In Retrospect to Wusun Kingdom
—A Congratulatory Message on the Belt and Road International Day 2020
CANUTE
Chairman of the World Peace Ribbon Organization
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Hello, everyone!
December 16, 2020 is the seventh International Day since the Belt and Road Initiative for international cooperation. It also marks a duration of over two thousand years after the birth of “Peace Princess” Liu Xijun and the 250th anniversary of the birth of “World Sage of Music” Ludwig van Beethoven. It is a time of mutual cultural learning between the East and the West, and a day on which there achieve the reincarnation and reunion of sages of the past and present. “Peace Princess” Liu Xijun living more than two thousand years ago gave the Belt and Road International Day peaceful connotations, while “World Sage of Music” Ludwig van Beethoven living more than 200 years ago brought wonderous music to the Belt and Road International Day.
Even the demonic and ghostly occurrences of the COVID-19 virus couldn’t stop the International Day with “peace and music” as its themes. We have always maintained that there is no struggle between the East and the West over who is good or evil, but rather over cultural and cognitive differences, and that most people in the East and the West are honest and good. As long as we tolerate each other, we will not accuse or even violate each other.
On the occasion of the International Day with “peace and music” as its themes, I would like to express my sincere greetings and heartfelt wishes to the people of all countries on behalf of the World Peace Ribbon Organization. I also hope that all governments will not shirk or shift their responsibilities in the face of the COVID-19 virus as the enemy of humanity. We should actively give our responses and do our best to win the fight against the pandemic as soon as possible.
More than two thousand years ago, Zhang Qian, ancient Chinese diplomat, traveled to the Western Regions and arrived at the Wusun Kingdom, a nomadic people from the West. To unite the Wusun Kingdom and other tribes in the Western Regions against the Xiongnu threat, a 17-year-old girl from the imperial house widely known as Princess Jiangdu was appointed by an emperor of the Han Dynasty to marry Lie Jiaomi, king of Wusun Kingdom, in 105 B.C.
The girl was Liu Xijun, the “Peace Princess” as commemorated by the later generations.
Due to the language barrier, Liu Xijun, who was married to Wusun Kingdom, had no choice but to express her homesickness through music. Legend has it that she had composed a large number of works. She was recognized by the later generations as the inventor of pipa (a plucked string instrument with a fretted fingerboard) and a female musician in ancient China. Unfortunately, few of her works have been preserved for future generations, among which are the “Yellow Swan Song” and others.
At the age of 17, “Peace Princess” Liu Xijun took on the mission of Heqing, a policy of making peace with rulers of minority nationalities in the border areas by marriage. In contributing herself, she brought peace to the border, writing a pathos poem about the ancient people’s quest for peace and becoming a lasting praised deed along the Silk Road.
Based on Wusun Kingdom as a testament to the first peaceful collaboration of Western nations and the Chinese nation, and the story of “Peace Princess and Female Musician” Liu Xijun, on the occasion of the 40thanniversary of the founding of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, the World Peace Ribbon Organization delivered a letter, proposing to donate funds to build the “Wusun Camp” Silk Road Cultural Park as a witness of the friendship between the Chinese nation and the Western nations in Yili, China.
The Park is not only a symbol of the Chinese nation and the Western nations collaborating in peace, but also a symbol of overseas Chinese around the world actively embracing the “Belt and Road Initiative” for international cooperation, and the spirit of “Nourishing Borders with Culture,”.
After its completion, the Park can be used for the Chinese nation and the Western nations in political, economic, cultural and tourism exchanges, as well as serving as an important venue for the grand cultural events of the Belt and Road International Day.
To promote the culture of Wusun Kingdom, commemorate “Peace Princess and Female Musician” Liu Xijun, and offer congratulatory gifts to the Belt and Road International Day twenty-twenty and the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, the Study Band composed a piano piece titled “the Intoxicating Military Ode” and a song of the same title under the care and guidance of Professor Zhou Haihong, famous music educator and former vice-president of the Central Conservatory of Music of China.
The creation of the piano piece is entrusted to GongZihan, contemporary young composer from the Central Conservatory of Music of China, while the song is sung by Zhu Song, tenor from the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China (formerly the Song and Dance Ensemble of the PLA General Political Department) on the Chinese side.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the situation in the United States, a global concert for the Belt and Road International Day, originally planned to be held at the Headquarters of the United Nations, has been postponed till next year or the year after.
