Luther College to host residency for Chinese martial artist and musician Master Zhongxian Wu

DECORAH, IOWA–Luther College will host Master Zhongxian Wu, a Chinese martial artist, calligrapher, and musician, from April 9–28. During his time on campus, he will lead workshops that are open to the Decorah community.

Master Wu

“I think such experiences that Master Wu is offering are valuable because they can decenter European and American understandings of religion, philosophy and artistic expression,” said Scott Hurley, associate professor of identity studies at Luther. “After all, other places and cultures in the world have profound and sophisticated ideas about art, one’s relationship with others, whether human or nonhuman, and ultimate truth.” 

Wu will offer four workshops during his time on campus; to sign up for events, email Hurley at hurlsc01@luther.edu. Here are the events he’s hosting: 

• Chinese Calligraphy Workshop: 1–3 p.m., Sunday, April 14, in the Center for the Arts 215, $25 for the public.
• Qigong and the Earth Workshop: 5:30–7 p.m., Wednesday, April 17, in the Center for the Arts Studio One, free to the public.
• Chinese Medicine for Health and Longevity: 5–7 p.m., Wednesday, April 24, at Decorah United Church of Christ, $25 for the public.
• Tea and Qin Music: 5–7 p.m., Friday, April 26, at Ryumonji Zen Monastery, $25 for the public.

Originally from China, Master Wu is a lifelong practitioner of Daoism, an indigenous Chinese religion. He is the co-founder and director of QinJian Akademin in Stockholm, Sweden, where he hosts workshops in-person and on Zoom related to martial arts, traditional Chinese music, and health and healing. He also travels throughout the U.S. and Europe offering these workshops.  

In addition to calligraphy and Chinese medicine, he teaches qigong, a form of Chinese movement practice that incorporates proper body posture, breathing and meditation; and the guqin, a Chinese zither. Master Wu has published numerous books and articles in both Chinese and English on these subjects.