In September 2023, Japanese Karate enthusiasts traveled to Fuzhou to visit their roots again. Fujian Huizhentang Tiger Boxing Club (福建省惠真堂虎形拳俱乐部) and Fuzhou Wushu Association (福州市武术协会) staff candidly arranged a reception and a discussion about Zhou Zihe martial arts culture and history. This article will further introduce in detail the promotion of Zhouzi culture and rural revitalization in Zhitian village (芝田).
Zhou Zihe (周子和) martial arts culture is a part of traditional Chinese martial arts culture and has unique value and significance. Zhou Zihe is a famous martial artist in Minhou County (闽侯县), Fuzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province, China, who is good at Southern Shaolin Kung Fu and is proficient in eighteen kinds of martial arts, especially tiger boxing. Zhou Zihe's deeds were recorded in the "History of Fujian Martial Arts", and he was known as one of the "Seven Masters of Fujian". Zhou Zihe's martial arts skills and inheritance are not only regional, but also contemporary and innovative. His martial arts skills are not only a means of self-defense, but also a way of self-refinement, emphasizing both internal and external cultivation, both physical and spiritual. Zhou Zihe emphasized a culture of moral cultivation, advocated integrity, honesty, friendliness and other qualities, and pursued the harmony and unity of the inner and the outside.
Zhitian Village
Zhitian Village is the hometown of Zhou Zihe, located in the south of Minhou County, next to National Highway 316, 18 kilometers away from the center of Fuzhou, 25 kilometers away from the county seat, and 4 kilometers away from the seat of Nanyu Town Government (南屿镇). Zhitian Village now retains many ancient buildings, such as the ancestral hall of the Zhou family, the former residence of Zhou Zihe, the former residence of Zhou Ximeng, etc., including the historical celebrity Zhou Ximeng, a generation of martial arts master Zhou Zihe, and more. Zhitian Village is currently effectively developing and utilizing related cultures.
The revitalization of Zhitian Village is currently being valued by the Fuzhou municipal government, which has been ordered to start a high-quality standard village renovation project and encourage Zhou Zihe martial art pilgrimages to commemorate the martial arts master and promote Chinese martial arts culture. The Fujian Zhitian Village Tourist Attraction is a comprehensive park integrating martial arts culture, health preservation, research and education. Relying on Zhitian Village in Fujian Province, the park makes full use of the rich local martial arts resources and natural environment to provide a platform for tourists to understand Chinese martial arts culture, learn health preservation methods, and carry out research and educational activities. In the Fujian Zhitian Village Martial Arts Pilgrimage Site and Health Care Research Park, visitors can gain an in-depth understanding of the historical origins, cultural connotations and skills inheritance of Chinese martial arts. There are many martial arts schools here, and visitors can enjoy wonderful martial arts performances, as well as experience various martial arts skills first-hand to feel the unique charm of Chinese martial arts. In addition, the park also focuses on health and wellness, providing a range of wellness services for visitors. Visitors can enjoy relaxing health programs such as hot springs, massages, and yoga, as well as a variety of healthy delicacies to fully relax and nourish the body and mind. At the same time, Fujian Zhitian Village Martial Arts Pilgrimage Site and Health Care Research Park also provides rich resources and platforms for research and education. Students and scholars can carry out martial arts research, cultural exchanges and academic research here, gain an in-depth understanding of the breadth and profundity of Chinese culture, and improve their cultural literacy and comprehensive quality.
Zhitian Village Zhou Zihe cultural promotions cover many aspects. Here are some of the planned project promotion measures:
1. Establishment of the Zhou Zi and Cultural Exhibition Hall: A Zhou Zi and Cultural Exhibition Hall was established in Zhitian Village to display Zhou Zihe's life deeds, martial arts skills and cultural heritage. Through pictures, texts, videos and other forms, the historical background, cultural connotation and martial arts skills of Zhou Zihe are introduced to tourists and local residents.
2. Organize martial arts performances and competitions: Martial arts performances and competitions are regularly organized in Zhitian Village, inviting local martial arts groups and individuals to showcase their skills. At the same time, visitors can also be invited to participate in the interaction, allowing them to experience the charm of Chinese martial arts.
3. Development of Zhou Zihe theme tourism routes: Combine the Zhou Zihe cultural resources of Zhitian Village with the tourism resources of the surrounding areas to develop Zhou Zihe theme tourism routes. Tourists can experience martial arts, taste local food, visit historical sites, etc., and gain an in-depth understanding of the connotation and charm of Zhou Zi and culture.
4. Carry out research and education activities: Set up Zhou Zihe cultural research courses in Zhitian Village, invite experts and scholars to teach, and provide students and tourists with opportunities to understand Zhou Zihe culture. At the same time, students can also be organized to participate in martial arts training, cultural exchanges and other activities, so that they can experience the breadth and profundity of Chinese culture.
5. Strengthen media publicity: Strengthen the publicity and promotion of Zhitian Village Zhou Zihe culture through media platforms. Relevant information can be released through local media, online platforms and other channels to increase public awareness and attention to Zhou Zihe culture.
Zhou Zihe is not only a master of martial arts, but also an expert in Chinese medicine and herbal medicine. He has in-depth research and practice in traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory and diagnosis and treatment techniques, especially in the field of herbal medicine. Zhou Zihe advocated the use of herbal medicine, believing that herbal medicine has the advantages of naturalness, simplicity and effectiveness, and should become one of the main means of TCM treatment. The promotion of Chinese herbal medicine culture by Zhou Zihe Zhitian Village includes the following programs:
1. Establish the Museum of Zhou Zihe Traditional Chinese Medicine and Herbal Medicine Culture: Establish a special museum in Zhitian Village to display Zhou Zihe's life and Chinese medicine and herbal culture. Through pictures, texts, objects and other forms, Zhou Zihe's TCM theories and diagnosis and treatment techniques, as well as his unique insights and practical achievements on TCM herbal medicine, are introduced. At the same time, an interactive experience area can be set up to allow visitors to experience the charm of traditional Chinese medicine.
2. Organize TCM and herbal medicine cultural experience activities: In Zhitian Village, TCM and herbal medicine cultural experience activities are regularly organized, and local TCM experts and herbalists are invited to provide TCM diagnosis and treatment and herbal medicine experience services for tourists. Under the guidance of professionals, visitors can learn about the theory and diagnosis and treatment techniques of Chinese medicine, experience the curative effects and effects of herbal medicine, and deepen their knowledge and understanding of Chinese medicine and herbal culture.
As a martial arts master, Zhou Zihe has a high reputation in the local area for his family's martial arts. One of the core values of Zhou Zi Culture is to advocate martial arts, believing that martial arts is not only a self-defense skill, but also a way of self-cultivation. In Zhitian Village, people respect and love martial arts, and regard them as a symbol of cultural heritage and honor. Zhou Zihe was not only a martial arts master, but also a philosopher, who emphasized both internal and external cultivation and paid attention to moral cultivation. One of the core values of Zhou Zi Culture is to advocate moral cultivation, believing that a person's cultivation and moral character are crucial. In Zhitian Village, people pay attention to moral cultivation, respect integrity, honesty, friendliness and other qualities, and pursue harmony between the inner and the outside. As a part of Chinese culture, Zhou Zihe Culture's core values also pursue cultural identity. In Zhitian Village, people identify with and pass on Zhouzi culture as an important part of their culture. At the same time, people are also actively learning about and learning about Chinese culture in other regions to achieve cultural diversity and common development.
It is hoped that with the modernization of information technology, more comprehensive research and exchange between Kung Fu and Karate practitioners may take place in the future, fostering future peaceful and friendly relations.
