Brazilian Youth Experience Chinese Peony Culture

Recently, a cultural event themed "Flowers Blooming in China · Gathering at Confucius Institutes" was held at the Confucius Institute of Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil. The event integrated diverse cultural elements such as China's National Day, the Mid-Autumn Festival, the birthday of Confucius, peonies from Heze, and the national treasure giant panda, attracting nearly 300 local teachers and students to immerse themselves in the charm of traditional Chinese culture.

At the start of the event, a short documentary on Heze peonies with Portuguese subtitles was screened on the big screen, bringing the splendid sea of flowers of the “Peony Capital of China” before Brazilian teachers and students and recounting the cultural origins and auspicious symbolism carried by the peony. Afterwards, themed presentations on Confucian thought, Mid-Autumn reunion, and the nation’s anniversary unfolded one after another, echoing the prosperity, harmony, and beauty symbolized by the peony. Live artistic performances brought the atmosphere to a climax. A panda mascot made an interactive appearance, and the Dai ethnic dance, the Chinese ribbon dragon dance, and the Qiang ethnic dance were staged in turn, drawing rounds of applause.

Outside the auditorium, the cultural experience area was equally lively. Five experience zones—Peony Bloom Creation, Chinese Lacquer Art Experience, Chopsticks Ping-Pong Ball Challenge, Chinese Pitch-Pot, and Chinese Cuju—drew crowds. After completing an activity, participants could collect a stamp; after collecting all the stamps, they could enter a lucky draw, experiencing traditional Chinese art and sports culture through hands-on creation and fun challenges.

The most popular zone was Peony Bloom Creation. Brazilian teachers and students picked up paintbrushes and colored paper and, using painting, paper-cutting, paper-folding, and ink rubbing, handmade peony petals of various shapes. Petal by petal, the pieces were gathered and assembled into a large, eye-catching peony artwork. Each petal embodied the ingenuity of Chinese and Brazilian participants, and the artwork became a vivid testament to China-Brazil cultural fusion. Many Brazilian teenagers posed for photos with their works and asked Confucius Institute teachers about the cultural symbolism of the peony. One student remarked, “I had only seen peonies in videos before. Making petals by hand was novel and fun, and it sparked an even stronger interest in Chinese culture for me.”

In addition to the on-site experience, the event also launched the “Peony in My Heart” youth painting initiative, soliciting peony-themed paintings from Brazilian youth.

As an extension of the overseas youth section of the “Peony’s Voice from Space” project, the initiative extended cultural exchange from the day’s experience to long-term creative interaction, allowing the beauty of the peony to continue to spread among Brazilian youth.

大众网记者 张宁 菏泽报道