New Zealand Chinese Language Week, opens a new window is a Kiwi-driven initiative aiming at encouraging New Zealanders to discover Chinese language and culture. It was officially launched by Raymond Huo as a sitting Member of Parliament on 24 May 2014. This year New Zealand Chinese Language Week is on from 23 to 29 September. Explore all the events in the nationwide celebration during New Zealand Chinese Language Week, opens a new window.
New Zealand Chinese Language Week Celebrations at Shirley and Hornby Libraries
Coincidentally, Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival on 24 September and Confucius’ Birthday on 28 September fall during this year’s New Zealand Chinese Language Week. Christchurch City Libraries is collaborating with the Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury, opens a new window to celebrate the two events.
Shirley Library
Our activities include paper cutting, calligraphy, plate painting, Chinese games, Chinese folk dancing, and learning basic Chinese greeting and numbers. Free, no bookings required. Recommended for all ages. Caregiver required.
- Shirley Library, Monday 24 September 2pm to 4.30pm
- Shirley Library, Thursday 27 September 2pm to 4.30pm
Hornby Library
Come and celebrate Chinese Language Week with us at Hornby Library. Lead teacher, Fang Tian from the Confucius Institute will run a Chinese calligraphy taster and Cherry Blossom painting session. Suitable for all ages. FREE, no bookings required. Wednesday 26 September, 3.30pm to 4.30pm. Find out more.
Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival中秋节
Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is on the 15th day of the 8th month of a lunar calendar year when the moon is believed to the biggest and fullest. Chinese people believe that a full moon is a symbol of reunion, harmony and happiness so Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunion. Mooncakes are the main characteristic food for this occasion. Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival was derived from the ancient rite of offering sacrifices to the sun in spring and to the moon in autumn. Folklore about the origin of the festival is based on the ancient legend of Chang’e and her fateful ascent to the heavens after having swallowed an elixir pill.
Books and resources in the library related to Mid-Autumn Festival 图书馆有关中秋节的读物, opens a new window
Confucius’ Birthday孔子诞辰
Confucius, opens a new window, also known as Kong Qiu, is a great Chinese scholar, teacher and social philosopher. Confucius is believed to be born on 28 September, 551BC. He was living in a period regarded as a time of great moral decline. Working with his disciples, Confucius edited and wrote the classics and compiled Four Books and Five Classics 四书五经 to find solutions. In his life time, Confucius traveled throughout eastern China to persuade the official classes and rulers of Chinese states with the great moral teachings of the sages of the past. Although Confucius did not succeed in reviving the classics, his teachings formed as a dominant Chinese ideology, known as Confucianism, which values the concepts of benevolence仁, ritual仪, propriety礼. His teachings have had a profoundly influence on Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Japanese thoughts and life for 2500 years.
Each year, Confucius' birthday celebration ceremonies are held on the island of Qufu (Shangdong Province, Mainland China), the birthplace of Confucius. Outside Mainland China, Confucius’ birthday is also celebrated in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea and Japan. In Taiwan, Confucius’ birthday is set as a public holiday for teachers, known as Teachers’ Day, to memorise the first great teacher in the Chinese history.
Books and resources on Confucius in the library 图书馆有关孔子的读物
Chinese Language Collection
- Chinese language collection for adults成年人中文读物, opens a new window
- Chinese language collection for kids and teens儿童青少年中文读物, opens a new window
Chinese eResources
- Overdrive — Chinese language eBooks中文电子书
- Press Reader, opens a new window — Chinese language newspaper and magazines 在线中文报纸和杂志
Resources for Learning Chinese
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, opens a new windowMango Language, opens a new window – software for learning Chinese芒果语言学习软件 - Chinese language learning titles at catalogue中文学习书目, opens a new window
Programmes and services offered in Chinese at your library
- Chinese Book Discussion Group华人读书会, opens a new window
- Chinese ESOL Club and ESOL Club以英文学习为目的小组活动, opens a new window
- English-Chinese Bilingual Babytime中英文双语宝宝故事会, opens a new window
- Chinese language services in the library图书馆的中文服务
Chinese language services are available at Halswell Library, opens a new window, Tūranga, opens a new window, Upper Riccarton Community and High School Library, opens a new window and other Christchurch City Libraries with arrangement.
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