乡贤文化的摆渡人

文/ 刘金平 陈荣力

中国稀土之父、中科院院士徐光宪到绍兴上虞乡贤研究会考察。（资料照片）Xu Guangxian (left), academician of the Chinese Academy of Science and known as the “Father of China’s Rare Earths”,once visited the Shangyu Xiangxian Association. File photo.

乡贤文化是中华优秀传统文化的组成部分，乡贤文化是扎根于中国家乡的母土文化。在漫长的中国历史进程中，乡贤文化在社会文明进程中发挥着重要作用。

在绍兴市上虞区，乡贤文化已成为文化金名片，每年吸引着全国各地100多个单位、团体、组织前来学习取经。“上虞乡贤研究会成立21年，在推动上虞发展、文化传承、和谐社会建设和海内外游子的联络联谊上，发挥了非常重要的助推作用，这离不开陈秋强会长的辛勤耕耘。”前不久，中国驻柬埔寨王国特命全权大使王文天和夫人顾小军专程前往上虞乡贤馆参观，并亲手植下一棵乡贤树，寄托海外游子的赤子情怀和对家乡的美好期盼。

21年来，上虞乡贤研究会在陈秋强的辛勤付出和不懈努力下，推动上虞乡贤文化走出国门、走向世界，搭建起海内外上虞游子思乡之桥，吸引着越来越多的虞籍乡贤和海外游子关注家乡、回报家乡。

致敬乡贤，他搭起了沟通热线

2020年11月7日，纪念“中国稀土之父”徐光宪院士诞辰100周年活动在浙江省绍兴市上虞区汤浦镇徐光宪故居隆重举行。上虞以家乡之名致敬科学大家，深切缅怀这位国家最高科学技术奖获得者、中国科学院院士、著名化学家。

上虞乡贤文化广场。The Xiangxian Culture Square in Shangyu district, Shaoxing city.

活动仪式上，徐光宪的女儿徐放激动地说，在父亲老家参加他百年诞辰系列活动，充满了浓浓的乡情和落叶归根之意，也充分体现了家乡人民对父亲所作贡献的敬意。相信父亲求实创新的科教作风、宽以待人的高尚风格、情系桑梓的品德风范，一定能在故乡的土地上生根开花，发扬光大。

这是常年旅居美国的徐放第二次踏上故乡的土地。第一次还是在2009年，那一年父亲徐光宪90岁，因为陈秋强牵头为她的祖父母整修了墓地，她与父亲一起来家乡上虞汤浦镇祭祀。祭祀现场，徐光宪语重心长地对徐放说：“上虞对我们有恩，今后你们有机会要为家乡多出力。”父亲的话扎根在徐放的心中，从此家乡上虞成了她灵魂深处的牵挂。

2020年是徐光宪诞辰100周年，上虞区计划修缮徐光宪故居，并举办隆重的纪念活动，希望陈秋强能与徐光宪后裔联系参加活动并落实徐老生前部分实物的捐赠。虽然平时与徐氏后裔联系不多，但徐老当初对女儿的一番肺腑之言让陈秋强心里有了底气。几经辗转，他联系上了徐放。面对来自家乡的邀约，徐放毫不犹豫，一口答应。

当时疫情形势严峻，回国十分不便，但徐放态度十分坚决，自己一定赶回来参加纪念活动。同时她告诉陈秋强，父亲在国内有几个很好的弟子，她会出面邀请他们参加；父亲生前的部分物品存放在绍兴，她也会主动联系转赠给汤浦徐光宪故居。

徐光宪故居的修缮和纪念活动筹备工作开始后，陈秋强又积极投入其中，多次参与修缮方案的策划、相关人士的拜访、物品捐赠的接洽，尤其是与徐放多次沟通联系，搭起了一条主办方和徐光宪后裔之间的热线。

纪念活动那天，徐放来了；徐光宪的弟子—中国科学院院士、兰州大学校长严纯华，中国科学院院士、华南理工大学校长高松等都来了。民盟中央、北京大学、上海交大、同济大学等有关领导及专家学者、徐光宪生前好友和学生代表共同出席纪念活动。活动极大提升了上虞的美誉度，也成为上虞乡贤文化进一步创新发展的一个标志。

