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WEST MEETS EAST - ANCIENT MEETS MODERN
WEST TRIFFT OST - ANTIKES TRIFFT MODERNES
观古今之通变 - 述中西之精要
Welcome to the IAK Library Blog
A space for reflections, journeys, cultural memory, and living wisdom. Through reading, exploration, dialogue, and sharing, we discover the value of culture, deepen our understanding of traditions, and preserve the cultural memory of our time for future generations.

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The Analects · Chapter 02 · Wei Zheng
The Analects · Chapter 02 · Wei Zheng
On Leadership and Self-Cultivation
What makes a person worthy of leading others? In Wei Zheng, Confucius offers a timeless answer: leadership begins with self-cultivation. True influence is earned through character, integrity, and a lifetime of inner growth.

山水闲人Jane
Jun 15 min read


The Analects · Chapter 01 · Xue Er
The Analects · Chapter 01 · Xue Er
On Learning and Personal Growth
True learning is more than acquiring knowledge. It is the journey of self-cultivation, meaningful friendship, and inner peace. In the opening passage of The Analects, Confucius offers a timeless guide for living a meaningful life.

山水闲人Jane
May 294 min read


Lanting Yaji|Calligraphy, Guqin and the Spirit of Chinese Literati Culture
Inspired by the spirit of the ancient Orchid Pavilion Gathering, the first “Lanting Yaji” Chinese Calligraphy Cultural Event in Switzerland brought together calligraphy, guqin music, Gongfu tea, and Eastern aesthetics at the China Cultural Center in Bern. Through art, music, and cultural exchange, the gathering reflected the timeless elegance of Chinese literati culture and fostered meaningful dialogue between China and Switzerland.

山水闲人Jane
May 263 min read


Tea for Harmony – Yaji Cultural Salon|Qin Studies and Eastern Aesthetics
As part of the International Tea Day cultural celebrations, the “Tea for Harmony – Yaji” gathering in Lucerne brought together tea, guqin music, and Eastern aesthetics in a meaningful intercultural dialogue. Through a lecture on qin studies, performances of Flowing Water and Fisherman Singing at Dusk, and moments of shared exchange, the event reflected the enduring spirit of friendship, cultural understanding, and the timeless resonance of Chinese literati culture across bord

山水闲人Jane
May 264 min read


The Guqin as a Path of Cultivation
The Guqin is not merely an instrument, but a way of self-cultivation.
Its essence lies not in performance or competition, but in harmonizing sound, breath, movement, and the mind. Like Tai Chi, calligraphy, and painting, it belongs to a tradition of inner cultivation — a path toward stillness, clarity, and balance amid the noise of daily life.

山水闲人Jane
May 122 min read


A Public Health Initiative in One of Europe’s Wealthiest Countries
April 22, 2026 Recently, a public lecture on skin cancer and breast cancer prevention was successfully held at the University of Liechtenstein. The initiative was planned and organized by Hanna Fischer, a Young Scholar of IAK Culture Association and a student majoring in Economics and Finance at the University of Liechtenstein, together with her fellow students Amina Islamovic and Elias Strauch. Their efforts reflect the growing engagement of young academics in promoting publ

山水闲人Jane
Apr 232 min read


When Qingming Meets Easter
When Qingming Festival meets Easter, two traditions of remembrance and renewal come together—offering a quiet reflection on life, loss, and continuing forward.

山水闲人Jane
Apr 22 min read


Lantern Festival: When Light Finds Its Way Home
On the Lantern Festival, IAK reflects on light, return, and togetherness — exploring how culture, connection, and shared meaning endure across time.

山水闲人Jane
Mar 32 min read


Lunar New Year Gala in Northern Germany: Culture in Dialogue
On February 8 at Congress Center Hamburg (Saal 3), the IAK Germany Chapter was invited to attend a vibrant Lunar New Year Gala in Northern Germany. Over 20 Chinese associations and more than 300 performers came together to present an evening where tradition met modern expression — from Guzheng and Guqin to classical dance and contemporary performances. The event celebrated cultural richness, community unity, and meaningful exchange between China and Germany.

山水闲人Jane
Feb 142 min read


Riding the Wind · The Flow of the Four Seasons
ISR and IAK once again celebrated the Lunar New Year through music, movement, and shared creation. Guqin met Vivaldi; more than one hundred students brought the Four Seasons to life — riding the wind, growing together.

