20260625 Confucius Institute in Sofia Hosted the 2026 "You and Me Talk about China" Lecture Series

On June 25, the Confucius Institute in Sofia hosted the 2026 "China in Culture: You and Me" lecture series. The event featured keynote presentations by Professor Dong Jinming, Research Fellow at the Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Center and renowned erhu performer; Professor Miglena Tzenova of the Institute of Art Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; and Professor Ivanka Vlaeva of the South-West University "Neofit Rilski". The event was moderated by Aksiniya Koleva, Bulgarian Director of the Confucius Institute in Sofia. Chen Ying, Chinese Director of the Institute, together with more than 60 participants—including faculty members and students from Sofia University, the Confucius Institute and its affiliated Confucius Classrooms, as well as fans of Chinese culture—attended the event.

Joining online, Professor Dong Jinming delivered a lecture entitled "The Historical Development, Contemporary Inheritance, and International Dissemination of the Erhu, a Traditional Chinese Musical Instrument." He introduced the origins, history, structure, and evolution of the erhu, with particular emphasis on its role as an important vehicle for the international promotion of Chinese music and for cultural exchange between China and other countries. His presentation was complemented by live musical demonstrations, and a performance of a well-known Bulgarian melody on the erhu received warm applause from the audience.

Professor Miglena Tzenova of the Institute of Art Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences presented a lecture titled "The First Performances and Reception of Peking Opera and Sichuan Opera in Bulgaria." She reviewed the first visits of Chinese Peking Opera and Sichuan Opera troupes to Bulgaria during the 1950s, highlighting the repertoire performed, the characteristics of the tours, and their cultural and social impact.

Professor Ivanka Vlaeva of South-West University "Neofit Rilski" delivered a lecture entitled "Music in Contemporary Chinese Culture and Social Activities." She explored the important role of music in major national and public events in China, using examples such as the Spring Festival and the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games to illustrate how music contributes to cultural continuity and serves broader social and strategic functions.

The Confucius Institute in Sofia organizes the " You and Me Talk about China " academic lecture series annually, providing a platform for scholarly exchange among Chinese language learners, enthusiasts of Chinese culture, and China studies specialists in Bulgaria. Looking ahead, the Institute will continue to organize more public academic and cultural events to further promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Bulgaria.

Source: Confucius Institute in Sofia

Text and photos: Wang Yan

Reviewers: Chen Ying, Aksiniya Koleva, Ding Chen

English translation: Dima Pironkova