HKPL to present “Exhibition on Dr. Louis CHA Collection”
The Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) will hold the “Exhibition on Dr. Louis CHA Collection” from tomorrow (May 1) to August 31 to display the book collection of Dr Louis Cha (Jin Yong) at the Rare Book Reading Room on 8/F of the Hong Kong Central Library (HKCL) in remembrance of this master of martial arts novels. Admission is free. The exhibition is one of the programmes of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024 and the Chinese Culture Promotion Series of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD).
Dr Cha’s love for diverse forms of literature was apparent in his works, which showcase a one-of-a-kind writing style. The martial arts novel series created by him are highly popular and their readers are across the globe. His works cover various fields of knowledge, including ancient text, art, astronomy and geography. Through his delicate portrayal of the characters’ emotions and relationships, Dr Cha created a legendary world of martial arts.
In support of the Documents Collection Campaign of the HKPL, Dr Cha’s family generously donated to the HKCL books dearly kept by Dr Cha for years. Books on display at the exhibition will include rare books on the topic of classical Chinese prose and the collected works of a renowned poet in the Qing dynasty. There are also books of Buddhist classics and scriptures, Chinese literary titles published in the 1930s, as well as invaluable books on the board game of go. Through the reading resources of Dr Cha, visitors can gain insights about how Dr Cha conceived his martial arts stories.
In addition, a subject talk on “Multi-dimensional Reading of Jin Yong’s Martial Arts Novels” hosted by Assistant Professor of Hong Kong Chu Hai College and Appointed Researcher of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum Dr Clarence Yau will be held on July 5 at the Lecture Theatre on G/F of the HKCL to explore the martial arts world in Jin Yong’s novels from different perspectives. The talk will be conducted in Cantonese with free admission. For enquiries, please call 2921 0285.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dr Cha. The LCSD is organising programmes that are related to the martial arts novels of Dr Cha, which are “A Path to Glory – Jin Yong’s Centennial Memorial, Sculpted by Ren Zhe” exhibition and “Arts or Action, Why Not Both? Classic Martial Arts Drama Costumes and Props Exhibition”, as well as the “ART!ON POP” Concert to be held in July. A reading corner is also set up in the exhibition gallery of the “A Path to Glory – Jin Yong’s Centennial Memorial, Sculpted by Ren Zhe” at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum for visitors to revisit the fascinating plots in Dr Cha’s novels through enjoying the collections or audiobooks of Dr Cha’s martial arts novels of the HKPL.
Various public libraries will also display and introduce to users the library collection and resources related to martial arts novels. For details, please visit the website of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024 (www.pcf.gov.hk/en/programmes/exhibitionondrlouischacollection).
The LCSD presented the first Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival last year to great acclaim. This year, the second edition features “Arts & Action” as its theme, taking audiences on a journey through time to explore the charm of Hong Kong’s pop culture. It encompasses both “Arts” (creative works) and “Action” (martial arts), an attempt to show the dynamic inheritance, diffusion, integration and breakthroughs within Hong Kong’s pop culture. The event lineup offers a diverse range of formats including thematic exhibitions, film screenings, stage performances and outreach activities, and its rich content spans across literature, various art forms and martial arts, clearly showcasing how Hong Kong’s vibrant and diverse pop culture stands out from the rest. For more information, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk/en.
The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html. read more