Commentary: Cultural Ties Hard to Sever, Frequent Cross-Strait Visits Encouraged

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, April 01, 2002

Commentary: Cultural Ties Hard to Sever, Frequent Cross-Strait Visits Encouraged

Sakyamuni's fingerbone relic which had been enshrined in Taiwan, a treasured island of the motherland, for more than one month, returned to Famen Temple in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province on March 31. The Buddhist finger relic, when it was enshrined in Taiwan, had been worshipped by more than 3 million Buddhist believers in the Island, presenting a really moving scene.

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Buddha Relic Returns to Mainland After Being on Display in Taiwan

Sakyamuni's fingerbone relic which had been enshrined in Taiwan, a treasured island of the motherland, for more than one month, returned to Famen Temple in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province on March 31.

The Buddhist finger relic, when it was enshrined in Taiwan, had been worshipped by more than 3 million Buddhist believers in the Island, presenting a really moving scene.

Significance of the event goes beyond religion itself

The significance and influence of this grand event of the cross-Strait Buddhist circle have gone beyond religion itself.

Through devout religious beliefs, people can clearly feel the cohesion, affinity and appeal unique to Chinese culture, the activity itself makes it clear to the people that at the present stage there is the need for more exchanges and contacts between people across the Straits; exchange can increase understanding, exchange can realize sharing, and exchange and contact can even enhance intimacy.

The Buddhist saying goes, "Cause and effect are the rule". Precisely because of the cause of the broad and profound Chinese culture that there is the effect of worshipping the Buddhist finger relic together by people across the Straits today.

The spectacular event, that created a "sensation in the whole of Taiwan Island" by the Buddhist finger relic enshrined in Taiwan, also once took place when the terracotta soldiers and horses of the Qin Dynasty were displayed in Taiwan and made an exhibition tour of Meizhou and Mazu.

Culture inherent ties can hardly be cut off despite temporary separation

These facts indicate that although the two sides are currently still in a state of temporary separation and there are still some man-made obstacles, the inherent ties forged by the common history, culture, sentiment and moral concept of the compatriots across the Straits can hardly be cut off. Thus, due to the fact that cross-Strait culture has inherent demand and driving force, cross-Strait cultural exchange can break through various kinds of fences and can thus develop vigorously, new common languages have been increased and created without let-up.

At the time of the return of the Buddhist finger relic, Taiwan's Sina Lions Basketball Team was on an expedition on the mainland's Class A men's basketball playground, and the "We Perform Comic Dialogs on the Millenium Night", a play written by Taiwan's director Lai Sheng-chuan, was also being staged in Beijing; when the song, "Power Train" by Taiwan's resident singer, was repeatedly requested by the audiences in Beijing, many Taiwanese families were entirely fascinated by the "Gate of a Big House" and other mainland TV plays; after two Taiwan banks were permitted to set up representative offices on the mainland, some Shanghai citizens had been planning to have a personal experience of Taiwan's "good service" in years ahead.

In their exchanges and contacts, people across the Straits are telling each other their own new experiences and new creations, and sharing common new lives and new achievements.

Cross-straits exchanges advancing with times

In the new century, the new "win-win" terms are circulating on both sides of the Straits. It reflects the fact that cross-Strait people-to-people exchanges are advancing with the times and have entered a new stage that can bring tremendous benefits to the people across the Straits.

Currently, cross-Strait exchanges and contacts are being carried out in an all-round way from culture to economy, cross-Strait industrial and business circles are hand-in-hand facing the international market, on the basis of ties by blood, ancestor and culture, the Chinese across the Straits are jointly facing the new challenge brought about by the new economy and are creating a "win-win" future through exchange and cooperation.

It is worth noting that the harmonious atmosphere generated by cross-Strait people-to-people exchanges is also affecting the Taiwan society.

Significance of the event

The Buddhist finger relic enshrined in Taiwan this time has not only enhanced understanding between the people across the Straits, but has also promoted an unprecedented unity among the four major factions, nine major sects and five major organizations of the Taiwan Buddhist circle, the worshippers made no distinctions between provinces and between parties or groupings.

The general public do not want to see that the Taiwan society is torn apart by a handful of diehard "Taiwan independence" elements. Defying any obstruction, they enthusiastically pitch themselves into cross-Strait people-to-people exchanges. Here, it is not difficult for us to see the direction of popular feeling in the Taiwan society.

The general public of Taiwan hope for more cross-Strait exchanges, the mainlanders wish more contacts between the two sides of the Straits. This is what is meant by the fact that the will of the people must not be defied, disobeyed and violated.

Just as what Master Sheng Hui, who escorted the Buddhist finger relic to Taiwan this time, has said that it is really the "special victory of cause and immeasurable charitable and pious deeds that have made it possible for the Buddhist finger relic to be enshrined in Taiwan and promote cross-Strait people-to-people exchanges.

By People's Daily Online

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