Guan Gong spirit resonates with youth worldwide

While delving into the essence of traditional Chinese medicine on the Chinese mainland, Lo Chin-Ying, a 24-year-old student from Taiwan, continually reflects on the enduring spirit of loyalty and righteousness embodied by Guan Gong.

For many Taiwan compatriots, the belief in Guan Gong carries a profound emotional connection.

"In Taiwan, Guan Gong culture has long been integrated into everyday life," Lo, a master's student at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, said at the International Youth Dialogue on Loyalty and Honor Without Borders. "Many people visit Guandi temples to pray for blessings when opening businesses, taking exams or moving homes."

The event, co-hosted by the cyberspace administration of Shanxi province, China Daily Website and the Yuncheng People's Government, kicked off in Yuncheng, Shanxi province, on Wednesday.

On the same day, the 37th Guan Gong Cultural Tourism Festival kicked off in Yuncheng, attracting thousands of domestic and international devotees. Guan Gong, also known as Guandi, or Emperor Guan, is the honorific title of Guan Yu, a general of the late Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) and the Three Kingdoms period (220-280) who is revered as a symbol of loyalty and righteousness.

Zhang Xuanjie, a 34-year-old native of Yuncheng who was the champion of the 2011 Miss Tourism World China Finals and International Communication Ambassador for Yuncheng, is deeply involved in the innovative promotion of Guan Gong culture, striving to adapt the ancient culture of loyalty and righteousness to appeal to young people's aesthetics and integrate it into modern life.

"My team is dedicated to developing Guan Gong-themed cultural and creative products, embedding the traditional virtues of loyalty, filial piety, propriety and righteousness into various cultural and creative mediums and daily social interactions," she said.

Having long been engaged in cultural dissemination, Zhang has witnessed countless touching moments of cultural integration between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

"In the spring of 2013, a 500-year-old statue of Guan Gong of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) from the Haizhou Guandi Temple made its first journey across the sea to Taiwan," she said. "The cultural pilgrimage across the Strait carried the shared hopes of people from both sides.

"Guan Gong is the spiritual core deeply rooted in Yuncheng's bloodline, and it is also our cultural confidence as we reach out to the world," she added.

The influence of Guan Gong belief has extended to the whole world, becoming a spiritual bond that unites Chinese people globally.

Currently, there are over 30,000 Guandi temples and Guan Gong halls in at least 168 countries and regions worldwide.

In Chinese communities in countries like the United States, Singapore, and Thailand, Guandi temples and shrines are commonly seen.

Dylan Austin Walker, a US youth representative based in China, noted that Guan Gong is a highly inclusive cultural symbol in the Chinese communities in the US.

"Despite generational differences, diverse origins, and varying lifestyles, overseas Chinese feel a sense of shared roots and genuine reverence when standing before a statue of Guan Gong," he said.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Long March victory.

Walker recently retraced parts of the Long March route.

"The righteousness embodied by Guan Gong's legendary journey alone parallels the righteousness demonstrated by the Red Army during the Long March, both representing commitment to the mission of seeking happiness for all mankind," he said.

Mei Zhengzheng, a researcher at the Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Museum and presenter of the "Decoding Guan Gong" series of the Lecture Room, a renowned cultural program on CCTV, said that the culture of loyalty and righteousness of Guan Gong, honed over time, still possesses unique contemporary value and offers practical inspiration for today's youth.

"Loyalty is the foundation of one's character, manifesting as steadfast belief and selfless dedication to one's country, nation and duties, as well as sincerity and keeping promises in interpersonal relationships," he said. "For contemporary youth, loyalty is more about having a sense of mission for national rejuvenation and unwavering responsibility to the country, career and ideals."

Leveraging digital means, Guan Gong culture is continually bursting with new vitality.