How a 1,000-year-old poem and ancient jade shaped modern medals
In short: The medals of the 2022 Asian Para Games were not just pieces of metal; they were physical manifestations of a millennium of Chinese poetry and Neolithic culture. By blending Tang Dynasty lyrics with 5,000-year-old jade traditions, the games sought to bridge the gap between ancient heritage and modern athletic heroism.
The medal design, titled 'Osmanthus Grace,' draws its primary inspiration from a Tang Dynasty lyric poem written by a poet-governor of Hangzhou. The poem describes a search for osmanthus flowers—the city's official flower—falling from the moon near mountain temples. This literary connection serves as a cultural anchor for the event, grounding the modern competition in a deep historical narrative of local beauty and seasonal grace.
Beyond the poetry, the physical composition of the medals incorporates 'Bi' and 'Cong' jades, which date back to the Liangzhu culture. These two distinct shapes—a round green Bi and a yellow square Cong—have been associated with heaven and earth for approximately 5,000 years. By combining these elements, the organizers aimed to symbolize the harmony between the celestial and the terrestrial, as well as the continuity of Chinese civilization from antiquity to the present day.
The 2022 Asian Para Games were held in Hangzhou, the second Chinese city to host the event after Guangzhou in 2010. While the games were originally scheduled for October 2022, they were postponed to October 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event featured 501 gold medal events across 22 sports, including new additions like Para Taekwondo and Para Canoe. To guarantee that every competitor could perceive the cultural icons, braille characters were placed around the Asian Paralympic Council Emblem on the medals.
The games also highlighted a unique distinction in international sports politics. While North Korea was permitted to use its national symbols during the 2022 Asian Games, it was forced to withdraw from the Asian Para Games. This was because the Asian Paralympic Committee refused to allow the use of those symbols in compliance with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) sanctions imposed in October 2021. This contrast underscores the different regulatory environments governing multi-sport events in the region.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2022 Asian Para Games
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