16-year-old high school girl Wu Yishu attends CCTV program "Chinese Poetry Conference" (Photo/Screenshot from CCTV)
A 16-year-old high school girl has recently shot to national fame. Although she might not be a pop star or a movie star, Wu Yishu, from east China's Shanghai, has grabbed the public's attention for her broad knowledge of classical Chinese poetry.
During a poetry reciting contest held by China Central Television (CCTV), Wu Yishu defeated a PhD student from Peking University to win the fourth round of the championship, before going on to grab the seasonal crown of the event.
The contest, dubbed the "Chinese Poetry Conference," has become a dark horse in terms of popularity after being aired during the Spring Festival holiday. It has emerged from a sea of vibrant variety shows, glittering galas and dazzling celebrations that have filled Chinese television screens, to become a trending topic on Sina Weibo as well as a must-watch event.
Competitors aged from as young as eight to over 60, come from all backgrounds and walks of life, including engineers, students, farmers, doctors, editors and delivery couriers.
Even foreign fans of Chinese poetry have taken part, coming from countries including Singapore, Thailand and the United States. All of them have gathered in Beijing for the event to showcase their deep love for classical Chinese poetry.
Classical Chinese poetry can trace its history back to the Spring and Autumn Period of almost 3,000 years ago. China's history has seen poets and masters of verse emerge like Du Fu and Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty, all the way up to the poets of the May Fourth Movement in 1919.
Enjoying a variety of forms, genres and themes, the art of poetry in China is one of the shining beacons of the country's literature and culture. Knowledge of classical poems and literature was once an absolute prerequisite for ancient Chinese scholars and officials, showing its importance to the fabric of the nation.
