Siheyuan: Silly Pillar is Kind

# Rebirth of Siheyuan: Brilliant Life (Continued 50) The successful conclusion of the International Siheyuan Culture Documentary Creation Competition has caused a strong response to Siheyuan culture in the field of international film and television creation. After a short rest, He Luo and Lin Yue couldn't wait to start a new journey. They hope to make Siheyuan culture shine more brilliantly in the world through a new way. They decided to cooperate with some famous international museums to hold the "Siheyuan Culture Global Tour Exhibition". In a video conference with the director of an internationally renowned museum, He Luo said: "Director, Siheyuan culture has a long history. We hope to use your museum's platform to present Siheyuan culture to audiences around the world in the form of an exhibition. The exhibition will include architectural models of Siheyuan, historical relics, folk items, and modern art's interpretation of Siheyuan culture." The director showed great interest: "This is a very meaningful project. Our museum has always been committed to displaying diverse cultures, and Siheyuan culture is undoubtedly one of the shining pearls. We can discuss the details of the exhibition together, such as the layout of the exhibition hall and the protection measures for the exhibits." Lin Yue continued: "In terms of exhibits, we will carefully select representative items. The architectural models will be scaled down to show the different types and styles of Siheyuan, so that the audience can intuitively feel the spatial layout of the Siheyuan. Historical relics include some ancient Siheyuan contracts, family genealogies, etc., which can reflect the development process of Siheyuan. Folk items include traditional Siheyuan daily necessities, festival celebration props, etc." In the process of preparing for the exhibition, the problem of transporting and protecting the exhibits was encountered. The staff reported to He Luo: "Teacher He, the transportation of some cultural relics and folk supplies requires special conditions, such as temperature and humidity control, and vibration and collision must be prevented during transportation, which requires professional transportation companies and equipment." He Luo immediately arranged: "We contacted a professional cultural relic transportation company to ensure the safe arrival of the exhibits. At the same time, a detailed transportation plan and emergency plan were formulated to monitor the entire transportation process." When discussing the layout of the exhibition hall with the museum staff, the two sides also had different ideas. The curator of the museum said: "We can divide the exhibition halls according to the categories of Siheyuan culture, such as architectural culture exhibition halls, folk culture exhibition halls, art culture exhibition halls, etc., so that the audience can visit systematically." A member of the Siheyuan team proposed: "We can also add some interactive experience areas, such as setting up virtual reality equipment in the architectural culture exhibition hall, so that the audience can 'walk into' the Siheyuan and feel the atmosphere of the Siheyuan in different seasons and times." After consultation, the two sides decided to combine the two plans. As the preparations for the exhibition progressed, publicity activities were also launched simultaneously. They invited internationally renowned cultural journalists to attend the press conference. A reporter asked: "In which cities will the global exhibition be held? Will the exhibition content be different in each city?" He Luo replied: "We initially plan to hold it in international metropolises such as New York, Paris, London, and Tokyo. The exhibition content in each city will be adjusted in some special ways. For example, in Paris, we will add some elements that compare the courtyard culture with the French architectural culture to make it easier for the audience to understand." On the eve of the opening of the New York exhibition, some local Chinese communities expressed great support for the exhibition. A Chinese community leader said to He Luo: "This exhibition is of great significance to us overseas Chinese. It allows us to show our traditional culture to the local society. We will organize members to visit and help promote it." On the opening day of the exhibition, visitors came in an endless stream. In the architectural model exhibition hall, an American audience exclaimed: "These architectural models are so exquisite! The layout of the Siheyuan is so ingenious, completely different from our architecture, and it contains an ancient and mysterious oriental wisdom." In the folk culture exhibition hall, a Japanese audience was very interested in the traditional Siheyuan wedding dress. He said to the tour guide: "The design and production process of this wedding dress is so exquisite, and the color is also very bright. What kind of meaning does it represent?" The tour guide replied: "The bright colors of the Siheyuan wedding dress symbolize joy, and the patterns and accessories have beautiful meanings such as auspiciousness, fertility and happiness, which reflects the blessings for the newlyweds." In the interactive experience area, children excitedly experienced virtual reality equipment. A little boy said to his mother: "Mom, I feel like I am really in the Siheyuan. It's so interesting here!" As the "Siheyuan Culture Global Tour Exhibition" is launched in various cities, the Siheyuan culture is like a warm and powerful cultural wind that blows into the hearts of people all over the world, allowing more people to understand and love this unique cultural treasure. He Luo and Lin Yue were delighted to see the success of the exhibition. They knew that the international journey of Siheyuan culture was still continuing and there would be more wonderful things waiting for them to create in the future.

