Chinese artist promotes India-China bond rooted in civilisation
BEIJING, July 24: Chinese Buddhist painter and scholar Yue Yu, who created a unique artwork for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his China visit in 2015, believes that India and China should rediscover their deep-rooted civilisational friendship. Yue, director, chief artist, and curator of Northwest University in China’s Xian, perceives China-India relations as a tree that requires constant nurturing with water to keep it alive and growing. The relationship between the giant neighbours requires careful nurturing with their civilizational values in mind, according to Yue.
Yue developed respect and admiration for the Indian leader, especially for his devotion to his mother and his dignified style of dress and demeanor.
He was moved by Modi washing his mother’s feet, which spoke volumes about his character and values. When Modi made his first visit to China in 2015 amid euphoria of a thaw in the frosty Sino-India ties, Yue had a challenging task.
He was asked to create an enduring painting symbolising centuries of India-China relations, which he conceived with a striking theme: a bust of Buddha from the era of China’s only woman emperor, Wu Zetian, embossed on a sacred Bodhi leaf symbolizing Chinese Buddhism origins in India with a golden background.
The painting won him accolades from China and India, besides Modi himself. Yue chose to mention Oriental Wisdom because “we, the eastern people, are the most intelligent and all the important religions originated from the east.” His painting was presented to Modi by the Abbot of the historic Buddhist temple in Xi’an when the Prime Minister visited the temple to offer prayers.
Yue believes that the two countries should rediscover the deep friendship rooted in their ancient ties and recall the essence of Southern Buddhism, which came to China from India. He also emphasizes the importance of respecting each other first to understand each other and maintain a sense of modesty and politeness wherever they go.
When asked about the role of Buddhism in bringing the two countries closer, Yue recalled how Chinese scholars Xuanzang and Faxian were treated with respect and dignity in India. The key to the relationship is mutual respect, and if the two countries can bring that spirit, they can have good relations. (PTI)
25Chinese Buddhist artist Yue Yu in his studio at the North West
University, in Xi’an, China. (PTI)