To commemorate the 85th anniversary of the death of Mikhail Bulgakov, a pioneer of magical realism, Tamkang University's Chueh Sheng Memorial Library, College of Foreign Languages and Literatures, and Department of Russian jointly held the 2025 World Book Day event under the theme “Fantasy and Reality: Russian Fantasy Literature and Music Exhibition.” The opening ceremony took place at 10:30 a.m. on April 23 at the Reading Lounge on the 2nd floor of the library. The event was attended by Vice President for Academic Affairs Hui-Huang Hsu, Board Member and Honorary Professor Wan-Chin Tai, Kirill Beliaev， Assistant to the Representative of the Moscow-Taipei Coordination Commission on Economic and Cultural Cooperation, Consular Section Officer Vargina, RTI Russian Section Chief Masha, and nearly 50 faculty members, staff, and students.

In his remarks, Kirill Beliaev noted that Taiwanese people are generally unfamiliar with Russian culture. He expressed hope that the exhibition of literature, music, and related works would help Tamkang students and faculty better understand Russia’s rich cultural heritage. Vice President Hsu quoted the late writer Li Ao, comparing reading to a fantastical journey that enriches knowledge and deepens cultural understanding. He expressed confidence that the World Book Day event would give participants insights into the diverse styles of Russian literary authors and unveil the mysterious beauty of Russian culture. Dean of Library Sheue-Fang Song emphasized the event’s diverse presentation formats, allowing participants to experience Russian literature's charm in various forms. She also introduced the library’s newly featured “World Literature” section on its homepage, encouraging everyone to expand their global literary horizons through reading.

Prof. Tai recalled the challenges of founding the Department of Russian. To save costs, students studying in Moscow were asked to purchase Russian literary works locally and bring them back to campus, thus reducing book expenses and international shipping fees. He expressed great satisfaction at the department’s current scale and development. Department Chair Hsin-Yi Kuo began by thanking the library’s organizing team for their close cooperation, which enabled such a rich and immersive exhibition that draws visitors into the fantastical world of Russian literature. The opening performance featured senior Russian majors dancing the traditional folk dance Kadril, with coordinated steps and formations. This was followed by a student performance of the Russian pop song Spring, with elegant singing and choreography that captivated the audience.

The “Fantasy and Reality: Russian Fantasy Literature and Music Exhibition” runs through May 31, showcasing books, films, and music centered on renowned Russian literary figures, including Pushkin, Gogol, Lermontov, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, and modern fantasy authors like Bulgakov and Lukyanenko, as well as composers Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich. The exhibition offers a feast of Russian literature, music, and art. In addition, salon lectures were held on April 24, April 28, and May 1. To boost engagement, the library has also designed an immersive puzzle game titled “Soul Labyrinth”, and participants can collect points through various activities to win prizes.

For more event details, please visit:

https://www.lib.tku.edu.tw/Front/News/AllNews/News.aspx?id=jh6mzDrnFpQ=&Sn=1220

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