BEIJING, Sept. 29,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Li Ziyao, a young Chinese
student studying in Boston, the
US, recently completed Black Myth: Wukong, a game playing
based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.
He was excited that this game, rich in traditional cultural
elements, has become a sensation in America too. As he observed his
American classmates discussing the Monkey King, the architectural
styles, and Chinese history, a strong sense of pride surged within
him.
"I am witnessing firsthand how Chinese culture is being spread
and understood globally in a novel and modern way," Li told the
Global Times.
Culture plays a vital role in inspiring national spirit,
maintaining identity, and promoting both economic and personal
development.
China's achievements over the
past 75 years are closely tied to its millennia-old culture and
cultural confidence. Generations of young people with strong values
and ethics worked to develop Chinese culture and present it to the
world.
Chinese civilization has thrived along with the open expression
of young people. They relish and discuss with foreign friends
China's traditional culture,
allowing it to resonate with international audiences.
In ancient times, Chinese ancestors sailed the seas along the
historical Maritime Silk Road, spreading Chinese culture toward the
rest of the world.
Today, young people, especially Generation Z, are using unique
ways to share Chinese culture with the world.
Set new trend
Li mentioned that one of the American Twitch streamers he
follows, Zack, also known as Asmongold, a content creator with over
2.9 million YouTube subscribers, once commented that Chinese
mythology has a natural freshness for Western players, sparking
their desire to explore the unknown.
The cultural elements carried by Black
Myth: Wukong are also reflected in its music. The game
incorporates traditional Chinese melodies from the 1986 hit TV
series Journey to the West soundtrack, including the
iconic track Celestial Symphony in key scenes.
"Hearing Celestial Symphony evokes me an indescribable feeling
of nostalgia. One of my American classmates told me that the music
made him feel as if he were immersed in a world filled with the
charm of ancient Eastern culture," Li noted.
With the international success of Celestial Symphony, Li has
noticed that many of his classmates have expressed their desire to
learn traditional Chinese musical instruments,
especially pipa, which embodies unique Chinese aesthetics.
In a recent interview, US musician Lauv commented on the beauty
of pipa, while interacting with young pipa player
Liu Jialiang, also known as Marsix.
During the interview, Marsix used pipa to perform
Lauv's breakout hit I Like Me Better. Lauv, who is also known
as Ari Staprans Leff, is followed by
more than 1 million fans on the platform known as X.
The instrument's sound, representing Chinese aesthetics, stunned
the Western singer and left him with a look of amazement. Marsix's
performance has also revealed how the 2,000-year-old instrument
remains versatile in playing global pop music.
"I was thrilled to share our traditional music culture again,"
the young player told the Global Times. He also emphasized that his
journey with pipa has always been about "fusion."
Since 2022, Marsix has been posting remixed pipa music
that blends traditional Chinese melodies with Western genres like
jazz, hip-hop, and electronic music.
Through his fusion of traditional Chinese music, Marsix has
captured the attention of international fans. On YouTube, netizens
commented on Marsix's performance, saying "the Chinese 'guitar'
would set a new trend."
"I think the traditional instrument is a tool for us young
Chinese musicians to express our open-mindedness to world music,"
Marsix noted.
Confident in his cultural roots, the young Chinese musician has
also inspired many young fans in China to rediscover the beauty of traditional
Chinese music. Marsix told the Global Times that most of his fans
are in their 20s, and he hopes to guide them on a journey of
rediscovering Chinese culture.
"In the past, the word 'pipa' would evoke images of classical
performers, but now it represents a trendy instrument played by
performers of all ages and genders. Young Chinese musicians are
using their creativity to revive the tradition," Zhu Xiao, a Chinese folk music fan and cucurbit
flute player, told the Global Times.
Dressed in confidence
For many in Generation Z, wearing Hanfu - traditional Chinese
dress - is just like playing pipa as a way to reconnect
with the cultural root and also a way to express cultural
confidence.
Driven by strong curiosity about the world, Chinese storyboard
artist Lei Yumeng, better known as Mi
Lei, travels between reality and fantasy in her storyboard
work. Nearly every piece of work she posts on social media becomes
a hit. So far, the Chinese artist has more than 8 million followers
on different platforms.
Lei's love for Chinese culture extends to her admiration for
Hanfu. She told the Global Times that through her paintings of
Hanfu from various dynasties, she can explore the aesthetics and
auspicious intentions of ancient Chinese people, as reflected in
the clothing's patterns and embroidery.
Lei's embrace of Chinese cultural heritage has been recognized
internationally, with her videos on platforms like Instagram
earning praise for showcasing traditional clothing. This global
appreciation has been a reminder of the richness of her
motherland's unique cultural roots, which she said she "has
initially taken for granted."
Lei said her work in animation and storytelling is a celebration
of China's cultural legacy, a
legacy she is "proud to share with the world."
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SOURCE Global Times