Investigation丨How to polish the golden signboard of "Hometown of Literature"?

A few days ago, at the 2023 China International Tourism Mart held in Yunnan, the black pottery and grain paintings of the pavilion pottery were unveiled as intangible cultural heritage products. These "protagonists" in the pen of local writers and literature lovers in Guantao now have a louder footnote - they come from the "hometown of literature".

In September 2023, Hebei's first national "hometown of literature" will be held in the pavilion. This small city, which has a history of more than 2,000 years, has since added a new business card, and its local customs have gradually become famous along with the "hometown of literature".

The attraction of the new business card of the "Land of Literature".

At the end of September 2023, as soon as the "Hometown of Literature" was awarded, Guantao County ushered in a highlight moment. The theme collection activities of well-known writers to see the pottery, the "Hebei Writers Association Walks into the Grassroots for the 5th Time" literary public welfare lectures, and the training lectures for the backbone of the Hebei Provincial Federation of Literary Societies were held here in turn, attracting more than 1,000 people to participate.

"There are more than 100 people who come to the well-known writers' pottery theme collection activities, and there are more than 30 members of the Chinese Writers Association and more than 30 writers signed by the provincial academy of literature. Wang Hongbao, executive deputy director of the Propaganda Department of the Guantao County Party Committee, said that the appeal and attractiveness of the "hometown of literature" can be seen from the number and popularity of writers. The writers also felt the enthusiasm of the "hometown of literature": Long Yi, the original author of "Latent", was surrounded by enthusiastic readers for a group photo, and Li Hao, the winner of the Lu Xun Literature Award, received flowers from literature lovers as soon as he got off the train.

Gao Fengcai, member of the Standing Committee of the Guantao County Party Committee and Minister of the Propaganda Department, said that with the blessing of the "Hometown of Literature", more well-known people will come here in the future to collect style and communicate with local literature lovers.

"Not only do we bring in famous people, but we also have to go out. Niu Lanxue, editor-in-chief of the internal journal "Taoshan", is very confident. He said that being awarded the "Hometown of Literature", the authors of the museum pottery can participate in the collection of famous artists' creations, expert revisions, research lectures organized by the Chinese Literature Foundation, and related literary activities organized by the Chinese Writers Association.

Since his creation in 2018, the works of Chen He, a post-90s poet in Guantao, have been published in many newspapers and periodicals such as "People's Liberation Army Daily" and "Xingxing", but his fame is limited to the local literary circle and lacks the support of major awards. This is a common problem for young authors of Guantao, and this trouble will change with the awarding of the "Hometown of Literature". In the future, the museum can directly submit the "Mao Dun Literary Newcomer Award", "21st Century Literary Star" and other awards, and literary newcomers will have more opportunities to emerge.

There are also many changes that are quietly happening in the pavilion.

Guantao, a small city that nourished literature, is now also nourished by literature.

On November 6, 2023, the Guantao County Government Affairs Service Center was crowded. When he took out his mobile phone and was about to find a seat to pass the time, he turned around and found that there was a neat table and chairs in the hall, and a rich collection of books "Yucai Library". He said: "Picking up a book and sitting in a spacious chair, my heart was quiet. ”

It is reported that after being awarded the "Hometown of Literature", Guantao County Library, Government Affairs Service Center, and County Experimental Middle School were awarded the plaque of "Yucai Library" and received more than 20,000 book donations. Today, the first batch of "Yucai Library" has been put into use.

"The people on our side are good at reading, and they are also particular about trading. On November 23, 2023, the country's largest single poultry egg wholesale market, Guantao Jinfeng Market, was full of traffic, and Mr. Wu, the owner of the store, was discussing cooperation with merchants in Guangdong, and the conversation was full of sincerity and confidence.

At this time, on the campus of Hebei University of Geosciences in Shijiazhuang, the provincial capital, Yu Zhenying, a professor at the School of Economics, was giving a lecture on the podium. "I'm from the 'Land of Literature' Guantao, where there are famous black pottery and grain paintings throughout the country. Yu Zhenying said that in his middle school days, the campus was filled with a strong literary atmosphere, and the award-winning works of the campus essay contest were posted on the propaganda board, attracting students to watch them over and over again. This subtle literary edification has benefited her to this day.

How to polish the golden signboard more and more?

The hometown of black pottery art, the hometown of grain painting, and the hometown of cucumbers...... In Guantao County, these are inextricably linked to literature.

"The landscapes and scenery of the pavilion pottery inspired the writers, and the works they wrote made the town famous. Niu Lanxue introduced that Guantao held a beautiful countryside essay contest, invited foreign writers to collect style, and compiled and published many books such as "Song of the Beautiful Village", "Ai Xiang Yuanxi", "Cucumber Praise" and other books to empower this land.

How to make the golden signboard of the "hometown of literature" shine brighter and brighter?

On November 21, 2023, the Taihang Society of Hebei University of Geosciences and the Hebei Regional Science Society held a symposium to organize relevant experts in the fields of economics and literature, and to study how to make good use of the gold-lettered signboard of "Hometown of Literature". "Gathering popularity" and "seeking long-term" have become high-frequency words at the symposium.

"Guantao is not only the first 'literary hometown' in Hebei, but also the only one in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. Yu Zhenying hopes that Guantao can use the brand of "so close, so beautiful, to Hebei on weekends" to undertake more national and provincial mass cultural activities and form a new literary IP.

"The key to the long-term popularity of literature lies in people. Han Jin, a professor at the Institute of Economics of Hebei University of Geosciences, said that more outstanding talents in the field of art and culture should be cultivated, a good creative atmosphere should be formed, and the ability and space to interact and communicate with the audience should be achieved.

In Hebei North University, which is more than 1,000 miles away from Guantao, Ren Liang, vice president and doctoral supervisor, is also concerned about the construction of the "hometown of literature". "Pavilion pottery should seize the favorable opportunity to make efforts in both cultural undertakings and cultural industries. Ren Liang suggested that in addition to guiding the healthy and orderly development of the construction of the "Hometown of Literature", it is also necessary to tap the characteristic cultural and tourism resources of Guantao County, launch cultural tourism products in a timely manner, build the cultural tourism brand of Guantao County, and rely on the historical and cultural resources of the "Township of Literature" to create characteristic products and achieve sustainable development.

Under the warm winter sun, Niu Lanxue and his colleagues set off again. In the museum pottery grain painting town, look at millet, sesame, grass seeds, grains, arranged and pasted under the skillful hands of a pair of double-grain painting girls, a grain painting jumps in front of you, and the price is not cheap, the grain planted in the ground has become the "gold" hanging on the wall, and the villagers have embarked on the road to get rich......

The "hometown of literature" is trying to tell new stories. (Hebei Daily reporter Ma Li)