ChinaFostering business and culturalInsight harmony between China and the U.S. VOL. 15 NO. 9 October 2016 How a group of Minnesotans brought a classic Chinese novel to life as an opera

By Michael Anthony | 09/16/16 Community, p.4

This article by Michael Anthony was originally published in MINNPOST and is being reprinted with their permission

would make a great opera, but the idea didn’t take flight until three years later when Ming Li Tchou, who today at 92 can best be described as the matriarch of the Twin Cities Chinese community, founded the Chinese Heritage Foundation as an effort to promote Chinese culture. The or- Gardening, p.9 ganization funds arts projects and puts on a two-day Passage to China exhibit every year at the Mall of America. That year, Bergad mentioned to Tchou the creation of an opera on the “Red Chamber.” “Ming loved the idea and of- fered $100,000 right away,” said Bergad. The foundation, under Bergad’s guidance, began to raise additional funds, and the project began to take off in 2009 when Society, pp.10, 12-13 Hoeschler enlisted the aid of John Nuech- San Francisco Opera’s production of “Dream of the Red Chamber.” terlein, executive director of the Composers Photo by Cory Weaver Forum. Then the group approached Smith, “Who would have thought that this expresses the essence of China’s history asking him to be a consultant to the project. little group from Minnesota would have and national character.” He had just retired as general director of generated a major world premiere? It’s The project arose out of a conversation Minnesota Opera and was well connected unbelievable.” between two friends, Pearl Bergad and Lin- to the opera world. Kevin Smith, president of the Minnesota da Hoeschler, in Minneapolis in 2001. Born Smith was skeptical — at Orchestra, was speaking to 119 guests in Vietnam of Chinese parents, Bergad, a first at a banquet last Friday, Sept. 9, in the retired molecular biologist, is executive di- “I met with Pearl and Ming,” Smith suburban town of Millbrae just south of rector of the Chinese Heritage Foundation. said. “I remember thinking, ‘These are Gov’t & Politics, p. 14 San Francisco. The banquet, during which Hoeschler, a long-time arts patron, is the wonderful people, but this isn’t going to an army of waiters delivered a seemingly former executive director of the American happen. This isn’t the way operas are pro- limitless round of Chinese delicacies – Composers Forum. duced.’ I was trying to figure out a way to deep-fried milk, sea cucumber, bird’s nest let them down easily.” soup, Peking duck – was a prelude to the main event the next evening, the premiere of “The Dream of the Red Chamber,” an operatic treatment by the San Francisco Opera of one of the landmarks of Chinese literature with music by Bright Sheng and libretto by playwright David Henry Hwang. The seed money for this ambitious $3 million production, which will travel to Arts & Culture, pp.1,16 Hong Kong in March, was raised by the Minnesota-based Chinese Heritage Foun- Ming Li Tchou standing next to a poster Minnesota Orchestra President Kevin In This Issue dation in an effort to introduce Western for “Dream of the Red Chamber.” Smith at theSept. 9 banquet. audiences to Chinese culture and in the process to promote mutual understanding. Courtesy of the Chinese Heritage Courtesy of the Chinese Heritage Arts & Culture 1, 9, 16 “The great novels of Chinese literature Foundation Foundation Book review 11 are virtually unknown in the United States, Community 4 outside of small communities of academics Despite his reservations, Smith ap- Both love the novel Education 6 – 7, 10 and Chinese speakers,” said Hwang, a Chi- “It turned out we both love this nov- proached David Gockley, general director Events 15 nese-American best known in the U.S. for el,” recalled Bergad, referring to “Dream of the San Francisco Opera, who said yes his play and subsequent film “M Butterfly,” of the Red Chamber,” Cao Xueqin’s epic immediately, partly because of the large Gardening 9 which received the 1988 Tony Award for five-volume tale of love – actually, many Asian population in the Bay Area. More- Government & Politics 14 Best Play. tales — amidst a prominent family’s spiral- over, Gockley was no stranger to new History 5 “I, too, as a native-born American, had ing decline. The work, published in 1791, works for the stage. He’d brought to life News 3 – 4, 15 never read ‘Dream of the Red Chamber,’ many new operas during his years at the has inspired numerous films and spoken Pronouncements 2 even though my plays and musicals are dramas, two television series and many helm of the Houston Grand Opera, and Science & Technology 13 often set in China. Particularly because the Chinese operas. But never before had the more recently San Francisco’s premiere evolution of the U.S.-China relationship story made it to the international operatic production of “The Bonesetter’s Daughter,” Society 10, 12 –13 is likely to determine much of the 21st stage – and never in English. based on the novel by Amy Tan, had been century, this opera presents a valuable op- Hoeschler had read the novel in college. a big hit. portunity to expose audiences to a work that She and Bergad both thought the books continued on page 16 PAGE 2 / October 2016 pronouncements chinainsight.info Publisher’s Pronouncements ChinaInsight

Greetings, Publisher: As the crow flies, the distance from will have its Asian premiere during the Hong holiday for Children however it is not quite Gregory J. Hugh Minneapolis to San Francisco is 1,589 Kong Arts Festival and will be performed as popular in China. While other Western [email protected] miles and over 170 Minnesotans made the March 17-18, 2017. It is likely that the holidays like Christmas have made it over trip last month to attend the international Chinese Heritage Foundation may organize the Pacific, Halloween hasn’t caught on as premier of the Dream of the Red Chamber a group to attend so check their website a big thing to do in China. Manager of Operations/ Opera, a 3-million-dollar project, initiated periodically if you are interested, www. Regardless of how you choose to by the Minnesota-based Chinese Heritage chineseheritagefoundation.org. celebrate Halloween, unlike the people of Circulation: Foundation and produced by the San As we are now entering the fall season, China, you can exercise your right to vote Richard He Francisco Opera Company. Be sure to read it traditionally is a time to prepare for winter in a democratic election for our president, [email protected] the article on page 1 by Michael Anthony, and enjoy the annual ritual of watching the and make a choice between a “trick or treat” describing “How a group of Minnesotans emergence of fall colors as nature does it and cast your VOTE! brought a classic Chinese novel to life as thing. This being a presidential election As always, the staff of China Insight Staff Writers: an opera.” year, this annual change of seasons will be appreciates your support and welcomes Greg Hugh Although I was fortunate to attend this fraught with political intrusions that will any suggestions as to how we might better [email protected] opera, I would not presume to attempt a test our patience and tolerance level to try to serve the community and encourage you review as to its artistic merits but instead, win our vote. In a democratic society as the to VOTE in the upcoming elections. Not Elaine Dunn offer the following comments by more United States of America, we are fortunate only is this your right, it is a privilege that qualified reviewers. Visually opulent, to be able to exercise our constitutional has been protected by the men and women [email protected] superbly sung and expertly conducted. San right to vote in a democratic presidential of our armed services while people in other Francisco Chronicle. Chinese opera ‘Dream election every four years. Ironically, also countries have yet to earn or appreciate. of the Red Chamber’ opens in San Francisco taking place this fall is the celebration of Contributors: with much ambition, too little nerve. Halloween. Again, most of you know about Los Angeles Times. Metaphorically lush the Halloween tradition which is primarily a Sincerely, Ralph Beha moving sets and color-coded, intricately holiday for Children however it is not quite Gregory J. Hugh [email protected] beautiful costumes provided brilliant visual as popular in China. elements. San Francisco Examiner. An opera Ironically, as noted above, also taking Chang Wang that ravishes the eye and seduces the ear. place at this same time is the celebration of Financial Times. Halloween. Again, most of you know about President – CEO [email protected] The Dream of the Red Chamber opera the Halloween tradition which is primarily a China Insight, Inc. Patrick Welsh [email protected]