As Yangzhou is the hometown of “Peace Princess and Female Musician” Liu Xijun while Bonn is the hometown of the “World Sage of Music and King of Symphonies” Ludwig van Beethoven, the World Peace Ribbon Organization proposes that Yangzhou of China and Bonn of Germany form a cultural and artistic partnership, with Wusun Camp as a midway station. In a triad, they will present to the world a musical and artistic Silk Road featured with Eastern and Western cultures blended with each other.
In retrospect to the Wusun Kingdom and the ancient people of the East and the West, we commemorate forever “Peace Princess and Female Musician” Liu Xijun, who dedicated herself to her country for peace, and “World Sage of Music and King of Symphonies” Beethoven who devoted his life to music. May those two spirits of the East and West reincarnate and reunite so as to perform resplendent music along the Silk Road!
Finally, let’s recite the Sutra of Peace together and pray for the people of the world suffering from the COVID-19 virus in 2020. We wish the people of all countries a celebration of the Belt and Road International Day with “peace and music” as its themes. We also wish all countries peace, auspice and prosperity, and wish people across the world happiness, satisfaction, and good health.
Thank you all!
回望乌孙国
——2020年一带一路国际日献词
女士们、先生们：
大家好！
2020年12月16日是一带一路国际合作倡议之后的第七个国际日，也是“和平公主”刘细君诞辰两千多年,以及“世界乐圣”贝多芬诞辰两百五十周年的日子，这是东西方人民文化互鉴与古今圣贤轮回重逢的时刻，两千多年前的“和平公主”刘细君给一带一路国际日赋予了和平的内涵，两百多年前的“世界乐圣”贝多芬给一带一路国际日带来了美妙的音乐。新冠病毒的妖魔幻化和鬼怪传说，也阻止不了这个以“和平与音乐”为主题的国际日。我们一直认为，东西方之间不存在善恶之争，而是文化与认知的差异，东西方大多数人民都是正直善良的，只要彼此包容，就不会相互指责甚至侵犯。在这个“和平与音乐”为主题的国际日到来之际，我谨代表世界和平丝带组织，向各国人民表达真诚的问候和衷心的祝福，也希望各国政府面对人类公敌新冠病毒，不甩锅不嫁祸，积极应对，做好自己，早日取得抗疫胜利。
两千多年前，中国古代外交官张骞出使西域，遇到了来自西方的游牧民族——乌孙国。为团结乌孙国等西域部落，共同应对匈奴的威胁，公元前105年，一位年仅17岁的皇室小姑娘，人称江都公主，受命于中国汉代皇帝，嫁给了乌孙王猎骄靡，这就是后人铭记缅怀的“和平公主”刘细君。由于语言不通，嫁到乌孙国的刘细君只好以音乐表达对家乡的思念，传说她创作了大量的作品，被后世认为是琵琶的发明者和中国古代女音乐家。可惜的是，她的作品留传后世较少，目前知道仅《黄鹄歌》等。这位“和平公主”刘细君，年仅17岁就肩负和亲使命，以自己的女儿之身去换取边塞和平，抒写了古代人民追求和平的悲情诗篇，成为丝绸之路的千古佳话。
基于乌孙国是西方民族和中华民族首次和平携手的见证，也基于“和平公主、女音乐家”刘细君的故事，在中国深圳特区成立四十周年之际，世界和平丝带组织递交信函，建议在中国伊犁捐资建设中华民族和西方民族友好的见证——“乌孙大营”丝绸之路文化公园。这个公园不仅是中华民族和西方民族和平携手的象征，也代表着全球华人华侨积极拥护“一带一路”国际合作倡议及“文化润疆”指示精神。该公园建成后可以作为中华民族和西方民族政治、经济、文旅等领域交流往来，以及举办“一带一路”国际日文化盛典活动的重要营地。
为挖掘乌孙国文化，纪念“和平公主、女音乐家”刘细君，献礼2020年一带一路国际日和贝多芬诞辰两百五十周年，在著名音乐教育家、中国中央音乐学院原副院长周海宏教授的关心指导下，学习乐队分别创作了一首钢琴曲《军赋醉》和一首歌曲《军赋醉》，钢琴曲委托当代青年作曲家、中国中央音乐学院巩子晗先生完成，歌曲委托中国方面的军委政治工作部（原总政歌舞团）男高音歌唱家朱松先生演唱。由于新冠疫情和美国局势原因，原计划在联合国总部举办的一带一路国际日全球音乐会，推迟到明年或后年举行。鉴于扬州是“和平公主、女音乐家”刘细君的故乡，波恩是“世界乐圣、交响乐之王”贝多芬的故乡，世界和平丝带组织建议中国扬州和德国波恩结成文化艺术伙伴城市，以乌孙大营为中间驿站，三点成一线，向全球演绎出具有中西文化交融的音乐艺术丝绸之路。
回望乌孙国，回望古代中西方的人民，我们永远铭记缅怀为和平许国的“和平公主、女音乐家”刘细君，永远铭记缅怀为音乐毕生的“世界乐圣、交响乐之王”贝多芬，愿这两位东西方的精灵轮回重逢，演绎出丝绸之路的华彩乐章。最后，让我们一起念诵《和平经》，为2020年遭受新冠病毒困扰的世界各国人民祈福，祝愿世界各国人民度过一个以“和平与音乐”为主题的一带一路国际日，祝愿世界各国和平吉祥、兴盛隆昌，祝愿世界人民美满如意、幸福安康。
谢谢大家！
附件：关于一带一路国际日
Annex: About the Belt and Road International Day
一带一路国际日(12月16日)是在星云大师佛学开示和德慧启迪下，为纪念和宣传"一带一路"国际合作倡议，由全球第一大学社七三国际学社前主席陈恩田(英文名CANUTE)、联合国原副秘书长冀朝铸等国际著名学者发起，最终由世界和平丝带组织正式确定的国际民间节日，得到了联合国第八任秘书长潘基文先生、联合国教科文组织总干事博科娃女士的关心和支持，这也是首个起源于东方国家、代表东方国家文化自信的国际民间节日。
