Tianyi Pavilion Museum, Asia's oldest surviving private library, extended its cultural reach to Malaysia on July 18 through an innovative "Reading Classics with Children" program at Kuen Cheng High School,Kuala Lumpur. This pioneering digital initiative enabled real-time cultural exchange across borders as students jointly explored Chinese literary heritage.

Established 450 years ago, the UNESCO-associated Tianyi Pavilion stands not only as a treasury of historical texts but also as a living symbol of Chinese cultural legacy. On the event day, Malaysian teachers and students embarked on a high-definition digital tour through the library's architectural complex. As the camera glided across moon gates and upturned eaves, a cultural interpreter narrated stories embedded within Ming Dynasty structures, prompting exclamations of "This is truly a living museum!" from awestruck students.

Digital Tour of Tianyi Pavilion Museum. (Photo by Tianyige Museum )

The core event featured an interactive recitation class on The Three Character Classic, led by a classics scholar from Ningbo. Beginning with the foundational verse "people at birth are naturally good", the instructor guided participants through textual nuances, culminating in a resonant cloud chorus of student voices echoing across the digital space.

Students engage with Poetry and Books Illuminate Generations. (Photo by Tianyige Museum)

This event also featured a special hands-on workshop: Woodblock Printing. Under teachers' guidance, students mastered traditional techniques – from evenly distributing ink to precise paper alignment and pressure control with palm-fibre brushes. After repeated practice, participants proudly displayed their printed pages, with many expressing newfound fascination for this UNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritage craft.

Students participate in Woodblock Printing. (Photo by Tianyige Museum)

"This experience revealed China's profound historical depth," remarked student Ye, one of the participants. "I'm determined to visit and explore its cultural treasures firsthand."

Ms. Liang, head of the school's Chinese Department, noted: "Tianyi Pavilion has created invaluable bridges for Eastern wisdom. Beyond cultural exchange, this has touched our students' hearts."

Students' group photo. (Photo by Tianyige Museum)

As the fifth stop in Tianyi Pavilion's international digital outreach series, this event marks a strategic expansion of China's cultural soft power. Future programs will connect with more global classrooms, transforming the 450-year-old institution into a dynamic vessel for cross-cultural dialogue.

Source: Yongpai 

Correspondent: Li Chengzi

Reporter: Zhang Xinrui

Editors: Ye Ke, Chen Mingxia (intern)