On October 16th, an engaging lecture titled “Writing Online Literature and the Inheritance of Traditional Culture Under AI Challenges” was held at the Tongxin Forum in Hangzhou, organized by the United Front Work Department of Hangzhou. The speaker, Zhang Fengxiang, a member of the Zhejiang Provincial Political Consultative Conference, vice president of the Provincial Writers Association, and vice president of the Hangzhou Federation of New Social Class People, captivated an audience of over a hundred attendees.
Zhang, well-known as the author of the popular fantasy series “Xianjian Qixia Zhuan,” delivered his talk in a lively and visually-rich manner, peppering it with numerous examples. He discussed the distinctive features of online literature, focusing on elements such as narrative style, research techniques, and character creation. A key point of his presentation was the “mutual engagement” between online literature and China’s excellent traditional culture.
“Classical online literature serves as an ideal vessel for traditional culture,” Zhang stated, referencing his novel “Xianzhang Ye Fengkuang,” which he completed last year. He emphasized how the novel deeply integrates Song Dynasty culture, reflecting various aspects like urban life and food traditions of the period. “Throughout the writing process, I discovered that there’s still a wealth of content in traditional Chinese culture waiting to be explored by creators.”
In the context of the technological wave represented by AI, Zhang demonstrated how artificial intelligence can enhance the creative process by co-generating text, images, and music, providing the audience with an immersive, multi-dimensional creative experience.
“AI technology has brought revolutionary changes to the creation, editing, and promotion of online literature,” he asserted. While he recognized that the emotional depth, thoughts, and experiences of creators are irreplaceable, he argued that AI can optimize content, improve efficiency, and cultivate a heightened awareness of quality among authors. This could result in a larger body of outstanding online literature infused with traditional cultural elements, effectively supplementing educational initiatives in schools.
The Tongxin Forum is designed to “promote United Front culture, strengthen ideological guidance, and broadly consolidate consensus,” aiming to create a comprehensive and multi-layered learning exchange system for its members. It also seeks to serve as a new platform for ideological and political leadership, contributing wisdom and strength to Hangzhou’s goal of becoming a demonstration area for common prosperity and a model for Chinese-style modernization.
According to officials from the United Front Work Department, the online Tongxin Forum utilizes live-streaming and micro-audio-visual channels to overcome geographic limitations and promote resource sharing. Offline, activities such as the “Three Good Think Tanks” roundtable discussions and the Hangzhou Traditional Culture Forum provide platforms for deeper exploration and consensus-building among members of the United Front.
This event was hosted by the Hangzhou Municipal Committee of the United Front Work Department, with support from the Xiaoshan District and Qiantang District United Front Work Departments.
