voyage; and from the Tianhuang stone seal presented by Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang to the Swedish Crown Prince to the album of Qi Baishi’s paintings presented by Geng Biao, China’s first Ambassador to Sweden, to Swedish friends—each story offered a vivid glimpse into the long history of friendship and cultural exchanges between China and Sweden, while helping the audience gain a deeper understanding of the history, preservation and cultural significance of Chinese cultural artifacts in Sweden.

The second lecture, “The Unforgettable Tune – Chinese Traditional Music and Instruments,” introduced the audience to the development of traditional Chinese music and the artistic characteristics of traditional instruments such as the erhu. During the event, Huang Sisi, together with local music enthusiasts, performed the classic erhu piece Horse Racing, whose vibrant and energetic melody was met with warm applause from the audience. This was followed by a performance of the renowned guzheng piece High Mountains and Flowing Water by young Swedish performer Jingjue Ren, whose graceful and expressive playing beautifully showcased the elegance of traditional Chinese music. Through engaging presentations and live performances, the audience enjoyed an immersive experience of the unique charm and artistic beauty of Chinese traditional music.