In April, the green shadows are reflected in the quiet pond, and fragrant flowers bloom in the fourth month.

Spring clouds cover the garden walls on the city, and the evening colors of the river pavilion are quiet and fragrant. The flowers in the forest are more vibrant with raindrops clinging to them, while the water caltrop sways its green ribbon, pulling with it the gentle breeze.

Spring is bright and the world is full of flowers. Looking back on all the events of April, we can only sigh at the fleeting time and the passage of seasons.

Since its launch, the 25th“SHE·Blossoms” project of Esther Hall,“Flowers Bloom at the Right Time”, has received positive responses and participation from the majority of teachers and students. In this April, when the grass grows and the birds fly and the flowers compete to bloom, we have enjoyed together the flowers of Chinese civilization and felt the beauty of culture and thought.

“Strength and Confidence of Chinese Culture” Lecture

On the afternoon of April 8th, Vice Secretary of the Party Committee of Shantou University, Zhou Zhensong, held a special lecture on“Strength and Confidence of Chinese Culture” in the multifunctional hall on the second floor of Esther Hall, hosted by Dean Cai Yinghui.

Originating from ancient Chinese civilization, the hidden genes and values of the Chinese nation’s steady progress and inheritance guide the footsteps of the Chinese people to move forward courageously in the face of difficulties.

As Vice Secretary Zhou mentioned, the tradition of Chinese culture continues to develop and extends like the Great Wall, standing steadfastly throughout the ages. In the past century, the advancement of archaeological technology has continuously refreshed the timeline and content of Chinese civilization history.

Studying history increases faith, and using history as a mirror.

Making Snack“Qingtuan”

On April 4th,Esther Hall invited Mr. Xie Fubin, a senior Chinese pastry chef, to the first-floor teaching kitchen to make a seasonal specialty snack called “Qingtuan” with students fromShantouUniversity.

The sunshine was just right outside the window, and a gentle breeze blew inside the room, where the aroma of wormwood filled the air and laughter abounded. Everyone found joy in making delicious food, tasted the freshness of spring while tastingQingtuan, and reluctantly bid farewell to each other after the event.

This event is not only about passing on culinary skills but also about continuingChinese national traditions.

Reading Party on the Lawn

On April 6th,Esther Hallinvited Professor Cai Weiqing from the School of Literature to discuss “Little Women” with the students.

In the sunny afternoon on the lawn, with birds singing and a gentle breeze rustling the pages, the discussion ranged from the plot of the story to comments on the different characters, and touched on topics such as the fate and consciousness of women in modern women’s novels and films.

Accompanied by the breeze, the scent of flowers, birdsong, and sunshine... two hours passed unconsciously, but the personal destinies, choices, resilience, friendship, and self-improvement embodied in “Little Women” left a deep impression on the students’ hearts.

StylizedReading Party

On April 16th, prior to World Book Day,Esther Hall held a stylizedreading party, inviting Associate Professor Zeng Xiaoyue from the School of Literature as a guest speaker. Each student took turns sharing their thoughts on one or two books, drawing on their own experiences and perspectives.

The books shared by the students were diverse and ranged from female-themed books like “The Second Sex” and “Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales”, to classic works like “Jane Eyre” and “Dream of the Red Chamber”, to science fiction novels like “Arrival”, and even biographies like “The Biography of Zhang Youyi”.

Reading makes good friends that cannot be seen.

George Bernard Shaw once said,“When two people exchange an apple, each person still has only one apple, but when they exchange ideas, each person now has two ideas.” This is the essence of a book club: sharing good books, expanding horizons, making friends through books, and exchanging ideas.

Workshop on Folding Fans and Lanterns

Painting on Folding Fans

On the afternoon of April 17th, Professor Gao Fei from the College of Engineering at Shantou University came to Esther Hall to teach students about Chinese painting and how to paint on folding fans.

The sweet fragrance of the osmanthus lingers, the tall elm trees cast their shadows, and the delicate silk fan brings a cool breeze.

A small and delicate fan contains a multitude of emotions and a profound Eastern aesthetic hidden within its simple design.

