UPCOMING EVENT
One-Day Symposium
Forging the Sacred: Imagery, Ritual & Power in Shang–Zhou Bronzes
Saturday, May 24, 2025 from 9:30am-5:30pm
Tickets: $40 (Adult); $25 (Members & Students)
Held in conjunction with our exhibition Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes from the Minneapolis Institute of Art, this one-day symposium brings together leading scholars in art history and archaeology to explore the ceremonial and political dimensions of bronze in the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Through several presentations, speakers will examine how bronze vessels and images were not only crafted as material objects but also forged as instruments of sacred authority, ancestral communication, and social hierarchy. Topics will include the symbolic language of bronze iconography, the role of bronze in royal legitimation, and new insights from recent archaeological discoveries. Together, these perspectives shed light on how bronze shaped early Chinese ritual practice, political culture, and systems of meaning. The symposium invites scholars, students, and the public to reflect on the enduring legacy of one of ancient China’s most powerful ceremonial technologies.
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Yung-ti Li (The University of Chicago, Associate Professor, East Asian Language and Civilizations)
Dr. Yang Liu (Minneapolis Institute of Art, Chair of Asian Art & Curator of Chinese Art)
Dr. Edward L. Shaughnessy (The University of Chicago, Lorraine J. and Herrlee G. Creel Distinguished Service Professor of Early China, Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations)
Donna Strahan (Smithsonian Institution)
Dr. Yan Sun (Gettysburg College, Professor of Art History)
Dr. Eugene Wang (Harvard University, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Professor of Asian Art and Founding Director of Harvard FAS CAMLab, Dept of History of Art and Architecture)
Moderator – Dr. Jenny F. So, Professor of Fine Arts (retired), The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Organizer – Dr. Yang Liu and Tracy Jiao, China Institute Gallery Manager
Hosted by China Institute Gallery
Breakfast and an afternoon reception will be provided. The program includes complimentary admission to the exhibition.
For more information, please contact Tracy Jiao at [email protected].
To reserve tickets, click here.
ASIA WEEK NEW YORK EXHIBITION
Celestial horse. Han dynasty, 1st-2nd century CE. Bronze, 44 7/8 x 34 1/2 x 14 1/2 in. (113.98 x 87.63 x 36.83 cm); Courtesy China Institute of America
Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes from the Minneapolis Institute of Art
March 6 – July 13, 2025
Curator’s Lecture: Thursday, March 6 from 6:30-8pm (RSVP)
Asia Week Open House: Friday, March 14 from 10am-8pm (Free)
One Day Symposium Saturday, May 24 from 9:30am-5:30pm
We are pleased to present Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes from the Minneapolis Institute of Art showcasing one of the world’s greatest collections of ancient Chinese bronzes outside of China from a crucial period in the history of human civilization. Traveling from the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the extraordinary Bronze Age vessels for food and wine as well as imaginative animal sculptures, are on view for the first time in New York City.
Bronze casting in China, which began over 4,000 years ago, stands as one of the greatest achievements in early metalcraft. During the Shang (1600–1046 BCE) and Zhou (1046–256 BCE) dynasties, the period known as the Bronze Age, ritual bronze vessels played a central role in ancestor worship, a cornerstone of Chinese spiritual and social life. Each vessel type served a specific purpose in ritual ceremonies and was adorned with intricate designs that symbolized power, spirituality, and cosmic harmony. Many were inscribed to honor ancestors, rulers, or to commemorate significant events, blending artistic mastery with historical record. These vessels, crafted using advanced casting techniques, were not only functional but also remarkable testaments to technological and cultural sophistication.
With more than 70 objects ranging from a wine vessel in the form of a double-owl from the Late Shang dynasty, 12th century BCE, to a celestial horse sculpture from the Han dynasty, 1st to 2nd century CE, this exhibition explores the diverse forms, functions, and symbolic meanings of ancient Chinese bronzes, providing a window into the spiritual and artistic essence of early Chinese civilization.
Also join their one-day symposium on May 24 where leading scholars in art history and archaeology will explore the ceremonial and political dimensions of bronze in the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Through several presentations, speakers will examine how bronze vessels and images were not only crafted as material objects but also forged as instruments of sacred authority, ancestral communication, and social hierarchy. Learn more and sign up here.
To learn more, click here.
ONGOING PROGRAMS
China Institute Calligraphy, Music & Mandarin Meetup
Monthly
Tickets: $12 General; Free Students & Members
Step into a world where tradition meets artistry, and ancient culture resonates with the busy life in New York City! China Institute in America cordially invites you to this monthly program for a mesmerizing evening of traditional Chinese music and the enchanting world of calligraphy.
Recently, a Mandarin Language Table has been added for those who wish to practice their Mandarin skills while enjoying music and trying hands-on calligraphy. The practice session will mainly happen during the break between music performances. Participants will receive support from our instructors and interns, who are native speakers trained in teaching Mandarin as a foreign language.
Listen to the performance of the unique Chinese instruments, and feel the charm of Chinese music combined with practicing Chinese calligraphy with a master calligrapher. Take the chance to interact with our calligrapher, musicians and fellow cultural lovers too!
No previous experience of calligraphy is required. Ink, paper, and brush will be provided onsite. Join like-minded friends to enjoy tea, practice calligraphy, and listen to music. We look forward to a wonderful evening with you!
Refreshments will be served.
This program is in partnership with the US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music.
To learn more, click here.
Lunch and Learn
Fridays
Online
Join us virtually to read aloud Chinese poetry, learn about Chinese culture, and gain insight into Chinese life through Chinese art, literature, and history. Participants will enjoy live, interactive learning sessions with our language and cultural experts from home.
Would you like to explore the rich culinary landscape of China? Far beyond the familiar Chinese takeout in U.S. cities, Chinese cuisine is a complex tapestry of regional flavors and ethnic traditions.
Starting February 2025, our Lunch and Learn series will focus on food and food cultures in China’s various regions as well as the remarkable cross-cultural journey in New York. We will showcase dishes that exhibit their unique foodways and culinary identities.
We will discuss how history and migration have contributed to the development of cuisine culture in Beijing; how geography and social changes have defined the food on table in Yanji (in northeast China); how Nuosu people’s careful collection of grains and animal sacrifice have generated remarkable feast from the highlands in Xichang (in southwest China); and lastly, how the neighborhood of Flushing has witnessed the expansion of Chinese cuisine from Cantonese and Sichuan restaurants to the new addition of eateries from Northern and Central China in New York City. With this season’s four interactive online sessions, we hope to explore delicious food as well as the values and history embedded in diverse culinary traditions in China and beyond!
To learn more, click here.
Discover China Through Art Tour / Workshop
March 6 – July 13, 2025
Discover China Through Art (DCTA), China Institute Gallery’s innovative art education program for groups, will introduce participants to our spring exhibition – Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes from the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Our specialized hands-on activity will feature a bronze pattern- making workshop. Participants will learn some classical bronze patterns from the exhibition, then use a pen to gently press and emboss bronze patterns on a piece of aluminum foil, creating a metallic texture effect. Each group visit consists of a three-part program featuring a docent-led gallery talk, a hands-on art workshop along with a slide show, all of which can be adapted for different age groups and interests.
To learn more and register, click here.
