Lecture Theme:  

Chinese Calligraphy and Public Diplomacy  

Lecture Details:  

- Date & Time: May 28, 2025 (Wednesday), 14:00–16:00  

- Venue: Room 407, Lide Building, Renmin University of China  

Lecture Abstract:  

Chinese calligraphy, a vital carrier of Chinese culture, stands as one of China's highest art forms. Historically, the Chinese people's aesthetic perception and expression have been realized through the strokes and structures of calligraphy. Silent yet melodious as music, colorless yet radiant as painting, Chinese calligraphy captivates with its beauty and profound artistic charm.  

This lecture will adopt a cross-cultural and interdisciplinary perspective to explore how Chinese calligraphy culture fosters mutual learning among world civilizations. Through concise explanations and carefully selected visuals, the lecture will highlight the unique role of Chinese character calligraphy education in the international dissemination of Chinese culture and China's public diplomacy efforts. It aims to provide practical pathways for enhancing contemporary university students' abilities in cultural communication and public diplomacy.  

Speaker Profile:  

Zhou Bin is a tenured Professor (Level II) and doctoral advisor at the School of Humanities, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He serves as the Director of the International Research Institute for Chinese Calligraphy Culture, the Director of the Center for the Integration and Innovation of Chinese Calligraphy and Traditional Culture at Renmin University of China, and the Chief Expert at the Cultural Industry Research Institute of Renmin University.  

His concurrent roles include:  

- Member of the Chinese Calligraphy Education Steering Committee under the Ministry of Education  

- Chairman of the "Calligraphy Little United Nations" (a UN-affiliated NGO)  

- Council Member of the International Confucian Association  

- Council Member of the Chinese Culture Development Promotion Association  

- President of the Shanghai Folk Culture Society  

- Member of the Chinese Calligraphers Association  

- Executive Council Member of the Shanghai Calligraphers Association  

His calligraphy works have been featured in prestigious exhibitions such as the 4th and 8th National Calligraphy and Seal Engraving Exhibitions, the 8th National Exhibition of Calligraphy and Seal Engraving by Middle-Aged and Young Artists, and the "500 Masters of Contemporary Calligraphy" project. He has also been invited to participate in the 13th China Arts Festival National Excellent Calligraphy and Seal Engraving Exhibition and has received awards at international forums like "Contemporary Calligraphy Creation Research and How Chinese Calligraphy Goes Global" and the "Xie Zhiliu Calligraphy Art Nomination Exhibition."  

Representative works

Host:  

Zhang Yifan, Ph.D. in Literature, is a Master's advisor at the School of Liberal Arts, Renmin University of China, and the head of the University's Staff Calligraphy Association. A scholar of Chinese theater history under the guidance of renowned experts such as Zhou Yude, Niu Biao, and Zhou Huabin, he has authored works including “The Establishment of Drama Studies as a Discipline”, “Initial Explorations in Mei Lanfang Studies”, and “How One Play Revived a Genre: The Adaptation and Performance of Kunqu's "Fifteen Strings of Cash."“ He also co-edited the ten-volume “Memories of Peking Opera” with Niu Biao.  

Organizers:  

- School of Liberal Arts, RUC

- Aesthetic Education Center, RUC