# Rebirth of Siheyuan: Brilliant Life (Continued 51) The successful holding of the "Siheyuan Culture Global Tour" in various international metropolises has made Siheyuan culture a hot topic in the global cultural community. He Luo and Lin Yue did not stop there. They gained new inspiration from the exhibition and decided to carry out a series of follow-up activities of the "Siheyuan Culture International Experience Tour". He Luo, Lin Yue and team members sat together again to discuss new plans. Lin Yue said: "Although the touring exhibition has given the audience a visual understanding of Siheyuan culture, we can go a step further and provide international friends who are particularly interested in Siheyuan culture with the opportunity to participate in the experience in person. For example, we can launch the 'Siheyuan Life One-Week Experience Camp' activity, allowing them to truly live in a Siheyuan for a period of time and deeply feel the charm of Siheyuan culture." Team member Xiao Wang raised a question: "This is a good idea, but letting international friends live in a Siheyuan involves many practical issues, such as accommodation arrangements, dietary adaptation, and language communication." He Luo replied: "For accommodation, we can choose some Siheyuan homestays that have been renovated and meet modern living standards to ensure comfort and safety. In terms of diet, we can prepare some dishes that have Siheyuan characteristics but meet international tastes, and also provide some common international food options. As for language communication, we recruit some volunteers who are proficient in foreign languages ​​as life guides." In the process of preparing for the "Siheyuan Life One-Week Experience Camp", they began to recruit volunteers and screen international friends who signed up for the experience camp. During the volunteer recruitment interview, a young college student said to He Luo: "I really hope to be a volunteer for the experience camp. I have an English major certificate at level 8 and I have a strong interest in courtyard culture. I can serve international friends very well." He Luo smiled and asked: "What will you do if you encounter misunderstandings caused by cultural differences? For example, some international friends may not understand the dining etiquette of the courtyard that the elders should use their chopsticks first." The college student replied: "I will patiently explain to them that this is a manifestation of China's traditional culture of respecting the elderly. I will use some vivid and interesting ways, such as telling some short stories about the tradition of respecting the elderly, to make it easier for them to accept it." When screening the registration information of international friends, an application from a German architect who has in-depth research on traditional Chinese architecture was found. He Luo contacted him: "Hello, we saw your application. You have an excellent background in architecture. Why are you interested in our Siheyuan Life Experience Camp?" The German architect replied: "The architectural art of the Siheyuan has always attracted me deeply. I want to experience the living atmosphere of the Siheyuan in person and understand the close connection between Siheyuan architecture and life from the perspective of the residents. This will be of great help to my research." On the opening day of the experience camp, international friends from different countries gathered in the Siheyuan. The volunteers warmly welcomed them and led them to familiarize themselves with the environment of the Siheyuan. An American friend looked at the layout of the Siheyuan and said to the volunteers excitedly: "This place is as beautiful as I imagined. I can't wait to start this week's life." At dinner time on the first day, as expected, some small episodes occurred. A French friend was a little confused about the elders at the same table who started eating first. The volunteer patiently explained: "This is a traditional Chinese etiquette. The elders pick up their chopsticks first to show respect for them. This is also part of the Siheyuan culture." The French friend smiled and said: "So that's how it is. This is very interesting. I will respect this tradition." On the second day of the experience camp, a Siheyuan traditional handicraft course was arranged. When the folk handicraft master was teaching international friends to make kites, an Italian friend encountered difficulties. He said to the master: "I always can't tie the skeleton of this kite well. It's too complicated." The master taught him step by step: "Look, you have to go around here twice, and then tie it up. Take your time, you can do it." As the experience camp activities progressed, Siheyuan cultural lectures, hutong tours and other activities were also arranged. At the cultural lecture, a Chinese cultural scholar explained the historical changes of Siheyuan to international friends. A British friend asked: "How did Siheyuan adapt to social changes in different dynasties in history?" The scholar replied: "In different dynasties, the scale, building materials and decorative style of Siheyuan have changed. For example, in the Ming and Qing dynasties, the construction technology of Siheyuan was more exquisite, reflecting the prosperity of the time. At the same time, it was also influenced by the social hierarchy at that time, and there were strict regulations on the scale and decorative details." During the hutong tour, international friends were curious about the life scenes in the hutong. A Japanese friend said to the volunteers: "The living atmosphere here is very strong, and the relationship between neighbors seems very close. It is similar to some traditional neighborhoods in Japan, but it has a unique charm." After a week of experience camp activities, international friends praised the experience. The German architect said with emotion: "This is an unforgettable experience. I have a deeper understanding of Siheyuan. Siheyuan is not only a building, but also a way of life and a cultural heritage." The American friend also said: "I will share my life in Siheyuan with my friends when I go back, so that more people can know about this magical place." The successful holding of the "Siheyuan Life One-week Experience Camp" has opened up a new way for the international dissemination of Siheyuan culture, allowing Siheyuan culture to enter the hearts of international friends more vividly. Looking at these achievements, He Luo and Lin Yue began to conceive the next more exciting international cultural experience event.

