Upcoming Events

AsianInNY 2017 Fashion Show

Saturday, September 23, 2:00 – 5:00PM
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

Event Fee: Tickets purchased online before September 23 are $32 per person. Tickets are $50 per person at the door on the day of the event. Tickets are limited. To register visit www.asianinny.com

On the heels of New York Fashion Week, AsianInNY’s Annual Fashion Show will feature a runway to showcase international designers Alexander King Chen, Jennifer Chen, Wendy Chen, Edison Lu, Danny Nguyen, and Liling Wang. Come witness these rising stars of global fashion at China Institute! Learn More

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Fall 2017 Asia Art Week Open House

Thursday, September 14, 5:00–8:00PM
Event Fee: FREE
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

China Institute's Asia Art Week Open House will showcase the best of Asian cultural programming coming to New York this fall, with participation from our friends at Flushing Town Hall, Japan Society, and the Rubin Museum of Art. Participants will get guided tours of the exhibition Dreams of the Kings: A Jade Suit for Eternity, Treasures of the Han Dynasty from Xuzhou, featuring the world's best preserved jade burial suit, while snacking on tasty treats from across Asia and getting an exclusive sneak peek and demonstration of fall programs from all participating organizations. A raffle will feature prizes including museum memberships and admission tickets.

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Mid-Autumn Festival & Open House

Saturday, September 9, 11:00AM – 3:00PM
Event Fee: FREE for all attendees, but advance registration is requested.
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

Come celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival at this event for families and children of all ages. Discover the stories and traditions of one of China’s biggest holidays while sampling tasty mooncakes, making arts & crafts, learning about China Institute's fall classes, and touring our exciting exhibition Dreams of the Kings: A Jade Suit for Eternity, Treasures of the Han Dynasty from Xuzhou.

Activities:
Interactive Workshop: The Story of the Mid-Autumn Festival
Mid-Autumn Crafts Workshop
Mooncake Tasting
Fall Class Info Sessions (Children & Adult)
Games, Crafts, Movies, And More!

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Tai Chi For Beginners at the Museum of Jewish Heritage

Speaker's Name: Alex Hing (Instructor)
Event Fee: Free for CI or MJH Members/$10 Non-Members (each session)
Location: Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Pl, New York, NY 10280

Take time out from your hectic life and join China Institute and the Museum of Jewish Heritage to learn the Chinese practice of Tai Chi in one of MJH’s peaceful spaces with sweeping views of the New York Harbor and Statue of Liberty.

Alex Hing is a senior student of Grandmaster Williams C.C. Chen and has practiced Asian martial arts for over 25 years. Mr. Hing is a New York region Yang-style gold medalist and ranks third internationally in the heavyweight pushing hands division. He has taught Taijiquan at China Institute for over 10 years.

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Rooftop Films Presents: Have a Nice Day (好极了)

Saturday, August 12, 7:30-10:30PM
Event fee: General Admission: $15 / With China Institute Discount: $11.25
Location: 350 Grand Street. Lower East Side, Manhattan (On the Roof of New Design High School)

The first animated Chinese feature film to ever compete at the Berlin Film Festival, Liu Jian’s Have a Nice Day is a laconically witty thriller that introduces western audiences to a bold new pop stylist. China Institute will co-present an outdoor sneak preview screening of the film with Rooftop Films, featuring live music and an after party. Get 25% off tickets with the code CHINAINSTITUTE. Learn More

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Asian American International Film Festival

July 26 – August 5, 2017
Event Fee: Members $11 with discount code / Non-members $15

China Institute Sponsored Screenings:
All Our Father's Relations: July 29 - Village East Cinema – 9:45PM
Absurd Accident: August 3 - Asia Society - 7:00PM
Taxi Stories: August 4 - Village East Cinema – 7:00PM
Plastic China: August 5 - Asia Society – 4:30PM
Free and Easy: August 5 - Asia Society - 7:00PM

The Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF), presented by Asian CineVision, is the first and longest running festival in the country devoted to films by and about Asians and Asian Americans.

The 40th annual festival will take place in New York City from July 25 to August 5th, 2017. Screenings will be held at Cinema Village East (181-189 2nd Avenue), Asia Society (725 Park Avenue), and Flushing Town Hall (13735 Northern Boulevard, Flushing).

This year China Institute is a community partner, co-presenting the festival’s China film slate, with a special ticket discount for China Institute members.

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Gourmet Food Circle: Walking Food Tour of Flushing, Queens

Saturday, July 29, 2017
Tour 1: 11:00AM – 1:00PM
Tour 2: 2:00 – 4:00PM
Speaker: Joe DiStefano
Event Fee: $45 Members/$55 Non-Members
Location: Flushing, Queens

On Saturday July 29, join China Institute as we partner with Flushing Town Hall to host a walking food tour of the neighborhood, part of our ongoing Gourmet Food Circle programming series. Participants will have a chance to learn more about the area’s dynamic history, as we sample neighborhood favorites from local cafes, restaurants, and shops with Queens-based food writer, Joe DiStefano.

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New York Asian Film Festival 2017

Friday, June 30 – Sunday, July 16
Event Fee: $9 Per Ticket–Members, $14 Per Ticket–Non-Members
Location: Film Society of Lincoln Center, 165 W. 65th Street, New York, NY 10023

Get wooed by die-hard romantics, unnerved by devil children, and bear witness to the fury of angry young men on paths of destruction in the sweet sixteenth edition of the New York Asian Film Festival. Wild cinematic outings that always have something to say about the human condition, this summer’s crop of titles range from the heartwarming to the desperately dark. Dive headfirst into the raging sea of talent from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and across South East Asia—filmmakers unafraid to take on controversial subjects and explore complex emotions.

This year China Institute will co-present the festival’s China film slate, with a special ticket discount for China Institute members and appearances by actor Duan Yihong and Director Yang Shupeng. Learn More

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Screening: China Now! Three Films from the Chinese Documentary Festival

Wednesday, June 28, 6:30-8:30PM
Event Fee: FREE Members, $10 Non-Members
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

This June, China Institute will screen a selection of works from Hong Kong’s Chinese Documentary Festival. Through a personalized lens, these films (one feature and two shorts) explore contemporary social issues in Hong Kong and China including spirituality, identity, and urban and rural development. Since its inception in 2008, the Chinese Documentary Festival has drawn the attention of filmmakers from around the world, especially those of mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, becoming a major forum for Chinese documentary filmmaking. With an award-winning feature and US premiere screenings, you can experience a taste of this prestigious festival in New York.

