From April 20 to 22, Laurent Petitgirard, the Perpetual Secretary of the French Académie des Beaux-Arts and a renowned composer, conducted a three-day cultural visit to Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province. As the first artist invited under the "Jiangsu Literary Residency Program," the 76-year-old academician sought to explore the cultural origins of the Chinese classic Journey to the West and was officially appointed as a "City Reading Ambassador" for Lianyungang.
Petitgirard's connection with the legendary tale dates back six decades. At the age of 16, he received a French translation of Journey to the West from his brother, sparking a lifelong fascination with the story. In 2023, after decades of preparation, he premiered his ballet-opera Journey to the West in Paris, fulfilling a creative ambition held since his youth. This visit to Lianyungang marks his first pilgrimage to Mount Huaguo, the recognized birthplace of the story's protagonist, Sun Wukong (the Monkey King).
During his stay, Petitgirard visited key landmarks including Yunv Peak on Mount Huaguo, the "Xiyou" (Journey to the West) Literature Museum, and the Lianyungang Cultural and Arts Center. On Mount Huaguo, he experienced the local landscape and encountered wild macaques, mirroring the vivid descriptions in the original novel. He also engaged with local performing artists, observing a traditional opera performance titled The Great Sage Battles the True Lord. In a gesture of cultural appreciation, Petitgirard participated in a traditional face-painting session, having the iconic "Monkey King" mask applied by local makeup artists.
Reflecting on his experience in Lianyungang, Petitgirard expressed profound admiration for the deep-rooted cultural heritage of the city. He noted that the integration of nature and folklore in Lianyungang provides a unique spiritual atmosphere. He compared the significance of Journey to the West to Dante's Divine Comedy, describing it as an "eternal treasure of humanity" that transcends national borders.
"I have spent sixty years reading Journey to the West, yet I feel I have only grasped one-third of its wisdom," Petitgirard remarked. He emphasized that his visit was not only a search for artistic inspiration but also a tribute to the author, Wu Cheng'en. He stated that the trip allowed his long-held dreams to meet reality, emphasizing that "mutual learning between civilizations" is best achieved through such direct, heartfelt cultural exchanges.
The visit is expected to further the international promotion of Lianyungang's cultural heritage and strengthen artistic ties between China and France. Plans are currently underway for the publication of a bilingual (Chinese-French) book to share this cross-cultural interpretation of the classic legend with a global audience.
