2018 UBC Lantern Festival Chinese Poetry Gala

On Monday, March 5th, the Chinese Language Program hosted the 2018 UBC Lantern Festival Chinese Poetry Gala to celebrate the traditional festival in the Asian Centre. This was the first time the Chinese Language Program hosted a Chinese classical poetry-themed event, and it was a great success.

 

The Acting Head of the department, Dr. Joshua Moscow gave the opening speech

 

Contestants were confident to answer questions

 

Audiences were absorbed in the competition

 

The Acting Head of the department, Dr. Joshua Moscow gave the opening speech. VIP guests from the Department of Asian Studies and Asian library, along with over 100 students attended the event to witness the very competitive yet inspirational competition. The 10 final contestants were selected from more than one hundred upper leveled Chinese course students through an online Chinese classical poetry questionnaire. In the Gala, the contestants presented their comprehensive knowledge of Chinese classical poetry ranging from the Qin Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, which traces three thousand years of Chinese history. Contestants’  splendid answer to the questions facilitated all audiences to admire the beauty of Chinese poetry. To conclude the poetry competition, Guo Ziyan received first prize, Lu Chengxi and Han Tianran received second prize.

 

The Acting Head, Dr. Joshua Mostow awards Guo Ziyan first prize

 

Dr. Catherine Swatek and Dr. Xueshun Liu, awards Lu Chengxi and Han Tianran second prize

 

Director of the Chinese Language Program, Dr. Qian Wang, Asian Library Chinese Program Director Ms. Jing Liu, Dr. Xiaowen Xu, President of UBC Chinese Poetry Society, Mr. Yinzong Wei awards third prize to Hu Ying Yilong, Lu Zijing, Xu Xu, Yin Weijia and Zheng Yiwen

 

After the competition, students from upper leveled Chinese courses presented wonderful performances. Liu Qianyi and Zhang An’an performed a crosstalk, “Man Fu Jing Lun 满腹经纶”, which is a traditional Chinese comedic performance. The audience enjoyed their performance very much and the auditorium was full of laughter and applause. After the comedic talk show, Hu Ying Yilong sang a beautiful song, “Shuidiao Getou 水调歌头”, which the lyrics came from a poem written by famous Song Dynasty poet, Su Shi 苏轼. His voice took the audience on a wonderful poetic journey and painted beautiful images in their minds.

 

Liu Qianyi and Zhang An’an performing “Crosstalk” 满腹经纶

 

Hu Ying Yilong singing “Shuidiao Getou”水调歌头

 

The exciting competition and incredible performances inspired many people and allowed them to appreciate the charm of Chinese classical poetry. As a highlight of the gala, colourful lanterns were displayed in the Asian Centre Auditorium, and hundreds of colorful slips of paper with poetry lines printed on them, decorated on flower strings,  were hanging from the ceiling. Audiences were invited to search for poetry lines to reassemble the original classical poem. Accompanying with graceful Chinese classical music, they were excited in reading and searching for the poetry. Those who successfully reassembled a poem won exquisite Chinese style souvenirs. Everyone enjoyed a poetic and inspirational evening at the Lantern Festival Poetry Gala.