山水闲人Jane
Feb 135 min read


The 24 Solar Terms · Start of Spring (Lichun)|When Light Turns and Life Gently Moves
Lichun, the Start of Spring, does not arrive with sudden warmth, but through subtle changes in light, time, and natural rhythm. This reflection explores how seasonal transitions can be observed and gently integrated into everyday life.

山水闲人Jane
Feb 43 min read


In the Light of the Winter Solstice
What truly resolves conflict is not greater force,
but a higher level of inclusion.
Eastern wisdom does not offer quick answers.
It unfolds over time, seeking balance rather than victory,
healing rather than suppression.
Like a long-term remedy for civilization,
it does not merely ease pain for the moment,
but works quietly to restore inner order —
within individuals, relationships, and the world we share.

山水闲人Jane
Dec 19, 20253 min read


The 24 Solar Terms · Start of Winter (Lidong)|The Beginning of Winter & The Essence of Nourishment
Start of Winter (Lidong) marks the moment when nature turns inward, storing energy in stillness.
As yang descends and yin gathers, the body, too, enters a phase of preservation.
The Huangdi Neijing teaches:
“Follow the seasons and illness is few; go against them and disorder arises.”

山水闲人Jane
Nov 14, 20253 min read


IAK China Cultural Journey · Fourth Stop: Chongqing
In Chongqing, IAK revisited its educational roots at SISU and explored six vibrant districts — closing the China chapter with reflection and gratitude before returning to the Rhine Valley.
IAK文化之旅第四站重庆,回到四川外国语大学,探访山城六区,在感恩与思索中圆满收官,准备回归莱茵谷居,继续新的文化旅程。

山水闲人Jane
Oct 29, 20252 min read


IAK China Cultural Journey · Third Stop: Beijing
The IAK delegation visited Beijing’s historic landmarks and joined the International Intangible Cultural Heritage Week — curating an exhibition where Swiss and Chinese living traditions intertwined.

山水闲人Jane
Oct 28, 20253 min read


IAK China Cultural Journey · Second Stop: Qingcheng Mountain
IAK’s cultural journey reached Mount Qingcheng — meeting Venerable Zhang Mingxin, receiving her blessing of Qingcheng tea and prayer beads, and visiting Dujiangyan to witness the harmony of Dao.

山水闲人Jane
Oct 28, 20253 min read


IAK China Cultural Journey · First Stop: Chengdu
In October, IAK began its China Cultural Journey in Chengdu — visiting Master Tang Zhongliu, honoring his lifelong devotion to guqin culture, and bridging East and West through music, heritage, and heart.

山水闲人Jane
Oct 27, 20256 min read


IAK Presents Switzerland at Beijing International Intangible Cultural Heritage Week 2025
Exploring the Beauty of Nature and Life through Swiss Heritage 瑞士非遗文化亮相北京国际非遗周,演绎自然与生活之美 第二届北京国际非遗周 · 2025年10月 · 北京 Under the dome of the Beijing Grand Canal Museum, the sound of Swiss cowbells resonated with the alpine breeze, bringing a cross-civilizational dialogue between mountains and cultures. 在北京大运河博物馆的穹顶下,瑞士传统牛铃的悠扬回响与阿尔卑斯山的清新气息交织,带来一场跨越山海的文明对话。 From October 17–21, 2025, the Beijing International Intangible Cultural Heritage Week was held in Beijing’s sub-center under

山水闲人Jane
Oct 25, 20255 min read


Resonance of Health and Happiness — The 4th IAK Life Science Forum & Moon Festival Concluded with Success
Under the full moon at Lake Walensee, the 4th IAK Life Science Forum and Moon Festival 2025 celebrated the harmony of East and West. The event featured the launch of the IAK Academy and Young Scholar Program, multisensory healing, and cultural dialogues uniting wisdom, science, and the human spirit.

山水闲人Jane
Oct 7, 20256 min read


IAK Resonates with Qin and Calligraphy, Wishing for World Peace
On September 21, 2025, Bern’s Waisenhausplatz hosted the “Hello, China” Culture and Tourism Promotion. The IAK delegation enriched the stage with Guqin and calligraphy, harmonizing with diverse artistic performances, and conveyed a heartfelt wish for world peace before the Mid-Autumn Festival.

山水闲人Jane
Sep 22, 20255 min read
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