China commemorates renowned ancient playwright

A symposium to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of renowned Chinese playwright Tang Xianzu, dubbed the Shakespeare of China, was held in Beijing Wednesday.

Noting that Tang was an icon in Chinese literary and art history, head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Liu Qibao encouraged the passing down of excellent traditional Chinese culture and analyzing Tang's works.

Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, told the symposium that traditional culture should be respected and China's confidence in its culture be strengthened.

He also urged more efforts to promote traditional Chinese culture overseas and through modern means.

Tang was born in Fuzhou in east China's Jiangxi Province. His masterpiece, "The Peony Pavilion," tells of a romance between Du Liniang, a daughter of a local official, and scholar Liu Mengmei, and depicts youthful pursuit of love and freedom. Endi