In the past year, in an effort to promote the romantic and profound Chinese culture internationally, numerous artists worked hard to demonstrate China’s long cultural and historic legacy to the world. A poll was undertaken by the Culture News page of “People’s Daily” together with its website, with nearly 40 thousand netizens responding. According to the results and opinions from professionals, Zhang Yimou, Zhang Haidi, Wang Meng, Feng Jicai, Jia Pingwa, Mei Baojiu, Chen Kaige and Zhang Jigang ranked as the top 8 Cultural Figures of 2008.

Zhang Yimou

Zhang Yimou

Zhang Yimou, the chief director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games, considerately selected most distinctive signs of Chinese culture and applied unprecedented creativity, abundant types of multimedia and magnificent mass performances to explain the romance and lenience of Chinese people. In 2008, he was rewarded with an honorary doctorate by Boston University in the U.S, because the latter recognized he "offered audiences everywhere a perspective on the culture of China, and a window into the universal aspects of human nature and yearning".

What he said:

This year (2008) is the 30th anniversary of the opening-up and reform which benefits me. It’s impossible for me to enter the college without it. Directing the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games, the most significant job for me in this special year, gave me a rare opportunity of learning. During the period, I watched games until late every night and felt shocked. Receiving congratulations from others, I thought the excellent performance and human sprit of athletes in the arena were just the reason for success of the event.

I strived for normalcy after the games and wished to keep on my job calmly. Boston University conferred me an honorary doctorate by the end of the year. I believe the reason is our nation’s rise attracts the world to recognize Chinese artists. I will continue enjoying and concentrating on what I do and exert myself to my career in the future year.

Profile

Zhang Yimou (1950- ), the representative of the 5th generation of Chinese directors, graduated from the Photography Department of Beijing Movie Academy in 1982. He successively photographed “One and Eight”, “Yellow Earth” and “Big Parade” and obtained high praise. From 1981, Zhang began to direct movies all by himself and showed “Red Sorghum”, “Ju Dou”, “Raise the Red Lantern”, “The Story of Qiuju “, “Shanghai Triad” and “Keep Cool” to audiences. Zhang’s works, most qualified for well-known international movies festivals and some won awards, are featured with in-depth perceive of rooted traditional concepts in Chinese people’s mind and strong criticizing spirit.

Zhang Haid

Zhang Haidi

Zhang Haidi was appointed the 5th chairman of China Disabled Persons’ Federation by its 5th congress on November 13th, 2008. In the early morning on 17th, the newly-elected chairman publicized an essay in her blog to farewell her literature career, saying “From now on, I will take a different approach to serve the society. Since I was a young girl, I have wished to be a useful person for society. Now, my dream comes true”. 53-year-old Zhang Haidi will experience the turning point of her life.

With her selection, people recall Zhang Haidi as the spiritual icon with fortitude and perseverance, whose story is widely known when she became a paraplegic at the age of five following four operations for the removal of tumors in her spine. She never went to school, but through diligent self-study, she finished a graduate course at last, setting a model for young people.

Since 1983, Zhang Haidi has been engaged in literature and published novels and essays totalling over 2 million words. Her full-length novel “Dream on Wheelchair” has been translated into foreign languages and published in Japan and Korea. Besides, Zhang translated “Surgery by the Sea”, “Rebecca in New School”, “Young Mill Travels Records”, “Not a Many Grams - Elephant's Real Story” and so on. Looking back the past, Zhang frankly said “I have been accustomed to writing and I have never abandoned it however hard is this job. I didn’t find a glimmer ahead of me in the literature tunnel until I published 2 million words. Hereafter, I will spare no efforts to serve the disabled.

Until now, Zhang Haidi upholds her saying “the more serious paralysis you suffered, the more beauty you should try for”. The beauty here means not only surface appearances but the inside heart.

What she said

At the moment of being elected as the chairperson, I was in a complicated mood and I didn’t think the position meant an honor but a heavy responsibility for me.

Whatever you keep on doing makes sense. The spirit of perseverance and patience are needed to reach the destination of a long journey ahead. I considered the great responsibility to work for improving the living conditions of the disabled and guaranteeing their rights in the next five years and I will work hard like before, ignoring the fame and gains.