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Southeast the Peacocks Fly: A Ben Wang Lecture Series

Session 2: Thursday, June 22, 6:30-8:30PM
Speaker: Ben Wang
$10 Members/$15 Non-Members (each lecture)
$15 Members/$25 Non-Members (for the series)
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

In this two-session series, China Institute Senior Lecturer Ben Wang will delve into the epic narrative poem Southeast the Peacocks Fly. Written by an anonymous poet at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, it is a tale in which love soars above death to defy destiny and ultimately triumphs over the strict feudal and social confines of its era. The blending of its unique theme of feminism, depicted poignantly for the first time in Chinese literature, and surpassing poetic writing technique has evoked deep sympathy in readers and has been passionately praised by generations of Chinese over the centuries.

This series is being presented in conjunction with the exhibition Dreams of the Kings: A Jade Suit for Eternity, Treasures of the Han Dynasty from Xuzhou. The lecture will be conducted in English. No previous knowledge of the Chinese language is required.

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Night at the Museums

Tuesday, June 20, 4:00–8:00PM
Event Fee: Free
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

On June 20, China Institute will partner with 14 of our downtown neighbors on Night at the Museums, an annual event where museums and historic landmarks open their doors for an evening of fun and exploration – all within comfortable walking distance of each other. At China Institute, come explore our exhibition, Dreams of the Kings: A Jade Suit for Eternity: Treasures of the Han Dynasty from Xuzhou with free tours and live music. Details about the full event are available at www.NightAtTheMuseums.org.

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Lecture: Dreaming of Kings in the Han Dynasty with Nancy S. Steinhardt

Wednesday, June 7, 6:30 – 8:00PM
Speaker: Nancy S. Steinhardt
Event Fee: Free for Members/$10 Non-Member
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

On June 7, 2017, learn about the history behind China Institute’s upcoming exhibit, Dreams Of The Kings: A Jade Suit for Eternity with a lecture exploring the architecture and decoration of Han dynasty tombs by renowned scholar, Nancy S. Steinhardt. Placing objects from the exhibition in their architectural context, Dr Steinhardt will contrast royal and non-royal tombs, and through the tombs of wealthy citizens of Han dynasty show how the desire for immortality is only part of the final statements of men and women in Han China.

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Gourmet Food Circle: Chinese Tuxedo

Tuesday, June 6, 7:00–10:00PM
Speaker: Paul Donnelly (Chef)
Event Fee: $180 Members/$210 Non-Members
Location: Chinese Tuxedo, 5 Doyers Street, New York, NY 10013

On June 6, 2017, kick off the summer with a one-of-a-kind evening at Chinatown’s hottest new restaurant, Chinese Tuxedo. Tucked away on quiet Doyers Street in the heart of Chinatown, Chinese restaurateurs Eddy Buckingham and Jeff Lam have built a strikingly beautiful space on the site of a former opera house that offers a modern take on Chinese cuisine. China Institute’s guests will dine in Chinese Tuxedo’s private lower level, where Chef Paul Donnelly will meet the group and set us upon a journey through eleven mouthwatering courses, served family style.

Price includes cocktail upon arrival, eleven preselected courses, as well as complimentary beer, wine, and/or tea throughout the evening. Please contact China Institute to discuss any allergies or other dietary restrictions when purchasing tickets, so that accommodations can be made in advance. Must be 21 or older to participate.

China Institute’s Gourmet Food Circle brings together curious foodies with an adventurous appetite for all things China. Focusing on both Chinese and Chinese-inspired cuisine, we delve into the local New York food scene to create a cultivated, gourmet experience for participants to learn, taste, and explore.

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China Institute Children’s Book Festival

Sunday, June 4, 11:00AM – 3:00PM
Event Fee: Free
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

In honor of International Children’s Day and in conjunction with BookExpo America & BookCon, China Institute presents a family festival celebrating some of the most beloved Chinese children’s stories. Children of all ages will be able to explore classic and contemporary books and stories through a puppet show, author readings, pop-up exhibition, movies, costumed characters, e-book launch, games, crafts and more!

Activities:
Chinese Theatre Works Puppet Performance: Hao Bang-Ah, Rooster!
E-Book Launch & Interactive Storytelling: This is the Greatest Place!
Author Readings & Book Signings
Pop-Up Exhibition of Contemporary Chinese Children’s Books
Costumed Characters
Movies
Summer Class & Camp Info Sessions (Children & Adult)
Crafts, Games, Snacks, Giveaways, And More!

This program is supported through the Confucius Institute at China Institute.

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Sinica Podcast Live at China Institute: Jerome A. Cohen on Law in China

Wednesday, May 17, 6:30–8:00PM
This is a live taping. Attendees must arrive by 6:30 so as to not disrupt the podcast.
Event Fee: FREE Members / $10 Non-Members
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

Jerome Cohen is one of the earliest and most prominent Western scholars of the Chinese legal system. He began studying and teaching about Chinese law in the early 1960s, and has worked as a scholar and in private practice. He introduced the teaching of Asian law into the curriculum of Harvard Law School, and has played a role in some of the most significant legal developments in China, from business to human rights.

In this live Sinica Podcast interview, Jeremy Goldkorn and Kaiser Kuo will talk to Professor Cohen about his own long and fascinating involvement with law in China, the emergence of the country's legal system after the Cultural Revolution, and prospects for China implementing the rule of law that Xi Jinping has talked about so much but that cynics might say is still a long way off.

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The Chinese Mind: Traditional Wisdom and Its Transformation in Modern Times

Thursday, May 11, 6:30–8:00PM
Event Fee: FREE Members / $10 Non-Members
Speaker: YU Zhenhua
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism constitute the "three teachings" that have historically had the largest influence on Chinese culture. This lecture by acclaimed scholar Yu Zhenhua will explore these three influential schools of thought from the perspective of world history, and examine what happened when Chinese society was confronted with the large-scale introduction of Western ideas, beginning in the 17th century. What were the foundations of these three major schools of Chinese thought? What effect has Western philosophy and thought had on these beliefs over time? How have these philosophies shaped the Chinese mind as it exists today?

This lecture will be the first in a series exploring Chinese thought, wellness, and beliefs and how they relate to our modern world.

