The inheritance of Song Dynasty culture was among the key projects underlined at a high-profile culture work conference held by the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee in the provincial capital of Hangzhou on Aug 31.

Zhejiang authorities called on officials and cadres across the province to push forward the comprehensive protection of the relic site of the Southern Song Dynasty Palace, to carry out academic studies on Song Dynasty culture in a systematic manner, as well as to build culture brands featuring the Southern Song Dynasty from a wide range of dimensions, including thoughts, politics, economy, society, folk culture, literature, architecture, and religion.

Hangzhou was once the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279).

Zheng Jiali, deputy director of the Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, has long been an archaeologist interested in the Song and Yuan dynasties.

In a recent interview with local media, Zheng attempted to characterize the Song Dynasty culture in eight phrases: valiant patriotism; a scholar-bureaucrat tradition that features a strong sense of responsibility; humanistic pragmatism; a boundless ambition for overseas trade; elegant life aesthetics; colorful urban lifestyle; art paradigms with far-reaching influence; as well as technological advancements that are represented by the three great inventions of movable-type printing, the compass, and black gunpowder.

Zheng Jiali is deputy director of the Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]