“Dear beloved Chinese culture, I send my greetings and best wishes for your wellbeing. I write this letter during restless nights, with unceasing longing. May you find solace in these lines, and may a smile blooms on your lips.” This is an excerpt from Huyen Anh’s letter.
When asked about her motivation for writing the letter, Nguyen Huyen Anh explained that her love for China began with the scent of tea. Inspired by Chinese tea poetry, she began to study and explore Chinese tea culture. For her, tea culture represents not just a craft but a life philosophy.
For Huyen Anh, the process of brewing tea is full of meaning and beauty, akin to an enlightenment. Drinking tea is not merely about savouring a cup but about harmonising the mind and body with the tea, expanding one's thoughts and self.
Poetry is the key that helps Huyen Anh comprehend Chinese intellect. She shared her amazement at how Chinese children can memorise classic poems, which made her understand that poetry is not just linguistic beauty but also a “bridge” for transmitting the civilisation of each generation.
Through the writings and poetry, the student learns more about love, develops resilience, discovers her ideals, and finds hope. She also deepens her understanding of China's spirit of harmony within the civilisation context.
Nguyen Huyen Anh stated that her time exploring and experiencing China played a significant role in inspiring her letter.
"In Dujiangyan, I witnessed the harmony between tradition and modernity in daily life. At the Su Causeway in Hangzhou, built by the poet Su Shi, I perceived the philosophy of harmony between humans and nature — a Chinese historical legacy and a collective cultural memory," she shared.
