When literary perspectives meet the deep blue

The symposium and international promotion event for the six-episode marine culture documentary The Blue Beyond was successfully held at the China Writers Association on Wednesday.

Scheduled to premiere in June 2026 on Southeast Television and Strait Television, with each episode running for approximately 30 minutes, the documentary adopts the innovative format of a "walking literary masterclass". To bring this vision to life, the production gathered an elite lineup of Chinese literary figures. Mo Yan, China's first Nobel Laureate in Literature, specially inscribed the documentary's title, while Xie Youshun, a renowned critic from Fujian and Chairman of the Guangdong Writers Association, served as the chief planner. Together with acclaimed writers Mai Jia, Liu Liangcheng, Yu Jian, Li Xiuwen, and Xu Zhiyuan, these literary icons journeyed across the coastal regions of Fujian province, utilizing their unique perspectives to explore the profound heritage and contemporary spirit of marine culture.

During the event, Chief Director Wang Shengzhi shared insights into the creative journey and core highlights of the production. He emphasized that the film aims to break away from traditional marine narratives by viewing the ocean through the eyes of an outsider and looking at the homeland through the lens of a stranger. By approaching the flesh-and-blood, authentic, and palpable seas of Fujian, Wang noted that expressing the ocean through a literary lens might just reveal a completely different and refreshing side to this vast blue.

Chief Planner Xie Youshun noted that the ocean is not merely a geographical entity but a spiritual metaphor, where the resilience of ordinary individuals facing the winds and waves constitutes a "civilian epic" highly worthy of being documented. In his view, the true power of literature and film lies in making the silent heard and illuminating those in the dark.

Delving into the deeper core of marine culture, Xie pointed out that water serves as a crucial key to understanding Chinese culture because it appears calm on the surface yet harbors immense strength and enduring will underneath.

The global appeal of the project was further highlighted by a video message from French author and director Philippe Muyl, who expressed his strong interest in Chinese marine literature and cinematic works. Muyl remarked that this documentary successfully bridges communication and creates a space of deep spiritual resonance for people all over the world who share a profound love for both literature and the ocean.