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What guochao-related phenomena have impressed you the most? Does the popularity of guochao contribute to the inheritance and promotion of traditional Chinese culture and art? Such questions have become commonplace in recent years. Following are answers to the above questions that Women of China recently collected from seven women: 

@Yoki Yao

I am interested in music dramas featuring our national music, but integrated with new performance styles. The Han costume festival and other festive-greeting ceremonies, as well as TV programs highlighting ancient Chinese clothing and dance, also appeal to me. The phenomenon of guochao offers a widely accepted option for the public to better understand the charms of our traditional culture. High-quality products, plus efficient distribution platforms (via both TV and Internet channels), make it much easier for audiences, from all segments of society, to pay attention to our cultural development.

On the one hand, guochao helps create an atmosphere of stronger cultural confidence. Via such a trend, we are proving our traditional culture is not outdated. As far as people are willing to accept charming things dating from the past, they will pass on those charms. On the other hand, guochao contains knowledge about traditional culture. For example, the poetic dance, named Journey on a Painted Landscape (one of the most eye-catching performances during the 2022 Spring Festival Gala, inspired by the 900-year-old Chinese painting masterpiece, A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains, created by Song Dynasty [960-1279] painter Wang Ximeng), promotes classical dance and ancient landscape painting. Viewers who are attracted by this performance may explore background information about the artist and the painting techniques popular during that period of history.

@Wu Shasha

I like the Palace Museum's cultural products in mystery boxes, which contain figurines of cats and ancient Chinese princesses. (Mystery boxes generally contain creatively designed toy figurines, in packaging that prevents buyers a peek of what is inside.) I am a faithful viewer of The Chinese Character Dictation Competition (a CCTV [China Central Television] program that requires contestants to write Chinese characters upon hearing the words). I also like mystery boxes containing figurines of cultural relics, which are designed and developed by various museums. Such products and programs arouse people's interest in traditional culture. I have learned from a blogger that ancient Chinese followed certain etiquette when they raised cats. They chose auspicious days, during which they wrote letters of appointment and brought dried fish and/or candies — as gifts — when they formally took their cats home. Famous poets, including Lu You, Huang Tingjian and Xin Qiji, depicted their beloved cats in poems. Introducing such interesting stories, via online platforms, enriches our understanding of Chinese in ancient history.

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@Wang Meili

First, guochao reminds me of several CCTV programs on Chinese culture, such as The Chinese Poetry Competition, The Chinese Character Dictation Competition, and National Treasure. I have listened to some popular songs via online platforms, such as Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok). Many of those songs are based on ancient poetry. I have followed several video bloggers who are living overseas. They play traditional Chinese instruments, wear Han costumes, and perform classical Chinese dances in parks or on streets. There are also bloggers who teach hair designs and/or makeup to imitate ancient Chinese.

I think guochao offers us a way to notice, understand and then realize the importance of strengthening our cultural confidence. Trendy measures, such as popular music and short videos, help raise the public's attention to traditional culture. Cultural programs, with in-depth study and well-designed presentation, further improve our understanding about humanity and history.

@Zhang Xiaoxiao

I recently watched Dancing Millennium, a Chinese dance reality show produced by Henan TV and video platform Bilibili. Combining classical dance with the storytelling style commonly seen in films and TV dramas, the show presents a dance in a way that is similar with telling a story in a movie. Take an episode about Stomping and Dancing (Ta Ge, in Chinese) as an example; the show depicts a group of young women singing songs and appreciating the beauty of spring, and giving the audience a glimpse into the peaceful and prosperous lives of people in ancient China. The show awakens my interest in classical Chinese dance, and my longing for such a life.

@Lin Xi

I often listen to Chinese songs based on ancient poetry. Some of the songs are performed during the CCTV music program, Everlasting Classics. Many online singers have performed those songs too. I have also watched animation series based on Chinese history and collections of cultural relics, such as If History Is a Group of Cats, and The Country of Rare Treasure. I believe these are positive attempts to inherit our traditional culture. Songs and animation meet, more easily, younger generations' need for entertainment. They find it is not so difficult to learn the background knowledge about history and traditional culture.

@Yang Ximei

I have recently watched documentaries about the Forbidden City, and about the repairs to mural paintings in Dunhuang (in Northwest China's Gansu Province). The rapidly developing Internet technology enables us to "visit" museums and watch various exhibits online. I like the mystery boxes produced by Sanxingdui Museum (a national key cultural relics protection unit, located in the northeastern corner of Sanxingdui site, in Southwest China's Sichuan Province). The guochao trend adopts new approaches to help the public understand the efforts China has made in the excavation of historical sites, and in the maintenance of ancient architecture and national treasures.

@Fancy Yin

I am fond of cultural products with traditional Chinese designs. Those designs are mostly created based on historical legends and stories we have heard since we were young. The historical connotations, combined with innovative designs and upgraded presentation techniques, have made such products extremely popular. Nowadays, we are living in a society that is informative and fast-developing. New art forms of the guochao trend broaden our imagination, and urge us to improve our aesthetic appreciation.

(Women of China English Monthly October 2022 issue)