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Discussion and Performance: The Role of the Asian Artist in America

Wednesday, May 3, 6:30–8:00PM
Event Fee: FREE Members / $10 Non-Members
Speakers: Ms. Eleanor Yung of the Asian American Arts Centre; Ms. Yung Yung Tsuai, dancer; Ms. Nuo An, dancer; Ms. Phyllis Chen, musician; Kuang-Yu Fong and Stephen Kaplin of Chinese Theatre Works
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

This season the Crossing Paths With... Salon Series will examine issues related to immigrant artists and the development of Asian arts and culture in America. The evening will open with a roundtable discussion that includes dancers Yung Yung Tsuai and Nuo An; toy piano musician Phyllis Chen; Eleanor Yung of Asian American Arts Center; and Kuang-Yu Fong and Stephen Kaplin of Chinese Theatre Works. Together they will talk about the difficulties in presenting performance arts for audiences of widely different cultural backgrounds and the ways artists adjust their work to accommodate them. The discussion will conclude with a performance that combines dance with shadow puppetry.

This event is a co-presentation between China Institute and Chinese Theatre Works, with additional funding provided by the Confucius Institute at China Institute.

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Masters of Wushu: A Martial Arts Spectacular

Saturday, April 22, 1:30–3:00PM
Event Fee: FREE
Speakers: Wang Peikun, Zhang Ping’an, Wang Hanzhi, Tian Hao, Dai Wei, He Jungang, Chen Guixue, Little Martials Group
Location: 100 Washington Street, New York, NY 10006

On Saturday, April 22, China Institute will welcome a delegation of stunning Martial Arts Masters from China for an all-ages performance featuring seven distinct forms of martial arts including Chin Wu, Northwest Boxing, Taichi, Huaquan, Whip Boxing, Eagle Claw, and Bagua Zhang. Additional performances from the “Little Martials” Chinese Martial Arts Youth Group, a renowned guqin (Chinese zither) player, and an expert calligrapher will make for a one-of-a-kind program.

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Screening and Filmmaker Talk: Masters in the Forbidden City
(我在故宮修文物)

Thursday, April 20, 6:30-8:30PM
Event Fee: FREE Members; $10 Non-Members
Speakers: Ming Xue, Professor Lei Jianjun (Producer)
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

Join us for an exclusive screening of the documentary Masters in the Forbidden City (我在故宮修文物) followed by a discussion with the filmmakers. A surprise box office hit in China, this film follows the daily lives of the artisans and craftspeople who restore relics at the Palace Museum in Beijing, including experts in bronze, lacquer, wood, and clockworks. Through stunning imagery and refined storytelling director Xiao Han uses his unprecedented access to the Forbidden City to celebrate and evoke the “spirit of craftsmanship” that is the hallmark of these unsung artists.

The film will be shown in Mandarin with English subtitles.

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Theater, Art, and the Cultural Revolution: A Presentation and Conversation featuring Zheng Shengtian

Wednesday, March 29, 6:30–8:00PM
Members – FREE, Non-Members - $5.00
Moderator: Jane DeBevoise; Speakers: Zheng Shengtian, Chen Xiaomei
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

On March 29, Artist, Curator, and Managing Editor of Yishu: Journal of Contemporary Chinese Art, Zheng Shengtian, returns to China Institute to continue his conversation with Jane DeBevoise, Chair of the Board of Directors, Asia Art Archive, on his experience as an artist and young teacher in the Oil Painting Department at Zhejiang Academy of Art in Hangzhou (now China Academy of Art) during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). Their conversation will focus on Zheng's personal experience at that turbulent time, as well as the broader consequences of the Cultural Revolution on art in China.

The discussion will be preceded by a presentation on research done by Chen Xiaomei, Professor of Chinese Literature at University of California, Davis, on film and theater during the Cultural Revolution period. The presentation will include a screening of clips from a filmed theater performance of The Red Detachment of Women.

For questions email Aaron Nicholson at: [email protected] or call 212-744-8181 ext. 138 



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Gourmet Food Circle - Tea and Food Pairing with Tea Drunk and Fung Tu

Tuesday, March 21, 6:30–8:30PM
$55 Member / $65 Non-Member
Location: Tea Drunk, 123 East 7th Street (between 1st Avenue & Avenue A), New York, NY 10009

This spring, Shunan Teng of Tea Drunk and Chef Jonathan Wu of Fung Tu will present a four course tea-food pairing curated exclusively for China Institute’s Gourmet Food Circle. Shunan has combed through the rare and exceptional teas in her collection for individual pairings to a menu of seasonal dishes envisioned by Chef Jonathan. Together, at Tea Drunk’s cozy East Village teahouse, they will guide us through the unique tastes and culinary context that will bring the meal to life.

Please Register Online. For questions email Aaron Nicholson at: [email protected] or call 212-744-8181 ext. 138 



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Film Art Set in Times of Chaos: Chinese Martial Arts Films

Speakers: Richard Peña, Jim Zhang, Annette Juliano, Morris Rossabi, Raymond Tsang
Per Screening: Free for all Members/$5 Non-Members
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

This five-week film series is dedicated to classics of wuxia, China’s heroic stories of martial arts and swordplay, and accompanies China Institute’s exhibition Art in a Time of Chaos: Masterworks from Six Dynasties China, 3rd – 6th Centuries. Directed by guiding lights of Chinese cinema — King Hu, Zhang Yimou, John Woo, Feng Xiaogang, and Tsui Hark – each film is set in a different dynastic period, during a time of chaos marked by immense change. The screenings will be introduced by a distinguished scholar and will feature accompanying contextual materials written by series curator Nancy Jervis.

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson at 212-744-8181 ext. 138 or by email at [email protected] 


This film series is sponsored by a Humanities New York Action Grant, with additional support from the Confucius Institute at China Institute.

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Performance and Panel Discussion: Incident at Hidden Temple

Tuesday, February 7, 2017, 7:30PM
Speaker: Damon Chua, playwright
Members: $45.25* (please e-mail [email protected] for the members discount code)
Non-members: $66.25*
*Price includes ticket to the show and the post-show panel discussion
Location: The Clurman Theatre, 410 West 42nd Street(Between 9th and 10th Avenues), New York NY 10036

With his new play Incident at Hidden Temple, playwright Damon Chua builds on the success of his earlier work focusing on China in the 1940s with a narrative inspired by real events. Using the historic Flying Tigers squadron as the setting, and the key presence of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, the play throws open a window into the critical role played by American pilots in China during World War II. The mystery hinges upon three Chinese women – two sisters separated by wartime chaos, and the third who unwittingly crosses their paths.

