Where Mountains Meet the Sea

Today, we can freely and conveniently travel to experience the majesty of China’s land and the splendor of its fertile terrain. From the snow-covered plateaus to the coast of the East China Sea, from the White Mountain and Black Water to the yellow sands and blue waves, we can traverse the Tianshan Mountains, Kunlun Mountains, Himalayas, Bayan Har Mountains, Hengduan Mountains, Taihang Mountains, and cross the Yellow River, Yangtze River, and the Pearl River. Seeing first hand such a land of rich beauty was unimaginable half a century ago. Only by continuously promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind in the process of globalization, adhering to the concepts of mutual respect and equality, openness and inclusiveness, exchange and mutual learning, peaceful development, and deepening cooperation mechanisms in fields such as global politics, economy, technology, and culture, can humanity break free from the difficulties of real life and truly cherish a desire for poetic experiences and distant lands.

On this ancient and vibrant land, the five-thousand-year history of Chinese civilization, with its continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness and peacefulness, has blossomed in the garden of the world’s civilizations. Among these, the most representative is the introduction of Buddhist thought and art into China through the Silk Road. Conversely, there is the challenge of interpreting and adapting them into Chinese culture, as well as the reverse problem of reshaping Chinese culture through Buddhist thoughts and arts. We cannot underestimate the breadth, intensity, and depth of human civilization in the ancient world, which may be far more complex than what the limited picture today’s map stitched together through archaeological excavations suggests.

Of course, for a considerable period of history, the connections between human civilizations may have been weak, and only bold travelers who dared to cross the mountains and deserts could find the way connecting different civilizations. However, these roads were often dangerous, fragile, and could collapse at any time. We can often only glimpse travelers’ notes in some scattered poems and literary works, and vaguely know that the distant world exists. The distance is always beautiful, because the travelers must have been fortunate, otherwise they would not have left these records. However, many times these travelers were not professional explorers. They were likely to be merchants dealing in rare and valuable commodities, bringing items and information from distant worlds, and also dispersing items and information from here to distant places. Travelers were more likely to be exiles who had left their homes. They had to leave the places where they once lived and venture into more barren lands and settle in more harsh and cold wildernesses. These itinerant traders and exiles might also have been scouting armies, tireless pilgrims seeking scriptures, and missionaries carrying their faith. It is commonly believed that with the advancement of navigation technology, mankind ushered in the Age of Discovery in the 16th century. Navigators designed more sophisticated instruments and drew more accurate nautical charts so that ships could reach the New World without losing their way. They opened up a new pattern of global development and a new space for human knowledge.

Meanwhile, many human civilizations in the New World have turned a new page, beginning a chapter of turmoil and conflict. Alongside records from oceanic merchant ships, colonizers, and missionaries, the first tourists emerged, offering vivid descriptions of their experiences. The distant world always seemed so thrilling and unfathomable. Of course, they were not all ruthless conquerors; some even spent their whole lives as expatriates, trying to integrate into the thoughts, cultures, and lives of the locals, understanding and translating multiple languages and scripts. In fact, they have been recognized as messengers of cultural exchange and mutual learning among human civilizations. Today, it is hard for us to imagine the hardships these adventurers endured, or that many more may have been swallowed by raging waves and desolation, leaving no trace behind. Yet, it is along their footsteps that we pursue new journeys today.

Although at times we fear outsiders from distant worlds and try to isolate ourselves from them, centuries of historical experiences tell us that this approach only brings more sufferings. The reason why Chinese civilization has been able to endure and rejuvenate is precisely because of its open and inclusive historical and intellectual traditions, which have given it the innovative power to move from decline to revival. Today, as we actively integrate into the new developments in global politics, economy, technology, and culture, the vast land has seen unprecedented growth and vibrancy, profoundly changing our thoughts and spiritual outlook. Only in today’s continuous development of cultural spirit, can we reflect on ancient thoughts and marvel at how this ancient land has become mysterious and even fantastical. We imagine that the ancient people living on this land maybe leading a more peaceful and ideal life. But I say these thoughts are somewhat affected by romanticism, because the impoverished times are not worth living in - although we will face new loneliness and confusion. Because we already have a stronger sense of self, a richer space for thinking and ideas, and the ability to do so.

Shenzhen is a window of China’s reform and opening-up, cultivating a spirit of boldness, innovation, openness, and inclusiveness. The eastern breeze heralds spring; and the story of economic and cultural development in Shenzhen, the Pearl River Delta, and the Greater Bay Area has revitalized this ancient land. People from all corners of the globe come here to start new chapters in their lives. “Where Mountains Meet the Sea” symbolizes the dialogue between history and the present, the juxtaposition of the ancient and the modern, and the integration of nature with civilization. We have progressed from the wilderness to civilization, from isolation to exchange, and from uniformity to diversity, overcoming challenges and obstacles to build a consensus. This is the path to peaceful development, mutual trust, and the exchange of human civilizations. Mountains and rivers merge into the sea, an unstoppable force of nature. The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen is a beacon of higher learning within a cross-cultural exchange environment. The inaugural exhibition of the Gravity Field Art Gallery, titled “Where Mountains Meet the Sea”, carries a self-evident message: in the process of constantly reviewing and summarizing historical experiences, we should steadfastly continue our commitment to openness and inclusiveness.