An international symposium titled "Eastern Aesthetics on Stage" was held at Beijing Foreign Studies University from Sept. 20-21, where scholars explored traditional Chinese and Japanese performing arts from diverse perspectives, fostering the preservation and dissemination of Eastern aesthetic traditions.

Yuan Jun, director of the Academic Committee at Beijing Foreign Studies University, delivers a speech at an international symposium on "Eastern Aesthetics on Stage" held in Beijing, Sept. 20, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Beijing Foreign Studies University]

Professor Yuan Jun, director of the BFSU Academic Committee, said that Chinese Kunqu and Peking Opera, alongside Japanese Noh and Kabuki are  gems of East Asian theatrical culture, having remained vibrant through continuous exchange and mutual learning.

He stated that this joint symposium between BFSU and The University of Osaka continues the rich tradition of cultural exchange between the two countries while marking the beginning of a new era of academic collaboration between the two institutions. It provides scholars from both countries with the opportunity with a valuable opportunity to "contribute new wisdom to the enduring vitality of Eastern aesthetics."

Professor Wang Tingxin, dean of the Art Research Institute at the Communication University of China, highlighted that revitalizing the contemporary significance of traditional drama has become a common goal for scholars in China and Japan. Meanwhile, Xu Cui, vice president of Beijing Opera Art College, urged using theater as a bridge to deepen cross-cultural understanding, enabling Eastern arts to assert their unique voice on the global stage. Song Yi, dean of the School of International Journalism and Communication at BFSU, emphasized the school’s longstanding commitment to merging cross-cultural communication with the arts. She noted that the partnership with The University of Osaka seeks not only to explore the dissemination and academic reception of Chinese opera abroad, but also to reinforce historical consensus and promote peaceful development.

An international symposium on "Eastern Aesthetics on Stage" is held in Beijing, Sept. 20, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Beijing Foreign Studies University]

During keynote speeches, Chinese and Japanese scholars explored the topics of bilateral performing arts exchanges, the origins of Sarugaku Noh, common elements in visual storytelling forms like zoetropes and shadow puppetry, Chinese Nuo culture's value in global academic discourse and more.

That afternoon, nearly 20 Chinese and Japanese scholars engaged in a fruitful exchange across three parallel panel sessions: "Artistic Expression of Eastern Aesthetics," "Inheritance and Innovation of Traditional Performing Arts," and "Cross-Cultural Communication of Chinese and Japanese Theater."

Participants pose for a group photo after the international symposium on "Eastern Aesthetics on Stage" concludes in Beijing, Sept. 21, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Beijing Foreign Studies University]

The symposium concluded on Sept. 21. Yu Jiangang, director of the Department of Art Management and Cultural Exchange at the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts, delivered a scholarly summary at the closing ceremony emphasizing the event's academic significance across three key dimensions: exchange, inheritance, and communication. He proposed that Chinese and Japanese theatre can achieve creative transformation by learning from each other, thereby enhancing youth engagement.

Professor Ning Qiang from the School of International Journalism and Communication at BFSU echoed this in his closing address. Ning said that scholars are not only safeguarding traditional contexts but also carving new channels for communication, enabling ancient arts to endure vibrantly.