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From Nanyang to Peiyang,a Malaysian Overseas Student’s China Story

 Global

“Vivacious, amiable yet resolute and firm” is the first impression Low Shiang Yii, a girl who is always ready to show her warm smile, makes.

A Malaysian girl who has been in China for six years, Low is about to graduate this June with a master’s degree in cross-cultural education at Tianjin University’s School of International Education.

Immersed in Chinese Culture

Out of her passion for culture, Low dedicated her college years to intercultural studies. After she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Shanghai Jiaotong University in Southern China, she decided to focus her study on protecting the intangible cultural heritage of both China and Malaysia and applied to study under the tutorship of Professor Ma Zhiyao in Tianjin University who is an expert in Chinese traditional culture as well as a poet. “Prof. Ma has a special way of teaching. He always says that culture study should not be confined to indoor research on documentaries. He takes students out to do field work, to get firsthand information, to see with your own eyes what the intangible cultural heritage is really like, to talk with the craftsman and get a better understanding of why we have to preserve our cultures.” Low explained.

Low Shiang Yii spent most of her summer and winter vacations with her peers doing fieldwork of culture investigation led by Prof. Ma. She still remembers the first research site she visited after she entered Tianjin University, the Imperial Heavenly Queen Temple and an intangible cultural heritage in Tianjin.“We get to know the inheritors, the local dialect, food culture, folk custom, traditional festivals and rituals. All these are very useful information for the oral history of the heritage.” Low Shiang Yii admitted that this kind of field work benefited her research a lot. “We find out that China is so large and diverse that we still need to learn more about it to disclose its beauty.” Their research results have been uploaded to the website of Traditional Villages Digital Museum and contributed to the preservation of Chinese traditional culture.

A Cultural Ambassador between China and Malaysia

As the founder of Tianjin University 24 Festive Drums Troupe, Low Shiang Yii has always been dedicated to promoting the friendship and communication between China and Malaysia.

“Our troupe is the first registered student association founded by international students. Not all of us are Malaysian students. There are members from Cambodia, France and Jordan, etc. The 24 Festive Drums originate from China and has been listed as Malaysia's national intangible cultural heritage. Now we bring it back to China in hopes to promote the cultural understanding between the two countries.” Low said.

In March 2019, Low and her troupe members organized the International Percussion Performance and invited two Malaysian professional Drum troupes—Northern Drum and Frhythm (Rhythmic Feelings & Senses) and the 24 Festive Drum Team of Shanghai Jiao Tong University to perform at Tianjin University.

“This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Malaysia. We thought we could do something to celebrate it. And that’s how the idea of the performance came up.”Low still feels quite excited about the event.

In the past two years, Low also participated in various competitions and performances on behalf of Tianjin University. On the 10th anniversary of the China-ASEAN Education Exchange Week in July 2017, she performed poetry reading and participated in a youth forum which was broadcast live on a global scale. Through these activities,Low Shiang Yii gained a lot, "I met more friends. The opportunities and support provided by school and Professor Ma gave me access to a different world. The broader platform and vision made my life here become more colorful and happy. I feel satisfied and fulfilled with a sense of accomplishment.”

Low Shiang Yii will continue her study at Peking University as a doctoral student after graduation.

By Lian Peipei & Zhao Haodong

Editors: Eva Yin & Doris Harrington