Hometowns now sister cities
Print Edition
BRITAIN’S Stratford-on-Avon and China’s Fuzhou, the hometowns of William Shakespeare and Tang Xianzu, have become sister cities to mark the 400th anniversary of both playwrights’ deaths.
Fuzhou, in east China’s Jiangxi Province, donated a sculpture of Shakespeare and Tang, a playwright during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), who is known as the Orient’s Shakespeare, to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford-on-Avon on Friday, while an replica of the sculpture will be placed in Fuzhou museum.
“Today’s event is particularly pertinent as the written work of these two literary giants has survived for over 400 years and is both loved and popular,” Chris Saint, Stratford-on-Avon’s district council leader, said on Friday.
“We know that Chinese people regard Tang as their Shakespeare. We are proud of our international label as the home of the world’s greatest playwright,” he added.
“This is the first time I’m aware that we have a formal cultural link with China, what a wonderful opportunity we got,” he said, adding that he would like to read more of Tang Xianzu’s works and expects further events to promote cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Fuzhou is home to a number of memorial halls, museums and theaters dedicated to Tang, and events are held every year in celebration of the writer’s work.
“We feel that the two great playwrights have a lot of similarities in their works, though we know they never met each other. The characters they created showed their pursuit of freedom, love, well-being and justice. And their magnificent achievements give us unlimited spiritual and imaginary space,” said Zhang Hongxing, the mayor of Fuzhou.
Performers from Fuzhou were in Shakespeare’s birthplace to perform selections of Tang’s plays, including “Peony Pavilion” and “The Story of the Purple Hairpin,” as well as Fuzhou’s traditional folk dances.
Commemorations for the two literary giants have been held so far this year in both countries, and more troupes from China are expected to perform both Tang’s and Shakespeare’s works in Britain in the near future.
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