On 15 March, we opened the doors of the Confucius Institute of Vilnius University wide to the pro-gymnasiums of the capital. Seventh-graders from Vilnius Simon Daukantos pro-Gymnasium came to take part in the first educational programme organised this spring. This time, we offered three themes: ghosts and ancestor worship in China, an introduction to the martial arts of the Shaolin Monastery, and a short introductory lesson on Chinese characters.
The education started with a presentation on ghosts in China, organised by Martynas Petrauskas and Robert Čupaila, graduates of Vilnius University's Sinology Department and interns of our institute. During the lesson, the students learnt what ghosts are in Chinese culture and how they differ from souls and ancestors. They were introduced to the ghost guǐ 鬼 script itself and the different Chinese phrases and words related to this hieroglyph. The children also had the opportunity to learn about the Chinese Ghost Festival and its lively traditions, the superstitions associated with ghosts in China, and the chance to try on authentic amulets to protect against ghosts and bad luck. The lesson ended with a short discussion where the students compared Chinese and Lithuanian beliefs and customs. It was interesting to discover what our cultures have in common.
However, perhaps the most impressive for the students, especially the boys, was the martial arts training at the Shaolin Monastery, which was conducted by two instructors: Tomas Lapinskas, the founder of the Shaolin Martial Arts Club, who is also the official representative of the Shaolin Monastery in the Baltic States, and another member of the club. The students not only had the opportunity to learn about martial arts, the reason for their origin and how they differ from other martial arts, but also to try out some moves in an outdoor training session. These practices are a great way of self-development, self-defence and personal growth, and we hope that maybe for some of the students it can become a new way of spending their free time.
After an active martial arts training, sipping Chinese tea and snacking on cookies, the next lecture continued with a fascinating presentation by Aušrinė Kvietkauskaitė, a graduate who is currently doing her internship at the Institute, on Chinese characters. The lesson was full of facts about the Chinese language and exciting differences in school experiences between Lithuanian and Chinese children. The children also learnt some hieroglyphics and how to pronounce them. At the end of the lesson, each kid was able to choose a Chinese name for himself, which, we are sure, became a memorable highlight of the day.
We hope that the students had a great time and, most importantly, learnt a lot of useful information that deepened their knowledge of Chinese culture.