The founder of the National Museum of HUAXIA in Beijing, Sun Songlin [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Q&A

1. Many intangible cultural heritage and traditional handicrafts are dying out. Do you think there is a better way to protect them?

Sun Songlin: I think the best way to preserve culture is to educate people to love their traditional culture. If all its people would love to learn about the culture, collect national treasures and pass them down from generation to generation in their families, find confidence and enjoyment from the culture, culture will surely get a boom.

What I am doing now is not only protecting endangered crafts, but doing more to build people's faith in their national culture, which is my final aim.

2. How did you foster your connoisseurship for arts?

Sun Songlin: There is no shortcut in the cultivation of art connoisseurship; that is what Ma Weidu, a well-known Chinese connoisseur, said long before. For me, my road is like, first, I studied much basic knowledge about Chinese arts and crafts and connoisseurship, and then I went to big museums around the world to explore those well-known art pieces and linked them to my previous knowledge.

Next I communicated with many collectors and participated in the assessment and auctions of arts. I think if it is possible, one better take part in some cultural relic restoration work during his training to achieve connoisseurship. There is no shortcut, but passion and persistence.