The Confucius Institute for Scotland in the University of Edinburgh

The Consulate General of Japan and the City of Edinburgh Council in cooperation with the Japan Society of Scotland are pleased to present a special concert `Heart of Japan`.

Tatsuya Yamauchi and Japan New Romantics (violin, piano, shakuhachi (bamboo flute) and cello) are four talented young Japanese musicians. Their repertoire ranges from world to pop to classical. Their melodies convey at time images of Japanese landscapes but they also include traditional Scottish songs in their programme.

Tatsuya Yamauchi will play on a violin made from a pine tree uprooted in the devastating tsunami of 2011 to remember the victims and support the surviors.

This Edinburgh concert follows on from their April 2011 performances in Edinburgh and Inverness.

The concert will take place on Friday 19th October 2012 at St Andrews & St George`s West Church in Shandwick Place. Doors open at 19.00 with the performance from 19.30. A reception will follow the concert.

Tickets are priced at £5. To book please register with Joanna at the Consulate General of Japan joanna.stuart@ed.mofa.go.jp. Tickets can also be bought on the door.

To mark the first anniversary of the opening of the Confucius Institute at the University of Glasgow a special lecture `Revival of Confucianism and the Political Future of China` will be given by Prof. Xinzhong Yao, Director, Lau China Institute, King`s College London.

Speaker: Xinzhong Yao is professor and director of the Lau China Institute, King’s College London. Among his publications are Confucian Studies—An Anthology, co-edited with Wei-ming Tu, Routledge, volumes 1-4, 2010; Wisdom in Early Confucian and Israelite Traditions, Ashgate, 2006; An Introduction to Confucianism, Cambridge University Press, 2000.

Abstract: Most intellectuals in China would agree that political reform must be carried out, but they differ significantly concerning what to reform and how to do it. Among various approaches intensively debated is the one put forward by Confucians or Confucian scholars. This approach is by no means singular; rather it consists of a wide spectrum of political theories and proposals that are part of an overall revival movement which has accelerated since 2000. Their proposals range from the ‘Confucian Constitutional Government’ (儒家宪政) in the higher realm of politics to ‘institutionalising Confucian religion’ (体制化儒教) in the lower realm. Are these theories and approaches relevant to today’s actual life and society? How realistically will they influence or shape China’s political future? To answer these questions we will look at the variety of activities engaged in the name of ‘reviving Confucianism’(复兴儒学，复兴儒教), analyse the political implications they carry with them, and examine how these implications can contribute to a synergy of Confucianism and the communist ideology in constructing the future of Chinese politics.

DATE: Wed 3 October 2012
TIME: Lecture 18.00-19.15; Networking 19.15-20.00
VENUE: TBA, University of Glasgow

To register your interest please visit: our booking site

Join us for the opening lecture in the autumn programme of China, Scotland and the World - a lecture series which aims to help Scottish business people understand China`s social fabric, its networks and hierarchies, and where decision-making lies.

Dr Liu Li, is an alumnus of the University of Edinburgh having received his PhD in 1991. Returning to China he established his architectural design company which today is recognised as one of Beijing`s most successful architectural practices.

For full details of this talk and others in the series please visit www.confuciusinstitute.ac.uk.

Two Chinese orchestral concerts took place in September thanks to a week long visit by Peking University`s Chinese Orchestra. The 60 strong orchestra visited Scotland for one week during which time they undertook outreach programmes to a number of local authority schools where in a series of informal performances and talks with students they built on the earlier work of the Silk Road project.

Full details of the visit, information about the Silk Road project and a selection of images from the concerts can be seen on the microsite www.confuciusinstitute.ac.uk/silk

Chinese Music Traditional and New - come and enjoy the melodies and rhythms of traditional Chinese instruments and songs from The Harmony Ensemble, a Scottish based group in the unique setting of Canongate Kirk. The entrancing voice of Fong Liu is featured as she continues her revival of some Shanghai Jazz songs. Hear Hooi Ling Eng on percussion and zheng (zither), composer Eddie McGuire on di-zi (bamboo flute) and Xian Shan on classical accordion.

As well as traditional songs from various parts of China, new songs will be performed including `Bonnie Pandas Welcome Here`, especially composed by Fong and Eddie for Edinburgh Zoo, Children`s Classic Concerts and RSNO Junior Chorus.

The concert takes place at Canongate Kirk on Friday 25 August from 19.30-21.30. Tickets are priced at £10 (£7).

For further information and to book please visit the Fringe website.