Hans Christian Andersen 2005, a global celebration of the
bicentennial of Hans Christian Andersen’s birth, was launched at
the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on February 27, 2004.
Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who is conducting
an official visit to China from February 24-28, appointed seven of
China’s most prominent personalities in the fields of arts, sport
and entertainment as Hans Christian Andersen Ambassadors. They are:
senior translator Lin Hua, producer Wang Wenzhang, actor Zhang
Jinlai, television hostess Ju Ping, singer Song Zuying, musician
Sun Yan and athlete Yao Ming.
The international celebration started with an elegant dance,
"The Flower Festival in Genzano," from the Royal Danish Ballet, as
journalists from around the world snapped pictures. The Hebei Opera
Academy performed its adaptation of Andersen’s fairytale, The
Wild Swans.
Ever since preliminary plans were made for the event, China has
been targeted as a main venue for celebrations, said Prime Minister
Rasmussen at the opening ceremony. He pointed to the longstanding
diplomatic relations -- established in 1950 -- which had enabled
the two countries to build a tradition of economic and cultural
collaboration. Rasmussen said that even more important in this
context was the profound appreciation of the Chinese people for the
works of Hans Christian Andersen.
In fact, Hans Christian Andersen and the little match-seller he
created with his pen have been household words in China since a
collection of the great master’s fairytales was published here in
1955. Although he was born to a poor family and died in disease and
poverty, Andersen told to the world stories of love, care and
courage with wisdom, wit, humor and a special poetic beauty.
Senior translator Lin Hua, who has made outstanding translations
of all of Andersen’s fairytales directly from Danish into Chinese,
once said, "It is not so precise to say that all Chinese know him,
but it is true that as soon as Hans Christian Andersen is
mentioned, many, many Chinese know The Little Match Girl,
The Little Mermaid and The Emperor’s New Clothes.
Ju Ping, the hostess of many top children’s programs on China
Central Television (CCTV), said, "I feel happy and honored to be
appointed as an Andersen ambassador. I hope I can help to bring
Hans Christian Andersen to more Chinese children." Ju recorded all
of Andersen’s fairytales on 40 tape cassettes in 1993 for the
benefit of children who cannot read. Said Ju, "All of Andersen’s
stories have deep meanings. For example,
The Ugly Duckling
tells us how to grow up in an unpleasant situation, and
The
Emperor’s New Clothes makes clear to children the value of
speaking the truth."
Now CCTV is planning to shoot a variety of programs about
Andersen, including adapted TV plays. "I hope these fairytales can
be presented in more artistic forms," Ju said. "Certainly great
efforts are needed in adapting these stories. We must pay attention
to the combination of Chinese and Western styles." Ju also
announced that she will attend some activities such as community
art events for children, cultural performances and exhibitions. In
2005 she will travel to Odense, Andersen’s hometown, following her
first visit there in 1990.
Both Ju and Zhang Jinlai -- who is better known among Chinese
audiences as Liuxiao Lingtong, the actor who played Sun Wukong, the
Monkey King, in
Journey to the West -- grew up with
Andersen’s tales. "I will read all of his fairytales again to
fulfill my task as an Andersen ambassador," Zhang said. "Also, I
will participate in?some other promotion activities." Zhang is
also a cultural ambassador for promoting the image of the Monkey
King around the world.
As the Danish Prime Minister announced the appointment of
basketball star Yao Ming, the audience was surprised to see a huge
poster of the 227-centimeter (7’5") Houston Rockets center brought
forward. Yao Ming is in the United States preparing for a game and
was unable to attend the opening ceremonies.
Song Zuying, known throughout China for such sweet songs such as
"Spice Sister," "Beautiful Life" and "Love for my China," was also
absent.
?
Folk artist and paper-cutter Lu Xue presented one of her works
to the Danish Prime Minister and his wife. "It is from the Ugly
Duckling that I draw my courage to face the world," she said.
Last year, 112 of her Andersen fairytale series of paper-cuttings
were placed in the permanent collection of the Han Christian
Andersen Museum in Denmark.
At the opening ceremony, Secretary General of the Hans Christian
Andersen 2005 Foundation Lars Seeberg listed the events that will
held in China to celebrate the bicentennial. They include a
contemporary art exhibition inspired by Andersen, five
drama-documentaries on Andersen to be broadcast on national Chinese
television, an acrobatic show based on the artistic interpretation
of Andersen’s work by the renowned Shenyang Acrobatic Troupe, new
translations of selected works by Lin Hua, the feature film,
Peach Blossom, based on Andersen’s Under the Willow
Tree and a tour of China and the Far East by the Danish
National Symphony Orchestra.
Seeberg stated that if any country has as great a love for
Andersen as Denmark, it is China. This is demonstrated, he said, by
the overwhelming interest China has shown in the international
bicentennial celebrations.
(China.org.cn by staff reporter Li Jinhui, February 28,
2004)
