By JIN TIELIN

General Director Li Dongge at work.

THE large-scale TV program, "Gems of the Country," has had several airings on prime time CCTV, and has been warmly received each time, winning the unanimous praise of viewers. The program actively promotes Chinese national culture, boosting national morale, and bringing the splendid culture of China to the world.

The initiator, chief planner and chief director of this program is Li Dongge, a graduate of the Xi'an University of Electronic Science and Technology, and software professor at Zhengzhou University. Director Li was born into a family of senior intellectuals. He received a good education in culture and art, and is profoundly and emotionally involved in traditional Chinese culture. In 1993, Li Dongge proposed, planned and participated in the directing of the TV program "Ancient Chinese Stringed Musical Instruments." It was shown several times on CCTV, and won the CCTV Cup, and the Ministry of Radio, Film and Television Starlight Award. In directing the TV program "Gems of the Country," Li Dongge made innovations, added content, and attained a new height in artistic conception and execution.

"Long Live the Motherland," by Liu Xiaocen, a professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

"Gems of the Country" has three characteristics. First, it combines ideological content with artistic appeal, informativeness, and visuality, reflecting the full scope of TV creativity. Second, the program examines traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy, poetry, literature, traditional music, singing, dance and drama, presenting the gems of traditional Chinese culture and revealing their interaction. Third, dozens of famous artists, including Yao Xueyin, Li Huanzhi, Qin Lingyun, Qiao Yu, Liu Boshu, Li Duo, Liu Wenjin, Cheng Shifa, Liu Dawei, Liang Hongtao, Gao Made, Wang Yingchun, Zhao Yu and Hua Tuo, have created works of art for the program. These characteristics represent a precedent in Chinese TV, and constitute the main reason why this television program has been so successful.

"The Great Wall," by Zhao Yu, Grade One artist at the Shanghai Studio of Traditional Chinese Painting.

A number of large-scale TV programs directed by Li Dongge have been greatly acclaimed for their innovation, elegant style, rich content, and weight. Many of the media, such as the People's Daily, Xinhua Daily Telegraph, the People's Daily overseas edition, Outlook magazine, China magazine, People's Pictorial, Chinese Celebrities, China TV News, and China Picture News, have reported positively on them. Experts on the China Television Art Committee held a meeting entitled "Seminar on Li Dongge's Directing of Television Programs" at which there was animated discussion. Experts endorsed the artistic concept and content of Li's TV directing in glowing terms. Many television viewers wrote letters of encouragement, saying they hoped to see more excellent programs of the ilk directed by him. Yao Xueyin, a famous writer, wrote an inscription for him, expressing his hope that through Director Li Dongge's hard work, resonance among various art forms might be achieved.

"Herdswoman on Tibetan Grassland," by Yang Lizhou, vice-president of the Chinese Artists' Association and president of China National Art Gallery.

Preparatory work for another large-scale TV program, "Chinese Gems," has been completed and shooting will soon begin. CCTV and Henan TV are to join hands in making the program, and Li Dongge is chief planner and chief director. The aim is to carry forward national culture, disseminate patriotism, and arouse national pride, dignity and confidence, all of which will play their due roles in international cultural exchanges.

The splendid Chinese culture is the pride of every Chinese citizen. In this era exquisite works of art are needed, and called for by the people. We hope that Director Li Dongge will continue to direct television programs of the same high caliber.

JIN TIELIN is a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, president of the China Conservatory of Music, and vice-chairman of the Chinese Musicians' Association.