Monthly event honors Dongpo culture

The launching ceremony of the 2024 Dongpo Cultural Month and the "Singing for the Motherland" chorus performance was held in Meishan, Sichuan province, on Thursday afternoon.

The activities paid tribute to Su Dongpo with art and blessed the motherland with songs, said Liu Hai, head of the Meishan municipal committee of the Communist Party of China.

Hosted by the Meishan municipal committee of the Communist Party of China and the Meishan municipal government, the cultural month consists of 56 activities, including its launching ceremony, the chorus performance, the stage play "Young Su Dongpo," an academic conference on the Three Sus and a poetry recitation and performance by people from 12 provinces and cities in western China.

Meishan is the hometown of the literary genius Su Shi (1037-1101) known as Su Dongpo. He and his father Su Xun (1009-1066) and his younger brother Su Zhe (1039-1112) are referred to as the Three Sus who were among eight of China's most illustrious literary masters living during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and Song Dynasty (960-1279).

Meishan people have inherited the Three Sus culture, integrating the time-honored longevity culture of Peng Zu and the loyalty and filial piety culture related to two ancient notables to form the unique Dongpo culture with local characteristics, Liu said.

Lore claims Peng Zu lived for 136 years (800 years according to the ancient Chinese calendar).

The native in the Pengshan district of Meishaan lived during the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC) and is considered one of China's earliest health experts.