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Company______from language to business Title______opportunities. Copyright 2016 ChinaInsight, Inc. All Rights Reserved. chinainsight.info news October 2016 / PAGE 3 Taste Canada. China Online. Briefs As of Sept. 3, Chinese consumers will have access to and can purchase Canadian lobsters, maple syrup, health supplements, clothing and other Canadian merchandise via an online storefront on Alibaba’s Tmall Global site. The online store carries 100-plus products from approximately 30 Canadian companies, which will reduce the risk of getting fake products for Chinese consumers. The Canadian Prime Minister site will also promote tourism to Canada. “ was at Alibaba’s headquarters in Hangzhou Alibaba’s collaborations with foreign to launch the Canadian “pavilion” and hopes governments are part of its focus on growing the presence on the world’s largest shopping its business beyond China. ♦ # # 1 # 8 6 3 Keep your trash Jewish refugees # By the numbers # Overwhelmed by their own waste, 10 4 # # China’s megacities are dumping their trash 7 2 across provincial borders! From 1933 to 1941, Shanghai offered Since June, residents by Suzhou’s Taihu shelter to around 20,000 Jewish refugees Lake, a major tourist attraction and source escaping persecution. The Shanghai Jewish Chinese internet users of water supply, found construction and Refugees Museum has photos, literature and A semi-annual report released by the commercial waste originating from Shanghai historical mementos that capture the Jewish China National Network Information dumped there. Authorities have seized eight refugees’ lives in Shanghai. Centre, the state-run internet watchdog, ships from Shanghai that had been dumping The Museum is currently in the process said China had 710 million internet 300-500 tons of garbage in the lake regularly. of getting items archived into the UNESCO users and 656 million mobile users as Twelve people have been detained. Memory of the World Register and to of June 30. Land in Shanghai is pricey and for national and international heritage lists, residential or commercial development only. which involves a complicated application 51.7 There is very little available for garbage percent of Chinese had access to the disposal. Shanghai authorities have stressed process requiring municipal, national and that all construction waste must be disposed of international level approvals. ♦ internet, representing a slow and steady or recycled within city limits. Will that work? growth of internet penetration. Crocodile afoot 92.5 A 3-ft. long crocodile fell from the rooftop Foreign expert percent of Chinese use cell phones to go of a residential complex in Sichuan Province online. in late August and lived. Fortunately, it did not land on any pedestrians either. China is streamlining its work visa 67.2 The crocodile was one of a pair bought system, which will simplify the process percent of urban residents had access to in Chengdu and smuggled to their new owner and paperwork for applicants. Beginning internet, a rise of 1.4% since 2015. in Zigong for his birthday. After its fall, the April 2017, all foreign workers will be crocodile escaped unhurt, but was later found reclassified into three “grades”: top talent, and recaptured. The crocs’ final fate? Cooked 37 professional and unskilled workers. What million new cell phone users were added that evening for the birthday meal! The case are the “grading” criteria? Points will be is now “under further investigation.” to the cell phone internet base since 2015. awarded by salary, education, Chinese Misplaced love language proficiency, how long the 91.7 What is a chap to do when his girlfriend laowai has been in China, age, where the percent of the phone internet users threatens to leave town? Not make fake job is located. What is the underlying accessed the internet via the 3G/4G bomb threats! A 41-year-old man in Hong objective? To weed out unskilled network, an increase of 2.9 percent since Kong made three calls to the police and laowais. Wonder how that affects all 2015. claimed there was a bomb at the airport after those English “teachers?” ♦ an argument with his girlfriend the previous

evening. The woman said she was leaving 92.7 Hong Kong. The next day, the person called percent of netizens used Wi-Fi to access in three bomb threats at the airport! the internet. Sniffing dogs and officers searched the facility and came up empty. Thanks to footage Timely acquisition 90.4 from closed-circuit TVs and tracing the phone percent of PC and cell phone users numbers of where the calls were placed, the engaged in instant messaging. jilted Romeo was arrested and now face up to three years imprisonment and a fine of 83.5 HKD150,000. percent of PC and cell phone users used search engines. Lost in (no) translation Expat drivers in Shanghai who can’t read Chinese may soon be singing the blues and 31.8 asking, “Do you know the way to …?” The percent growth in using the internet to Shanghai Road Administration Bureau is order food delivery from six months ago! conducting a public opinion poll in Chinese on WeChat concerning removal of road signs 12.3 in English (pinyin) usually placed above percent growth in using the internet for the center of major roads or close to exits wealth management. along ring roads and elevated highways. The reason? It would allow more space for On Sept. 15, Mid-Autumn Festival, the lunar surface and return, and aircraft that 3 Chinese characters, and allow Chinese-only factors that hold back rural internet signs to be bigger, which benefits the majority China is another step closer to conducting can shuttle between Earth and the moon. penetration: lack of computer / internet of [Chinese] drivers. manned lunar missions. It acquired basic China’s space station and cargo spacecraft technology to carry out manned lunar will be launched at the Wenchang launch knowledge, age of rural residents (either missions, such as rockets with greater load site in southern China’s Hainan Province. ♦ too old or too young), lack of time. capacity, manned aircraft that can land on PAGE 4 / October 2016 news chinainsight.info China’s top 10 livable cities

According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the top academic institution of natural science in China, air pollution, noise pollution, parking problems and traffic jam were the main factors restraining the liva- bility in the eyes of the Chinese citizenry. The Academy recently released a report that measured 40 municipalities and cities based on urban security, public service infrastructure, natural environment, social environment, transportation convenience and environmental health.

The top 10 most livable cities in China are: No.1: Qingdao, Shandong Province No. 2: Kunming, Yunnan Province No. 3: Sanya, Hainan Province

No. 4: Dalian, Liaoning Province No. 5: Weihai, Shandong Province No. 6: Suzhou, Jiangsu Province No. 7: Zhuhai, Guangdong Province

No. 8: Xiamen, Fujian Province No. 9: Shenzhen, Guangdong Province No. 10: Chongqing, Sichuan Province

Community USCPFA – MN Chapter sends violin-pipa duo to Harbin summer music festival

By Robert Beha, President of USPFA-MN Chapter

Every two years, Minneapolis’ sister accompanied by local Harbin pianist Li Theater on the north bank of the city of Harbin, China, hosts a music festi- Mengtong. Songhua River. They also attended val, with more than 100 music and theater During the early 20th century, Harbin an outstanding jazz concert by the performing groups from around the world. had an active and vibrant Jewish commu- Oleg Lundstrem Jazz Band from This August, the Minnesota Chapter of the nity, many of whom had journeyed there Russia and a luncheon with the US-China Peoples Friendship Association during the unsettled late days of Czarist officials of the Harbin Foreign Af- arranged for and supported a U.S.-based Russia. After World War II and the found- fairs Office, including Gao Huimin, ensemble, The Braided Candle, to attend and ing of the State of Israel, Harbin’s Jewish director general, at the historic River perform at the 33rd China Harbin Summer community shrank and, eventually, disap- Club. The delegation also toured Music Festival. peared as an active community. Harbin’s Harbin’s historic Zhongyang Da The Braided Candle is a collaboration Jewish history is well preserved, however, Jie (Central Avenue) architectural between two master musicians in widely and it provided a unique backdrop to the district, the Siberian Tiger Preserve, divergent musical traditions and genres, Chinese-Jewish blending of The Braided and the Sun Island scenic park. who first came together in 2011 to create Candle’s work. In connection with the Summer Performing at the Harbin Music Hall. a unique blend of traditional Chinese and In touring the city, the ensemble was Music Festival, Harbin also hosts traditional Eastern European Jewish folk surprised to find a large metal sculpture of the Alice and Eleonore Schoenfeld music. Gao Hong, a master performer and a violin and pipa (together with a guitar) in International String Competition, teacher of the pipa (a Chinese pear-shaped a prominent public square near the center and International Accordion Art lute), has lived in the U.S. since 1994 and of Harbin. Week. Support for The Braided performs internationally and teaches in the The Braided Candle and their USCP- Candle’s travel also was provided World Music program at Carleton College FA-MN escort, Ralph Beha, were generous- by the Mid-Atlantic Arts Founda- in Northfield, Minn. Steven Greenman ly hosted in Harbin by the Harbin Foreign tion. composes and performs as a solo violinist Affairs Office. In addition to performances 2017 will mark the 25th anni- with symphony orchestras as well as ensem- at the Old Synagogue in Harbin (now a ren- versary of the Harbin-Minneapolis bles with other musicians playing klezmer, ovated musical and theatrical performance Sister City relationship. The US- Romani and other Eastern European styles. space) and the Small Stage at the Harbin CPFA-MN will work with Meet During their August 8 and 9 performances in Music Hall, the hosts arranged for the del- Minneapolis to coordinate activities Harbin, Greenman also performed excerpts egation to attend the opening ceremonies of to commemorate the milestone. from the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto, the festival at Harbin’s stunning new Grand Watch China Insight for updates. ♦ Greenman, Gao and Beha at the Harbin Grand chinainsight.info history October 2016 / PAGE 5 China’s warlords, part I By Pat Welsh, contributor

