On March 31, Prince Kung's Palace Museum hosted the 14th Blossom of Wisdom gathering, an annual homage to classical Chinese poetry. Organized by the museum and the Chinese Poetry Society, with support from Nankai University's School of Literature and Poetry (China Writers Association), the event gathered over 100 esteemed scholars, poets and artists to share in the beauty of the blooming midget crabapples.
This year's gathering carried special significance as it marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), with the theme "Poetry as a Tribute to History, Extoling Patriotism in the Blossoms of Spring".
The event opened with a guqin performance by Wu Zhao, a national-level inheritor of guqin artistry, setting a refined atmosphere for a day of literary and artistic exchange.
Feng Nai'en, director of Prince Kung's Palace Museum, and Lin Feng, executive vice-president of the China Poetry Society, delivered speeches, emphasizing the role of the Blossom of Wisdom gathering in preserving and promoting classical poetry.
Event highlights included captivating Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera performances by artists Fu Jia and Bao Siyu, as well as a touching poetic recitation by teachers and students from Beijing No 13 Middle School in honor of late poetry scholar Ye Jiaying (1924-2024).
During the poetry sharing and creation session, poets presented classical Chinese poems on the event theme, commemorating history and celebrating China's beautiful scenery. In a first for the event, AI-powered poetry creation was introduced through DeepSeek, blending classical literature with modern technology.
Jin Shikai, editor-in-chief of the Chinese Poetry website, discussed AI's capabilities in knowledge retrieval, language understanding and logical reasoning, offering insights into how technology can enhance poetic expression.
In the calligraphy session, guests left behind exquisite handwritten works, marking the enduring spirit of Chinese literary traditions.
Since its 2011 revival, the Blossom of Wisdom gathering has maintained a dedication to cultural innovation and exchange. As Director Feng Nai'en noted, integrating traditional culture with modern interactive formats will continue to enrich artistic expression and inspire future generations.