离开上虞前，徐放饱含深情地为上虞乡贤研究会写下感言：“我的父亲让我认识了家乡上虞，我倍受感动，我想我有必要让我的孩子也了解这一片故土，并且有一天能带他踏上这片有着丰富文化底蕴的故乡。”

侨胞之家，他接续上乡贤之根

虽已耄耋之年，但陈秋强精气神极佳。说起他与泰国虞籍乡贤钱湘麟的交往，更是兴致所至，滔滔不绝。

2017年11月，一次偶然的机会，陈秋强获悉泰国商界一位很有影响力的人物—泰国江浙沪总商会主席、泰国著名侨领钱湘麟是上虞人，他立即与泰国有关人士联系，发现除了钱湘麟外，还有不少虞籍乡贤在泰国发展。于是，一个“走近泰国虞籍乡贤”的活动在他心中萌动。

一周后，陈秋强率上虞乡贤研究会和当地媒体组成的采访团来到泰国首都曼谷。次日，在钱湘麟住处,对他进行了专题采访。

钱湘麟在泰国创业30余年，乡音未改，对祖国、对家乡的感情十分深厚。正是凭着这份感情，他参加了泰国江浙会馆并担任理事长，并牵头组建了泰国江浙沪总商会，与中国各级政府、侨办、外经办广泛联系，搭建桥梁和平台，促进泰中经济贸易发展。

陈秋强向钱湘麟介绍家乡上虞的发展变化，引发了他对家乡的关切和思念，分别时，他写下“我的根在上虞”的题词。

2018年6月，钱湘麟率泰国江浙沪总商会代表专程来上虞考察。走在家乡的土地上，听着熟稔的乡音，吃着家乡的菜肴，离别家乡30多年的游子，一圆甜甜的乡愁梦。

后来，钱湘麟又一次来到家乡，在丰惠钱家大院的祖宅，他探望了久别重逢的亲戚和邻居，听说钱氏要续修家谱，立刻拿出5万元资助。如今，钱湘麟和他的泰国江浙沪总商会与上虞保持着密切的联系，他深情地表示：“如果有机会，定会尽己所能，为家乡经济社会发展贡献绵薄之力。”

在探访上虞乡贤研究会时，钱湘麟一行特地送上一面锦旗：“侨胞之家 乡贤之根。”这也是对陈秋强这位乡贤文化摆渡人的衷心褒奖。

中日交流，他化身文化使者

2017年3月28日，在梁祝文化发源地—浙江上虞区丰惠镇祝家庄村的祝府古戏台上，日文版话剧《梁祝》中梁山伯和祝英台的扮演者和上虞两位越剧爱好者共同演绎《梁祝》选段。虽然语言不通，但身着中国古戏服、专业而投入的日本演员的精彩表演，赢得景区游客的阵阵掌声。

中国著名导演谢晋为上虞乡贤研究会题词。An inscription left by Xie Jin (1923-2008), one of China’s most celebrated directors.

“这是我第4次来‘英台故里’上虞。”年至古稀的日本梁祝文化专家、学者渡边明次携日文版话剧《梁祝》编剧古野浩昭和剧中主演等在上虞进行梁祝文化交流活动。

渡边明次被誉为日本寻访“梁祝”第一人。他与上虞的交集也始于“梁祝”，而对“梁祝”文化的痴迷，让他与国家级非遗“梁祝传说”代表性传承人陈秋强相知结缘，并有着很深的交往。

上虞是梁祝传说中祝英台的故里，抢救挖掘梁祝文化遗产，一直是陈秋强领衔的上虞乡贤研究会关注的重点。2005年前后，不少地方出现了争夺“梁祝故里”的现象，而此时的祝氏祖堂因年久失修，濒临倒塌。研究会提出抢救性修复的建议，并自筹资金15万元进行“修旧如旧”，修复了祝氏祖堂。“中国英台之乡”花落上虞，其中上虞乡贤研究会发挥了独特的作用。

