The Confucius Institute for Scotland in the University of Edinburgh

Professor Puett, Harvard University
`Connecting the World: Ritual Theory from Early China.` Raeburn Room, Old College, University of Edinburgh


Professor Puett is an internationally renowned speaker famous for his brilliant style of free and lively presentation. A leading authority on early Chinese history of ideas he has published extensively on topics such as cosmology, sacrifice, self-divinization, debates concerning
innovation and artifice, ritual, emotions, sagehood and historiography in Early China.

Being trained in Chinese studies and anthropology his analysis always takes Chinese thought as part of human thought. His work is pre-eminent in mapping out and elaborating broader cultural issues of early Chinese civilization. Puett thereby makes use and develops crosscultural
and transdisciplinary analytical concepts and is thus able to provide highly inspiring comparative perspectives to a broad public.

This talk takes place in the Raeburn Room, Old College, University of Edinburgh from 6pm to 8pm. It is a free talk but places should be booked in advance. To book please email info@confuciusinstitute.ac.uk or call 0131 662 2180.

Jung Chang was born in Yibin, Sichuan Province, China, in 1952. During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) she worked as a peasant, a ‘barefoot’ doctor, a steelworker, and an electrician before becoming an English-language student and, later, an assistant lecturer at Sichuan University. She left China for Britain in 1978 and obtained a PhD in Linguistics in 1982 at the University of York - the first person from Communist China to receive a doctorate from a British university.

She is the author of the best-selling books Wild Swans - Three Daughters of China and Mao: The Unknown Story (co-written with Jon Halliday). Both books have been translated into more than 30 languages, and together sold some 15 million copies. Among the many awards she has won are the UK Writers’ Guild Best Non-Fiction (1992) and Book Of The Year UK (1993).

Jung Chang spent more than a decade, with her husband John Halliday, researching all aspects of the life of Mao Tse-tung to produce a highly acclaimed biography of Mao.

Through interviews with many of Mao’s close circle in China who had never talked publicly before, and with virtually everyone outside China who had significant dealings with him, they revealed an extraordinary portrait of the Chinese leader, exploding many of the myths surrounding him.

In her lecture, Jung Chang will give a fascinating insight into her own personal journey towards understanding the tumultuous life of one of the 20th century’s most notorious political figures.

This Edinburgh Lecture is presented by The Open University in Scotland.

29 January 2009, 6.30pm
The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh
Tickets: Free, subject to £3 per ticket admin fee

Tickets can be booked via the Hub Box Office or click here to book online

Tickets are free but subject to a £3.00 admin fee. These can be booked via the Hub Box Office or click

The Volunteer Hall, Galashiels is the venue for the Year of the Ox celebrations in Galashiels.

On Sat 24 Jan Galashiels will have a distinctly Oriental feel about it. Following the opening of the Festival at noon, visitors will be treated to a variety of entertainment including martial arts demonstration, Chinese Acrobatics, a Circus Troupe, and of course a Lion Dance.

The Dragon Dance, like the Lion Dance plays an important part in Chinese culture. The dragon is regarded as a sacred creature, symbolising power, courage, righteousness and dignity. The colourful dance signifies the end of the year and welcomes a new start.

Drop into Kelvingrove on Sat 24 Jan and Sun 25 Jan to take part in Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of the Ox. Last year saw over 7000 visitors for Chinese New Year who created paper lanterns, made Chinese knots, folded paper dragons and joined in the lion dance procession around the museum and enjoyed the Chinese music and dance performances presented by the talented artists and performers from the Glasgow Chinese community.

This year`s programme organised by Ricefield Arts and Cultural Centre promises to be equally exciting with lots of hands-on workshops, storytelling, music and dance performances by Harmony Chinese Music Ensemble, Glasgow Oriental Dancing Association (GODA) and the Village Storytelling Centre.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Sat/Sun 24/25 January noon till 3pm.

One of the best ways of getting to know a place is to look at its movies – its entertainments and its art films. Mark Cousins is one of Edinburgh`s most successful film writer, producer and directors and is therefore best placed to give us an insight into this genre of the visual arts and how it reflect a country and its people. In 1991 he began a five year collaboration with the Edinburgh Film Festival. First as a programmer, then as Director - and together with a great team - he reworked the event, scrapping existing programme categories and inventing Scene by Scene. He is Chair of Scottish Kids are Making Movies and continues to be actively involved in the film industry. This lecture will explore the nation and its people through cinema.

This event is sponsored by Napier University.

A new date is being sought for this lecture and details will be posted as soon as this is confirmed.