Category: announcements

Five Week Chinese Calligraphy Course – May, 2025

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Key Information:

Date: Wednesdays: 7, 14, 21, 28 May 2025 and 4 June 2025,

Time: 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Student Level:

Open to all levels — beginners and advanced learners alike. This course also serves as an excellent follow-up for those who previously attended a Chinese calligraphy class. All practice materials will be refreshed, ensuring a new and enriching experience. No Chinese language skills or background is required.

Class Size:

A minimum of five students is required for the course to proceed.

Location:

Confucius Institute campus, Abden House, 1 Marchhall Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 5HP

Why Join This Course?

Chinese calligraphy is one of China’s oldest and most revered visual art forms. Beyond its artistic beauty, practising calligraphy is a calming, meditative process that enhances mental focus, promotes relaxation, and supports overall well-being. You’ll learn to control the traditional Chinese soft brush — a tool that connects mind and body — making this an exercise in creativity and physical coordination. The course begins with an introduction to essential brush and ink techniques, followed by guidance on mastering the fundamental strokes of key Chinese calligraphy scripts.

What Will You Learn?

This dynamic, hands-on course combines instructor demonstrations with constructive feedback to help you refine your technique and develop your unique style.

The course will be taught by Chi Zhang, Scotland’s leading Chinese calligrapher and painter. Featured in the BBC documentary ‘The Art of Chinese Brush Painting’ and shortlisted for ‘Sky TV Landscape Artist of the Year 2015’, his work was projected across Edinburgh Castle during the 2015 Military Tattoo. To explore more of Chi’s stunning work, visit www.chizhangartist.com.

How much does it cost?:

£100 (all materials will be included)

Booking & Further Information:

Spaces are limited to ensure a high-quality learning experience — book early to secure your place! To register, please complete the registration form HERE.  Payment can be made via the University Epay link HERE.

 

Interested in one-to-one tutorials or small group workshops? These can also be arranged upon request. Please email info@confuciusinstitute.ac.uk for more details.

Chinese Fan Painting Workshop

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Key Information:

Date & Time: 10 am – 3.00 pm / Saturday 21 June 2025

Student level: Our expert instructors will guide you every step of the way, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist.

Location: This class will be delivered in person at the Confucius Institute campus, 1 Marchhall Crescent Edinburgh EH16 5HP.

Why should I take this course?

In this workshop, you’ll learn the techniques of Chinese brush painting as you create a beautiful floral design on a fan. Using ink, rice paper, and a Chinese brush, you’ll learn to paint petals, leaves, stems, and other details to bring your flowers to life.

What does it cover?

Discover the beauty of Chinese brush painting and express your creativity in a fun and relaxing atmosphere. We will guide you through the steps to create your own hand-painted fan. You’ll leave the workshop with a stunning work of art that you can display or use to keep cool on a hot day.

About the teacher:

This course will be led by Chi Zhang – an experienced instructor featured in the BBC documentary ‘The Art of Chinese Brush Painting’, shortlisted for ‘Sky TV Landscape Artist of the Year 2015’, whose work has been projected across Edinburgh Castle during the 2015 Military Tattoo. For more information and to see Chi’s work, please visit http://www.chizhangartist.com. Please get in touch with the tutor if you need any further information or advice before registration.

How much does it cost?

£40

Booking & Further information:

To optimise the learning experience, a maximum capacity has been set per group – so space is very limited! To secure one of the limited spaces on this course, please complete the registration form HERE, and payment can be made HERE.

One-to-one tutorials and small group workshops can also be arranged. Please email info@confuciusinstitute.ac.uk for more info.

Chinese Brush Painting Workshop – Scottish Landscape (Outdoor Painting)

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Key Information

Date & Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, Saturday, 24 May 2025

Student Level: This course is suitable for both beginners and advanced students. It also works as a follow-up for students who previously attended the Chinese landscape painting class. All practice materials will be refreshed from the previous class.

Location: This class will be delivered in person at the garden of Confucius Institute Campus, 1 Marchhall Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 5HP.

Why Should I Take This Course?

Chinese brush painting is a traditional art form that beautifully depicts nature. In this course, we will focus on outdoor painting, combining the techniques of Shan Shui (mountain and water) with the stunning Scottish landscape.

Taking inspiration from the picturesque surroundings of Abden House, the main building of the Confucius Institute, this workshop will blend classroom-based instruction with outdoor sketching and painting, weather permitting. You’ll be guided through techniques for capturing the landscape with Chinese brushes and ink while learning to incorporate Scottish scenes into the art.

Live demonstrations will be provided, and the tutor will ensure you can apply the techniques effectively to your work. You are welcome to bring your own photo for inspiration.

What Does It Cover?

Chinese brush painting is a way to express beauty and a calming practice. It helps to reduce stress and increase focus. Take this opportunity to paint in nature and immerse yourself in the peaceful flow of the art form.

About the Teacher

This course will be led by Chi Zhang, an experienced instructor featured in the BBC documentary The Art of Chinese Brush Painting. Chi was shortlisted for Sky TV Landscape Artist of the Year 2015, and her work has been projected across Edinburgh Castle during the 2015 Military Tattoo.

For more information and to view Chi’s artwork, visit www.chizhangartist.com.

How much does it cost?

Cost: £40

Booking & Further Information

To ensure the best learning experience, the class size is limited. Please complete the registration form HERE and payment can be made HERE

For more information or to arrange one-on-one tutorials or small group workshops, please email info@confuciusinstitute.ac.uk.

 

The Evolution of a Master Storyteller from China – in Conversation with Mai Jia

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Event details:

Date & Time: 25th March at 5.30pm – 7.00pm

Location: Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SR

Booking Information:

This event is free but ticketed, please book your tickets HERE.

Born in 1964 in Zhejiang province, Mai Jia is one of China’s most celebrated authors, renowned for his mastery of the spy novel. A best-selling writer and recipient of China’s highest literary honour, the Mao Dun Literature Prize, his works have captivated millions.

His international breakthrough Decoded was published by in the UK by Penguin Modern Classics in 2014. The novel earned global acclaim, with the Economist hailing it as “a great Chinese novel” and the Wall Street Journal praising it as “a novel that challenges the reader’s mind while achieving literary stature.”

However, in 2019 the author took an unexpected turn—leaving behind the world of espionage fiction to embrace a deeply personal storytelling approach. His novel The Colonel and the Eunuch is a poignant coming-of-age story, a multi-generational family saga and a profound exploration of heroism. This bold departure from his signature style resonated powerfully with readers, selling over 4 million copies.