In previous articles, I had mentioned that 系軍閥) based in the surrounding Hebei resigned and replaced by Feng the decentralization of the Qing Dynasty’s Province. The Anfu Club was a loose Guochang. Duan resumed his military after the Taiping Rebellion had group of northern military commanders who old job as premier and assigned paved the way for the emergence of local supported the German-trained commander himself the role of the next warlords throughout China. The Xinhai Duan Qirui’s (段祺瑞) desire to reunite unifier of China. Revolution (辛亥革命) of 1911 did put an China forcibly. The Zhili Clique governed In 1917, Duan had wanted end to the Qing Dynasty, but it also produced the area surrounding Beijing. This clique to centralize China’s armies. a power vacuum because of a weakly did not have a capital city as such. Its He had wanted to limit the centralized control of China’s military. For headquarters was wherever the strongest size of the various armies, but example, one reason President Yuan Shikai pro-Zhili commanders were present. Its while this move might limit (袁世凱) could not agree to Sun Yat-sen ( leading figure was President Feng Guochang the strength of the rebellious 孫中山) and the Nationalists’ request to (馮國璋). The “Southerners” were viewed warlords in the south and establish his government in Nanjing 1912 as revolutionaries with a well-known leader southwest, it would also put was because he depended on the support in Sun Yat-sen. Espousing socialism, Duan in conflict with his of his Beiyang military (北洋軍) located they wanted to change China from the warlord friends and classmates in the north. ground up. As a group they were more in the north. Duan’s strongest By 1913, several provincial warlords united, but weaker, than the Northerners opponents were the warlords had already tried to rebel against Yuan. Yuan and they lacked recognition from foreign of Yunnan and Guizhou had made an amendment to the Constitution governments. provinces. After assuming of 1912 designed strengthen his power and Yet the reality was that most of China office, Duan planned to march limit the power placed in the hands of the was controlled by neither the Northerners through Hunan with his revolutionaries loyal to Sun and the other nor the Southerners but rather by local Beiyang armies and subdue the political parties. In November 1913, Yuan warlords whose loyalties were temporary rebellious southern provinces. Feng Guochang outlawed the Kuomintang (國民黨). Then, and fickle. Many of the Chinese warlords Strong outside pressures to strengthen his Beiyang armies, Yuan initially tried local reforms that could have affected the Anfu and Zhili borrowed money from Japan. benefitted their populations. As a group they groups and their relations with resigned and President Guochang began In 1915, Yuan proclaimed himself had an understanding of China’s problems, each other. One was Japan, to whom Duan’s looking for a replacement premier. On the emperor but the Yunnan and Guangxi but their personal ambitions, their inability government was indebted and who also day that Duan resigned, the Japanese warned provinces proclaimed their independence to see beyond their immediate situations and had begun its encroachment in Manchuria. President Feng that Japan could not remain from Beijing and their support for the their greed made them unable to unite in a Another was the northeast Christian warlord indifferent to Beijing’s political instability. Nationalist government in Guangzhou. patriotic cause. general Feng Yuxiang (馮玉祥), who had President Feng nonetheless used the Yuan then retreated and backed off from Frequently the warlords moved their been shifting his alliances to and fro. A absence of a premier and his constitutional third force was the Zhili warlord, Zhang his plan to found his new dynasty in March armies along the waterways, new highways powers to strip Duan of his military Zuolin (張作霖), who had been financially 1916. He died on June 6 leaving behind a and railroads. Warfare among the warlords, command. Playing his hand cautiously, forced to accept Japanese support. A fourth more modernized, but hopelessly divided, however, was actually fairly limited. instead of naming himself the supreme Being mainly military-minded, dikes force was the south and southwest warlord military. commander of Duan’s armies, Feng placed China found itself split up with one and their limited infrastructures were not armies, which included revolutionary them in the hands of Wang Shizhen (王士 political faction under the “Northerners,” the maintained. A number of these warlords had armies loyal to Sun. Finally there were 珍) and asked Wang to form a new cabinet. Beiyang Government (北洋政府) governing military training in colleges under foreign concerns in Beijing that the Western Powers, 徐樹錚 from Beijing, and “the Southerners” based instructors. Their constituents were heavily especially Britain, that might intervene if Feng also named Xu Shucheng ( ) in Guangzhou. Foreign governments had taxed and opium use made a comeback China’s situation became too dicey for their as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief who recognized Yuan’s government in Beijing. because it could be taxed. The local commercial interests. then found himself shuttling back and economies were frequently Premier Duan’s Anfu Club now felt forth by train reporting, investigating and disrupted. Sporadic inflation the need to defeat the rebellious southern implementing orders. Then President Feng impoverished many families. and southwestern warlords in Guangdong, moved the general staff from the premier’s Over time the warlords Guangxi, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. office to his own, thereby completing his Recognizing that war was inevitable, the tended to become highly self- control of the military. southern and southwestern warlords stepped indulgent, wallowing in opium, While Wang was forming his cabinet, concubines and gluttony. up their contacts with Sun’s people in Guangzhou in the interests of forming an several pro-Anfu Group commanders After Yuan’s death in June conferred in Tianjin and planned a two- 1916, a pliant Li Yuanhong ( effective alliance. pronged attack on Hunan involving some 黎元洪), who also happened The fighting erupted in Hunan but it 200,000 men. Three Yangzi River provincial to be Yuan’s son’s father- suddenly took an unexpected direction when in-law, reluctantly assumed the Beiyang General Wang Ruxian (王儒 warlords reacted by declaring their frontiers the presidency, but the real 賢) of the 8th Division proposed a cease- closed to outside armies. President Feng and political and military power Wang had done this without authorization his now outnumbered Zhili Group who had was already in the hands of the and it completely took Duan by surprise. been favoring a cease-fire in Hunan found warlord Premier Duan Qirui. Two of the factors causing this were 1) themselves trapped between the warlords. Duan had been a very Wang apparently had his own ambition to In March 1918, the feuding Northern talented young officer in become a regional warlord in Hunan and had warlords, politicians and military connections with the opposing Zhili Clique Yuan’s modern army during commanders settled their differences. and 2) Wang’s troops had no desire to be in the last years of the Qing Duan was once again invited to resume the the south and had begun to strike for rations. Dynasty. In April 1916, Yuan premiership. President Feng was compelled appointed Duan as Premier of A large number had deserted and defected. Wang was hailed by the Hunanese because to swear loyalty to his former rival Duan, the Beijing government. Duan and return to Duan the military command promptly transferred to Beijing of his willingness to enforce a cease-fire. that had been taken from him. The follow- a detachment of loyal troops. Seeing his own position in Hunan was up from these events will be covered in my From this arose a great deal of becoming untenable, Governor-general Fu Duan Qirui mutual mistrust between Yuan fled Changsha, Hunan’s capital city. next offering. ♦ and Duan. In November 1917, Duan once again The Northerners appeared to outsiders In April 1917, a military veteran under as being traditional, corrupt and divided the previous Manchu dynasty, Zhang Xu (張 About Pat Welsh among themselves, but they did have foreign 勳), temporarily occupied Beijing with his In 2009 while teaching English at Sichuan University, Welsh was asked to give a government recognition. The Beiyang armies and on July 1, tried to re-enthrone speech where he was introduced to the audience as a “pioneer of Chinese American government was supported by a procession the reluctant former boy emperor, Henry relations” as a result of his cooperative work in international banking during the Deng Xiaoping era. For more than 65 years, Welsh has been learning Chinese of warlords who succeeded one another Puyi (Aisin Giorro Puyi 愛新覺羅溥儀). and has used this knowledge both professionally and personally to enhance his in Beijing. A polarization between two Duan, who had been dismissed in May understanding of Chinese and Asian affairs. He currently resides in Georgia and Beiyang forces arose. On one side was the into retirement, was resurrected with his occasionally lectures on China to classes in World History and World Literature. Anfu Club (安福俱樂部) based in Beijing army and routed Zhang’s forces in Beijing. and on the other, the Zhili Clique (直隸 Thereafter the reluctant President Li PAGE 6 / October 2016 education chinainsight.info

