Compared to other public figures, novelist Feng Jicai is more than willing to be interviewed by the media.
"You folks have come to talk to me. Obviously you know what I'm trying to do and want to know why. Your introduction of me to the public will have an influence on their view of me and their understanding of what I stand for."
Sounds like a propaganda? Not really.
Novelist Feng Jicai is talking about folk customs, which seems to be defining him as a folklorist instead of a writer. As the nation's economic development and modernization continue at rapid speeds, old traditions, especially folk-customs, are being forgotten. The Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, is perhaps the best example of this. Essentially an expression and manifestation of long-standing traditional Chinese cultural, the holiday is nowadays challenged, like other world heritages, by the diversions of modern life. Old customs like putting up couplets, holding family banquets and setting off firecrackers have given way to endless streams of TV shows and Internet sites. To Feng Jicai, this is a pity.
"The annual Spring Festival Gala on TV is ridiculed by many. The main reason is that we used to celebrate the festival in folk ways, which take on various forms. But now, the TV decides everything for us. We watch the same shows, and know what to expect every year. We are losing our precious folk culture, which leads to people feeling lost and disappointed."
The writer's interest in folk art and customs started in his youth when he went to work in Tianjin's Calligraphy and Painting House after graduating from high school in 1960. Over the past few years, he has been combining his love for literature with his admiration of Chinese folk culture.
Now the novelist is involved in a national investigation of the current situation of the nation's cultural heritage. This year the scholar's crusade will cover nine provinces. The unprecedented research project will probably take several years to complete. Feng is also calling for support and cooperation from the government to protect items deemed as valuable cultural heritages. Something else that Feng Jicai is passionate about is compiling textbooks on local folk customs for middle school students. Feng hopes this "will foster the students' interest and passion for local folk art".
Discussing the preservation of folk customs in some European countries, Feng Jicai referred to his experience in Germany.
"I visited a 'countryside museum' in Germany, where local people maintain a traditional way of life in order to preserve their traditions and folk customs. They even make bread the old fashion way -- growing and grinding wheat all by hand. The live museum coincides with a famous western historian's suggestion that we should learn about history by seeing it -- it's a pity that in China no one seems to be thinking about this yet."
Luckily the situation in China is not too bad yet. A Folk Custom Museum has been built in Hebei Province. It is the only museum in China dedicated to folk customs. The museum has been created to look like an ancient courtyard, covering an area of 5,000 square meters. It has 6 exhibition halls with more than 50,000 collections. The displays in the museum showcase folk customs from the ancient Yan-Zhao period over 2,000 years ago. Local authorities see the museum as a good way to preserve China's heritage.
In other parts of the country, preservation of tradition takes various forms. The water towns of Zhouzhuang and Wuzhen are taking the lead in the preservation of Chinese customs with locals living lives relatively free of modern distractions.
Now Feng Jicai's concern has extended beyond regional work to national efforts. He is about to submit a proposal calling for the creation of a national "Cultural Heritage Day."
"In the 1960s, France conducted a lot of research on the country's cultural situation. The results inspired the people, and led to the establishment of a national culture day. Now it has become one of the most significant holidays in France to celebrate and pay tribute to their long-standing culture. China should do the same. "
France is certainly not the only nation that values its own culture. Last year, 48 European countries agreed to join hands in launching a series of Heritage Day activities, featuring each nation's history and architecture. Museums, historic sites and celebrations were open to the public free of charge. As for China, whose folk culture is currently threatened and besieged by western pop culture, there's a lot to do for reviving traditions.
However, Feng Jicai says he will stick to his cause. The good news is that the Standing Committee of the nation's highest legislative body is preparing to draft the country's first law on preserving folk-customs, which has been bolstered and promoted by several government departments. Novelist Feng Jicai's side job as a folklorist is paying off.
(CRI.com March 31, 2004)
