IF it were not for a TV show, Fu Sheng, a scholar who lived during the 3rd and 2nd centuries B.C., may have remained an unfamiliar entity to the modern generation.

However, what this scholar painstakingly protected, amid wars and social upheavals, is something that is of paramount significance and considered a classic text by Chinese literati throughout history.

“Shangshu,” or the “Book of Documents,” one of the “five classics” of Confucianism, is a collection of proses attributed to the rulers of early Chinese history, which was first compiled during the Western Zhou Dynasty (11th century-771 B.C.). Considered a cornerstone of Chinese political philosophy, many of the surviving chapters of the book are from the oral accounts of Fu.

When the scholar’s story was adapted as a stage play for “China in the Classics,” a variety program presented by China Central Television, audiences were not only enthralled but captivated by an ordinary man’s strength and resilience to preserve and pass on a country’s cultural ethos.

Nevertheless, it was not an easy task for Tian Qinxin, head of the National Theater of China and the art director of the show, to transform an ancient classic, with its obscure language and detached context, into a one-hour-odd stage show that connects with the people of today.

“The stage is like a miniature film studio,” Tian told China Daily. “We have used a blend of expressions and stage performances for our television show ... If we had just focused on academic aspects, we would have ended up with a stereotype show.”

“China in the Classics” is currently in the limelight at the ongoing “two sessions” in Beijing, considering that top-level legislators and political advisers are holding discussions on using creative techniques to revitalize traditional culture.

The 11-episode program, which features one classic Chinese book of ancient times in each episode, has received overwhelming praise from viewers. On Douban.com, China’s main film and TV critic website, it gained 9 points out of the total 10.

“When we talk about the promotion of traditional culture in a modern context, it is important that it stirs the national spirit and instills creativity,” said Tian, who is also a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. “You have to be true to the history, and keep the narrative vivid and focused. We want people to understand why they are called classics and how they have been integral in the formation of certain elements in our cultural tradition.”

Striking a fine balance

Starting from the first season of “The Nation’s Greatest Treasures” in 2017, a variety show featuring highlighted collections in Chinese museums staged by China Central Television, creative programs promoting traditional Chinese culture have mushroomed on television screens.

Most of these shows used A-list celebrities to showcase the national treasures, thereby ensuring that the cultural relics strike a chord with young viewers.

The previous two seasons of the show have been, or are in the process of being, translated into eight languages to be broadcast worldwide.

In spite of the previous reputation, continuous creativity is needed to meet people’s differing tastes. In the third season of “The Nation’s Greatest Treasures,” which premiered in December, homes of the treasured artifacts went beyond museums to larger heritage sites, which are “treasures” per se as well.

“We have tried to strike a balance between the rigorous popularization of knowledge and an entertaining format,” said Lyu Yitao, a member of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC and a director of China Media Group for variety shows. “It’s a way to link tradition and fashion.”

Sometimes, such links of tradition and fashion on TV can create strong momentum, often beyond expectations, thanks to social media.

Last month, as numerous TV stations around the country made their own galas for the Spring Festival season, “Tang Dynasty Banquet,” a five-minute-long dance on Henan TV featuring cultural relics, caught the limelight.

Fourteen dancers from Zhengzhou Song and Dance Theater dressed in Tang Dynasty (618-907) costumes, inspired by the glazed pottery figurines in Henan Museum, performed the dances. Augmented reality technology was used to mix other key collections from the museum into the performance. The dance attracted over 2 billion views online, while relevant posts received 500 million clicks on social networking service Sina Weibo.

“New technology can bring more immersive experiences for those who worship cultural relics,” said Ma Xiaolin, director of the Henan Museum. “It makes history tangible for the younger generation.”

On Feb. 26, the Lantern Festival, the troupe staged a sparkling comeback, using the same approach to present a 30-minute online show, with the Henan Museum and other key cultural heritage sites in the province as backdrops.

“Thanks to cooperation between cultural heritage organizations and various media platforms, we have been able to offer a series of cultural products to the general public,” said Ma. “We have to embrace new platforms.”

Nevertheless, Ma feels that it is important to avoid excessive entertainment, as the focus shifts to increasing online flows through eye-catching gimmicks, rather than the revitalization of traditional culture.

Finding wider audiences

Wang Wei, president of the Chinese Society of Archaeology and a deputy to the 13th National People’s Congress, agrees that the next phase of programs on traditional culture should transcend the “treasure” quotient.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of modern archaeology in China, following the discovery of the Yangshao Neolithic Culture, around 7,000 years old, in Henan Province.

Wang is currently cooperating with China Media Group to produce a variety show called “Chinese Archaeology Conference.” Though Wang did not reveal too many details about the show, he said the original idea of making just a quiz contest has been changed.

“When it comes to such productions, there is not much that China has as reference as most of the similar overseas programs use the documentary form for narratives,” he said. “We have made some achievements but that does not mean that we are satisfied with the current results. Cultural heritage values still need to be elaborated.”

Wang, a leading archaeologist in China, said scholars need to be better trained in media interactions as the general public is becoming “more professional” due to the popularity of such TV shows in the past few years.

“People’s interest in archaeology is sometimes beyond our expectations,” said Wang.

Last year, online livestreams were organized for the first time to show the final round of appraisals to choose the country’s 10 best archaeological discoveries. To Wang’s surprise, the sessions full of archaeological terminology attracted over 28 million views. Since then, using livestreams to introduce the latest discoveries to the public has become a common practice for Chinese archaeologists.

“Archaeologists used to fully focus on their research and academic papers behind closed doors, but now they have to care about how to explain their findings to a wider public,” Wang said. “I don’t think it’s an extra burden because it’s meaningful to let their less-known research influence tens of millions of people beyond academia.

“And archaeological excavations are supported by taxpayers, so it’s also our duty to brief our ‘shareholders’ about our work,” said Wang.

Thanks to the booming interest in archaeology, Chinese public are not satisfied with just being bystanders before screens. In December, Henan Museum released a toy — “blind box of archaeology” — through its online stores, enabling numerous “amateur archaeologists” to feel the joy of excavation at home.

About 600 such boxes were available every day initially, but were sold out within minutes, becoming one of the most popular museum souvenirs in China recently. Ma told China Daily that more than 130,000 mystery boxes had been sold three months after its release, for a total sales revenue of 11 million yuan (US$1.7 million).

“People can experience the pleasure of archaeological discoveries and learn culture,” Ma said. “It shows that traditional elements can be explored in an easily understandable manner.”

He Yun’ao, an archaeology professor at Nanjing University and another member of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC, said creatives are just one facet of the booming traditional culture in daily life. “After decades of reform and opening-up, it’s time to look back on our outstanding and unique culture,” said He. “The new programs and products are a reflection of that trend.” (China Daily)