Eric Chon What’s the best thing? It’s traveling. By Lu Yang, En- When traveling, you are just like a bird glish name is Toby, flying in the sky. You can see many things is a high school that are fresh and amazing. However, student. Usually there are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand he likes to listen people’s eyes. Thus, American birds may to music and play have different feelings. badminton. He is very easy-going and The way that people get along with cheerful, responsible and get things done. others is like the wind of the morning. Americans, they smile at you friendly, Twenty days of summer camp ended greet you politely, and talk to you with their in laughter. It included learning and full enthusiasm. People of Medicine Lake sightseeing activities -- very meaningful, enjoy life and live with nature easily. When also very unforgettable. I learned a lot. you walk into a park, you may see a duck I saw a lot. I made a lot of friends. walking across the road overbearingly, or Strong Deanna, host to four of us, is very you can watch a squirrel licking people’s kind. She is a pleasure. Through this shoes. It’s very nice to live like this, isn’t it? trip, I experienced the American culture I was fortunate to have visited many and beautiful environment. American famous universities. The thing that most civilization, nice. attracted me is the spirit of pursuing the I discovered a few details: the American truth. It is displayed by a relief over a car always give way to the passing door at Yale. There is a teacher and many pedestrians, that people go first, and then students on it, and unfortunately, some of the car. Every time when we crossed the the students are sleeping. To my surprise, road, there is no hesitation. Americans Yale didn’t try to hide this situation, which are very modest, generous, and not just shows the reality so people know the way thinking about themselves. For example, to the top is never simple. Americans hold the door for strangers, they In conclusion, the life that can bring you will say ”thank you” to you. They are very back to the essence is what I really want. polite -- waiting for the elevator they will wait for you. We are in Minneapolis for the first time. We experience life as American high school students -- very interesting. Very full schedule. Every day we not only learn school things, we also undertake outdoor activities. Arranged by the school, volunteer activity (for Feed My Starving Children) is very meaningful. The biggest regret is Wang Zhuoya also not enough volunteering experience as it can help those children and cultivate By Zhou Yuchen, English name is Joe, our ability. When the staff showed a skinny is 15. His favorite sports are badminton America through the child become a normal, healthy child, it is and table tennis and his favorite subject is both really surprising and very moving. math. His dream is to become a great man eyes of Loudi students This volunteer activity also let me know like John Rockefeller. there are many, many children in the world By Eric Chon, 16, loves traveling and “discovering.” without meals; hungry and skeletal. They America is a place full of mysterious live in hard conditions. Unlike us, they and charming scenery. Because there is do not have food to eat; they do not go to the Pacific Ocean between mainland China Editor’s note: A group of 40 students from Lousi, China, attended a 9-day summer school; they do not even have hot water. and the USA, many people may want to go camp as part of a 20-day visit to the U.S. in July. Several of them submitted their For me, this volunteer activity is really visit but cannot do so easily. I’m very lucky reflections of their experience and their observations of America and Americans, unforgettable. to take part in the summer camp held by which you may find eye-opening. Another deep impression from the Loudi No. 1 Middle School and be able to All students wrote in English and editing was kept to a minimum to preserve their volunteer activity is Deanna. She, like appreciate this American experience. style and sentiment. most Americans I met, is very warm Boston was our first stop in the U.S. It and very gentle. And our few days with made a special deep impression on me. The thing that gave me the deepest that the street is very clean too! I can ‘t Deanna is very happy. We went to the I often hear that Americans’ quality impression is the environment here, which even find a little rubbish in the street. I do science museum, went to the lake to the is particularly good. In Boston, I see also is the reason why I want to work and appreciate it! party, went to visit their friends so we know this with my own eyes. When people live here in the future. Not only was the All in all, I really valued this opportunity more Americans. I experienced American buy things or take a bus, they queue up sky here definitely blue, most of the citizens to visit the superb USA! And I got a family and cultural life in the United States. consciously without anyone cutting in line, here were very generous and kind. With completely new impression about America Every day is different, every day is another and everything is in order. There are few the fast development of Chinese economy, beautiful day. cameras in American stores and even no wait the pollution in China is getting worse and I found that the U.S. pays attention staff in some stores, but people consciously worse. So it’s precious for me to see a blue to etiquette. Americans are very modest, pay for what they buy. Nothing is stolen in sky in everyday journey in America. what one should do, one must do. Also, the stores. I think this is because the citizens I ‘d like to mention the friendly citizens. must be yourself, don’t bother others. If of the U.S. is of high quality, and I think it Americans can always smile to each other, you are dissatisfied about something, use must be one of the important factors that even to those they haven’t met before, and appropriate way to speak and allow other the U.S. have become a powerful country it’s not a fake smile! Most of them were person to respond. in the world. China wants to surpass the glad to take a photo with us, the visitors. At the summer camp, I learned to follow U.S.; we Chinese should focus on improving Harmony also exists between man and directions, I learned to think of others, be quality of the population. As middle school nature. The bunnies and squirrels can be more modest and quarrel less and be more students, we should start with ourselves, by seen everywhere even in the grass near the enthusiastic. Very happy to proceed with studying harder to improve our quality. street. Activity that made the deepest impres- the study. Really let me learn a lot. My Minnesota host family and the Last but not least, I greatly admire that sion: volunteering at Feed My Starving school gave me good experience. My host almost everyone could follow any kind of Children Lu Yang was Mark. He is a chemist and he is very rules. I noticed my host family would stop friendly. On the way to Mark’s home, l see the car while they were at the crosswalk, I on my own, instead of from watching By Wang Zhuoya, different kinds of small houses along the was a little confused at the first time, but movies. I love this romantic country and I likes music and road. I find that American people prefer to after he told me the traffic rules, I didn’t decided to live here in the future after this plays piano well. live in areas far from the city because the see anyone break this rule. Also, everyone college summer camp if I had a chance. She is already traffic is developed and rural environment can wait in line, one by one, no one special Though there is something dark or bad in looking forward is very good. Most Americans are living in -- I noticed this many times in Starbucks this dreamlike country, I believe it will get to her next trip to countryside, but work in cities. and McDonald’s. It’s worth emphasizing better and better just like China! the U.S.! continued on page 10 chinainsight.info education October 2016 / PAGE 7

WWTT? Who’s that with the bad spray tan and bloodshot eyes? (Answer on p. 15) Wanted: ONLINE English Lanuage Teachers

Would you like to help Chinese students (Gr. 6-12) polish their spoken and written English skills (and, occasionally, history/ literature)? We are hiring experienced na- tive. English-speaking teachers to teach ESL (different levels) or high school U.S. history or literature.

Teach from our Twin Cities cloud- classroom set up or your home office. Teaching will usually take place in the evenings (6–10 p.m.), early mornings (6–8 a.m.) or weekends. Number of hours are flexible. Rates are from $15-$40/hr based on the course requirements and Concordia students to teachers’ experience. trace Hmong roots in Teaching experience is required. Teaching license is preferred, but not necessary. China If interested, please contact Richard at 612-987-6540 or [email protected].

By Elaine Dunn

While most of us will be ripping open hope to see, first hand, what life is like for presents under the tree this Christmas, the Hmong people in a different part of the a group of eight Hmong students and world and how these Hmong spend their two faculty members from Concordia days. What are their hobbies and rituals? University, St. Paul, will be embarking on There is much history of the Hmong people a journey to China to trace their roots. (See in China and the students hope they will and students from Guizhou University and students are asking for your help. sidebar for profiles of a few participating gain a stronger sense of their identity and to the Miao Study Association of Guizhou. Your donation will help them go on the students.) expose themselves to the culture. They can share experiences about living trip. No donation is too small, and since The student group from Concordia The group will be traveling to Guizhou in China. the Center for Hmong Studies at Concordia University will be participating in a unique Province, home to more than four million Can you help? University is a nonprofit organization, your educational program hosted by the CALL Hmong. It was also the place where donation is tax deductable. You can learn Many of the students are going on (Community, Action, Leadership and numerous Hmong uprisings took place in more about the Center for Hmong Studies this educational journey to China as first- Learning) Center of the Center for Hmong the early 1700s and 1800s. This intense and Concordia University by visiting the Studies at Concordia University. During academic 10-day experience will include generation Hmong Americans, where website at www.csp.ed/hmongcenter. this short-term study abroad trip, they hope traveling to sites of historical occurrences, financial support from their families is often Donations are accepted until the end of to learn about the people, culture and history visiting more than 30 Hmong subgroups, limited. The tuition for the educational November. Please make checks payable of China, particularly the Hmong. studying in the villages, at museums journey is $3,500-$3,700 for each student. to Dr. Lee Pao Xiong, Center for Hmong The students will have the opportunity and other venues. It will offer a unique This covers the airfare, lectures, meals Studies, Concordia University Saint Paul to trace back their roots to the original land opportunity to interact with many of the and lodging, entrance to museums, books Campus, 1282 Concordia Ave St., St. Paul, where the Hmong people came from. They residents who live there, Hmong scholars and curriculum, and security detail. The MN 55104. ♦

