Events

Also known as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year is unquestionably the most important festival celebrated in China, some Asian countries and overseas Chinese communities. As old as the Chinese civilization dating back about 4000 years, the tradition comes in a multitude of forms and customs observed by both the common people throughout history and the royal families in imperial times alike. In conjunction with the North American Alumni Association of Jiangsu Normal University and the Hong Maple Foundation of Canada, the Renwen Society is presenting a lecture on February 27 by Dr. Yang Yuan on the festive Chinese New Year celebrations during at the Qing court, the last imperial dynasty of China (1644-1911). The speaker will provide for the audience an all-encompassing description of the royal celebrations within the walls of the Forbidden City with all the attending fanfare and trappings. The lecture will be illustrated by historical photos and records.

Holding a Ph.D. from the Renmin University, Dr. Yang Yuan is currently a post-doc at the Institute of Manchu Studies of the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences. With a specialization in the court history of the Manchu reign, he has written and published extensively on the traditional life both in Beijing and at the royal court. Dr. Yang is also a frequent guest speaker on TV discussing topics of traditions, customs and life in Beijing.

Free, but advanced registration is requested.

春节是传统中国最为重要的节日，又俗称为“过年”，中国人在这个节日里有着非常多的习俗。富贵莫过帝王家，清代宫廷的春节，自然也有许多超越民间的仪式和讲究，有些与民间相似，有些又大不相同。比如清宫里的过年是从哪天开始，到哪天结束？紫禁城是如何装扮出节日的气氛？宫廷里的皇帝也祭灶王爷、挂春联、写福字吗？年夜饭都吃什么好吃的？宫廷春节又有哪些特殊的活动？这些问题都是大家比较好奇的。2019年新年，故宫曾举办《贺岁迎祥——紫禁城里过大年》的展览，以破纪录的近千件文物展示数量，还原多种昔日皇宫过年的装饰和活动，为观众呈现了一个充满年味的故宫。2021年中国农历新年之际，华美人文学会与江苏师大北美校友会和加拿大和枫会特邀电视节目《上新了故宫》的历史顾问、中国人民大学历史学博士、北京社科院满学所博士后杨原博士，于美东时间2021年2月27日晚8时至9时半（北京时间2月28日上午9时至10时半），农历正月十六，为大家做《贺岁迎祥——紫禁城里过大年》的专题讲座。在这次讲座当中，杨原博士将从历史档案、官书文献等记载中，为大家抽丝剥茧，梳理出紫禁城过年的全景。

主讲人杨原，中国人民大学历史学博士，北京社科院满学所博士后，长期致力于生活史、宫廷史研究，著有《如果故宫会说话》、《变迁中的北京勤行—陈连生口述》、《会玩儿——老北京的休闲生活》、《诗书继世长——叶赫颜扎氏家族口述历史》，合著有《近代北京慈善与公益事业》、《宣武区消失之前——黄宗汉口述》，并发表大量学术论文。大型文化综艺真人秀节目《上新了故宫》第一季、第二季历史顾问，文化微综艺真人秀节目《我在宫里做厨师》主持人，在中央广播电视台、北京广播电视台等诸多节目中担任常驻嘉宾，如《书香北京》、《国际双行线》、《美食地图》、《打开文化之门》等。