Culture transcends borders. The more national characteristics it exhibits, the greater global recognition it enjoys.

As I took a close look at African culture during my trip to Africa, I fell in love with African art. At the same time, I could not help wondering if the Africans like Chinese art.

It happened that while I was in Zimbabwe, an art troupe from China’s Zhejiang Province came to Africa as part of a cultural exchange program under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture. I watched their premiere show along with African friends in Harare. The show featured traditional Chinese songs and dances, Chinese acrobatics and kungfu. I saw with my own eyes how Chinese art drove the African audience crazy.

The show took place in a newly completed church auditorium with more than 3,000 seats, all of which were packed with viewers. From the beginning to the end, applause, cheers and screams filled the place. The Chinese often describe loud and lively scenes as “boiling.” Indeed, the auditorium was like a pot of boiling water. When the show came to an end, enthusiastic viewers were still reluctant to leave. Sensations like this seem to be rare in China. It never occurred to me that an authentic show of Chinese culture and art could make such a big hit in Africa. Recently, there have been a lot of discussions about cultural confidence. In the Harare auditorium, it was only natural for a Chinese to be overwhelmed by pride and confidence. Artists from Zhejiang were apparently shocked by the African audience’s enthusiasm. They also had not imagined their art could be so appealing.

As an old saying goes, the more national characteristics a culture exhibits, the more global recognition it enjoys. National characteristics and distinctive appeal are the reasons for both our love of African art and the Africans’ fondness of Chinese art.

Being self-complacent about our own culture is harmful. Looking down upon ourselves is even more harmful. It is sad to see some people treat Chinese cultural heritage as rubbish while highly valuing Western culture. At one time, when it became a fashion in the art circle to apply labels to different forms of art, Western art was labeled “elegant art,” while indigenous art well liked by the Chinese was disparaged as “popular art” or even “vulgar art.” It is understandable that the Europeans advocate Eurocentrism. But I cannot understand why so many people in China are anxious to follow suit by belittling Chinese culture.

Recently, ambitious vows to make Chinese culture global have often been heard in China. The ambitions are laudable because they show the nation’s cultural confidence. But we should seriously think about what can be presented to the world. In my view, we should focus on indigenous Chinese culture with distinctive characteristics. To put it bluntly, we should remember our root, assimilate foreign cultures and be oriented toward the future. Of the three points, I think the first one is the most important. National traditions should be the roots of our culture and art. The flowers of art will wither if their roots are removed. The tree of culture can flourish and withstand extreme weather only by taking roots in its native land. Chinese culture can hold a distinguished place among world cultures precisely because it is from China. Attempts to imitate others and follow in other’s footsteps will go nowhere. Only by following our own path can we get ahead and acquire a high status.

Before the Spring Festival earlier this year, I visited Yan Liangkun, a famous Chinese musician. When we talked about symphonies, the veteran musician’s remarks were thought provoking. He said the Chinese should not make their culture appear identical with Western culture in a bid to integrate it into the world. Instead, they should claim the cultural high ground, which is marked by national characters. We learn from the West with the purpose of developing national art. While learning Western skills, we should always maintain our national identity. Chinese media often tout “good news” that a Chinese symphony orchestra performed in the Golden Hall of Vienna or a Chinese ballet staged shows in one of the world’s top theaters. We have reason to feel glad for these pieces of news, because winning the approval of the Europeans with our mastery of European art is, without a doubt, an achievement. But I will be more pleased at news about the Zhejiang art troupe causing a sensation in the Zimbabwean capital. In the manufacturing industry, China has long been processing raw materials supplied by foreign firms and producing goods under foreign brands. We should not adopt the same approach when introducing Chinese culture to the world, should we?