Wang Liqun, professor of the College of Literature of Henan University and a famous cultural scholar: Guan Gong is the brightest cultural symbol in Yuncheng

Reporter TaoDenshaw

Photo by trainee reporter Chen Fangbin during Wang Liqun's speech

"Each region has its own cultural symbols, and for Yuncheng, the brightest cultural symbol is Guan Gong..."

On September 22, at the opening ceremony of the 32nd Guangong Cultural Tourism Festival in Yuncheng, Shanxi, Wang Liqun, professor of the College of Literature of Henan University and a famous cultural scholar, delivered a speech entitled "Contemporary Values of Guangong Culture". Wang Liqun expounded on the epochal significance of Guangong culture from the two aspects of the causes of Guan Gong's image at home and abroad and the promotion and inheritance of Guan Gong's loyal and righteous culture and the practice of socialist core values.

The cultural value of Guangong comes from the image of Guangong

The value of Guangong culture comes from the image of Guangong. The image of Guan Gong first came from Chen Shou's "Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Shu Zhi, Guan Yu Biography". In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, there is no "Guan Gong", only "Guan Yu", and his life is simply described.

According to records, Guan Yu did have two captive experiences. After being captured for the first time, Guan Yu never forgot to worship his brother Liu Bei. After helping Cao Cao make meritorious contributions, Guan Yu resolutely bid farewell to Cao Cao and resolutely returned to Liu Bei's side. This is the earliest image of Guan Gong recorded in the history of zhengshi. Wang Liqun said that this image of a loyal subject and a two-lord has been gradually developed by posterity, and Guan Yu's historical status has also risen sharply.

In Wang Liqun's view, the biggest reason for the development and change of Guan Gong's image comes from two aspects. The first is the continuous sealing of successive emperors. Successive dynasties and dynasties have been continuously elevated, until finally Guan Yu was crowned emperor, so the Guandi Temple appeared throughout the country. On the other hand, the reason why Guangong culture can be widely disseminated is that non-governmental forces play an important role. Therefore, Guan Yu was known as the "Martial Saint" in ancient times, and he was juxtaposed with the "Wensheng" Confucius, and the number of Confucius temples was far less than the number of Guandi Temples.

"The number of Confucius temples is far less than the number of Guandi temples, which shows a problem, that is, the folk worship of Guan Yu has been passed down from generation to generation. From the Three Kingdoms period to today, from Chinese mainland to Taiwan, to Southeast Asia, Chinese gathering areas, and the world, what we can see is the bright image of Guangong culture and an important cultural symbol of Chinese cultural export. Wang Liqun said, "We tell the story of China and the cultural self-confidence of the Chinese nation, and one of the important points is that we can get inspiration from the Culture of Guangong." ”

In the long course of the times, Guan Yu gradually became the god of wealth and protection. "I've been to some southeast Asian countries, and they also worship Guan Gong." Wang Liqun said that in the hotel opened by the Chaoshan people in Singapore, he saw a very unique phenomenon, they all regarded Guan Gong, who was upright and righteous, and worshipped him in the hotel.

The image of Guan Gong has become the image of the folk protector god.

Guan Gong culture contains loyalty and morality

From a domestic point of view, there are not only many temples of Guangong, but also a kind of Shanshan-Gansu Guild Hall that continues the culture of Guangong. The Shanshan-Gansu Guild Hall is a place built by merchants from Shaanxi, Shanxi and Gansu who are doing business abroad to trade and connect with their hometowns. On the wall in the middle of the Shanshan-Gansu Guild Hall, the inscription is also a memorial to Guan Gong. There is a stage in the guild hall, and the performances are mostly Guan Gong plays.

"We can see the materialized image of Guan Gong all over the mainland and Taiwan. Why is the image of Guan Gong so popular, and why is it favored by the people at the bottom? This gives us a great enlightenment, as an important part of China's excellent traditional culture, Guangong culture has become the root and soul of the Chinese nation. Wang Liqun said.

Guan Gong culture is one is loyalty and the other is righteousness. "Loyalty is loyalty, and righteousness is morality." Among the cultural images of Guan Gong, the most brilliant is loyalty and morality. Wang Liqun said, "Loyalty and morality are close to many themes in the core values of socialism." ”

Wang Liqun said that since the founding of New China, the image of Guangong and the culture of Guangong have been vigorously publicized from the government to the people. "As the location of the Guan Di Ancestral Temple, Yuncheng has always been the standard-bearer who carries the banner of Guangong propaganda, and it is also a must-visit place for many overseas Guangong image promoters to meet the Guangong Holy Land." Wang Liqun said, "I think Guangong culture can be summarized in two aspects in contemporary times. First, Guan Gong's loyalty is very close to the core values of socialism; second, Guan Gong's image of loyalty and righteousness spreads throughout the world's Chinese gathering areas. ”

Guangong culture has received great attention at home and abroad, which is a high recognition of the image of Guangong by patriotic overseas Chinese and the broad masses of the people. "I once participated in the selection of the first tourism and cultural festival in Shanxi Province in Beijing, and in 13 prefecture-level cities, Yuncheng is exceptionally bright because of its unique resource of Guangong culture." Wang Liqun said that it is necessary and desirable to hold the Guangong Cultural Tourism Festival once a year.