October 21st, 2024

Recently, an academic exchange event titled "Reconnecting the Golden Bond of Civilizational Exchanges in Northeast Asia," jointly organized by the Asia Pacific Exchange & Cooperation Foundation, the World Buddhism and Peace Federation (Hong Kong), and the World Buddhist Peace Council (Korea), has achieved significant consensus and academic outcomes. The event was held upon invitation from numerous cultural institutions in Mongolia, South Korea, and Japan, with the aim of exploring and promoting cultural exchanges and cooperation in the Northeast Asian region.

On September 25, at the invitation of the South Korean Parliament, members visited the vice-speaker of the ruling party, Joo Ho-young. Both parties engaged in constructive discussions on cultural exchanges between China and South Korea, especially Buddhist cultural exchanges. Speaker Joo skillfully brewed Chinese Kungfu tea, sharing the historical connection between Chinese tea culture and South Korea, and expressed his deep interest in Chinese Buddhism. He has almost visited every influential temple in China and plans to visit Mount Wutai again on November 5. Additionally, Speaker Joo showcased his calligraphy and shared his understanding of Chinese philosophy. Throughout the conversation, both sides deeply felt that despite linguistic differences, there is a remarkable similarity and closeness in cultural consensus, philosophical concepts, and life values.

On the same evening, Mr. Lim Young-tan, President of the Korea-China Buddhist Culture Exchange Association and Abbot of Ssanggyesa Temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, hosted a reception dinner. Attendees included Pastor In Myeong-jin, former acting leader of the Liberty Korea Party; Professor Park Yong-jun, former Vice Minister of State Affairs; and Professor Choi Yu-seong, former Assistant Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The participants extensively discussed the constructive role of Chinese Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist cultures in South Korea's modernization process, particularly their unique contributions to national governance, the shaping of national identity, and the cultivation of civic virtues.

It is noteworthy that in 2005, at the invitation of Mr. Xiao Wunan, Mr. Lim Young-tan led a delegation from the Jogye Order to visit China, ushering in a new chapter in Sino-South Korean Buddhist exchanges. This initiative was highly commended by Mr. Ye Xiaowen, then Director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, who regarded it as inaugurating a "Golden Era" for Sino-South Korean Buddhist dialogue, following the "Golden Bond" of China-Japan-South Korea Buddhist ties initiated by Mr. Zhao Puchu. Since then, collaborative projects between Chinese and South Korean Buddhists—including Buddhist education initiatives and the veneration of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva—have achieved resounding success. In recognition of these accomplishments, Mr. Xiao Wunan was highly recognized by the South Korean Buddhist community and honored with the Achievement Award.

Furthermore, on September 24, Xiao Wunan led a delegation to meet with Mr. Yi Jae-o, a key strategist of South Korea's ruling party and prominent politician, engaging in in-depth discussions on the positive influence of East Asian culture during South Korea's national transformation. Mr. Yi Jae-o, who has exerted significant influence throughout the country's social transition, has spearheaded numerous ideological and philosophical concepts shaping contemporary discourse. During the visit, he also invited Mr. Xiao to Seoul National University Hospital to pay respects to the late Mr. Jang Ki-pyo, a renowned social activist and President of the New Civilization Policy Research Institute. On behalf of the delegation, Xiao Wunan conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

On September 25, at noon, Xiao Wunan and his delegation participated in a luncheon with executives from leading South Korean multinational corporations, including Daewoo Engineering & Construction, SK Group, Hyundai Group, and Kim & Chang Law Firm. The discussions centered on the application of Chinese Confucian philosophy in South Korean corporate governance and the constructive role of Eastern management principles cultivated through this cultural integration.

During the discussions, representatives unanimously emphasized that the remarkable achievements of South Korea's leading enterprises stem not only from their adoption of Western management theories, but more crucially from their innovative integration of Eastern philosophical principles into the fabric of corporate core competitiveness. These management paradigms, enriched by Oriental wisdom, have not only fueled rapid corporate growth but also played a vital and undeniable role in advancing the development of a harmonious society.

On October 2, Xiao Wunan met with Mr. Matsushita Shinpei, a member of Japan’s House of Councillors and Secretary-General of the LDP's General Council, at the Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo. Mr. Matsushita Shinpei, who holds a deep affinity for Chinese culture and devout commitment to its spiritual traditions—evidenced even by his smartphone wallpaper featuring a Chinese Buddhist statue—collaborated with Xiao Wunan during the Covid-19 pandemic to jointly participate in temple rituals across Japan. Together, they conducted a prayer ceremony for China’s pandemic relief at Mount Tendai in Japan. Both sides reaffirmed that China and Japan, linked by shared waters and profound historical-cultural ties, maintain an unbroken spiritual kinship. They emphasized that regardless of geopolitical shifts, the peoples of both nations will always demonstrate solidarity in critical moments, drawing strength from their intertwined civilizational legacy.

During his stay in Mongolia, Xiao Wunan held multiple consultations with Great Monk Nergui Sainbuyan, abbot of Mongolia's Sain Nomuun Monastery, and Dr. D. Natsagdorj, President of Otoch Manramba University and Khamba Lama of the Manba Datsans. Both sides believed that Mongolia and China have natural advantages for exchange, whether geographic or cultural. In recent years, Mongolian culture has achieved significant international recognition, with Mongolian bands becoming popular worldwide. During a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia S. Amarsaikhan, he mentioned that Mongolian culture has now gone global. On September 2, during Putin's visit to Mongolia, he led a band to Mongolia for a unique joint celebration with local youth, achieving unexpected results through cultural bonding. Walking through the streets of Ulaanbaatar, one can feel the strong presence of Korean culture everywhere, with Korean trends being highly popular among Mongolian youth.

The Northeast Asian region has been shaped by a millennia-long interwoven history of geographical proximity, cultural convergence, and shared civilizational evolution. In this era of profound global transformation, the pressing imperative for nations including Mongolia, China, South Korea, and Japan lies in harnessing their shared cultural heritage to foster heart-to-heart connections among peoples—a critical agenda demanding urgent intellectual engagement. It is our conviction that deepening cultural exchanges and institutionalized collaboration will catalyze unimaginable possibilities for global peace, sustainable development, and the advancement of human well-being, breathing new vitality into the civilizational dialogue of our interconnected world.