At King Juan Carlos University in Spain, award-winning author Xuemo delivered a compelling lecture titled 'The Legacy of Hexi, Reflections on Faith, and a Eurasian Dream of Peace,' captivating an audience of students, faculty, and scholars. The event, hosted by philosophy professor Raúl Ramirez Ruiz, became a vibrant forum for exploring Eurasian cultural perspectives and the potential of literature to bridge divides.
Xuemo began by transporting the audience to the Hexi Corridor in western China, describing it as a living museum of early culture and a key to understanding Chinese civilization's origins. He poetically referred to the loess as 'a page of time,' each layer holding millennia of stories, underscoring the corridor's significance as a site of both buried and living civilizations.
The author then delved into the nuances of Chinese faith, contrasting it with Western concepts of belief. He highlighted how Chinese faith is rooted in Buddhist compassion, Daoist harmony with nature, and Confucian social responsibility, forming a philosophy that permeates everyday life. Xuemo's insights offered a fresh perspective on the integration of faith and daily existence, challenging conventional notions of spirituality.
Addressing global crises such as war and the erosion of faith by scientific materialism, Xuemo proposed literature as a beacon of hope. He shared his belief in the transformative power of storytelling to inspire peace and change, citing his own works, which have been translated into 25 languages, as examples of literature's ability to touch hearts and, by extension, alter the world.
Xuemo also called for a resurgence of humanistic values in the face of scientific rationalism, arguing that while science serves as a tool, the humanities provide direction. He pointed to China's current renaissance of humanistic belief as a counterpoint to the West's declining emphasis on such values, advocating for a balanced approach that honors both intellect and emotion.
In response to a student's inquiry about philosophy's relevance, Xuemo eloquently stated that thinking answers the question of why we should live, elevating existence beyond mere survival to a spiritual plane. His message of idealism and the enduring power of the human spirit resonated deeply with the audience, leaving a lasting impression of hope and the possibility of a peaceful Eurasian future.