据中国梁祝文化研究会会长周静书介绍，陈秋强第一次见到日本梁祝研究所所长渡边明次时，说起“梁祝”故事，大有相见恨晚之感。

因被凄美的《梁山伯与祝英台》所感动，渡边明次踏上了漫长的寻访之路，足迹踏遍中国10多个省，走访了中国17处梁祝传说遗存地，最后，认定梁祝故事发生在祝英台的故乡上虞最符合逻辑，于是专程来虞考察。玉水河、井孔洞、药师寺、祝氏祖堂……渡边明次的兴奋之情溢于言表。在祝氏祖堂前，他与陈秋强互赠了梁祝研究资料。

不久，渡边明次又一次踏上英台之乡的土地。他兴奋地告诉陈秋强，自己的《梁祝故事三部曲》催生了一项新的文化活动，原共同新闻社记者古野浩昭在看过他翻译的小说《梁祝》后，决定把它改编成日语版话剧搬上舞台。

两年后，渡边明次寄来邀请函，邀请陈秋强赴日本观看《梁祝》话剧。2010年新春，又寄来日本版七幕话剧《梁祝》剧本、演出DVD等。他说：“我一直被上虞丰富的历史文化积淀所打动，我还会再次探访上虞，将上虞这块诞生过梁祝美好传说的遗存地推介到日本。”

2018年4月，渡边明次借着去江苏宜兴参加文化活动之机，特地送来一幅书法条幅，上面写着 ：“赠送陈秋强先生，中日文化使者”，落款是日本梁祝文化研究所。

梁祝不仅仅是一个爱情故事，还蕴含着深刻的中国传统文化基因，两位因梁祝而结缘的中日老人，以实际行动浇灌着梁祝文化这朵美丽的奇葩，推动着梁祝文化的传承、交流和创新。而在这样的传承、交流和创新中，我们分明看到陈秋强这位文化使者的动人剪影。

2020年，陈秋强被评为浙江省社会组织领军人物；2021年，他又荣获“最美浙江人· 最美乡贤”称号。作为乡贤文化的摆渡人，陈秋强一直在路上。

Ferryman of the Xiangxian Culture

By Liu Jinping Chen Rongli

In Shangyu district, Shaoxing city, the local(which translates as “rural virtuous ones”, referring to those whose morality and talents are respected by local villagers) culture has become one of its “golden card”, attracting more than 100 units,groups and organizations from all over the country every year to learn from Shangyu’s experience.

Over the past 21 years, because of the hard work and unremitting efforts of Chen Qiuqiang, the Shangyu Xiangxian Association has brought its ruralculture out of China and into the world, building a bridge for Shangyu villagers at home and abroad, and encouraging more people of Shangyu origin living across the whole world to care about and give back to their hometown.

On November 7, 2020, the commemoration for the 100th anniversary of the birth of Xu Guangxian (1920-2015),academician of the Chinese Academy of Science and known as the“Father of China’s Rare Earths”, was held at his former residence in Tangpu township, Shangyu district. In the name of his hometown,Shangyu paid tribute to the great scientist and remembered the winner of the highest national science and technology award.

At the ceremony, Xu Fang, the daughter of Xu Guangxian,said emotionally that participating in the events celebrating her father’s centennial birthday in her father’s hometown is so meaningful. Not only did she felt a strong sense of homecoming,she was also impressed with the deepest respect of local folks for her father’s contribution.

It was in early 2020 that the Shangyu government planned to renovate Xu’s former residence and hold grand commemorative activities for the 100th anniversary of his birth. Therefore, officials asked Chen Qiuqiang to invite Xu’s descendants to participate in the activities and to make some legacy donations as well. Chen then reached out to Xu Fang, who agreed to help without hesitation. The events turned out to be quite a success, which has greatly enhanced the reputation of Shangyu and become a symbol of further innovation and development of the local ruralculture.

陈秋强向访问乡贤馆的浙江大学实践团介绍乡贤事迹。Chen Qiuqiang (left) introduces the stories of Shangyu xiangxian to students from Zhejiang University.

Before leaving Shangyu, Xu Fang, who had long settled in the US, wrote an affectionate message for the Shangyu Xiangxian Association: “My father told me about my hometown Shangyu,and I was so touched that I thought it was necessary for me to let my children know about this land, and one day to take them to return to this land of such rich cultural heritage.”

Although Chen Qiuqiang is not a young man any more, he is quite energetic. When talking about his interaction with Qian Xianglin, of Shangyu origin living in Thailand, he was extremely excited and simply could not stop talking.

