March 21, 2014, Confucius Institute at Bogazici University held its Chinese Culture Day on the campus of Dogus University. The organizing team consisted of staffs, exchange students and Turkish student under the leadership of Dr.Liu，Chinese Director of CIBU, brought a Chinese culture feast to all the audiences. Consul General of PRC inIstanbul Mr. Zhang Qingyang, President of Dogus Universty Mr. Ahmet Nurri Ceranoğlu, Chairman of China-Turkey Friendship Association Mr İrfan and more than 300 staffs and students from Dogus University took part in the event.
In the opening ceremony, Consul General of PRC in Istanbul Mr. Zhang Qingyang and President of Dogus Universty Ahmet Nurri Ceranoğlu participated in the opening ceremony and delivered ardent speeches. Dr. Liu gave a keynote lecture on Chinese culture to the audiences. In this lecture, the difference between Chinese civilization and other civilizations, the history of Chinese philosophy and the implications of Confucianism to Chinese society in a globalized era were clarified clearly. After this lecture, on behalf of CIBU, Dr. Liu presented more than ten sets of books on Chinese culture and language including Chinese Four Classics and Chinese Encyclopedia.
At 11 a.m., the formal exhibition of Chinese culture started with a wonderful lion dance. Then Chinese faculties showed some performances like singing Chinese traditional songs, playing Tai Chi，practicing calligraphy and showing tea art and the art of Chinese paper cutting. These performances were warmly welcomed by the audiences. In the next three hours, all the audiences were attracted and occupied by the splendid Chinese culture. They kept asking questions about China and Chinese culture and beginning to study various Chinese arts eagerly.
The goal of the Chinese Culture Day celebration was to immerse the participants into a deeply Chinese cultural atmosphere, create a friendly environment to communicate and share Chinese culture, and make a bridge to know and have a sense of China. Apparently, CIBU’s Chinese Cultural Day celebration achieved that purpose successfully. In the coming months, CIBU will continue to organize such kind of activities in several middle schools and universities, trying to increase CIBU’s influence in Istanbul and spread Chinese culture to more audiences.
