Do you remember the preview of the Greek episode from the documentary "A Dialogue Across Ancient Civilizations: Liangzhu and the World (With Greece)" released in July? Recently, at the 2nd "Liangzhu Forum," this much-anticipated documentary, produced by ZTV-WORLD of Zhejiang Media Group, had its official premiere!
Greek students from ZJUI and ZIBS played pivotal roles as "Liangzhu promoter," deeply involved in the filming and actively participating in various initiatives to promote Liangzhu culture.
From early-stage research and site visits at the Liangzhu Museum and the Liangzhu National Archaeological Site Park, to summer activities promoting Liangzhu culture in Greece; from engaging in cultural exchanges with Greek scholars to being warmly received by XIAO Junzheng, the then-Chinese Ambassador to Greece - these students have gained a profound understanding of the rich history and invaluable significance of Chinese civilization while experiencing personal growth and invaluable insights along the way.
Let's hear about their remarkable journey and the stories they've gathered!
What drew you to participate in this documentary?
Anna: From a really young age we have delve into the world of ancient history. Greece like China has a long and interesting history. The urge to learn more about history is running through our veins, therefore when the chance came up to explore the Liangzhu culture, it felt like uncovering another fascinating chapter of human civilization.
Konstantinos: We couldn't pass up this remarkable opportunity to learn about something as unique as Liangzhu culture.
Your first impressions of the Liangzhu culture?
Anna: When we first learned about Liangzhu, we were immediately struck by the parallels with our own Greek archaeological treasures. It’s mind-blowing how they were so connected to their environment. What stood out to us was how Liangzhu emphasized harmony with nature, whereas Greek culture often revolved around understanding and questioning the human condition through philosophy and art.
Konstantinos: Both civilizations shared a deep sense of spirituality and community. Moreover, the advanced jade craftsmanship reminded me of the intricate metalwork. Both cultures share a deep reverence for artistic expression and technological innovation.
Some memorable moments during the project?
Konstantinos：This project provided us with a variety of memorable moments. There are so many that we cannot really distinguish them, but if we must talk about one or two it will probably be the trip in Greece. We had the opportunity to visit multiple archaeological sites, we were so excited to share our civilization with them and it was impressive that we bonded as team through our love for history.
Anna: Another unforgettable moment during the documentary was when we saw up-close the jade artifacts. The precision of its craftsmanship sent chills down our spine - it felt like time travelling through thousands of years.
Anna: Like in every project conducted there are always challenges but with teamwork, mutual understanding, perseverance and patience we managed to resolve them. We developed multiple new skills due to this experience with some being: through the camera exposure we improved our on-camera presence and performance, we learned the process behind shooting, and we understood how to use visual storytelling to bring historical narratives to life.
Konstantinos: As well as we developed networking skills within academic and documentary production circles due to working closely with archaeologists, historians, and cultural experts and we learned to collaborate across different professional disciplines.
What do you hope audiences will take away from this documentary?
Konstantinos: My hope is that audiences in Greece and China will see beyond the archaeological facts. We want them to feel the human connection to recognize that regardless of geographical distance, we share fundamental hopes, dreams, and abilities. It is really important to share Liangzhu culture because it represents a testament to human potential, innovation, and community.
Anna: In a world that often feels divided, these archaeological discoveries remind us of our shared human journey. They show us that civilization has always been about connection, adaptation, and mutual understanding with the intention to promote a harmonic mutual inhabitation. Every culture has its own wisdom and beauty, and the more we share, the more we understand and respect each other. It's like a mosaic, every piece matters.
The Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City stands as a sacred testament to the rich history of Chinese civilization, spanning an impressive five millennia. Meanwhile, the ancient Greek civilization, flourishing along the shores of the Aegean Sea, is celebrated as the cradle of Western culture. As the saying goes, "Shared aspirations overcome distances." Over 2,000 years ago, China and ancient Greece were connected through the ancient Silk Road. Today, civilizations thrive through exchanges and are enriched through mutual learning.
We look forward to seeing more ZJUIers dedicate themselves to cross-border cultural exchanges, building bridges for in-depth dialogue. On one hand, share China's profound historical heritage and unique cultural charm with the world, allowing more people to appreciate the civilization; on the other hand, promote the diverse cultures of different countries and regions, actively acting as "cultural ambassadors." Together, we aim to leave a lasting impact on the path of cultural exchange, fostering global harmony and diversity.
