Recently, a delegation from the School of Arts, Nanjing University visited the Confucius Institute of the University of Sheffield in UK and successfully organized the “Chinese Culture Week”, featuring themes of zisha clay, Kunqu opera and calligraphy. Through three fascinating cultural events, the series demonstrated the unique charm of Chinese traditional culture to the British faculties, students as well as local citizens, and further promoted Sino-British cultural exchanges and cooperation.
The delegation consists of four experts and scholars the School of Arts, Nanjing University, headed by Prof. He Chengzhou, foreign member of the Academy of Europe, and director of the Institute of Global Humanities of Nanjing University. The delegation is co-lead by Fan Limeng, associate professor, director of the Office for Development and Alumni Affairs, and deputy director of the Research Center of Kunqu Opera. The other delegates are Prof. Huang Zhenming, chairman of the Jiangsu Provincial Administration Calligraphers' Association, and Yuan Shuai, associate researcher and executive head of the Zisha Clay Research Center. On the afternoon of February 25, 2025, local time, Dr Malcolm Butler, Vice Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, Andy Barker, British Co-Director of the Confucius Institute, and Wang Yong, Chinese Co-Director of the Confucius Institute (who’s also Associate Professor of the School of Arts, Nanjing University) attended the meeting.
At the meeting, Dr. Malcolm Butler and Mr. Barker warmly welcomed the delegation of College of Arts, Nanjing University. Both sides exchanged gifts and had an in-depth discussion on Chinese and western cultural exchanges and future cooperation.
After the meeting, the “Chinese Culture Week” was officially kicked off. The first event was held at the University of Sheffield's Portobello Centre, John Carr Design Suite C29, with the theme of “Tea, Pottery and Ink: The Cross-Media Aesthetics of Chinese Zisha Clay Culture”, presented by Yuan Shuai. The program was divided into three sections: an experience of the arts of tea, an academic lecture and zisha clay pottery workshop. Participants understood from the theories level that zisha clay culture is rooted in the tradition of tea culture, accomplished in the beauty of ceramics and associated with calligraphy. From the sensual level, they experienced the beauty of tea aroma and clay texture, and gained a better understanding of Zisha culture.
The second Kunqu opera event was held at The Diamond, G5 Workroom 2, with the theme of “Kunqu: One of the Oldest and Avant-Garde Theatre”. Prof. He Chengzhou, as the keynote speaker, introduced Kunqu opera from aspects of its history, profession, costumes, singing, and contemporary experimental creations, while Associate Prof. Fan Limeng enriched the lecture with live interactions and questionnaires. Guest performer Dr. Xu Yujun gave a wonderful performance of Kunqu opera and guided the voluntary audience through an attempt to learn and pick up Kunqu singing and body performance, which was well received.
The third event was held in The Wave, Workroom 2, with the theme of “The Implications of Chinese Calligraphy”, and the speaker was Prof. Huang Zhengming. The program consisted of three parts: a theoretical lecture, a calligraphy workshop, and a live demonstration of creative calligraphy. Participants experienced the charm of ink, got a sense of the aesthetic realm of poetry, calligraphy and printing, and witnessed the creative state of an calligrapher. In the laughter and fragrance of ink and paper, the “Chinese Culture Week” came to a successful end.
After the event, British students and local participants expressed their gratitude to the delegation and their strong desire to further study Chinese culture. The School of Arts, Nanjing University and the Confucius Institute at the University of Sheffield indicated that they will continue to strengthen their cooperation and promote more cultural exchange programs in the future, contributing to the global cultural diversity. The successful organization of the “Chinese Culture Week” is not only a cultural feast, but also a vivid testimony of Sino-British friendship, laying a solid foundation for future in-depth cooperation in culture, education and other fields.
