"I found my surname. The origin of the Chen surname is in Henan."

Standing in front of the "Surname Wall" at the Heluo Culture Exhibition, Chen Wenxiong, Vice Chairman of the Bandung Fuqing Hometown Foundation in Indonesia, told those around him about his connection with Henan.

On September 3, the "One River, One Thousand Miles, One Affection for Southeast Asia" Henan Cultural Tourism Promotion Conference and Heluo Culture Indonesia Exhibition were held in Bandung. The pictorial exhibition on "The Origin of Indonesian Chinese Surnames in Henan" attracted many overseas Chinese like Chen Wenxiong to trace their roots.

Henan is an important birthplace of Chinese surnames. Of the 100 most common surnames in China, more than 70 originated or partially originated in Henan. Historically, the population of the Central Plains migrated south multiple times. Since the Ming and Qing dynasties, large numbers of overseas Chinese ancestors crossed the ocean to Southeast Asia, settling in Indonesia and other regions.

Surnames, language, customs, and memories form an unbroken connection between them and their homeland.

"Many community organizations in Indonesia are based on surnames, and many of these surnames originated in Henan Province." Huang Yinhua, president of the Indonesian Chinese Association, believes that surname culture is a link connecting the Chinese communities in Henan and Indonesia.

The exhibition features over 1,000 exhibits in 128 groups, including the Indonesian "Black Stone" shipwreck, Tang Dynasty blue and white porcelain from Gongxian kiln, Indonesian traditional music gamelan and Jiahu bone flutes, Luoyang tri-color pottery, and Mengjin paper-cutting. It uses pictures, texts, and videos to attract a large number of people to stop and watch and interact with the exhibits.

The Jiahu bone flute was unearthed at the Jiahu site in Wuyang County, Henan Province, and has a history of over 8,000 years. Setiawan, the deputy governor of West Java Province in Indonesia, saw performers playing the Jiahu bone flute and enthusiastically went to try it himself.

He said that the Jiahu bone flute is very similar to the traditional musical instruments of West Java Province. Although the two places are far apart, they have common cultural roots.

The XR film "The Amazing Oracle: The Prince's Glory" also became a popular experience area. Many viewers put on smart wearable devices to immerse themselves in the legendary writing system from over 3,000 years ago.

The event attracted more than 150 representatives from the Indonesian government, businesses, media, and cultural and tourism industry associations.

The promotional event focused on Henan's cultural and tourism resources, including its ancient capital, martial arts, porcelain, and Chinese character culture. It also launched five premium routes tailored for the Indonesian market: "Center of Heaven and Earth," "Kung Fu Central Plains," "Poetic and Picturesque Central Plains," "Craftsmanship of Luoyang," and "The Return of a Hundred Flavors."

From September 1st to 3rd, as part of the Henan cultural tourism promotion conference, flash mobs featuring Heluo culture, intangible cultural heritage performances, and interactive experiences were held in squares, shopping malls, and universities in Jakarta and Bandung, bringing a strong "Heluo breeze" to Java Island.

Wang Siping, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia, stated that the Heluo culture embodies the Chinese wisdom of harmony between humanity and nature, and reflects a national character that values culture and etiquette while embracing openness and inclusiveness. This aligns perfectly with Indonesia's diverse, symbiotic, and friendly archipelago culture. This event, through various means, allowed the Indonesian people to experience firsthand the profound and enduring nature of Chinese civilization. (Source: China News Network)