Chinese language, culture on the upswing in Ukraine (2)

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Chinese language, culture on the upswing in Ukraine (2)

By Alona Liashenko (Xinhua) 08:30, October 11, 2013

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Another lecturer, Lubov Poinar from Kiev National Taras Shevchenko University, said the number of university students studying Chinese has nearly tripled since 2005.

"The rising popularity of Chinese has been noticeable," Poinar said.

The growing influence of Chinese language also makes Ukrainians more familiar with the Chinese culture.

Various cultural activities such as traditional Chinese tea ceremonies, Chinese martial arts festivals, spring festival performances and other events, are often staged in Ukraine.

"The Feng Shui classes and paraphernalia have long been popular in Ukraine. It has become fashionable to decorate homes and offices by the rules of the ancient Chinese study of geomancy," Antonina Hrunskaya, head of the Kiev Chinese interpreters professional club, told Xinhua.

"Many people have pyramids, 'wind chime' with metal tubes, small figurines of cats at home to attract wealth."

The Chinese Lunar New Year traditions are also popular in Ukraine, Hrunskaya said, highlighting that each year more and more Ukrainians buy Chinese zodiac mascots on the eve of the winter holidays.

However, she said, the majority of Ukrainians perceive China through the lens of material culture, but miss the point -- the deep philosophical concept of Chinese traditions.

Kiev and Beijing, Hrunskaya said, should deepen their cultural and people-to-people exchanges to further promote mutual understanding between their peoples.

"Reading will help Ukrainians to better understand Chinese culture. I think, there is a need to translate more Chinese imaginative, art, scientific literature into Ukrainian," she added.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is an integral part of Chinese culture, is also becoming popular in Ukraine.

"People turn to a traditional Chinese doctor for help when they lost faith in Western type of treatment," Hu Yuemei, a PhD in classical Chinese medicine, told Xinhua.

The 47-year-old, who has been practicing in Kiev for 14 years and serves as head of the Kiev-based "Dao" health center, said Ukrainians trust Chinese medicine, because they see results.

"TCM is gaining prominence here through word-of-mouth. Patients, who have been cured by Chinese medicine, recommend it to their friends and relatives," Hu said.

Although the majority of Ukrainians consider TCM as an alternative treatment, they have begun to recognize that such method has much to offer, the doctor said.

"Ukrainians see the advantage of Chinese medicine in its safety and long-lasting effect. Chinese medicine is based on the ancient Chinese philosophy. We treat naturally, with herbs and forces of nature," said the expert.