Why they want to go ers Leadership Council (HBLC). I have in her last year and wants to go and understanding by connecting to other Anthony HERR had a high school always believed in the fact that knowing on this trip is to learn “where my Hmong students as well as scholars who class on the history of the Hmong, which the roots of my culture will help me have people originated from. China is full and are doing research on the Hmong/Miao. really fascinated him. Since then, he had a clear identity of who I am and where I rich in culture and beautiful monuments I am very blessed, excited and astonished wanted to go to China where the history came from. I’ve learned from my parents, that my ancestors were a part of and it that I am able to take part of this trip. I of the Hmong people began. “This trip grandparents and teachers that my culture would be an honor to stand on the same cannot wait to see what I will be able to will help fulfill learning about the Hmong/ is a key component to being successful in lands they once walked on.” She also bring back and share with my Hmong Miao people in China, and also fulfill one school and life. Visiting China will help would like to connect with other Hmong community.” of my own personal goals, to visit the land me understand the origins of the Chinese people in a different part of the world and Kalee XIONG is an Elementary where our Hmong ancestors came from. and Hmong people. I want to experience have conversations with scholars who Education major scheduled to graduate So much has been lost in translation since in real life what it is like to live there, how are researching about the Miao/Hmong in 2017. She chose to attend this study our people arrived in America. I am very they farm, what they eat, and how they groups there. abroad trip because it would be a once-in- interested in learning more about our work to make a living. I was born here in Julie YANG is a junior majoring a-lifetime experience. “The idea to travel history not to only better myself, but my the United States so I don’t know what it in psychology. She also has a double back to where the Hmong culture began Hmong community as a whole, and the is like to live in a third world country. I minor in Hmong Studies and Sociology. excites me in many ways. By going on younger generations as well.” Herr will be hear from people that living in the USA “My passion is to be able to reach out to this trip, I believe it will educate me on a sophomore and is taking Hmong courses is a privilege where there is freedom and troubled minorities; mentally, physically aspects of my culture that only comes to learn more about the Hmong people. He independence for everyone. I know that and psychologically. In order to do this, I from first-hand experiences. Since I am has been raising this may not be true for most people here believe one must try to understand his/her majoring in education, I strongly want to Bert LEE is a senior pursuing a bache- in America; however, I still believe that own identity first. Therefore, I myself will promote the Hmong culture to younger lor’s degree in graphic design. Currently, life here is full of unlimited opportunities. have to find out who I am, and stay true Hmong generations. To be able to achieve he is interning full-time at the Metropol- After I graduate from college, I have a to my identity. With this short-term study this, learning about the history in China itan Council as a graphic designer. “In desire to use all the knowledge and skills abroad trip, I will have the opportunity is a key foundation on understanding the the last four years, I’ve devoted my time I have gained to help young kids see the to dig deeper into my ancestor’s history depths of Hmong history. Success in rais- to helping the community by engaging in same potential in their own lives.” by attempting to understand my culture, ing funds for the trip will give me hope in Concordia’s Hmong Unity Student Asso- Cydi YANG is majoring in Commu- tradition and history. Being in China, we continuing to dream for what use to seem ciation (CHUSA) and the Hmong Break- nications with a minor in writing. Yang is will also have the help of clarification like a distant idea.” PAGE 8 / October 2016 chinainsight.info

THANK YOU for participating in our 2016 DIVERSITY WEEK!

The are your team twinsbaseball.com/diversity chinainsight.info gardening October 2016 / PAGE 9 The most famous Chinese peony of all: Paeonia rockii or OVER $925,000 ‘Rock’s Peony’ By Mary Yee, contributor GIVEN AWAY IN JACKPOTS THIS YEAR!

WIN YOUR SHARE TODAY!

Paeonia rockii China is the original home of most of nature of Rock’s peony, particularly con- the peonies grown in the world. The most cerning whether the plant was transplanted commonly grown type is the herbaceous from the wild by the Choni lamas. Rock Paeonia lactiflora, a very hardy perennial himself reported that the lamasery was de- that dies to the ground each fall. P. lactiflora stroyed in a civil conflict subsequent to his features diverse flower forms and colors, and visit and he believed that the plant he saw thousands of varieties have been selected no longer existed. Partly because China by gardeners over centuries of cultivation. was closed to western botanists for several However, China is also the home of the decades, there had been scant study of wild tree peony. It has woody stems that form a peonies, especially in the more remote parts RunAces.com permanent framework of branches and, over of the country. In the 1990s, Chinese bota- time, develops into a large shrub or small nist Hong Tao and his colleagues undertook tree. It is the tree peony that the Chinese a thorough search for wild peonies and Arts & Culture call “Hwa Wang” or King of Flowers. The published a new taxonomy, which elevated general name for tree peonies in Chinese is Rock’s peony to the status of an independent Powerful color unites “mudan (牡丹).” species: Paeonia rockii. Both kinds of peonies, herbaceous and The botanical debate aside, Rock’s pe- woody, were first cultivated by the Chinese ony would be a magnificent addition to any a Ming dish with a for the medicinal properties of their roots. garden. It has been hardy in my Minnesota Peonies are still widely planted in China garden for many years, although it has re- today for medicinal production. But the mained the size of a modest shrub. Typically Rothko beauty of peony flowers ensured that the flowering in May, the shrub remains good "Red: Ming Dynasty/Mark Rothko" at the pigment on canvas. plants soon made their way into gardens and looking for the rest of the season. This Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery brings Rothko (1903-1970), an American painter of into Chinese art. particular variety is expensive and sold together for the first time an imperial Chinese Russian Jewish descent, developed his own com- Chinese peonies were introduced to the only by a few mail-order nurseries because porcelain dish and a Mark Rothko painting. plex way of handling red pigments. His "Untitled west in the 18th century although the botan- it is difficult to propagate. There are many The color red is universally symbolic and (Seagram Mural Sketch)"of 1959, on loan from ical riches of China, including additional pe- similar looking Chinese tree peonies that is nowhere as celebrated as in China, but the the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., onies species, continued to be explored and feature white flowers with purple flares exhibition intentionally separates the artworks is an oil-and-acrylic painting created when Roth- documented by scientists through the 20th and, for many gardeners, these may be an from their historical context. ko accepted a commission to decorate the dining century. In 1926, Dr. Joseph Rock (1884- acceptable substitute. As trade with China room of the Four Seasons restaurant in Manhattan 1962), a plant explorer for the Arnold Arbo- has developed, gardeners have gained access -- a plan from which he ultimately withdrew. retum of Harvard University, came across a to new varieties of tree peonies. white-flowered tree peony in the courtyard The largest selection is available through of a Buddhist monastery in western China. specialist mail-order nurseries. Fall is the The monastery, called the Choni Lamasery, best time to plant bare-root peonies so that Rothko layered red was located at an elevation of over 8000 feet is when the nurseries send them out. Potted pigments to achieve in the southwestern part of Gansu Province. peonies can be planted any time. As with depth and variations Rock was able to collect seeds from this all peonies, provide excellent drainage to on flat canvas. plant and the Arnold Arboretum distributed ensure success. Although herbaceous peo- the seeds to botanical gardens around the nies prefer full sun, the tree peonies will do China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen Ming world. The first flowering from these seeds fine in partial shade. dynasty, Xuande (1426–35) mark and occurred in 1938 at various locations and the Usually ignored by deer and rabbits, period Porcelain with copper-red glaze; For the project, Rothko favored a palette of dark beauty of the flower created a sensation in my peonies suffered from some browsing on the base, a six-character cobalt-oxide wine reds and browns, overlaying the pigments to western horticultural circles. this past winter, probably due to high pop- (blue) reign mark in a double circle under create a surface that echoes the plush, luminous The flowers are very large, white pet- ulations of the animals. So if you decide to colorless glaze glaze of the Xuande dish. alled, with golden stamens that are beauti- plant some tree peonies, protect them well The exhibition offers a one-time chance for fully set off by the distinctive dark purple with a hoop of chicken wire when they are The Ming Dynasty dish for this exhibit is a unique and contemplative experience of two flares at the base of the petals. The plant young. Your plants will repay your efforts a new acquisition for the museum. It is a rare Xuande period (1425-36) treasure and is the first pieces that were created approximately 500 years itself is robust and long-lived, becoming a many fold. ♦ apart. “Rothko painted the edge of this canvas, large shrub over time. In fact, one of the copper-red-glazed porcelain to become a part of the permanent collection. Monochrome porce- while the Ming potters left the rim of the dish plants grown from Rock’s original seed col- Mary Yee is a Hennepin County Master lains are among the greatest achievements in white to contrast with the red. In the end, the dish lection may still be growing in Highdown, Gardener volunteer and a member of the ceramics, and no color is more complex to create and painting together leave you weeping with the Sussex garden estate of Sir Frederick Minnesota Peony Society. She grows and more coveted than the luscious copper-red the beauty of red," said exhibition curator Jan Stern, a noted English horticulturalist who more than 70 varieties of peonies in her glaze of this period. The dish's velvety texture Stuart, the museum's Melvin R. Seiden Curator published a monograph on peonies in 1946. garden. and variegated reds evoke crushed raspberries of Chinese Art. There has been much debate over the and parallel Rothko's tactile use of richly layered The exhibit will end Feb. 20, 2017. ♦ PAGE 10 / October 2016 society chinainsight.info Western influences of Halloween in China

