Nüshu: A Workshop of Writing, Woven Memory, and Whispered Stories
Uncover Nüshu—a secret script of sisterhood. Write, remember, and honour her story in this rare ritual of ink, voice, and memory.
“Nüshu was once hidden—now we write it loud.”
Step into a rare, powerful space of remembrance, creativity, and connection.
Join Jiayi Chen—the first Chinese woman to win the Creative Edinburgh Award in its 12-year history—for a transformative workshop on Nüshu, the world’s only writing system created and used exclusively by women.
Once embroidered onto cloth, painted on fans, and sung in secret, Nüshu carried the voices of women across time—messages of longing, resilience, grief, and sisterhood.
Jiayi travelled to Jiangyong, Hunan, the birthplace of Nüshu, where she was trained by officially recognized Nüshu inheritors in writing, chanting, and weaving. She has since created many Nüshu-inspired artworks and continues to share and revive this rare cultural heritage through contemporary art. Her work brings together language, voice, memory, and ritual.
As part of Chinese Culture Week 2025: Echoes of Time, this immersive workshop brings that living tradition to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
What to expect:
– A poetic introduction to the cultural and emotional meaning of Nüshu
– Learn to write Nüshu using brush and ink, guided by Jiayi
– Learn to sing Nüshu songs, passed down by women across generations
– Create your own handmade lacquer marbling bookmark, based on Jiayi’s sold-out workshop at Fruitmarket Gallery’s Fresh Fruit programme
– Write a personal “letter for her”—to yourself, to someone you love, or to a woman you wish to remember
No experience needed
Workshop in English, with Chinese support available
All materials provided
This is more than a workshop . It’s a revival. A quiet revolution. A letter across time.
Uncover Nüshu—a secret script of sisterhood. Write, remember, and honour her story in this rare ritual of ink, voice, and memory.
“Nüshu was once hidden—now we write it loud.”
Step into a rare, powerful space of remembrance, creativity, and connection.
Join Jiayi Chen—the first Chinese woman to win the Creative Edinburgh Award in its 12-year history—for a transformative workshop on Nüshu, the world’s only writing system created and used exclusively by women.
Once embroidered onto cloth, painted on fans, and sung in secret, Nüshu carried the voices of women across time—messages of longing, resilience, grief, and sisterhood.
Jiayi travelled to Jiangyong, Hunan, the birthplace of Nüshu, where she was trained by officially recognized Nüshu inheritors in writing, chanting, and weaving. She has since created many Nüshu-inspired artworks and continues to share and revive this rare cultural heritage through contemporary art. Her work brings together language, voice, memory, and ritual.
As part of Chinese Culture Week 2025: Echoes of Time, this immersive workshop brings that living tradition to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
What to expect:
– A poetic introduction to the cultural and emotional meaning of Nüshu
– Learn to write Nüshu using brush and ink, guided by Jiayi
– Learn to sing Nüshu songs, passed down by women across generations
– Create your own handmade lacquer marbling bookmark, based on Jiayi’s sold-out workshop at Fruitmarket Gallery’s Fresh Fruit programme
– Write a personal “letter for her”—to yourself, to someone you love, or to a woman you wish to remember
No experience needed
Workshop in English, with Chinese support available
All materials provided
This is more than a workshop . It’s a revival. A quiet revolution. A letter across time.