China Institute invites you to a special performance on Tuesday, February 7, 2017, where we will partner with Pan Asian Repertory Theatre to present a post-show panel discussion on the play’s historical setting moderated by Ernabel Demillo and featuring Incident at Hidden Temple writer Damon Chua alongside historical specialists Richard Bernstein and Gene Chin.

China Institute members will receive an exclusive discount on tickets to this performance.

For questions or to get the promotional code for the China Institute members ticket discount please contact Aaron Nicholson at 212-744-8181 ext. 138 or by email at [email protected] 




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Chinese New Year Celebration, Year of the Rooster

Date & Time: Saturday, February 4, 2017
Family Workshops: 1:00–3:30PM; Party & Performance: 4:00–7:00PM

Family Workshop Tickets*:
Members: Adult $15, Children $5; Non-Members: Adult $20, Children $5; Patron Members FREE
*Price includes entry to one workshop and the concert

Concert Tickets:
Members $10; Non-Members $20; Patron Members FREE

Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

Kick off the Year of the Rooster with China Institute’s signature New Year Celebration. In the afternoon, we open our doors to families for New Year-themed workshops and activities including dumpling making, storytelling, and lantern-making. In the evening, adults and families alike are welcome to a party featuring a lion dance, food, and live music.

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson at 212-744-8181 ext. 138 or by email at [email protected] 


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China Institute’s Rockin’ Rooster Chinese New Year Concert

Date & Time: Saturday, February 4, 4:00 – 7:00PM
Speakers: SungBeats, Mr. Cake, Kohei, TiA
Concert Tickets: Members $10; Non-Members $20; Patron Members FREE
Location: 100 Washington Street, New York, NY 10006

Join us at our first annual New Year’s concert featuring a lion dance, food and live music!
4:00 – Doors Open & Lion Dance
4:30 - Mr. Cake
5:00 – SungBeats
6:00 - TiA & Kohei
(Food and drinks will be available for purchase)

Adults and Families – All are welcome!

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson at 212-744-8181 ext. 138 or by email at [email protected] 


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Concert: Stephanie Chou at Joe’s Pub
Presented in Association with China Institute

Saturday, January 14, 2017, 7:00PM, doors open at 6:00PM
Joe’s Pub at The Public
$15.00 Non-members
$10.00 Members (please e-mail [email protected] for the members discount code)
Location: Joe’s Pub at The Public, 425 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003

Join us for a concert celebrating the release of Asymptote, the third album by jazz musician and composer Stephanie Chou. Her music combines classical and Chinese influences with jazz and pop harmony and rhythm. Asymptote features fresh arrangements of Chinese classics including "The Moon Represents My Heart" and "Kangding Love Song." Chou's goal is to create global music that is artistically challenging, bold and fearless, and which presents a unique musical perspective. This concert will take place at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater.

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson at 212-744-8181 ext. 138 or by email at [email protected] 


Book Launch: Create Your Star Power: A Guide to Self-Fulfillment with Chiu-Ti Jansen

Thursday, December 8, 6:00PM-8:00PM
Speaker: Chiu-Ti Jansen
Event Fees: Free
* A copy of the book is included in the ticket price.
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

Join us on Thursday, December 8 to celebrate the publication of Chiu-Ti Jansen’s memoir, Create Your Star Power: A Guide to Self-Fulfillment.

Chiu-Ti Jansen is a TV presenter, lifestyle magazine publisher and writer based in New York City with a pulse on China. Create Your Star Power is a lyrical and searching memoir in which Ms. Jansen comes to terms with her dual Chinese and Western identity and candidly examines the hardship and trade-off endured by an aspiring woman who discovered the meaning of her bittersweet success in a foreign land. Join us as she discusses her book and her experiences working in the fashion, business and entertainment industries. Returning from a book tour at some of the top universities in China, Chiu-Ti will also share her discoveries while writing for, and speaking to, China’s millennials.

Event Schedule:
6:00 – 6:30 – Opening Reception
6:30 – 7:30 – Talk, Q&A
7:30 – 8:00 – Book Signing

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson at 212-744-8181 ext. 138 or by email at [email protected] 


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Lecture Series: Expanding the Boundaries of Chinese Poetry

Session 3: Saturday, December 3, 2:00PM-4:00PM
Speaker: Yibing Huang
Event Fees: $10 Members & Students/$15 Non-Members (each lecture)
$25 Members & Students/$40 Non-Members (for the series)
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

In this three-session lecture series, poet and professor Yibing Huang will introduce three famous yet often misunderstood Chinese writers (Duo Duo, Wang Xiaobo, Lu Xun) and re-examine their distinctive relationships with contemporary Chinese poetry.

Lecture 3 (December 3)
Lu Xun: Alternative Cosmopolitanism and the Future

This lecture will be conducted in English.

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson at 212-744-8181 ext. 138 or by email at [email protected] 


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Author Talk: Crashing the Party: An American Reporter in China with Scott Savitt and Jerome A. Cohen

Tuesday, November 22, 6:30PM-8:30PM
Speakers: Scott Savitt, Jerome A. Cohen
Event Fees: FREE
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

Crashing the Party: An American Reporter in China is Scott Savitt’s singular account as one of the first Americans in post-Mao China. Arriving in Beijing in 1983 as an exchange student from Duke University, Scott stepped into an environment rife with political unrest and had the rare opportunity to witness a nation on the brink of monumental change. Join us at China Institute on Tuesday, November 22, where Mr. Savitt will tell stories of his experiences living through and reporting on China’s historic transformation, including his founding of Beijing Scene, China’s first independent weekly newspaper; befriending and working with a legendary group of Chinese artists, writers, and musicians; interactions with Chinese and American politics; and his time in prison.

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson at 212-744-8181 ext. 138 or by email at [email protected] 


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Literature of the Six Dynasties Period: A Ben Wang Lecture Series

Speakers: Ben Wang
Event Fees: $25 Members/$30 Non-Members(each lecture)
$60 Members/$75 Non-Members(for the series)
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

In this three-session series, China Institute Senior Lecturer Ben Wang will discuss the lives and works of representative poets of the Six Dynasties as well as the quintessential spirit of famed texts A New Account of Tales of the World and Zhaoming’s Collection of Literary Works.

Join us as Ben Wang delves into these fascinating literary works for the first time at China Institute.

