Washington D.C., USA— On the evening of Saturday, August 2, 2025, the Great Hall of the Library of Congress became a meeting place for art, reverence, and quiet diplomacy. The occasion, the opening of Arts, Culture, Connection: The Shanghai Longhua Temple Exhibition, drew an audience of diplomats, art enthusiasts, scholars, and cultural leaders to witness a dialogue between civilizations told through poetry, calligraphy, and shared experience.
The exhibition launched an international cultural exchange featuring a Chinese delegation led by Master Zhao Cheng, Abbot of the Longhua Temple, one of Shanghai’s oldest and most storied Buddhist temples. In partnership with the Chinese American Museum in Washington, D.C., the exhibition opened not only with visual grace but with a program that offered more than protocol; it extended gestures of friendship.
Philip Qiu, Founder and Chairman of the Chinese American Museum, began the evening with remarks that set the tone. “It is both an honor and a privilege for our museum to host this cultural exhibition here at the Library of Congress, a revered institution that stands as a beacon of human scholarship, literature, knowledge, creativity, and wisdom,” he said. He acknowledged the arrival of Master Zhao Cheng as well as the presence of Dr. Henry Lee, a globally known forensic scientist. “Tonight, we are proud to present a stunning showcase of calligraphy and art, a collaborative masterpiece by Shanghai Longhua Temple and a group of renowned Chinese artists.”
The Abbot’s words, translated from Mandarin, reached toward a quieter truth: “Chinese calligraphy uses Chinese characters as a medium to convey aesthetic implications, artistic tension, and philosophical intent. It does this through changes in the thickness of ink.” The exhibition, he noted, brought together works by calligraphers from across China and Shanghai. Many pieces featured Tang-era poetry and Zen meditations from ancient dynasties. “Each piece presents a unique perspective, and together they explore the philosophy of life.”
Washington Arts leader and longtime Cultural Envoy Jan Du Plain followed the Abbot, bringing humor and personal recollection to her remarks. “Isn’t it great to be here in this Library of Congress?” she asked with her usual warmth. “One of the great iconic buildings in Washington D.C., and it is the largest library in the world…Tonight, we celebrate Chinese culture, Buddhist history, a spectacular vegetarian banquet, and an art exhibit from the temple never before seen in the United States,” she added.
Jan reminded the audience that real connection rests in people, not policy. “We need heart to heart, culture to culture.” She also surprised the audience by presenting a framed photograph of her father, one of the first U.S. journalists to travel to China after Nixon’s 1972 visit, to Philip Qiu, asking that it remain in the museum. The Abbot responded with a calligraphy painting for her, creating an exchange both formal and deeply human.
With the formalities complete, the guests gathered for a group photo. Many stayed behind afterward to view the works more closely, to meet the artists, or to share food and conversation. The atmosphere remained unhurried, genuine, and filled with discovery.
For more photos from the event click: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCpub4
Several guests offered reflections to Diplomatic Watch. Raymone Bain, a veteran media strategist, praised the museum’s vision. “Washington, D.C. has traditionally been known as the capital of politics around the world. But now, we’re also known as the capital of creatives, for music, sports, and entertainment,” she said. “I would like to applaud the Chinese American Museum for continuing to be innovative and for promoting diversity in culture and art.”
Terry Lierman, former Chairman of the Maryland Democratic Party, spoke frankly. “The relationship between China and the United States, let’s be candid, is quite difficult right now. And I think it’s things like this that make it so much more possible to understand each other.” He took time to appreciate the works. “Any of the calligraphy is like a work of art as far as I’m concerned… I’m lucky to have a Chinese friend with me who reads it to me, what it is and how to read it.”
Anthony Andrews, International Business Manager of the D.C. Mayor’s Office, offered a short message. “The presence of this museum is so very important to help bring and bridge these cultures together.”
Aaron Myers, Executive Director of the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, reflected on a deeper current. “Today was, what I would probably imagine, something some would say was filled with love and camaraderie,” he said. “Peace can bring people together, and so this is something I’m proud to support, and we as a city stand behind.”
Jan Du Plain, speaking in a brief post-event interview, closed the loop. “There’s nothing more important for all of us than to have soft power…, which is cultural diplomacy… cuisine, fashion, art, music, you name it. That’s how people connect.”
The evening’s success rested not only on the refinement of the works on display but on the nature of the gestures exchanged throughout. What unfolded at the Library of Congress was neither an overt performance nor a show of strength. It was a quiet offering: ink, memory, poetry, friendship, given freely, and received with care.
