On 20th April 2023, China celebrated the traditional solar term "Grain Rain," which is also the 14th UN Chinese Language Day. The OUC and the China Printing Museum jointly held the 2nd "UN Chinese Language Day" event. Fan Xianrui, vice president of the OUC, and Cai Fengjuan, deputy curator of the China Printing Museum, attended the event and delivered speeches.

Chen Yishi, national-level bearer of the Yangzhou Guangling Ancient Books Engraving Co., Ltd. 's woodblock printing technique, and Chen Meiqi, director of the Printing Training Centre of Yangzhou Guangling Ancient Books Engraving Co., Ltd., are introducing the woodblock printing technique.

Wang Chuanqiao, provincial-level bearer of the Rui'an City Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Centre's wooden movable-type printing technique and Rui'an Paper Horse Engraving and Printing technique, is demonstrating the wooden movable-type printing technique.

Zhao Huiping, a senior technician and provincial-level bearer of Beijing Rong Bao Zhai, is demonstrating the woodblock watermark technique.

The event invited national-level bearer of the Yangzhou Guangling Ancient Books Engraving Co., Ltd. 's woodblock printing technique, Chen Yishi, as well as provincial-level bearer Wang Chuanqiao of the Rui'an City Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Centre's wooden movable-type printing technique and Rui'an Paper Horse Engraving and Printing technique. In addition, Zhao Huiping, a senior technician and provincial-level bearer of Beijing Rong Bao Zhai's woodblock watermark technique, and Chen Meiqi, director of the Printing Training Centre of Yangzhou Guangling Ancient Books Engraving Co., Ltd., were also invited to showcase and demonstrate their related skills at the event.

Fan Xianrui, OUC vice president, is delivering a speech.

In her speech, Fan Xianrui pointed out that the joint hosting of the "UN Chinese Language Day" event by the OUC and the China Printing Museum is an important practice in response to General Secretary Xi Jinping's "Global Civilization Initiative." It is also a beneficial attempt to leverage the strengths of both the university and the museum to promote the inheritance and international dissemination of fine traditional Chinese culture. The event aims to commemorate the great significance of the origin, development, and dissemination of Chinese characters, as well as the important influence of the emergence and evolution of printing technology in this process.

Cai Fengjuan, deputy curator of the China Printing Museum, is delivering a speech.

Cai Fengjuan stated that this year's "UN Chinese Language Day" event, with the theme “Seeing the Vast World in a Small Space” combines online and offline forms such as cultural lectures, intangible cultural heritage exhibitions, and hands-on experiences. Through these activities, we can deepen our understanding of the unique historical and cultural charm and inheritance value of printing technology, enhance national self-esteem and self-confidence, and promote the concept of a human community with a shared future to take root and bear fruit worldwide.

Four intangible cultural heritage bearers in the symposium.

Students from Beijing Haidian District Tuqiang No.2 Primary School participated in interactive hands-on activities.

During the event, four national and provincial-level intangible cultural heritage bearers and experts, Chen Yishi, Wang Chuanqiao, Zhao Huiping, and Chen Meiqi, were interviewed on-site and showcased their printing skills such as engraving, wooden movable-type printing, and woodblock watermarking. Some faculty members of the OUC and some teachers and students from Beijing Haidian District Tuqiang No.2 Primary School participated in interactive hands-on activities such as engraving and printing, and ancient book binding.

Written by Cui Jiaxing, photographed by Weng Jianbin, OUC