Meeting of the Youth Club of Oriental Cultures

29.12.2025

Winter is not only a season of cold and silence, but also a time when legends, rituals, and images that have been shaped over centuries in different cultures come to life.

This theme was the focus of the meeting of the Youth Club of Oriental Cultures, held at the Faculty of Social and Humanitarian Sciences of Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University on December 26.

Sofiia Nedohybenko introduced participants to the enchanting world of Japanese winter spirits. She spoke about Yuki-onna, the mysterious woman of snow who appears in blizzards; Yukinbu, known as the “snow grandmother”; Yuki-jiji, the “snow grandfather”; and Yuki-warashi, snow children symbolizing innocence and, at the same time, the unpredictability of the winter elements.

Valeriia Marchenko drew attention to winter rituals and symbols reflected in Japanese art. She described the images of spirits of frozen souls, demons of the night, and phantoms of abandoned roads, which have become part of cultural imagination and artistic tradition.

Associate Professor Yuliia Malakhova presented the history of paired inscriptions in China, explaining their symbolic meaning and recounting the legend of two brothers who defeated a demon. This legend laid the foundation for the tradition of adorning homes with inscriptions that bring happiness and protection.

Lecturer Maryna Bielik spoke about Chinese winter traditions, in particular the festival 冬至 (Dongzhi) — the Winter Solstice, and 九九小寒图, a calendrical custom depicting the gradual retreat of cold. She also introduced participants to traditional Chinese winter dishes that symbolize warmth and family unity.

Associate Professor Daria Perepadia presented the myth of 玄冥 (Xuan Ming), a deity in the ancient Chinese mythological pantheon. Together with club members and guests, she discussed the image of Xuan Ming and his metaphorical significance in Chinese culture and literature.

The meeting of the club became a true celebration of knowledge and research. In dialogue, we felt how rich and diverse the world of the East truly is.

We warmly greet our university community on the occasion of the forthcoming New Year and Christmas holidays! May this festive season bring peace and harmony, inspiration and creative achievements, warmth within families, and new discoveries!

Youth Club of Oriental Cultures