Cultures from Europe to China have Ocean Park and Disneyland, have activities or pranks by the ghosts and also dates to be angry or malicious. traditional days of the dead or ghost days themed with Halloween. Masquerades, seriously honor and worship their ancestors The last day of the seventh lunar that are thousands of years old that were part haunted houses, movies, and costumed or famous people of the past. It is believed month: This is a less-celebrated festival of the tribal folk religions before the advent people could give you a fright. that the ghosts of dead people can help them day. It is thought that on the last day of the of Christianity in Europe and Buddhism in In Shanghai there is an old building built or protect them. month the gates of hell are closed up again. Asia. Foreign teachers have introduced the in 1933 by the British called 1933 Shanghai Festivals Similar to Halloween People celebrate and observe this day in British and American Halloween of October that was a former slaughterhouse, and is in China various ways. Many burn more paper money 31, but except for kids who have foreign now an chic office building, that holds a There are several days and a whole and clothing so that the ghosts can use them teachers or the expat oriented bars and Halloween event every year with adult-rated entire month in China that are similar to in their society in hell. In order to encourage restaurants and schools in China, Halloween masquerade parties. Halloween. These are the Hungry Ghost the ghosts to leave, Taoist monks chant. A activities aren’t popular in China. A Comparison Between the Festival, the Qing Ming Festival, the last common tradition is the floating of river The Chinese have traditional days of the day of the seventh lunar month, and the lanterns that are thought to take or guide dead that are much more popular such as Western Halloween and China’s those ghosts back to their place. Days of the Dead Spring Festival. the Hungry Ghost Festival, the Qing Ming The Hungry Ghost Festival: This The Qing Ming Festival: This festival Halloween originated from the Festival, the Double 9th Festival, and the ghost day is on the 15th day of the 7th lunar is in the spring on the 4th or 5th of April. It traditional holiday of Celts in Great Spring Festival. month. It is one of several important days is also called tomb sweeping day. Families Britain who believed that the last day of Halloween entered China mainly to deal with ghosts and worship ancestors go out on the day to tend and repair their October was “the day of the dead” or “the through two influences: foreign teachers in China. The Taoist name for the Hungry ancestors’ tombs. Many Chinese families ghost day” when ghosts crossed over the and Western expats. Ghost Festival is the Zhongyuan Festival ( maintain ancestral tombs. But you can see Foreign teachers in China might have boundary between the living and the dead. 中元节), and Buddhists call it the Yulanpen people out cutting the grass, decorating the a Halloween party for their students and It evolved into a day of fun and parties for Festival. In many ways, this festival is tombs, and worshiping or presenting food. a lesson about Halloween in their country. most people. However, in English speaking reminiscent of Halloween or the Night of These are often like family outings. So some Chinese children hear about countries such as America and Britain, many the Dead in the West. The Double Nine Festival: This is Halloween and might make decorations and take the day seriously as a special day for The seventh month of the Chinese another traditional day for worshiping the get Halloween candy. In general though, few religious prayers or witchcraft. lunar calendar is the scariest month of dead. It is also a time for families to go for Chinese do much about Halloween unless The Chinese days of the dead are a the year because on the first day of the walks in the fall in the mountains and hills they have foreign friends. part of the religion of the common people. seventh month, there is an ancient belief and drink chrysanthemum tea. The tea is Halloween in China is a party day in A greater percentage of Chinese than that ghosts are let out of hell. The seventh healthful at this time of the year when the expat-oriented bars and restaurants where a Westerners really believe that on these month is called the “Ghost Month” (鬼月 weather changes. lot of expats live such as Beijing, Shanghai, days there is more of a bridge between the Gui Yue), and the whole month is said to be The Chinese Spring Festival: Every and Guangzhou. The bars and restaurants dead and the living, and so they must take a month in which the ghosts are extant and year, the Chinese celebrate the beginning frequented by foreigners will often decorate precautions or honor the dead. traveling around the country, looking for of their new year with festivities, reunions, for the occasion with pictures of black These ghost days are a part of the folk entertainment. Many people try to avoid vacations, and fireworks. The fireworks cats, ghosts, and monsters, and Halloween religion of Chinese people called Daoism. doing anything dangerous during the month, originally were thought to drive away evil lanterns, and there might be masquerade These traditional festivals are hundreds such as swimming or being out alone at spirits, and there are a lot of Daoist religious parties. of years old. In general, they are dates for night since the ghosts are active. It is thought traditions associated with the time that most In Hong Kong the two big theme parks, people to protect themselves from attacks that the ghosts may attack their enemies or Chinese probably still believe. ♦

Education Loudi students continued from page 6

Mark’s house is located in a beautiful, sce- nese students’. The students go to school to Children, a small factory making food converse with them. They are really friend- nic surrounding. Just stepping into Mark’s study from 9 a.m. to noon; in the afternoon containing vitamin powder, cereal, rice and ly people. That, is my most unforgettable home, I immediately feel special warmth. they are free to take some activities. I was vegetables. The food is specifically taken to impression. The house is very clean and the whole very attentive in the American high school the victims all over the world. I’m glad to I was impatient to get out of the airport house, even the washroom, is carpeted, so math class and was very surprised to find experience the feeling of a worker, although to breathe the air of America. Aside from we needn’t wear shoes at home. I also found the knowledge is at our junior high school I am very tired. When I think that my food is the sunshine, the people I met also impressed that Mark’s home appliances are almost level. American students learning time is tasted by starving people, I feel very happy. me. Whoever they are, salesman, cleaner, fully automated: dishwasher, dryer, weeding very short, but why the U. S. can develop In just 20 days in America, I have learned the white-collars, driver, they are all very machine and cleaning robot. In addition, so many excellent scientists? Because the a lot. I want to say thanks to my parents, my enthusiastic and friendly, always offer their Americans spend less time on cooking than high school in the U.S. mainly is to cultivate school, my teachers and my friend Mark and assistance when we need, even though there Chinese. Americans buy semi-finished food students’ independent ability and social his family. Thanks to them for giving me is some language barrier between us. They from the supermarket that they cook in the responsibility. The college is to focus on the precious opportunity. This trip will give are really good people. microwave at home. Americans are not cultivating students’ learning ability and a good memory and become the motivation Here, I give special thanks to my host willing to spend more time on housework or cultural knowledge. At 4:30 in the morning, of the study in the future. family in Minnesota – Mr. He and his family. cooking, but are more willing to spend time Harvard University library is still brightly They took care of me and my friend in every to do what they like. Chinese people pay at- lit and students study hard day and night, so possible way, took me fishing, to a movie tention to their three meals a day very much, the university is to acquire knowledge of the and to church. We had a meaningful time. so most of the time is spent on household main places in the U. S. Furthermore, Mr. He cooked a lot. All in all, I had a good time in the U.S, chores. This may be the main difference American families also pay attention to and now I do miss the friends and beautiful between American and Chinese life. cultivate their children’s spirit of adventure, scenery there. If I have chance, surely I will I’m lucky enough to experience the exploration and love. Mark took us to surf, go to U.S again! ♦ Minnesotan student’s life. American school to bowl and ride a bike. I had a good time. time is arranged differently from our Chi- We also volunteered at Feed My Starving Advertisers

