WHAT: "The Year of the Dragon", Adam J. Ensign presents the visual history of the dragon, unique among Chinese zodiac signs, on the cusp of the Lunar New Year. An in-person RASBJ Sunday event at the Courtyard Institute

WHEN: Saturday Feb. 3, 2024 from 4.30-6 PM Beijing Time (doors open 4 PM), followed by an optional (no-host) dinner at Black Sesame Kitchen

MORE ABOUT THE EVENT: In celebration of the Year of the Dragon, this in-person talk by Adam Ensign will present the significance of the dragon as a motif in Chinese art with fascinating images highlighting how the creature has evolved throughout history and will share an overview of the mystical beast's unique place among the twelve birth signs of the traditional calendar with perspectives on how the jiachen year is distinct from other years. Showcasing an assortment of dragon-themed artwork from the Palace Museum's collection and other intriguing sources, the talk will delve into the fantastic offspring of the dragon in the historical and contemporary Chinese imagination and shed light on how this paramount animal of the bestiary relates to China's bygone imperial establishment and the prestige of the Son of Heaven.

MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Adam Ensign has been an instructor in the School of Foreign Languages at Renmin University since 2016. Having earned his master's degree in linguistics from Peking University's Department of Chinese Language and Literature in 2012, he formerly taught at Beijing Language and Culture University (2013–2016) and worked as a part-time translator and editor for the Palace Museum's Department of IT, Imaging, and Digital Media (2013–2022). Since November 2023, he has been translating for the Palace Museum under the editorial management of China International Communications Group.

HOW MUCH: RMB 100 for RASBJ members, RMB 200 for non-members.

HOW TO JOIN THE EVENT: Please click "Register" or "I Will Attend" and follow the instructions. For payment, Alipay may be easier than WeChat. After successful registration you will receive a confirmation email. If you appear not to have received it, check your spam folder.

NOTE: The speaker and organisers plan to dine post-event at Black Sesame Kitchen (BSK), the private kitchen adjacent to the venue's event space. Please join to sample BSK's communal dining with wine pairings! You can make reservations and payments by contacting BSK directly: email reservationbsk@163.com or phone 13691474408 at least 4 days before the event. The dinner cost is not included in the event ticket; diners will pay for themselves. Contact BSK directly if you have questions about menu/pricing.

REFUND POLICY: If the organiser decides to cancel or postpone the event, registrants will be refunded. Registrants who find they cannot attend for personal reasons will be refunded if they notify RASBJ at least 72 hours before the start of the event. No refunds will be available for cancellations less than 72 hours before the event.