On October 17, 2024, the Kunlun Cultural Forum officially opened in Hotan, Xinjiang, bringing together renowned experts and scholars in the field of Kunlun cultural studies to delve into the rich tapestry of this heritage.
During the keynote address, Feng Shizuo, a member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and a researcher at the Archaeological Institute of the Chinese Academy of History, emphasized that discussing Kunlun culture should go beyond geographical concepts. “The essence of Kunlun culture is Chinese culture itself, rather than being confined to a specific region,” he stated. “It represents the culmination of the Chinese understanding of the world, intertwined with ancient concepts of time and space, knowledge systems, politics, and religion—essentially forming the roots of Chinese culture.”
Han Ziyong, a former president of the China Arts Research Institute and member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, highlighted that Kunlun culture embodies the beliefs, cognition, and spiritual expression of the early Chinese people. “The myths surrounding Kunlun, along with its cultural and jade traditions, are shared aspects of the various early Chinese communities, forming what we can call a ‘meta-narrative’. Today’s perspective shows that the depth of Kunlun culture is profound and warrants thorough exploration.”
So, where exactly is the legendary Kunlun? Zhao Zongfu, former vice president of the Chinese Folk Literature and Art Association and a leading academic at Qinghai Minzu University, pointed out, “Numerous mountain ranges across China have long been identified as part of the Kunlun range or its extensions. This notion was established by our ancestors a long time ago. However, the actual location of the Kunlun mountains has been a perpetual mystery sought by the ancients. For centuries, people have attempted to comprehend Kunlun based on what they could see, giving rise to terms like Xinjiang Hotan Kunlun, Gansu Qilian Kunlun, and Qinghai Xingxuhai Kunlun.”
“Overall, Kunlun culture belongs to the national culture and serves as a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation. It can be seen as the point of collective memory for the Chinese people, a key element of our collective narrative, and a source of cultural nostalgia. The saying ‘Kunlun is everywhere in China’ even extends to ‘there is Kunlun overseas’,” Zhao Zongfu remarked.
This forum was co-hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Chinese Academy of History, the Hotan region’s administrative office, Hotan College in Xinjiang, and the Beijing Support Group for Hotan. The aim is to deeply explore the connotations of Kunlun culture and to inherit and promote the excellent traditional Chinese culture.
