KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Stepping into the Malaysia-China Wangkang Museum in Malacca, Malaysia, visitors are greeted by a towering replica of a "Wangkang" dating back to around 1919. With its intricate patterns, lofty sails, and fluttering banners, the vessel shows vivid cultural vitality.

Wangkang, also known as "Wangchuan" in China, embodies the harmony between man and the ocean and bears witness to the intercultural dialogue among communities.

SHARED HERITAGE ACROSS THE SEAS

The Wangchuan ceremony, a folk practice widely observed in China's Minnan region and coastal areas of Malaysia, is performed to dispel misfortune and pray for peace. It carries centuries of collective memory among local communities, while serving as a cultural link connecting the two countries.

Dating back to between the 15th and 17th centuries, the practice spread from China's Minnan region to Southeast Asia alongside waves of migration and maritime trade. In 2020, the "Wangchuan ceremony, rituals and related practices for maintaining the sustainable connection between man and the ocean," jointly submitted by Malaysia and China, was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, highlighting its global cultural significance.

Officially opened on March 29, the museum presents the development of the Wangchuan tradition in both countries through artifacts, images, and documentary materials. It also displays models of Wangchuan boats and valuable historical records donated by Chinese contributors.

"The Wangchuan ritual represents the nostalgia of Minnan people, a shared cultural memory of the peoples of Malaysia and China, and a vivid example of cultural exchange along the Maritime Silk Road," said Gan Tian Loo, chairman of the Jonker Walk Working Committee in Malacca.

CULTURAL DIALOGUE THROUGH ART

Building on this shared cultural heritage, the 2026 Malacca Minnan Cultural Week was held in Malacca from March 28 to 30, jointly organized by the Xiamen Minnan Culture Research Association, the Xiamen Artists Association, the Jonker Walk Working Committee in Malacca, and the Peranakan Baba Nyonya Association Malaysia.

The event featured a wide range of activities, including artistic creation, heritage preservation, and academic exchange. Among the highlights was the China-Malaysia Inheritance and Transcendence Wangkang Art Exhibition, showcasing works by artists from both countries inspired by the Wangchuan tradition. Previously exhibited in Xiamen, the exhibition's arrival in Malacca offered local audiences a closer look at the artistic charm of this intangible cultural heritage element.

"This exhibition's journey from Xiamen to Malacca is not only an artistic voyage, but also a cultural dialogue," said Zhang Baodong, a retired professor at Jimei University. "Through exchanges with local artists, both sides have deepened mutual understanding."

Zhang added that he hopes this shared cultural heritage will continue to thrive through interaction and resonance, and be passed down from generation to generation.

CONNECTING NEW GENERATIONS

On March 30, the Melaka Minnan Cultures Training Center was officially inaugurated at Malacca Chinese High School, where students also presented a Peranakan dance and a Minnan dialect poetry recital.

Gan noted that the center aims to help younger generations better understand the Minnan history and culture. "The key to cultural inheritance lies in the younger generation. What we pass on is not only dialects, opera, and customs, but also the spirit of perseverance and determination," he said.

He added that the establishment of the Melaka Minnan Cultures Training Center aims to create a platform for exchange and inheritance, bringing together the Minnan language and sentiments, and fostering deeper mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

For his part, Ye Xizhi, president of Xiamen Minnan Culture Research Association, said that over the years, the seeds of cooperation planted by both sides have taken root and flourished.

Ashlyn Lee Yee Jing, a student performer from Malacca Chinese High School, said learning the Minnan dialect has deepened her cultural connection. "It is not just a language, but a culture closely tied to me. I hope to master it and help pass it on," she said.