This lecture will be conducted in English. No previous knowledge of the Chinese language is required.

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson at 212-744-8181 ext. 138 or by email at [email protected] 


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Mah Jongg in Jewish and Chinese Heritage

Wednesday, October 26, 7:00PM – 8:00PM
Speakers: Gregg Swain, Melissa Martens Yaverbaum
Event Fees: *Members: $10, Non-Members: $12
*Members of China Institute or the Museum of Jewish Heritage
Location: Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place, New York, NY 10280

This October, China Institute is partnering with the Museum of Jewish Heritage to present this entertaining, insightful program tied to their exhibition Project Mah Jongg. Learn the history of the beloved game and its significance in Jewish and Chinese traditions with authors and scholars Gregg Swain and Melissa Martens Yaverbaum. Learn More

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The Social Fantastic: Ge Fei with Zhang Xudong

Thursday, October 13, 6:30PM – 8:00PM
Event Fees: $10 General Members/$15 Non-Members/Free for Patron Members
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor,New York, NY 10006

Join us on Thursday, October 13 for an exclusive conversation between Ge Fei, one of China’s leading voices in contemporary fiction, and Zhang Xudong, Director of NYU China House. They will discuss Ge Fei’s body of work and the publication of The Invisibility Cloak by NYRB Classics.

To register online, please visit REGISTRATION PAGE. For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson at 212-744-8181 ext. 138 or by email at [email protected]

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Mid-Autumn Festival & Open House

Saturday, September 10, 11:00AM – 3:00PM
Event Fees: FREE
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor,New York, NY 10006

Come celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival at this event for families and children of all ages. Discover the stories and traditions of one of China’s biggest holidays while sampling tasty mooncakes, making arts & crafts, listening to live music, learning about China Institute's fall classes, and getting a sneak peek at the programs for our fall exhibition Art in a Time of Chaos: Masterworks from Six Dynasties China.

Activities:
Interactive Workshop: The Story of the Mid-Autumn Festival
Lantern-Making Workshop
Mooncake Tasting
Live Music
Fall Class Info Sessions (Children & Adult)
Games, Crafts, Movies, And More!

This event is part of our celebration of the [email protected] 10th Anniversary.

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Michael Buening at 212-744-8181 ext. 149 or by email at [email protected]

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Gourmet Food Circle-Lucky Rice Cookbook Talk, Tasting, and Book Signing

Thursday, July 21, 6:00PM-8:00PM
Speaker Names: Danielle Chang
Event Fees:
$20 Patron Member / $30 General Members / $35 Non-Member
Admission at all levels includes a complimentary copy of the Lucky Rice cookbook.
This event is for adults 21 years of age and older.
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor,New York, NY 10006

Danielle Chang, founder of LUCKYRICE, brings night markets, grand feasts, and dumpling-making sessions to America's biggest cities. On July 21, she’ll be coming to China Institute to shares stories from her cookbook Lucky Rice: Stories and Recipes from Night Markets, Feasts, and Family Tables, with recipes that marry modern Asian comfort foods with ancient traditions, simple techniques and fresh flavors. Before the talk, guests can taste some Lucky Rice snacks while sipping cocktails with Bombay Sapphire® East Gin. A copy of Lucky Rice is included in the price of the ticket. Following her talk, Ms. Chang will sign copies of the books.

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson at 212-744-8181 ext. 138 or by email at [email protected]

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New York Asian Film Festival Screening & Reception: What’s in the Darkness

Monday, June 27, 6:15PM-9:30PM
Event Fees:
Reception is Free
Screening: $14 general, $11 students & senior, $9 FSLC member
To purchase tickets, click here
Location: Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Center, 165 West 65th Street, New York, 10023

The 2015 Village Voice Best Film Festival award winner is back! China Institute is thrilled to be a part of this year’s New York Asian Film Festival, co-hosting the North American Premiere of What’s in the Darkness. A coming-of-age fable mapped onto an unsolved crime story, at once dream-hazed and sharp-edged with suspense, Variety called writer/director Wang Yichun’s outstanding debut “the most acute and uncompromisingly grim murder mystery to come out of China in years.” Following the screening there will be a Q&A with director Wang Yichun and a free reception hosted by China Institute.

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Michael Buening at 212-744-8181 ext. 149 or by email at [email protected]

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Literati Painting: China’s Unique Art Form (This event is sold out)

Thursdays, June 9, 16, 23, 6:30PM-8:30PM
Event Fees:
$25 Members/$30 Non-Members [each lecture]
$60 Members/$75 Non-Members [for the series]
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor,New York, NY 10006

In this lecture series Ben Wang, Senior Lecturer of Language and Humanities of China Institute and an award-winning translator, will delve into the unique Chinese art form of literati painting, which combines painting, music, and poetry. This lecture will be conducted in English. No previous knowledge of the Chinese language is required.

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Night at the Museums

Tuesday, June 21 2016, 4:00PM-8:00PM
Event fee: Free
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

China Institute, in collaboration with the Downtown Cultural Group, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the Downtown Alliance, NYC & Company, River to River, and Make Music New York is participating in Night at the Museums. Join us for this opportunity to experience 15 of Lower Manhattan’s museums and historic sites. China Institute will be celebrating its new Downtown headquarters as well as its upcoming fall exhibition: Art in a Time of Chaos: Masterworks from Six Dynasties China, 3rd-6th Centuries.

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The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life with Michael Puett and Christine Gross-Loh

Tuesday, June 7, 6:30PM–8:00PM
Event Fees: Members: $10; Non-Members: $15
Speaker(s) Name: Michael Puett and Christine Gross-Loh
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor,New York, NY 10006

Chinese philosophical thinking is among the most powerful and influential in human history – and its ideas challenge many of the widely held assumptions Westerners have about the self and how to lead a flourishing life. Join China Institute on Tuesday June 7, as we welcome Michael Puett and Christine Gross-Loh to discuss their recent work, The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life. For the first time an award-winning Harvard professor shares his wildly popular course on classical Chinese philosophy, showing you how these ancient ideas can guide you on the path to a good life today.