The Belt and Road International Day (December 16) has been initiated as inspired by the Buddhist teachings and wisdom of Venerable Master Hsing Yun. To commemorate and promote the “Belt and Road Initiative” for international cooperation, CANUTE, former president of the International Seven Three Society (the largest society in the world), Mr. Ji Chaozhu, former deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, and other famous international scholars have jointly initiated the Belt and Road International Day. It has received care and support from Mr. BanKi Moon, eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Ms. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO. It is also the first international folk festival originated in Eastern countries and represents the cultural confidence of Eastern countries.
附件：《和平经》全文
Annex: Sutra of Peace
The ancient universe, azure space, the God of Peace is watching everything, the moon shining in the Galaxy, the sun bursting forth brilliant light. Our earth, with its seven continents and four oceans! It is always so auspicious, bearing all things of life, appearing so gorgeous among countless planets. We humans have taken over this planet, but we must not forget that only peace can make this planet long-lived.
Because of the blessing of the God of Peace, everything on earth is booming with vitality. The rivers, shaped like giant dragons, the mountains, being lofty and heroic. Above all, this prosperity has lasted for ten thousand generations. We have to admit that the God of Peace created a magical world. Tracing back to prehistoric times， it is said that our ancestors separated heaven from earth, bestowing grace everywhere, and their children and grandchildren gradually gathered and created many countries; through unification and governance, they eventually flourished in politics, trade and commerce, and other aspects.
In the long course of history, our ancestors opened up the silk road of peace. Now there is an excellent opportunity for development. The vast space of freedom empowers people on the earth to work hard and achieve great things. Today, we ring the bells of peace, pray for the planet, pray for everything on earth, and hope for fewer conflicts among human beings, build deep friendship, and create unity. May the God of Peace bless our planet. May the God of Peace bless mankind. Let’s join hands - jointly create a peaceful future world.
《和平经》经文大意
古老的宇宙，蔚蓝的太空，和平之神在注视着一切，月亮在银河系中闪耀，太阳迸发出灿烂的光芒。我们的地球，拥有七大洲和四大洋！永远是那么吉祥，孕育出万物生命，在无数的星球中显得绚丽多彩。我们人类已经占领了这个星球，但我们不能忘记，只有和平才能使这个星球长寿。
因为和平之神的保佑，地球上的一切都在蓬勃发展。江河，如巨龙奔腾，山川，则巍峨豪迈。最重要的是，这种繁荣已经持续了万代。我们不得不承认，和平之神创造了一个神奇的世界。追溯洪荒远古，传说我们的祖先开启天地，恩泽四方，不断繁衍，子子孙孙渐渐聚集成许多国家；通过统一及治理，最后在政治、贸易、商业等方面都繁荣起来。
漫长的历史进程中，我们的祖先开辟了和平的丝绸之路。现在是一个极好的发展时机。广阔的自由空间使地球上的人们能够努力工作，成就伟业。今天，我们敲响和平的钟声，为地球祈祷，为地球上的一切祈祷，希望人类之间减少冲突，建立深厚的友谊，创造团结局面。愿和平之神保佑我们的星球，愿和平之神保佑人类，让我们携手共创和平的未来。
