14/11/2025
The Nottingham Confucius Institute (NCI) at the University of Nottingham was delighted to host a captivating Mandarin Corner dedicated to the exquisite art of Song Brocade on Friday 7 November. The event drew a lively crowd of around 50 students, staff and local residents for an evening of cultural discovery and hands-on creativity.
The session opened with an engaging introduction to the history of Song Brocade, a textile so revered it's known as the "crown of brocades." Participants learned about its origins in the Song Dynasty and its modern status as a protected intangible cultural heritage.
From there, the excitement grew as attendees delved into the symbolism of classic brocade patterns. A dynamic group discussion and quiz had everyone exploring the stories behind motifs like the "Eight Connections" and "Coin" patterns, sparking lively conversation and collaborative learning.
Undoubtedly, the highlight of the evening was the hands-on craft session. Participants had the unique opportunity to work with authentic Song Brocade, creating their own beautiful wind chimes or pearl-adorned artwork. The room was filled with focused energy as everyone carefully assembled their pieces, resulting in a wonderful array of creations that blended traditional elegance with personal flair.
"It's one thing to see pictures in a book, but to actually handle this material and create something with your own hands—it’s incredible," shared one postgraduate student, holding up her finished piece.
View event highlights on our Instagram.
The event was a inspiring demonstration of how language learning and cultural experience can intertwine, leaving everyone looking forward to the next gathering.
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织锦载道，文化润心——诺丁汉大学孔子学院举办“宋锦”主题汉语角活动
2025年11月7日，诺丁汉大学孔子学院成功举办以国家级非物质文化遗产——“宋锦”为主题的汉语角活动。活动将传统工艺与语言文化学习有机融合，吸引了约50名中外师生积极参与。大家在轻松愉快的氛围中共同领略中华美学的独特韵味与深厚底蕴。
活动伊始，主持人耿一鸣为在场师生简要介绍了“宋锦”的历史渊源与发展脉络，从宋代织造技艺的鼎盛时期，到当代对非物质文化遗产的系统保护，生动勾勒出“宋锦”作为“锦绣之冠”的文化地位。随后，她以经典“宋锦”纹样为切入点，引导参与者观察“八达纹”“铜钱纹”“万字纹”等代表性图案，并围绕纹样的命名来源与文化寓意展开小组讨论与趣味问答。现场气氛热烈，各组成员积极协作，在辨识与解读中深化了对中国传统纹样文化内涵的理解。
在动手体验环节，参与者们在志愿者的协助下，选择制作宋锦风铃或宋锦珍珠画。大家仔细裁剪、耐心拼贴，在亲手实践中近距离感受“宋锦”织造技艺的精湛与色彩搭配的典雅。一件件融合传统美学与现代创意的作品逐渐呈现，不少参与者都为能亲手触摸并创意使用中国宋锦而倍感欣喜，现场洋溢着专注投入与友好合作的愉悦氛围。
本次汉语角以“宋锦”为文化纽带，不仅丰富了参与者对中国非物质文化遗产的直观认识，也拓展了语言教学与文化体验相结合的新形式。诺丁汉大学孔子学院表示，未来将继续深入挖掘中华优秀传统文化资源，打造更多融知识性、趣味性与互动性于一体的文化交流平台，旨在推动语言能力与文化认知的有机联动，让每一次交流都成为语言与文化同步分享的生动实践。
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Posted on Tuesday 18th November 2025