Suzhou has long been recognized as a historic and culturally rich city, embodying the essence of Jiangnan culture. The Taihu Academy, originally established during the Jiaqing and Tongzhi reigns, carries deep-rooted cultural heritage. In the spring of 2011, after 140 years, renowned scholar and philanthropist Wang Yuecheng, along with intellectuals such as Gong Xinhang and Qiu Lianghui, initiated the reconstruction of Taihu Academy on the shores of Lake Tai in Suzhou. Spanning over 10,000 square meters, the academy has since become a beacon of traditional Chinese learning and cultural exchange.
Under the leadership of Wang Yuecheng as Chairman, the academy has appointed esteemed academicians such as Yin Ruiyu as Honorary Presidents, with Professor Qiu Lianghui, a pioneer in modern Yi studies, serving as the Head of Academy, and renowned Chinese studies expert Professor Zhang Qicheng as its Dean. The academy continues the scholarly traditions of Suzhou’s ancient academies, including Ziyang Academy, Zhengyi Academy, and the original Taihu Academy. It also carries forward the academic legacies of the Chinese Society for Dialectical Materialism, the Oriental International Yi Studies Research Institute, and the International Yi Studies Federation.
For years, Suzhou Taihu Academy has upheld the principles of integrity and innovation, with a mission to connect Wu-Yue culture across generations, advance engineering philosophy, foster wisdom through modern Yi studies, and establish the Taihu Think Tank. Guided by its motto, “Strengthen oneself with virtue, seek truth and cultivate righteousness,” the academy envisions itself as a century-long institution dedicated to exploring classical Yi studies with a scientific and modern humanistic approach. It seeks to creatively reinterpret and develop China’s traditional culture in the modern era.
The academy has pioneered a unique academic structure comprising the “Yi Garden, Cultural Heritage Hall, and Eight Museums,” which include the Traditional Culture Museum, Engineering Philosophy Museum, Masterpiece Collection Library, Intangible Cultural Heritage and Ancient Architecture Museum, Ceramic Museum, Arts and Calligraphy Hall, Youth Research Institute, and Family Education Culture Museum. By integrating cultural and think tank functions, it has developed an innovative “One Core, Two Wings” model, positioning itself as a modern academy that simultaneously promotes Confucian education, academic research, social service, and cultural innovation. The institution aspires to be a benchmark for the inheritance and creative development of Chinese traditional culture and a key platform for global cultural exchange.
In pursuit of expanding the international reach of Chinese traditional culture, Suzhou Taihu Academy Chairman Wang Yuecheng recently led a delegation to Malaysia for cultural research and exchange.
Strengthening Traditional Cultural Ties and Encouraging Greater Understanding Among Non-Chinese Communities
On the afternoon of August 27, the delegation visited the Malaysia Jiangsu Entrepreneurs Business Association, where they were warmly received by President Sun Jianwei. Both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between Malaysia and Jiangsu, aiming to foster deeper cooperation and understanding between the two regions.
Picture 1: President Sun Jianwei (left) and Chairman Wang Yuecheng (right) Exchange Commemorative Gifts
As a vital bridge fostering China-Malaysia friendship, the Malaysia Jiangsu Entrepreneurs Business Association not only plays a crucial role in promoting bilateral economic and trade relations but also serves as an important platform for cultural exchange and dissemination. President Sun Jianwei emphasized that China, as an ancient civilization and a land of etiquette, has a rich and profound traditional culture that embodies the wisdom and essence of Chinese civilization. He expressed his commitment to supporting the high-quality overseas development of Taihu Academy while ensuring that the spread of Chinese culture in Malaysia extends beyond the traditional Chinese communities from Fujian, Guangdong, and Hainan, reaching the broader Malaysian society.
Cultural confidence and resilience are essential for the Chinese nation’s global outreach and play a crucial role in advancing the Belt and Road Initiative and achieving cultural rejuvenation. Taihu Academy seamlessly integrates traditional cultural heritage with modern societal development, having been established in the economically dynamic Yangtze River Delta region. As a significant showcase of China’s reform and opening-up achievements and a successful example of academy cultural revival under the “Suzhou Model,” Taihu Academy reflects the simultaneous progress of economic prosperity and humanistic spirit in contemporary China.
Chairman Wang Yuecheng highlighted that Taihu Academy actively responds to the call for building a community with a shared future for mankind. As it expands internationally, the academy seeks to foster cross-cultural dialogue and exchange, promoting the harmonious coexistence of Chinese and Malaysian cultures. Through mutual learning and inspiration, both cultural traditions can rejuvenate and flourish, composing a new symphony of cultural collaboration.
“Xiangshan Builders” Going Global: Looking Forward to Further Collaboration with Malaysia’s Huayan”
On August 28, the Taihu Academy delegation visited the Malaysian Chinese Museum and the Centre For Malaysian Chinese Studies.
Photo 2: Wang Yuecheng (second from left), Vice Chairman Zhu Bo (far right), and others visiting the Malaysian Chinese Museum
The Centre For Malaysian Chinese Studies was established in 1985 under the initiative of fifteen Chinese organizations (state-level Chinese assemblies, Dong Zong, and Jiao Zong). The center preserves important historical documents and archives of the Malaysian Chinese community, showcasing the active participation of Chinese pioneers in the country’s independence and economic development.