# Rebirth of Siheyuan: Brilliant Life (Continued 52) The successful conclusion of the "Siheyuan Life One-Week Experience Camp" is like dropping a boulder into the lake of international cultural exchange, causing ripples. He Luo and Lin Yue knew that this was an excellent opportunity to expand the international influence of Siheyuan culture. They decided to launch the "Siheyuan Culture Deep Immersion Project" based on the experience camp. He Luo elaborated on the concept of this new project in detail at the team meeting: "This project will last for one month. Participants will have the opportunity to go deep into every corner of the Siheyuan, from participating in the daily repair and maintenance of the Siheyuan to celebrating traditional festivals with local residents, and immerse themselves in the Siheyuan culture in an all-round and in-depth manner. We want international friends to become part of the Siheyuan culture, not just spectators." Lin Yue added: "Yes, in order to better implement this project, we need a more professional guidance team. For example, we invite ancient building restoration experts to guide the repair work, folklorists to interpret the festival culture, and arrange more volunteers with strong language skills and familiarity with Siheyuan culture to assist throughout the process." When recruiting project participants, a large number of applications were received from all over the world. Among them is an Australian history professor, who wrote in his application letter: "Siheyuan culture has always been an important part of my research on the relationship between traditional Asian architecture and social culture. This deep immersion project is a rare opportunity for me. I hope to further uncover the mystery of Siheyuan culture." He Luo said to him on the phone: "Professor, your joining will definitely add a lot of brilliance to this project. Your expertise in historical research can help us better sort out the development of Siheyuan culture, and you can also feel the continuation of Siheyuan culture in modern society from the perspective of participants." With the launch of the project, international friends began their deep immersion journey. At the Siheyuan renovation site, ancient building restoration experts are instructing everyone on how to repair a carved door and window. The expert said to a Canadian friend, "Look, the carved parts of this door and window are a little damaged, and we need to use traditional woodworking techniques to repair them. First, we need to choose suitable wood and try to match the texture and grain of the original wood, and then use small chisels and carving knives to slowly repair the patterns. This requires great patience." The Canadian friend listened carefully and tried to operate: "This is really difficult, but also very interesting. I feel like I am reviving an ancient work of art." When preparing for traditional festival celebrations, folklorists introduced the meaning and customs of the festival to everyone. The folklorist told a group of international friends: "The upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival for Chinese families to reunite. In the courtyard, we will set up an offering table in the yard, put moon cakes, grapefruits and other offerings, and worship the moon god. The family sits together to enjoy the moon and eat moon cakes, which symbolizes reunion." A Russian friend asked curiously: "What special activities can we participate in during the celebration?" The folklorist replied: "You can make moon cakes with the residents, learn the traditional moon cake making process, and participate in the arrangement of the offering table to experience the atmosphere of the whole festival." On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the courtyard was very lively. International friends and residents were busy together, and laughter echoed in the yard. When a Brazilian friend was making mooncakes, he accidentally spilled the fillings everywhere. He smiled and said to the residents next to him: "This is harder than I thought, but it's really fun. I think the mooncakes I made will have a unique taste." The residents smiled and responded: "It doesn't matter. This is also a kind of fun. The important thing is the atmosphere of celebrating the festival together." During the moon-watching session, a South African friend exclaimed: "This reunion atmosphere is really warm. Although we come from different countries, I feel at home here." In addition to these activities, the project also arranged a courtyard culture research sharing session. International friends can share their discoveries and thoughts during the experience. At a sharing session, an Australian history professor said: "Through this period of deep immersion, I found that the inheritance of Siheyuan culture is not only the continuation of architecture and customs, but also the inheritance of emotional ties between people. This community culture formed in a closed and open space has important implications for the problem of alienated interpersonal relationships in modern society." A French sociologist also shared: "Life in the Siheyuan has shown me a model of harmonious coexistence. Residents respect and help each other in a limited space. How this model can be preserved and developed in the process of modern urbanization is worthy of our in-depth study." With the advancement of the "Siheyuan Cultural Deep Immersion Project", international friends have established a deep emotional connection with Siheyuan culture. They have become messengers of Siheyuan culture, bringing the stories of Siheyuan back to their own countries, so that more people have a yearning for and respect for Siheyuan culture. He Luo and Lin Yue are deeply gratified by these changes. They realize that the international dissemination of Siheyuan culture is not only about showing the charm of culture, but also about letting culture take root in the depths of the soul and bloom colorful flowers through communication between people. They are already looking forward to the next international cultural exchange event to bring more surprises and gains.