Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s2.t20.27

v2.c10.s2.t20.27

Tagore delivered a series of lectures under the aegis of *Jiangxueshe* (Beijing Lecture Association). But debates among the Chinese intellectuals of different schools of thought about relevance of Tagore to Chinese vision of progress and modernity had already started in 1923. During his visit Tagore travelled to Nanjing, Hangzhou, Beijing, Qufu, and included visits to several educational institutions and Buddhist organisations. He delivered many lectures and almost in every lecture he emphasised that he was a poet whose mission was to revive the ancient spiritual relationship between India and China. It was these lectures that were compiled together and published as *Talks in China* in 1925. During his visit, Tagore met many established and emerging writers and artists of his time. Mei Lanfang, the renowned Beijing Opera artist, was one such person with whom Tagore had a very significant meeting. Tagore inscribed one of his poems in original Bengali on a fan for Mei Lanfang as his appreciation of Mei’s outstanding artistic skill.