Deep combination of Guangzhou

Author: Li Da Hua Zhou Cui Ling
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: Culture is a way of life No matter how diverse the views may be, or whether theoretical discussions have reached a clear conclusion, the lifestyle of Guangzhou people, who lead the trend and stand out in contemporary times, has been imitated by many. In the past two decades, countless people from all over the country have chosen Guangzhou, which is actually a choice of a way of life, and thus a choice of a cultural model. As the American urban architect Lewis Mumford said, "Cities are containers of culture." In this sense, the lifestyle of a city is its cultural model. Clearly, as a historical city with over 2,000 years of history, the charm and temperament of Guangzhou do not lie in the royal atmosphere of the three dynasties and ten emperors it once hosted, nor in the stern rituals and ceremonies, but in a series of contradictory combinations: the pragmatism, modesty, and optimistic, leisurely nature of Guangzhou people, combined with their pioneering spirit of drinking the first bowl of soup; the marginality and non-mainstream of Guangzhou, contrasted with its role as a political and foreign trade center in modern China; the modernity of Guangzhou society and the lingering "ancient charm" of folk traditions. These contradictory elements coexist harmoniously, making Guangzhou society vibrant and diverse in its mystery. Historically, this vibrant diversity has also been a characteristic of Lingnan. "To travel to the south and die nine times, I would not regret it; this journey is the most extraordinary of my life," if this poem was not expressed by the romantic and heroic Northern Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo in exile in Lingnan, at least it reflects his appreciation for the extraordinary landscapes of the region. Indeed, from the perspective of northerners, south of the Five Mountains, everything is filled with strange customs, and the ears are filled with the guttural Cantonese dialect, and the customs are wild and barbaric. As a result, newcomers often feel a sense of loneliness and homesickness, as if traveling thousands of miles in a lone boat, but once they settle down, they become as attached to their past as an old horse to its stall, even without eating three hundred lychees, they are clearly willing to "never refuse to be a Lingnan person for a long time." In reality, the marginality of Lingnan has not only made it an extraordinary paradise outside the Central Plains but also an inseparable combination of contradictions: it is both a land of miasma and, and a treasure land rich in resources, "a gathering place of pearls, rhinoceros, hawksbill, fruits, and textiles"; it is both difficult to cross with barbaric languages, and a window opening to the world. In terms of political destiny and the revolutionary historical process, on one hand, Lingnan is far from the center of Confucian political ethics in China, and on the other hand, in modern times, it has inevitably become the cradle of China's democratic revolutionary thought. In the more than two decades of reform and opening up, it has also become a pioneer in China's economic and political system reforms. It is precisely this complexity that has made "Lingnan culture" a prominent field of study in academia, comparable to various regional cultures. However, in the study of Lingnan regional culture, an undeniable consensus is the "populace nature" of cultural ways—every little bit permeated with the fragrance of tea and flowers. Culture is defined by people. Here, people create culture, and at the same time, they are shaped by culture. Starting from the basic definition that culture is the sum of human spiritual and material life, Guangzhou culture is simply the comprehensive way of life of Guangzhou. In this comprehensive way of life, being the first to take the initiative and being ahead is not only the most important and prominent spiritual quality of Guangzhou people but also a striking behavioral characteristic. From history to the present, this spirit has led them to create countless miracles, creating today's globally renowned economic miracle, making Guangzhou the region with the strongest trends in China today. Moreover, a large number of facts have proven that the open Guangzhou respects and embraces people, pursues life and freedom, is suitable for the creation and sharing of culture, and is suitable for the survival and development of people. Therefore, it is better to see culture as a theoretical guide than to say that culture is Guangzhou's way of life. The pursuit of quality in food, clothing, housing, and transportation, the development of commercial activities, and the stories of people in the city can all be seen as the embodiment and inheritance of "culture." In culture, people understand Guangzhou and its people, and no cultural interpretation system is as thorough and comprehensive as the way of life. This series aims to restore "culture" from theoretical frameworks and abstract descriptions to a concrete form, revealing the values, cultural spirit, and aesthetic trends of Guangzhou city and its people in the unique era of "culture and lifestyle." We are not only concerned with the process of cultural creation and enjoyment but also emphasize the various details and layers of culture deeply embedded in life. It will vividly reflect the unparalleled richness of Guangzhou society.