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson at 212-744-8181 ext. 138 or by email at [email protected]

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China’s Great Emperors

Date & Time: Thursday, May 26 , 6:30-8:00 PM
Speaker(s) Name: Nancy Steinhardt, Susan L. Beningson, Alfreda Murck, Morris Rossabi, Denise Leidy, Joanna Waley-Cohen
Event Fees: Per Session: $15 for non-members, $10 for members and students
Entire Lecture Series: $75 for non-members, $50 for members and students

Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

“China’s Great Emperors” is a six-session lecture series that will explore the history of imperial China through the lives of some of its most fascinating emperors. Each lecture features a prominent scholar covering an emperor and his dynasty, from the “first” emperor Qin Shi Huangdi to the Mongol rule of Khubilai Khan to the late-imperial glories of Emperor Qianlong. Join China Institute in exploring more than 2000 years of imperial rule over the Middle Kingdom.

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson at 212-744-8181 ext. 138 or by email at [email protected]

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Celebrated Voices of Contemporary Chinese Literature: An Evening with Yu Hua

Date & Time: Tuesday, May 10, 2016, 6:30PM – 8:00PM
Author: Yu Hua
Moderator: Xudong Zhang
Event Fees: Members – $10, Non-Members - $15
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

This May, China Institute has partnered with the Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation to bring some of China’s best-selling and most beloved writers to New York. Please join us on Tuesday, May 10, 2016, for a conversation between Yu Hua, one of China’s best-known novelists, and Xudong Zhang, Director of NYU China House. Together they will delve into the mimetic impulse in Yu Hua's fiction, exploring the realist dimension of this writer who has been studied primarily under the rubric of modernism, experimentation, and the avant-garde.

All registered attendees will be entered to win a set of four of Yu Hua’s award winning books! This special prize includes Brothers, To Live, China in Ten Words, and The Seventh Day. Register today for your chance to win!

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Celebrated Voices of Contemporary Chinese Literature

Date & Time: Saturday, May 7, 2016
Ouyang Jianghe: Sichuan’s Master Poet: 1:00PM-2:15PM
Reception: 2:15PM-3:00PM
Speaker: Ouyang Jianghe; Moderator: Mai Mang (Yibing Huang)
Event Fees: Members – FREE, Non-Members - $5
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

This May, China Institute has partnered with the Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation to bring some of China’s best-selling and most beloved writers to New York. Please join us on Saturday, May 7, 2016, for two back-to-back events: Ouyang Jianghe: Sichuan’s Master Poet and Writers Roundtable: Liang Hong, Li Juan, and Yan Ge.

Ouyang Jianghe belongs to the “third generation” of twentieth-century Chinese literature and is one of the so-called “five masters from Sichuan.” This event will feature a reading of his works in both English and Chinese, followed by a moderated discussion. This event will be conducted in English.

Date & Time: Saturday, May 7, 2016
Writers Roundtable: Liang Hong, Li Juan, and Yan Ge: 3:00PM-4:15PM
Speaker: Liang Hong, Li Juan, and Yan Ge; Moderator: Dr. Yan Yue
Event Fees: Members – FREE, Non-Members - $5
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

Following the reception, China Institute’s Renwen Society will host a roundtable discussion with three of Contemporary China’s rising literary stars, moderated by Dr. Yan Yue of the United Nations’ Chinese Language Program. Liang Hong, Li Jian, and Yan Ge all grew up in a rapidly changing China, and their stories have all garnered wide national attention. This discussion will be conducted in Mandarin Chinese.

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson at 212-744-8181 ext. 138 or by email at [email protected]

五月斑斓时, 娟鸿歌人文: 下午3:00-4:15

星期六, 5月7日, 2016年
作家: 梁鴻, 李娟, 顏歌; 主持人: 岳岩 博士
會員免費, 對非會員收費5美元
講座前(2:15-3:00)提供茶點, 以饗聽衆。
地点: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

去年此時，中國10位一線作家做客華美人文學會，與紐約文學愛好者近距離“悅讀•悅知•悅享”文學問題的精彩場面仍歷歷在目，各位作家獨到而生動地分析與分享，為聽眾們打開了無數扇通往不同文學領域和精神世界的門，但匆匆而過，聽眾們意猶未盡，一直期待精彩繼續……。

今年此刻，我們再次邀請中國3位女性知名作家做客華美人文學會，與紐約文學愛好者共同回憶創作歷程、分享創作心得、探討文學發展。聽眾們將跟隨他們走進或現實、或魔幻、或詩情、或純粹的文學世界，感受或憂傷、或溫暖、或嚴肅、或孤獨的文字與情緒。

讓我們在色彩斑斕的5月，一起感受文學世界的獨特色彩和魅力吧！

講座用中文進行，因座位有限，請預先訂位。
了解詳情和訂位

請關注華美人文學會的微信官網：chineselectures

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China – The Red Sons: A Screening and Conversation with Zheng Shengtian

Date & Time: Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Introduction & Welcome: 6:30PM-6:35PM; Film Screening: 6:35PM-7:25PM; Break: 7:25PM-7:30PM
Conversation with Zheng Shengtian: 7:30PM-8:00PM; Q&A: 8:00PM-8:15PM
Moderator: Jane Debevoise; Speaker: Mr. Zheng Shengtian
Event Fees: Members – FREE, Non-Members - $5
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

Beginning in 1966, China’s Great Proletariat Cultural Revolution was a mass movement that shook the foundations of Modern China to its core. The movement’s ubiquitous presence deeply disrupted all aspects of Chinese society, and has had a lasting impact on Chinese culture that is still present today.

On May 3, 2016, join China Institute in collaboration with Asia Art Archive for a screening of China - The Red Sons (1968, 47 mins), shot by Australian filmmaker Roger Whittaker during a trip to China in 1968 organized by the Australian Union of University Students. One of the few documentaries made in China during the Cultural Revolution, the film offers a unique record of people’s daily lives in this period, featuring interviews with students, pupils, Red Guards and the late Anna Louise Strong.

Following the screening, renowned curator, Zheng Shengtian, and Jane DeBevoise, Chair of the Board of Directors, Asia Art Archive will host a discussion.

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson at 212-744-8181 ext. 138 or by email at [email protected]

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The 15th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for College Students

Date & Time: Saturday, April 9, 2016. 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Event Fees: Free
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

On April 9, 2016, China Institute will host the 15th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition. This is an exclusive opportunity for college students to demonstrate their mastery of Chinese language and culture. The winner of the senior level will be invited to participate in the final competition in China. This event is free and open to the public.

For details, please check the website: www.chinesehighway.com or click here to check out more information about this competition. For any questions, please email [email protected], or call (212) 835-5520 ext. 200.

