About Renwen Society (in Chinese)

Since its founding in 1926, China Institute has been a “home away from home” for Chinese intellectuals living abroad. Distinguished May Fourth scholar Hu Shih, a one-time student of John Dewey’s at Columbia University, regularly lectured at China Institute. Writers and other cultural figures traveling to this country from China often stopped in New York to lecture at China Institute (founded by John Dewey, Hu Shih, Paul Monroe and Dr. Kuo Ping Wen), sometimes in English but also in Chinese. This tradition was maintained for many years through the Institute’s summer program at Lake George.

In 2001, this tradition was revived in the form of a Saturday Lecture Series, which offers lectures in Chinese (sometimes bilingually) by prominent writers, actors, art collectors, and other experts in their fields. The lectures have attracted a wide range of audiences of native speakers and others fluent in Mandarin Chinese. Lectures are either in Chinese or with Chinese interpretation, covering all aspects of Chinese culture including poetry, literature, art, theater, history, language, archaeology, cinema, opera and religion.

In April 2003, the Renwen Society was established at China Institute as a new tier of the Institute’s membership program, co-chaired by Ho Yong and Ben Wang. The membership program supports the Saturday Lecture Series and other Chinese-language events. Today, Renwen Society continues to serve three important functions in New York’s rapidly expanding Chinese émigré community: it keeps educated immigrants in touch with their home country; it provides an open forum for speakers to discuss their ideas with compatriots; and it offers opportunities to both the Chinese immigrant community and students interested in China to hear the latest scholarly views on the culture from classical to modern. Renwen programs are regularly covered in the Chinese Press.

We invite you to join Renwen Society of China Institute.

Renwen Society Membership Benefits

Renwen Society is a membership group for people who wish to support our mission, and attend the Saturday afternoon lecture series, delivered in Mandarin Chinese, and other special Chinese language events.

All benefits are for one-year and for one adult; membership is 100% tax-deductible.

INDIVIDUAL $65 (100% tax-deductible)

• * Complimentary admission for member to all Renwen Society lectures
• * Complimentary admission for member to China Institute Gallery
• * Invitation to Members’ Gallery Opening (two annually)
• * Member discount on Exhibition-related programs and Arts & Culture Programs
• * Advance notice of programs, special events, classes, and new offerings
• * Member discount on China Institute classes, i.e., language, brush painting and calligraphy
• * Member discount on book signing and business lecture series
• * Program updates via email alerts
• * Program updates via email
• * 10% discount at China Institute Gift Shop
• * Reciprocal admission to other arts, cultural, and educational institutions (list available to members)
• * Invitation to annual Members’ Holiday Party
• * Subscription to China Institute e-newsletter (monthly)

EDUCATOR / STUDENT $50 (100% tax-deductible)
(please enclose with membership application, proof of educator/student status)

• * Privileges of Individual

SENIOR $50 (100% tax-deductible)
(please enclose with membership application, proof of senior status or age)

• * Privileges of Individual

For information about membership, please contact the Membership Office at 212-744-8181, x137, or email membership@chinainstitute.org.

For information about Chinese lectures, please click here or contact 212-744-8181, x142.

Click here to see photos from Renwen Society events.