In November 2017, Chen learned by chance that a very influential businessman in the Thailand — Qian Xianglin, the chairman of the Thailand General Chamber of Commerce of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai, and also an overseas Chinese influencer in Thailand, is a Shangyu native. Chen immediately contacted relevant people there and found out that there were many others of Shangyu origin making a living in Thailand.Hence, “getting closer to Thailand-based Chinese of Shangyu origin” was born in his mind.

A week later, Chen brought to Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, an interview group consisting of people from his association and local media. The next day, they interviewed Qian Xianglin at his home.

Qian has been in Thailand for more than 30 years, but his native accent has not changed, and he has a deep love for his country and hometown. It is with this love that he joined theThailand General Chamber of Commerce of Jiangsu and Zhejiang as the chairman, and took the lead in establishing the chamber in thefirst place. The chamber has extensive connections with Chinese governments at all levels, overseas Chinese offices and foreign economic offices, serving as bridges and platforms to promote the economic and trade development for Thailand and China.

Chen introduced the development and changes of Shangyu to Qian, which aroused Qian’s nostalgia for his hometown. When they parted, Qian wrote an inscription saying “My roots are in Shangyu”.

In June 2018, Qian led representatives of the chamber and came back to Shangyu. Later, Qian came back to his hometown once again and visited his relatives and neighbors at the ancestral home of the Qian family in Fenghui township, and when he heard that the Qian family was going to renew its genealogy, he immediately gave 50,000 yuan ($7,160) to fund the project. Today,Qian and his General Chamber of Commerce maintain a close relationship with Shangyu. He said, “If I have the opportunity, I will definitely do my best to contribute to the economic and social development of my hometown.”

On March 28, 2017, on the ancient stage of Zhujiazhuang village in Shangyu, the birthplace of the Liang-Zhu culture, there were actors playing an excerpt from the Japanese version of() with two local Yueju opera lovers. Despite the language barrier, the committed and professional Japanese actors dressed in ancient Chinese opera costumes put on a wonderful performance that won bursts of applause from audiences.

“This is the fourth time that I have come to Shangyu, the‘hometown of Yingtai’,” said Akitsugu Watanabe, a Japanese expert and scholar of the Liang-Zhu culture. This seventy-year-old artist was in Shangyu for the Liang-Zhu-themed cultural exchange activities with the scriptwriter of the Japanese version of, Hiroaki Furuno, and the actors.

Akitsugu Watanabe is known as thefirst person in Japan to look for the Liang-Zhu culture. His relationship with Shangyu began with Liang-Zhu, and his obsession with the culture of Liang-Zhu also led him to get to know Chen Qiuqiang, the national intangible heritage inheritor of the “Liang-Zhu legend”.The two later developed a close bond.

Moved by the melancholy and beautiful love story between Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, Watanabe embarked on a broadfield research, covering more than 10 provinces and 17 places in China where the legacy of the legend of Liang-Zhu still exerts some influence.

Soon, Watanabe set foot once again in Shangyu. He told Chen excitedly that his “Trilogy of Liang-Zhu Stories” had inspired a new cultural activity. After reading Watanabe’s translation of the novel on Liang-Zhu, a former Kyodo News reporter named Hiroaki Furuno had decided to adapt it into a Japanese play and bring it onto the stage.

Two years later, Watanabe sent a letter inviting Chen to Japan to watch the play. During the New Year holiday of 2010, Watanabe sent to Chen the script and DVD of the seven-act Japanese play. He said, “I have always been impressed by the rich historical and cultural treasure of Shangyu, and I will visit Shangyu again to introduce to Japan this place where the beautiful legend of Liang-Zhu was born.”

In April, 2018, Watanabe sent to Chen a calligraphy banner with the inscription “Presented to Mr. Chen Qiuqiang, cultural ambassador between China and Japan”, signed by the Japan Liang-Zhu Culture Research Institute.

In 2020, Chen was awarded as a leading figure of social organizations in Zhejiang; in 2021, he was awarded the title of“Most Beautiful Zhejiang People — Most Beautiful Villager”. As a ferryman of ruralculture, Chen has always been on the way.