Lantern Making

In the evening, the students began making lanterns, and the calligraphy assistants helped them with inscriptions and signatures.

A handmade lantern conveys friendship, and a good word expresses joy.

Interpretation Lecture on ChaoshanVernacular Architecture

On April 27th,Esther Hall invited Professor Cai Haisong to give us a heartfelt lecture on Chaoshan vernacular architecture culture. Professor Cai said, “Chaoshan rural settlements inherit the traditional Han-style courtyard-style architecture of central China, and combine it with local conditions to form a ‘patio-style’ architectural structure.”

Chaoshan rural settlements center around ancestral halls, and are surrounded by basic building units such as “Downhill Tiger” and “Four-point Gold.” They are arranged in a “banyantree in the front and bamboo in the back” format, where one can drink tea under the banyan tree in winter and cool off in the shade in summer. In terms of architectural space, Chaoshan rural architecture also exhibits distinct characteristics: introversion and orderliness.

It can be seen that Chaoshan rural architecture has unique regional characteristics, fully reflecting the historical and cultural accumulation of the Chaoshan region, and has high historical, artistic, and research value.

CAI emphasizes the inheritance and innovation of the vernacular architecture of Chaoshan

National Style Bazaar

The lazy sun leaned against the clouds, and the prelude of spring swayed the branches and dyed them into a deep and bright green.

On April 23rd,Esther Hall held a quaint “National Style Bazaar” event by the water. Lanterns swayed, silk fluttered, and many students dressed in national style clothing came to visit. The crowd was bustling, weaving in and out, as if crossing time and being in an ancient market.

As the sun, which had shone brightly all day, dragged its steps to the west, splashing colorful clouds, the world solidified into a night market.

As time passed by unconsciously, the feedback messages from the April events are filled with deep emotions and artistic expressions, as if returning to the events that we once participated in.

“Strength and Confidence of Chinese Culture” Lecture: The gains from this lecture exceeded my expectations. The topic of the lecture was grand, and the promotion essay by Esther Hall also mentioned many familiar traditional cultural aspects. However, through the comparison of Eastern and Western values and the narration of the influence of Chinese traditional culture on the world, Vice Secretary Zhou convincingly proved the inclusiveness and harmony of Chinese culture. As the lecture concluded, this event was more like a prelude, awakening our attention and recognition towards traditional culture.

—— By Liu Xiang

Reading Party on the Lawn: Under the guidance of Professor Cai, I gained a deeper understanding of the bookLittle Womenand a more profound insight into the characters in the book. At the same time, during the communication with everyone, we also compared it with other similar works, which I enjoyed very much.

——By Li Jiayi

Stylized Reading Party: During the sharing process, I experienced many different emotions and perspectives. The shining points of Baoyu and Daiyu inDream of the Red Chamber, the unchanging childlike innocence inHans Christian Andersen’s Fairytales, and the ability to obtain happiness inPositive Psychology... Everyone’s sharing has given me a lot of inspiration.

——By Chen Wenyu

Making Snack Qingtuan: Through the teacher’s explanation, I learned a lot about mugwort, such as how every part of the plant, from leaves to stems and roots, has culinary value, and the story of“Huguo dish” made from mugwort. As I kneaded the dough for the green rice cake, I couldn’t help but think of my mother making dumplings at home. Perhaps it was because of our one request, she would work hard without hesitation. Through making the green rice cake, I better understood my mother’s hard work and would like to thank her.

——By Kong Xiaoyan

Workshop on Folding Fans and Lanterns: In this activity, the teacher combined the round fan with Chinese painting and used vivid explanations to help us build the connection between Chinese painting and classical poetry. It was my first time encountering ink wash painting, but I was still able to personally experience the charm of ink wash painting and the profoundness of Chinese culture.

——By Liu Danyi

Interpretation Lecture on ChaoshanVernacular Architecture: The local architecture in Shantou is truly exquisite, such as the ornate carvings on its doorways. The pictures shown by the teacher allowed me to truly feel what it means to have elaborate architectural decoration. Its use of color and carving styles have greatly influenced my thinking about architecture.

            ——By Huang Jiayi

Memories of the past remain, but we must still look forward to a better future. May we meet again in May!