Learn More

The 2016 East USA Preliminary Competition is sponsored by Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) and Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in New York, and is co-organized by the New York Service Center for Chinese Study Fellows Inc. and China Institute.

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From Jingdezhen to the Forbidden City: Porcelain for the Imperial Household

Date & Time: Thursday, March 17, 6:30-8:00 PM
Speaker(s) Name: Virginia Bower
Event Fees: Members $8; Nonmembers $10
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006
The lecture will be followed by a reception

Virginia Bower, Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, will deliver a lecture on imperial Chinese porcelain from the collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing, discussing the artistry and ceremonial use of these artworks. Professor Bower did her graduate work in Chinese art and archaeology at Princeton University. Her special interests are Chinese ceramics and the arts and culture of the early imperial dynasties. This lecture will be delivered in conjunction with China Institute’s We All Live in the Forbidden City project and our new book Bowls of Happiness.

Learn More & Register

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson at 212-744-8181 ext. 138 or by email at [email protected]

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Ballet in China: From Swan Lake to "Red" Ballets

Date & Time: Wednesday, February 24, 6:30-8:00 PM
Speaker(s) Name: National Ballet of China
Event Fees: Members $10; Nonmembers $20
Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006

The National Ballet of China, a beloved national symbol in its homeland and an iconic cultural emissary to the global community, will make a landmark appearance at China Institute together with Mme. Feng Ying, renowned ballerina and Artistic Director of the National Ballet of China. She will speak about this renowned danced company and the evolution of ballet in China, touching on the differing styles and how the company¹s storied traditions continue to develop in the present day, with dancers from the company demonstrating key points.

Learn More & Register

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson at 212-744-8181 ext. 138 or by email at [email protected]

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Author Talk - Beautiful Su: A Social and Cultural History of Suzhou, China with Stephen Koss

Tuesday, January 26, 2016 | 6:30PM – 8:00PM

Event Fees: $5 Members/$10 Non-Members

Suzhou, China is widely considered to be
“paradise on Earth”. Replete with natural beauty and a rich history to match, Suzhou has captivated the attention of poets, scholars, statesman, and travelers from afar since the earliest days of Chinese history.

Join us on Tuesday, January 26 for an Author Talk with Stephen Koss, who will discuss his latest work, Beautiful Su: A Social and Cultural History of Suzhou, China. In this epic new book, Koss paints a vivid picture of just how important Suzhou is to the Chinese nation, its people, and its collective ethos. From its rise as a major cultural and trading center, Koss guides the reader on a journey through more than 2000 years of Chinese History.

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson at 212-744-8181 ext. 138 or by email at [email protected]

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Serve The People! Serve The Rock! MusicDish Yaogun Launch

Tuesday, January 19, 2016 | 2:00PM – 9:00PM

Speakers Name: Eric de Fontenay, Nature Ganganbaigal, Stone (Schutze) Shi, Dr. Jiayan Mi

event Fees: FREE

Yaogun refers to Chinese rock, which was born nearly 30 years ago when Cui Jian performed at the Concert of Year of International Peace at Beijing Worker's Stadium. It has since grown into a movement, melding rock 'n roll with its own unique characteristics (rock with Chinese characteristics) and opening a new chapter in the long history of rock 'n roll. This event will introduce attendees to the spirit and music of Chinese rock and artists that have shaped its development through an exhibition, video presentations and speakers sharing their first-hand experiences.

Schedule:
• 2:00 PM: Yaogun exhibition + video screening opens
• 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Yaogun press conference
Speakers (PechaKucha Presentations + Panel Q&A)
• 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Networking Cocktail Reception

This event is sponsored by Asian in New York and held in conjunction with the APAP NYC, the global performing arts conference and marketplace. Learn More

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Michael Buening at 212-744-8181 ext. 149 or by email at [email protected]

Book Talk: Eileen Chang’s Naked Earth

Tuesday, December 1, 2015 | 6:30PM – 8:00PM

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS: $10 for members / $15 for non-members

One of the greatest and most loved of modern Chinese writers, Eileen Chang (张爱玲) illuminates the dark corners of the human existence with a style of disorienting beauty. Her late work Naked Earth (赤地之戀), originally commissioned as anti-Communist propaganda by the United States Information Service, is the story of two earnest young people confronting the grim realities of revolutionary change in the early years of Mao’s China. Unavailable in English for more than fifty years, it is a harrowing tale of perverted ideals, damaged souls, deepest loneliness, and terror.

At this event celebrating Naked Earth’s publication by New York Review Books (the first time it has been published outside of Hong Kong), China Institute Senior Lecturer Ben Wang will speak about Chang’s life, the unusual circumstances surrounding Naked Earth’s writing, and the timeless precision of Chang’s prose.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase.

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson 212-744-8181, ext. 138 or [email protected]

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Book Launch & Author Talk: Jeanne-Marie Gescher‘s All Under Heaven

Tuesday, November 17, 2015 | 6:30PM – 8:00PM

FREE

China Institute is delighted to announce an evening with Jeanne-Marie Gescher. Is China’s greatest importance to the world really its economics?

In her new book, Jeanne-Marie Gescher argues that China’s greatest importance lies in a 5,000 year question about order: how can human beings live together in a big and complex world?

Weaving together the inspirations, ideas and dreams that have shaped the way China’s people have thought about order from the ancient past to the recent present, Jeanne-Marie explains how and why China’s question is at the heart of everything, not only in China but for the world at large.

Through an evening of readings and conversation, Jeanne-Marie will share the ideas of her book: All Under Heaven, China’s Dreams of Order (all-under-heaven.com).

Learn more and register:
Click Here

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson 212-744-8181, ext. 138 or [email protected]

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China’s Millennials: The Want Generation with Eric Fish

Tuesday, November 3, 2015 | 6:30PM – 8:00PM

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS: $10 for members / $15 for non-members

In 1989, students marched on Tiananmen Square demanding democratic reform. The Communist Party responded with a massacre, but it was jolted into restructuring the economy and overhauling the education of its young citizens. A generation later, Chinese youth are a world apart from those who converged at Tiananmen. Brought up with lofty expectations, they’ve been accustomed to unprecedented opportunities on the back of China’s economic boom. But today, China’s growth is slowing and its demographics rapidly shifting, with the boom years giving way to a painful hangover.

