Tianjin University Promotes Overseas Communication of Chinese Couplets Culture through Multilingual Performance

On March 28, a themed situational drama titled Dialogue of Couplets in Tianjin was filmed at the China Couplet Museum. The production was jointly organized by the School of Foreign Languages of Tianjin University and the Jinnan District Couplet Association, aiming to promote traditional Chinese culture to international audiences through multilingual storytelling. International students from Russia, Cameroon, and Pakistan joined local couplet artists Ye Guoan, Xu Keli, and Xu Kemei in presenting rhymed performances that showcased stories of Tianjin and Chinese culture to the world.

The drama serves as a featured program prepared for the upcoming Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Couplet Culture and Art Festival. By depicting international students’ experiences of studying and living in Tianjin while engaging with traditional Chinese culture, the performance explores new pathways for sharing Chinese stories globally, particularly with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global South cooperation framework.

The script was written by Professor Xu Jin of Tianjin University and directed by Professor Li Tong. To ensure high-quality preparation for the festival, the Tianjin Couplet Association organized special planning sessions focusing on thematic design and creative direction, entrusting the School of Foreign Languages of Tianjin University and the Jinnan District Couplet Association with project implementation. The filming marked both the first rehearsal presentation of the drama and an innovative attempt at cross-border, multilingual communication of traditional Chinese culture. The production team will continue refining the performance, striving to develop it into a representative cultural work showcasing Tianjin’s distinctive folk traditions.

Chinese couplets, known for their strict structural balance, tonal harmony, and linguistic artistry, present significant challenges in translation. In recent years, the Tianjin Couplet Association has strengthened cooperation with universities such as Tianjin University to explore new approaches for revitalizing this form of intangible cultural heritage and enhancing its global dissemination in the modern era.

By: Ma Kanghui

Editor: Yu Boyang