各位尊敬的来宾：
Distinguished Guests, Ladiesand Gentlemen:
Good afternoon!
今天是十月九日。熟悉中华文化的朋友一定知道，“九”是最大的个位数，是至阳的极数。“九”在中文中与“久”字同音，寓意长长久久，象征着和谐安康、幸福美满，代表着事业和爱情长长久久，家族传承延绵长久。
It is October 9th today.
Nine or 九 inChinese sounds just like 久 (jiǔ),which means “long lasting” and “eternity.” At birthday and weddingcelebrations, the number 9 is popular as it represents longevity. 9 was alsotraditionally associated with the Chinese emperor. The emperor’s robes had ninedragons on them, officials were organized in nine ranks, and the Forbidden Cityis known to have a total of 9,999 and a half rooms.
为此，请允许我借此机会，向所有尊敬的来宾致以最美好的祝福和致意。
As such, please accept mygreetings and best wishes to all who are here today.
各位朋友：
人类在漫长的繁衍生息过程中，经历了对自身和外部世界的认知、适应、改造和再创造，从而创造出了色彩斑斓的文化艺术。藏族文化是世界文化宝库中一颗璀璨的明珠，其悠久的历史、丰富的内涵以及独特的展现形式越来越受到世人的瞩目与喜爱。世世代代生活在中国雪域高原的藏族人民，面对恶劣的生存环境和相对匮乏的自然资源，表现出了顽强的生命力和对真、善、美的不懈追求。其中，唐卡艺术就是他们认知并与这个多彩世界进行交流与对话的一种特殊的艺术形式。
Dear friends,
The long process of human reproductionand survival has been characterized by cognition, adaptation, transformation,and re-creation of the individuals and the surrounding environment as well.
Among the world’s culturaltreasures, Tibetan culture stands out as a bright pearl. Due to its longhistory, rich connotations, and unique display form, it is attracting more andmore attention and love around the world.
In spite of harsh livingconditions and relatively scarce natural resources, Tibetans living on China’ssnowy plateau have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to truth, goodness,and beauty for generations.
Thangka art is a special artform for them to recognize and communicate with this colorful world.
哈佛俱乐部是一座尊崇多元文化的神圣殿堂。
There is no better place tocelebrate multiculturalism than the Harvard Club.
今天，我们在这里成立唐卡艺术基金会，就是希望借助这座神圣殿堂所沉淀的无穷魅力与力量将唐卡艺术快速融入到文化和民族多元的纽约这个艺术之都，并由此将唐卡艺术所孕育的无穷文化底蕴辐射到所有喜爱唐卡艺术的国家和社区。
I am pleased to announce theofficial launch of the Thangka Art Foundation today. We hope that, with the blessingof this hallowed hall and your strong support, thangka art will join ranks withthe multicultural and ethnic diversity of this beautiful city of New York, andbeyond its borders.
唐卡有着“藏民族百科全书”的美誉，在美丽的雪域高原传承已有一千多年。这种被西方评论家称为东方油画的艺术形式，讲究在方寸之间绘出万千景象，是藏族文化中一种独具特色的绘画艺术形式，题材内容涉及藏族的历史、政治、文化和社会生活等诸多领域，在世界绘画艺术殿堂中占有重要的位置。2006年，藏族唐卡被列入第一批国家级非物质文化遗产名录。2009年，唐卡与堆绣、彩塑和铜雕等一起作为“热贡艺术”被联合国教科文组织列入《人类非物质文化遗产代表作名录》。
Ladies and gentlemen:
In the beautiful snow-covered plateau, Thangka is known asthe “encyclopedia of the Tibetan ethnic group.”
Some western critics refer to this art form as the Orientaloil painting, which is a Tibetan painting art form that draws thousands ofscenes within each square inch.
The subject matter and content involve the history,politics, culture and social life of the Tibetan people, and occupies an importantposition in the world painting art palace.
In 2006, Tibetan Thangka waslisted in the first batch of state-level intangible cultural heritages. In2009, Regong art was listed by UNESCO in the Representative List of theIntangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
(Please allow me to give you avery short introduction about Regong arts)
The Regong arts are thepopular arts on the subject of Tibetan Buddhism. They are painting, sculpture,engraving, architecture, and embroidery. They are associated with communitiesin Tongren County and along the river Rongwo which crosses the current HuangnanTibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the province of Qinghai in China.
我本人多年来热衷于收藏唐卡艺术作品，收藏和欣赏的过程，也是我心灵和人格不断升华的过程。它让我倍感和平和安宁的弥足珍贵，也让我的心灵重新沐浴了一次又一次庄重而神圣的洗礼。
As a long-time collector ofthangka art works, I have a deep passion for it. The collection andappreciation of Thangka art works also allows me to continuously sublimate mysoul.
Additionally, it makes me feelthe sense of peace and tranquility, which is so precious, while bathing my soulin sacred and solemn baptism.
我希望通过这个基金会能够铺设一个广阔交流平台，使更多的各界朋友接触并喜爱唐卡艺术所承载的藏文化的独特魅力，同时不断发展壮大这项非物质文化遗产的传承人群，让雪域高原这颗藏传佛教文化的璀璨明珠熠熠生辉，给世界带来更多安详与宁静的福音。
Hopefully, this foundationwill provide a broad platform to encourage more friends to discover thangka artand fall in love with Tibetan culture. Further, it is my hope that more andmore people join us in promoting this art form so that we can let this shiningpearl of Tibetan Buddhist culture shine even brighter and make the world abetter place.
谢谢大家！
扎西德勒！
I Thank you!.
Tashi Delek!