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Contact Greg Hugh By Jiang Chuyan is a 16-year-old who 952-472-4757 wholeheartedly embraced his first foreign [email protected] travel experience or visit This summer is my first time to this www.chinainsight.info for more advertising information. attractive country. Coming into contact with the Americans, I felt very relaxed to Jiang Chuyan chinainsight.info book review October 2016 / PAGE 11 Shanghai Grand: Forbidden Love and International Intrigue in a Doomed World By Taras Grescoe

Reviewed by Nigel Collett, Asian Review of Books, Aug. 22, 2016

Grand: Forbidden Love and International wing consciences of the West for decades; Author: Taras Grescoe Intrigue in a Doomed World. Grescoe’s and Hahn herself, who wrote of educated, Publisher: St. Martin’s Press subtitle is somewhat misleading, as his cultured and internationalized Chinese Publication date: June 2016 book is, in fact, a quadruple biography. intellectuals and the urban middle classes. Paperback and hard cover: 480 According to Harold Acton, “everywhere One of her frequent subjects was her own pages in Shanghai one jostled adventures and lover, the poet and publisher Zau Sinmay rubbed shoulders with people who had (Shao Xunmai), whom she christened Award-winning author Grescoe no idea how extraordinary they were; “Mr Pan” in the series of short stories she writes essays, articles, and books. His the extraordinary had become ordinary; wrote about him for the New Yorker. Zau, work has been translated into a half the freakish commonplace.”[7] Grescoe whose concubine Hahn became and who dozen languages, and has won national proves him right by focusing a spotlight introduced her to opium, is the third focus and international awards. An expert upon three of the most extraordinary of on transit and urbanism, he also gives the city’s denizens. His fourth subject is of Grescoe’s account. He is perhaps the keynotes on the theme of sustainable Shanghai itself, a city he clearly loves and most attractive figure in the book, but also transportation. knows deeply. the most tragic. Abandoned by Hahn, his Born in Toronto, raised in Calgary The Cathay Hotel was the most luxurious life and work destroyed by war and by and Vancouver, and schooled in flânerie hotel in the Orient and it stood, prominent on the Communists, Zau was imprisoned for in Paris, he now lives in Montreal, its famous Bund, at the heart of Shanghai. attempting to get a letter out of China to Quebec. It stands there yet, although now it is the Hahn. He died in 1968, unappreciated and Peace Hotel. The hotel is also at the heart in poverty. of Grescoe’s book, the palace where its Littering Grescoe’s account are many Of all human societies of which we settlement, life was far worse. The notorious characters meet and their lives intertwine. other unlikely, eccentric, even alarming have knowledge, Shanghai in the late 1930s magus, Aleister Crowley, surely one of the In the late 1930s, it could be an exciting characters; Morris “Two Gun” Cohen, the perhaps comes closest to the sci-fi dystopias least squeamish Englishmen of his day, place to stay, as Auden and Isherwood Cockney Jew who became a nationalist beloved of Hollywood, societies in which could stomach neither the settlement nor found: “Going into the Cathay Hotel one bodyguard and general; “Big-Eared” Du the gilded, sophisticated inhabitants of a the Chinese city, the oyster, as it were, that morning for a cup of coffee, we found a little fabulous city live surrounded but cut off surrounded the pearl of the settlement. He Yuesheng, the opium lord appointed by crowd round the entrance gazing at a pool of Chiang Kai-shek to suppress the opium from wasted badlands, served by an abject wrote of “the sordid scramble of the foreign blood;” a Chinese politician, a stool pigeon trade; Mickey Hahn’s lover and eventual underclass living as far from the light of settlement of Shanghai” and added that “I of the Japanese, had just been murdered by husband, the British intelligence officer and day as it does from the consciousness of could not so much as indulge in a saunter the resistance on the hotel steps.[8] scholar Charles Boxer; and the American its masters. For inside the self-policed through the native city.”[5] The hotel’s builder, the fabulously boundaries of Shanghai’s International In 1937, when the Japanese attacked the wealthy Sir Victor Sassoon, makes the socialite Bernadine Szold-Fritz, whose Settlement and its French Concession lay nationalist forces in the Chinese city and first of Grescoe’s subjects. Descendant of parties mixing East and West in Shanghai both one of the greatest concentrations of in its surrounding countryside, cutting off a Baghdad Jewish family that had made a brought together all those in Grescoe’s story. wealth on the face of the planet and some the foreign settlement entirely except from fortune in trade and manufacturing across All take their place upon Grescoe’s of the most sordid scenes of human misery. the exit to the sea, life there became even the British Empire, Sassoon was a canny Shanghai stage. The city permeates The taipans of British, American, French, more surreal. Shanghai became “a Solitary businessman and rentier, one of the richest everything in this book. Harold Acton Japanese and other stock who controlled Island” of wealth and excess in a sea of men in the city. He was also a playboy who characterized it in his translation of an 11th and owned the wealth of Shanghai lived desolation; the fought-over buildings of the built and ran the best nightclub in a town century Chinese poem: hedonistic lives of truly decadent luxury. Chinese city stretched for mile after mile renowned for its nightlife. He collected Are you not he, cicada, For the wealthy, life was sweet, as Noël of empty rubble, its population fled either beautiful and amusing women to enliven Of whom I have heard told you could Coward, who passed through in 1930 and into the interior or into the increasingly his leisure hours. transform wrote Private Lives while laid up with overcrowded International Settlement. One of these was the globetrotting Your body, magically moulding it influenza in a suite in the Cathay Hotel, Until the Japanese ended it all by Jewish American writer Emily “Mickey” To new estate: Are you not he who, born remembered. “I entered the social whirl of marching in to take control in late 1941, the Hahn, a wild and uninhibited girl from St Upon the dung heap, coveted the sky, Shanghai with zest,” he wrote. foreign business community in Shanghai Louis who arrived in Shanghai in 1935 The clean and open air?[10] There were lots of parties and Chinese continued to party as if the world would and was almost immediately picked up Isherwood had a less lofty view; he dinners and general cosmopolitan junketings, never end, made richer, if anything, by the by Sir Victor. She was a beauty; Harold believed that “in this city the gulf between which, while putting a slight strain on our growing profits their firms were reaping in Acton described her as “Emily Hahn, lingual abilities, in no way dampened our the war-torn interior and by the increased like a voluptuous figure from a Moroccan society’s two halves is too grossly wide for spirits. We found some charming new rents they could extract from the hapless mellah”.[9] Hahn, who is Grescoe’s second any bridge.”[11] It is a gulf that has opened friends [...] with whom we visited many of four million Chinese now crammed into the major subject, had not intended to stay more once again today. There is something in the the lower and gayer haunts of the city.[1] festering accommodation they controlled. than a few weeks in the city but ended up mud of the Huangpu River, perhaps, that The vast population that served and As the rich partied, around them the war remaining there until 1940. leads to the excess that Taras Grescoes’s fine worked for the rich crammed itself into raged. Isherwood’s diary gives a flavour Shanghai helped make her reputation, book reminds us was there from Shanghai’s fetid rows of continually sub-dividing of this bizarre world: which, although she is much forgotten now, inception. ♦ apartment blocks that stretched behind If you want girls, or boys, you was enormous in America in the middle their employer’s workplaces on the iconic can have them, at all prices, in the years of the 20th Century. Her journalism Bund. In the view of Harold Acton, an bath-houses and the brothels. If and books on the city and on China were About the reviewer upper class English aesthete who lived in you want opium you can smoke it widely read. She was most famous for The Collett is the author of “The Butcher Peking at the time, “Shanghai was the most in the best company, served on a Soong Sisters, a joint biography of the most of Amritsar,” published in 2005, a life cruel and merciless of cities.”[2] WH Auden tray, like afternoon tea [The British prominent Chinese women of the day, the of Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer, and his friend Christopher Isherwood, who ambassador’s party is] ‘a beautifully- wives of Sun Yat Sen, Chiang Kai-shek and perpetrator of the Jallianwala Bagh visited Shanghai in 1938, were appalled contrived charade […] somewhere, the latter’s finance minister, HH Kung. This massacre at Amritsar in 1919. and by the city’s combination of an unashamed out in the suburb, machine guns are she wrote after a hazardous journey through “Firelight of a Different Colour,” about worship of mammon and its squalor. They rattling. You can hear them all day a China ravaged by war to interview all three Hong Kong actor Leslie Cheung. Other found “nowhere a fine avenue, a spacious long […] The International Settlement women. Hahn was one of the small group of earlier books include: “A Grammar, park, an imposing central square. Nowhere and the French Concession form an writers who opened the eyes of America to Phrase Book and Vocabulary of Baluchi” anything civic at all.”[3] Auden expressed island, an oasis in the midst of the stark, the plight of China in the 1930s and 1940s, (1984 and 1986), “A Nepali-English- his revulsion in his poem “A Major Port”: frightful wilderness which was once the writers like Pearl Buck, whose stories of Nepail Dictionary” (1994). Banks jostle in the sun for domination, Chinese city.[6] rural China for the first time humanized He is the Hong Kong English Behind them stretch like sorry vegetation This is the world vividly conjured the population of the country in the eyes of correspondent of Fridae.com and joint coordinator of the Tongzhi Literary The low recessive houses of the poor.[4] up by Canadian journalist and writer the west; Edgar Snow, whose works about Group. Outside the foreign-controlled Taras Grescoe in his new book Shanghai Chinese Communism informed the left PAGE 12 / October 2016 society chinainsight.info China’s big fat problem By Elaine Dunn