Join us on Tuesday, November 3, for an Author Talk with Eric Fish, who will discuss his recently published work, China’s Millennials. In the book, Eric Fish, a millennial himself, profiles youth from around China to show how they are navigating the education system, the workplace, divisive social issues, and a resurgence in activism. Based on interviews with scholars, journalists, and hundreds of young Chinese, his engrossing book challenges the idea that today’s youth have been pacified by material comforts and nationalism. Following rural Henan students struggling to get into college, a computer prodigy who sparked a nationwide patriotic uproar, and young social activists grappling with authorities, Fish deftly captures youthful struggle, disillusionment, and rebellion in a system that is scrambling to keep them in line—and, increasingly, scrambling to adapt when its youth refuse to conform.

Author Bio:
Eric Fish lived in China from 2007 to 2014 as a teacher, student, and journalist. After teaching for three years in Nanjing and getting his Master’s degree at Tsinghua University, he worked for the Economic Observer in Beijing and wrote on Chinese politics, social issues, and education for outlets including Foreign Policy, The Atlantic, The Diplomat, and The Telegraph. He also founded the blog sinostand.com and the China Hang-up podcast. For his book, China’s Millennials: The Want Generation, he spoke with hundreds of diverse Chinese youth born in the 1980s and 1990s to explore how people of this generation are navigating the enormous socioeconomic and political shifts unfolding in their country. Fish currently works as a content producer at Asia Society in New York.

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Songs of a Golden Age: High Tang Poetry

Thursday, October 8, 2015 | 6:30PM – 8:00PM

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS: $25 for members / $30 for non-members

FULL SERIES TICKETS: $60 member / $75 non-member

The Tang dynasty (618-907) glows as the golden age of Chinese literature, distinguished by the ripening and flourishing of the art of poetry. Reigning supreme during the High (Middle) Tang period are the timeless and memorable oeuvres of Wang Han (687-736), Wang Changling(690-756), Wang Wei (701-761), and most importantly Li Bai (701-762), arguably the greatest poet in Chinese literature.

In his inaugural lecture series at China Institute’s new home, Ben Wang, Senior Lecturer of Language and Humanities of China Institute and an award-winning translator, will introduce the Tang dynasty and the lives and works of these four poets. Poems in their original Chinese texts will be studied character by character to give an in-depth understanding and a full appreciation of their profundity and beauty. The relationship between classical Chinese poetry, music, painting and major schools of thought will be explored, with comparative points of interest made between Chinese and English poetry.

This lecture will be conducted in English. No previous knowledge of the Chinese language is required.

This event is sold out!

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson 212-744-8181, ext. 138 or [email protected]

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China and the West During World War II: A Confucius Institute Day
Celebration

FREE! Saturday, September 26, 2015 | 2:00PM – 6:00PM

On September 26 the Confucius Institute at China Institute ([email protected]) will join nearly 500 Confucius Institutes around the world to celebrate Confucius Institute Day, a collaborative effort to celebrate the 11th anniversary of the founding of these institutions, with a shared mission to promote the understanding of Chinese language and culture. This year, in recognition of the 70th anniversary of the Anti-Fascist Victory in World War II and the Founding of the United Nations, this collective celebration will be guided by the theme “Understanding and Peace.” Join us for two lectures with Daniel Jackson and Professor Steve Hochstadt exploring China’s relationship with the West during World War II. There will be a tea reception for the authors between the two talks.

FREE! “Famine Sword and Fire” with
Daniel Jackson

Join us as Daniel Jackson discusses his book Famine, Sward and
Fire, which presents an intimate portrait of war and cooperation
between the United States and China. It is the untold story of
Chinese and Americans standing side-by-side, fighting together
and dying together on the highest, most rugged battlegrounds of
World War II.

Daniel Jackson grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2009 with a Bachelor's Degree in Military History and a minor in Chinese Language. He earned his wings at Sheppard Air Force Base in February 2011 and is now an Air Force pilot living near Pensacola, Florida.

FREE! “What I Learned from Shanghai
Refugees” with
Professor Steve Hochstadt

Of the 400,000 German-speaking Jews that escaped the Third
Reich as refugees, approximately 16,000 ended up in Shanghai
as part of one of the more remote enclaves within the Jewish
diaspora. The stories of the Shanghai Jews contain extremes of
the suffering and endurance that defined the refugee
experience. From 4:00 to 5:30, Professor Steve Hochstadt will
speak about these Jewish refugees and their impact on both
Chinese and Jewish societies.

Steve Hochstadt has been professor of history at Illinois College since 2006, after teaching at Bates College
for 27 years. His first book, Mobility and Modernity: Migration in Germany 1820-1989 (1999), won the Allan
Sharlin Prize of the SSHA. Sources of the Holocaust (2004) is a documents collection widely used in
Holocaust courses. Interviews with former Jewish refugees who went to Shanghai are the basis for two books:
Shanghai-Geschichten: Die jüdische Flucht nach China (2007), and Exodus to Shanghai: Stories of Escape
from the Third Reich (2012). He has spoken widely about the growing interest in China in Jewish history and
especially the history of Jews in China, and consults with the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum on the texts
for their exhibits. He is the treasurer of the Sino-Judaic Institute, a pioneer in the scholarship of and support for
Chinese-Jewish relations for the past 30 years. Hochstadt also writes a weekly column for the Jacksonville (IL)
Journal-Courier.

Registration is FREE. For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson at 212-744-8181 x138 or [email protected]

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Ben Wang on The Peach Blossom Fan

Thursday, September 24, 2015 | 6:30PM – 8:00PM

$10 for members / $15 for non-members

China Institute is joining with New York Review Books to celebrate the publication of Chen Shih-hsiang and Harold Acton’s lively translation of K’ung Shang-jen’s The Peach Blossom Fan. In his first lecture at China Institute’s new downtown home, Senior Lecturer Ben Wang will speak about this masterpiece of Chinese literature, a vast dramatic composition that combines the range and depth of a great novel with the swift intensity of film.

In his first lecture at China Institute’s new downtown home, Senior Lecturer Ben Wang will speak about this masterpiece of Chinese literature. With a large cast divided into a group of scrupulous and passionate patriots and another of corrupt and self-serving decadents, all of whom are based on real personalities and events of the day, the play tells the poignant story of love and heartbreaks in the midst of intriguing political and social upheavals that led to the fall of a monarchy. Mr. Wang will place The Peach Blossom Fan in this fascinating historical and literary context while delving into the beauty of its writing and its long-lasting influence.

For questions or to register by phone, please contact Aaron Nicholson 212-744-8181, ext. 138 or [email protected]