Sun Jianwei, President of the Malaysia Jiangsu Entrepreneurs Business Association, also serves as an advisor to the Malaysian Chinese Research Center, playing a vital role in fostering exchanges between both sides. Yew Tek Kong, Chairman of the Board of the Research Center, warmly welcomed the delegation’s visit.
Photo 3: Exchange Meeting Between Taihu Academy and the Centre For Malaysian Chinese Studies
Chairman Yew Tek Kong introduced the history of the Malaysian Chinese community, the development of Chinese education, and the efforts of the Research Center in preserving Chinese historical and cultural heritage. He emphasized the center’s achievements in supporting Chinese education in Malaysia and maintaining a vast collection of important archives to safeguard the cultural legacy of the Malaysian Chinese community. Furthermore, he expressed his concern for Malaysia-China economic and cultural cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative, hoping to encourage more non-Chinese communities to learn about China and enhance the friendship between both nations.
Chairman Wang Yuecheng highly praised the Malaysian Chinese community for its contributions to politics, economy, humanities, and education. He noted that Taihu Academy is equally dedicated to the inheritance and promotion of Chinese culture, having achieved remarkable success in talent cultivation, university collaborations, craftsmanship design, and technological innovation, while also actively contributing to policy discussions and upholding social responsibility.
“Suzhou gardens are regarded as outstanding representations of Chinese private gardens and treasured world cultural heritage sites. Most of these classical garden buildings were crafted by artisans from the Xiangshan School of Suzhou, who integrated traditional Chinese philosophical wisdom with engineering techniques,” Wang Yuecheng explained. He detailed that the Xiangshan School’s traditional architectural craftsmanship originated during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, took shape during the Han and Jin dynasties, flourished in the Tang and Song dynasties, and reached its peak in the Ming and Qing dynasties. With a history spanning over 2,500 years, it is one of China’s most significant architectural traditions, skillfully blending construction techniques, artistic expression, and engineering aesthetics. Xiangshan artisans played a key role in building the Nanjing Ming Palace and Beijing Forbidden City’s Tiananmen, restoring the Potala Palace in Tibet, and creating Suzhou-style gardens overseas such as the Lan Su Chinese Garden, Liu Fang Yuan, and Ming Xuan in the United States. In 2009, Xiangshan School’s traditional architectural craftsmanship was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Wang Yuecheng stated that Taihu Academy gathers and honors master craftsmen of the Xiangshan School, including national and provincial-level inheritors, who are dedicated to researching and promoting this architectural heritage. The academy has launched the “Suzhou Gardens in the New Era: Inheritance and Innovation Forum” as a flagship platform to propel the Suzhou garden industry onto the global stage. This visit to Malaysia aims to introduce the art of Xiangshan craftsmanship and Suzhou gardens, sharing the unique beauty of Chinese culture while fostering integration with Malaysian Chinese heritage to jointly promote the global dissemination of Chinese culture.
During the exchange meeting, both parties reached a consensus on preserving and promoting outstanding Chinese cultural traditions and jointly advancing think tank research and academic development. They expressed their enthusiasm for further collaboration in the future.
Photo 4: Chairman Wang Yuecheng (sixth from the right) and Chairman Yew Tek Kong (fifth from the left) Exchange Souvenirs
Also present at the exchange meeting were Deputy Chairman Dato’ Yeoh Kok Thiam, Honorary Secretary-General Yew Tek Chong, Center Director Chan Yuan Tuan, researcher Ruan Yonghuo, Vice Chairman of Suzhou Taihu Academy Zhu Bo, Director of Suzhou Taihu Academy Chen Jianfei, and Assistant to the President of the Malaysia Jiangsu Entrepreneurs Business Association Tan Say Cheong.
Hope to Jointly Establish the “Chinese Academy” in Malaysia
Accompanied by the Malaysia Jiangsu Entrepreneurs Business Association, the Taihu Academy delegation gained valuable insights into the positive feedback from leaders of the Malaysian Chinese community during this visit. Chairman Wang Yuecheng deeply felt the greatness and charm of Chinese culture, further strengthening his sense of mission and responsibility as an inheritor of outstanding Chinese cultural traditions. To revitalize the beauty of Suzhou gardens, which embody a thousand years of cultural heritage, and to preserve the exquisite traditional construction craftsmanship of the “Xiangshan School,” Chairman Wang expressed his hope to collaborate with President Sun Jianwei in establishing a “Chinese Academy” in Malaysia.
“This is not only an active response and practical implementation of Xi Jinping’s cultural thought but also a heartfelt tribute to the inheritance and innovation of outstanding Chinese culture,” Chairman Wang emphasized. He stressed the importance of tangible actions through interactive exchanges to facilitate the sharing of achievements.
The in-depth exchanges conducted by the Taihu Academy delegation in Malaysia have not only strengthened economic and cultural cooperation between China and Malaysia but have also further promoted the dissemination and recognition of outstanding Chinese culture in Malaysia and the broader international community. The Malaysia Jiangsu Entrepreneurs Business Association, together with Taihu Academy and various cultural institutions in Malaysia, will work hand in hand to advance the global outreach of Chinese culture, jointly writing a new chapter in the mutual exchange and appreciation of human civilizations.
