Between Popularization and Personalization, Xuelin Essays | Urban Culture Collection City | Elegant Collection | Culture
In recent years, from the "City Reception Hall" on the North Bund to the Shanghai center in Lujiazui, from the art galleries and museums on the west bank and riverside to various community cultural activity centers that penetrate into the city's capillaries... The gradual rise and popularization of Shanghai's urban cultural elegance has boosted the richness and development of urban public cultural life and witnessed the construction and prosperity of people's cities.
In the traditional sense, "Yaji" specifically refers to the cultural creation and gathering forms of ancient literati groups, which is a collective cultural activity that integrates banquets, calligraphy and painting, literature, art, and aesthetics.
In the Book of Songs, poetic lines such as "wine harmonizes with the imperial edict" and "I have guests, playing drums, zither, and qin" describe the scene of drinking together and singing. During the Qin and Han dynasties, there emerged palace banquet style garden collections that advocated feasting and sightseeing; The "Rabbit Garden Society" of King Xiaowang of Liang in the Han Dynasty was an outward gathering of political groups led by political figures; The "Ye Xia Ya Ji" of the father and son of the Cao family in the late Han Dynasty was a group of refined collections that mixed political and literary identities, and can be regarded as the origin of Chinese literati refined collections.
The Wei and Jin dynasties were an era of cultural self-awareness. Influenced by the religious customs of that time, literati and scholars often sought spiritual release in nature, leading to an increase in leisure gatherings. Wang Youjun's "Lanting Gathering", Shi Chong's "Jinguyuan Meeting", Tao Yuanming's "Xiecheuan Tour", and Xie Lingyun's "Shanze Tour" were typical elegant collections of this period.
Since the Tang and Song dynasties, literary and artistic collections have become an important way for literati to exchange ideas and engage in improvisation, such as the "Fragrant Mountain Collection" participated by Bai Letian and the "Western Garden Collection" participated by Su Shi.
After the Song and Jin dynasties, the trend of literati gathering became even stronger. The "Yushan Yaji" hosted by Gu Ying attracted the participation of famous poets from across the country at that time, and was a high standard in the history of Chinese literature and culture.
Since modern times, the rich and elegant Jiangnan culture, as well as cultures from various regions, have converged on the banks of Suzhou River and Huangpu River, gradually forming a more dynamic and pioneering form of elegant gatherings for the public.
American urban sociologist Voss once proposed the view that "urbanism is mainly reflected as a way of life.". Urban cultural collections usually invite cultural and artistic professionals to bring people deep and innovative cultural experiences through cross-border communication, emotional exchange, and inspiration fusion in iconic spaces of local cultural landscapes.
The participants of the Yaji are cultural consumers who place greater emphasis on the taste and style of life. While pursuing a comfortable material life, they are also willing to accept the influence of culture and art, emphasizing the cultivation of their own personality and the space for free expression.
As a result, urban cultural collections, as relatively scarce cultural symbols and meanings in modern urban life, have become an attractive form of "customized" consumption. This kind of personalized declaration and advocacy, once resonated with consumer self-awareness, can trigger a "labeling effect".
From the observation results, it can be seen that the participants of Shanghai Urban Cultural Gathering are mainly industry elites, cultural experts, art practitioners and enthusiasts, who tend to purchase ideal cultural products and services to bring their lives closer to their ideal state. The basic pursuit of related gatherings is to cultivate one's character and enhance aesthetic skills, with diverse and elegant cultural content being the key.
For example, pay attention to the selection of public holidays, traditional seasons, and elegant gathering spaces and venues. The 24 solar terms of Li Chun Shu Tie, Gu Yu Ping Ming, Xia Zhi Guan Lian, autumnal equinox admiring the moon, heavy snow surrounding the stove, etc. not only popularized the time coordinates beyond the modern life cognitive system for the participants of the elegant collection, but also provided rich themes, activity content, and basis for the elegant collection.
For example, traditional Chinese opera performances and music activities are important contents of the Jiangnan traditional art festival. The artistic and cultural landscape of classical gardens in Jiangnan is depicted in the poem "Flowing high and singing, feather cups intoxicated by the moon, winding water and singing the wind, in the morning of flowers, on the evening of the moon, with carved candles and mixed with the prosperity of silk, bamboo, and wind strings.". Shanghai's urban cultural concentration often includes Guqin, Pingtan, Silk and Bamboo, Kunqu, Yue Opera, and Shanghai Opera.
On the one hand, traditional performing arts have their ancient and profound cultural connotations. In a small and beautiful interactive space like Yaji, it becomes more enjoyable, learnable, and experiential. Especially, the close contact between the participants of the Yaji Festival and traditional art performers and inheritors compensates for the lack of information caused by stage distance.
On the other hand, through the de staged presentation of Yaji, professional actors can transform into guides and enlighteners of the cultural life of citizens. Art elites and ordinary citizens gather together to create a venue for promoting excellent traditional culture through unique Jiangnan life and art appreciation.
In addition, the traditional elegant lifestyle in Jiangnan, including utensils, clothing, accessories, spatial layout, etc., constitutes a distinct value oriented overall life. Through modern dissemination and promotion, a consumer group of handicrafts has gradually formed, thereby expanding the relevant industry chain.
For example, sipping tea, arranging flowers, and savoring fragrance require handmade tea, flower, and fragrance vessels; Tea snacks, beverages, and handmade jewelry made using ancient methods also originate from traditional Jiangnan craftsmanship. These products not only highlight the consumption concept of low-carbon, organic, and environmental protection, but also possess special consumption characteristics that embody emotions in the scenery. From individual attire, space decoration to utensils and objects, culture and taste are equally condensed.
The wind rises from the sea, and the urban cultural collection is a good medium and form for telling the story of Shanghai well and showcasing the image of China. On the basis of inheriting the traditional elegant collections of Jiangnan, it adheres to the concepts of "magnanimity, humility, inclusiveness" and "integrating the East and the West, inheriting the past and innovating", forming a new style with new era characteristics, which is of great significance for polishing the "Shanghai Culture" brand.
