Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Lanzhou, March 12 (Xinhua) — In the context of the just-concluded annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Olga Pronkina, a professor at Lanzhou University (Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province, Northwest China), was most interested in the topic of China's specific path and practical measures for transmitting and preserving traditional culture among a wide range of issues discussed during the "two sessions."
Olga, a Russian, has long been engaged in research in the field of Dunhuang studies. Her connection with Dunhuang culture began in 2007, when a Chinese troupe came to Penza, Russia, where Olga was studying at university, to perform a program. Among their performances was the dance "Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Goddess of Mercy," based on murals from the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu Province.
"This dance left a deep impression on me. I was very interested in learning about Chinese culture," Olga said.
In 2009, the Russian woman moved to Lanzhou and began working as a teacher at a local university. While studying Chinese, she simultaneously read numerous books on traditional Chinese culture.
In 2015, Olga made her first trip to the Mogao Grottoes. "The most amazing thing for me was the huge number of preserved murals, statues, and manuscripts," the Russian woman vividly recalls how deeply this UNESCO World Heritage site struck her. Inspired by what she saw, she decided to dedicate herself to more serious research in the field of Dunhuang studies.
In 2019, Olga's dream came true. She enrolled in the Institute of Dunhuang Studies at Lanzhou University, becoming a graduate student under the renowned scholar in this field, Professor Zheng Binglin. Since then, her life has become even more closely connected to Dunhuang culture.
After enrolling in graduate school, Olga specialized in Central Asian archaeology as part of the Dunhuang Studies program. She visited Dunhuang many times and read and translated a large volume of literature on Dunhuang studies.
According to Olga, Dunhuang was historically an important place on the Silk Road, a meeting place for various civilizations, which experienced a long-term exchange and fusion of cultures. Therefore, Dunhuang's culture embodies these diverse civilizations.
"Dunhuang culture has given me so much. It was through Dunhuang studies that I learned about China's rich culture and understood the roots of the Chinese nation's confidence in its culture," Olga said, expressing her hope to serve as an ambassador for the dissemination of Dunhuang culture globally.
In recent years, Olga has focused on the international dissemination of Dunhuang culture. She teaches in Chinese and Russian to train specialists in intercultural exchanges, organizes academic forums and reciprocal visits between experts and scholars from China and Central Asian countries, and translates books on Dunhuang culture and art. Using new media and other communication methods, she promotes the spread of Dunhuang culture globally and strengthens its international influence.
Thanks to Olga's tireless efforts, tangible results have been achieved in disseminating Dunhuang culture. Specifically, she, along with relevant experts, organized a series of online and offline lectures on Dunhuang culture in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and other countries, reaching a wide audience. Her efforts also led to collaboration between Lanzhou University and Central Asian universities, which jointly conduct academic exchanges, carry out research projects, train specialists, and conduct other activities.
During her more than 10 years in China, Olga has witnessed many new achievements in China's dissemination of traditional Chinese culture. She is particularly pleased that China is giving new and powerful impetus to the transmission and preservation of cultural heritage through the implementation of digital technologies, smart technologies, and other scientific and technological tools.
"Taking Dunhuang as an example, high-precision digital scanning technology allows the ancient murals of the Mogao Grottoes to be preserved forever, while virtual reality technology allows the entire world to experience the art of mural painting online. This innovative 'science technology culture' model has brought new life to traditional culture," Olga noted.
According to the government work report submitted to the 4th session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China intends to comprehensively implement the program for transmitting and developing the best achievements of traditional Chinese culture, complete the fourth national cultural relics inventory, strengthen the systemic approach to the protection, supervision and management of cultural heritage sites, and promote their rational use.
According to Olga, China's meticulous approach and innovative potential in the transmission and protection of culture not only reflect the country's responsibility as a major power but also help it offer its own perspective on dialogue among global civilizations. As a researcher, she hopes to continue to educate the world about the modern history of Chinese cultural transmission and preservation from a cross-cultural perspective.
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