The first session of Guangzhou Master's Lectures on the Sinicization of Christianity in 2023 was conducted at a local church in South China's Guangdong Province.
On January 19, 2021, Chen Zehong, a librarian of literature and history research of the Guangzhou Municipal People's Government and the director of its academic committee of literature and history, was invited to offer a lecture entitled "A New Interpretation of Lingnan Culture," reported Guangzhou CC&TSPM.
The lecture was hosted by Pastor Yang Yongchun, vice chairman and secretary-general of the Guangzhou Christian Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee. A total of 80 local pastoral workers attended the lecture.
Devoted himself to the study of Lingnan culture for over 20 years, the former deputy director of Guangzhou Local Records Museum has rich cultural insights on Lingnan culture and ancient architecture.
The lecture began by looking at the concepts behind Lingnan culture, expending around the four parts of Lingnan culture, including its composition, expression, characteristics, and development trend.
First, Mr. Chen, with experiences of reviewing more than 300 manuscripts of local records, led the audience in a re-evaluation of the concept of Lingnan culture. Starting from culture and Lingnan, he interpreted the meaning of Lingnan culture from the perspective of geography and humanities. Then, combining different regions, he introduced the differences and characteristics of Guangfu culture, Chaoshan culture, and Hakka culture in Lingnan culture.
Professor Chen believed that the Lingnan culture was based on an indigenous culture that it had adopted the culture from the Central Plains and other places. It absorbed the essence of overseas culture and eventually, it formed the dynamics that had given it the characteristics of local culture.
It contained the common relationship while reserving differences among Chinese traditional culture, Lingnan culture, and different regional culture. Lingnan culture has gone through more than 2000 years of integration and convergence, owning the features of all-inclusive, bold in development, bold in innovation and practical,
The Cantonese had formed spiritual characteristics of being open, being pragmatic, and daring to be the first one to explore the world ahead, the man concluded.
- Translated by Joy Zhang