What a difference a generation makes! top – obesity. Furthermore, boys are more likely to be a society that places a preference for boys, In 1968, the Cultural Revolution-induced The European Journal of Preventive overweight than girls. particularly in rural areas. This means boys Great Famine was ending when Canadian Cardiology published a 29-year study of Why the difference? tend to enjoy more of the family’s resources Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau visited 27,850 rural students in China between ages In the U.S., the high cost of fresh and be more over-fed by doting parents China. It was then a Third World country 7 and 18 in Shandong Province - obesity in produce, makes it more inaccessible to the and grandparents. In addition, luxuries where most of its citizens lived in poverty boys increased from 0.03 percent in 1985 poor. High fat and high carbohydrate foods such as cars, computers and televisions are and food was rationed – an estimate of to 17.2 percent in 2014 and, among girls, such as doughnuts, bacon and hamburgers not just status symbols in China; they are approximately 45 million people died of from 0.12 percent to 9.11percent, during are popular, fairly inexpensive, and readily contributors to a more sedentary lifestyle. hunger from 1958-1961. Last month, when that same period. Worst yet, the percentage available at all the fast food chains in the Parents also place strong emphasis on the current Canadian PM Justin Trudeau of Chinese children who are overweight or U.S. academics, which trump any physical sports (Pierre’s son) visited, it’s quite a different obese has risen from 5 to 20 percent in just China’s robust economy created a newly activities for the kids. story. one generation. prosperous class who can buy foods that China may be reaching a tipping point. In the past decade, China has made great The World Health Organization’s Global were unavailable to them just a few years A May 2014 Wall Street Journal article strides in world standing. Its current ranking Info Database indicate that from 2002 to ago. Meat consumption in the country has disclosed that even China’s armed forces are 2014, obesity in China increased by 25 risen sharply: in 1965, meat comprised just being challenged by the fatter recruits as its percent for those aged 15 and above, that’s 6 percent of the Chinese diet; by 2005, it soldiers have begun to have trouble fitting approximately 300 million Chinese, 45 grew to 27 percent. The average Chinese into traditionally-sized tanks. percent of males and 32 percent of females, now consumes 138 pounds of meat in a year. The Chinese government is trying to were overweight. Lancet, the British In May 2016, the National Health and fight the scourge of increasing obesity- medical journal, reported in March 2016 related diseases by expanding basic medical that China has surpassed the U.S. in the coverage. The Chinese Health Ministry number of obese -- 89.6 million total, 16.3 has started implementing “healthful eating percent of obese men worldwide and 12.4 programs” in schools and are constructing percent of women are Chinese. The Obesity more playgrounds in an effort to promote Reviews journal stated in 2015 that Chinese exercise. However, will its health system teenagers were four times more prone to be able to handle the explosion of heart diabetes (which is closely tied to obesity) disease, diabetes, cancer and hypertension than their peers in the U.S. in the coming years? This health calamity is a by-product of The economic consequences of obesity China’s improving economy and the one- are serious. The International Diabetes child policy. Increased wealth and opening Federation in Brussels estimates that close its doors to the rest of the world exposed the to half a billion Chinese will be diabetic by once-upon-a-time lean Chinese population 2030. A McKinsey report projected China’s Obese couple who underwent weight-loss to western fast food. McDonalds has health care cost will soar to US$1 trillion in China’s young adults are gaining weight surgery. The number of bariatric surgeries approximately 2,400 outlets in China and the year 2020. And this does not factor in and exercising less. increased 148.7 times within the last five Hong Kong. Yum China just sold its 7,800 the cost of loss productivity and absenteeism years. in the world is impressive: second largest KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants to a China- from an overweight workforce. economy (largest, if based on purchasing based private Equity firm. Starbucks will Family Planning Commission issued dietary China’s 3,000 health clubs boasts power parity), largest number of internet have approximately 2,500 stores in China guidelines that encouraged its citizens to only 3 million active members. Major users, largest number of billionaires, largest by the end of 2016. reduce their consumption of meat and eggs companies have started installing gyms trading nation, and the world’s largest In the U.S., obesity is epidemic among to a cap of 75 grams of meat and poultry on site for its employees. The Nanjing producer of potatoes, wheat and tomatoes. the lower-income population and affects daily and a combined 200 grams cap daily Agricultural University has launched a six- However, one other ranking that is growing both sexes fairly evenly. In China, it’s an of meat, poultry, fish and dairy. week weight-loss course. It is not too late faster than its impressive GDP, one that affliction of the upper-income group, and For the past three decades, to combat for the government and major employers to the Chinese Center for Disease Control teens from affluent Chinese families with overpopulation, the Chinese government has step up their game in China’s weight-control and Prevention would rather not be at the educated parents are more likely to be obese. enforced a one-child policy. China also is program. ♦ Frank Wu and C-100’s call to arms By Elaine Dunn

The segment aired on May 15, 2016, Weather Service, whose career was dis- press on Sept.12. and addresses the U.S. government’s fight rupted in October 2014 with accusations of To counter the unfair practice of tar- against economic espionage conducted by downloading and passing on information geting Chinese American immigrants for China to gain American trade secrets and of the nation’s dams and reservoirs to a top espionage is just one of C-100’s initiatives. intellectual property. Xi, the then chair of Chinese official. Charges were dropped The committee has been leading a series of the Temple University physics department, in March 2015 but she was fired from her educational workshops across the country is the “collateral damage.” job. Her case was also featured in the “60 for Asian Americans in the scientific com- On opening his door that May morning, Minutes” segment. munity and government on how to navigate Xi was greeted with men in bulletproof vests And then there is Wen Ho Lee, a Tai- the risks and sensitivities involved in their with guns who handcuffed and arrested him wanese American who was arrested in fields. And there is no one better to lead on the spot. The men were from the FBI. December1999 on accusations that he had the charge than Wu. At 49, Wu has a list of He was accused of selling U.S. technology given U.S. nuclear secrets to China. Prior accomplishments longer than most people secrets to China. In September 2015, the to 9/11, his case was deemed “the greatest twice his age. Son of Taiwanese immigrants, Department of Justice dropped all charges threat to national security.” Ultimately, he was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised against him. But damage to his career and no charges were brought, no evidence of in Detroit, Mich., where his father worked Frank H. Wu finances were done. espionage was found, and after nine months at Ford Motor Company as an engineer. As On a May 2015 morning, a scientist Sad to say, Xi’s case is not an isolated in jail, Lee pleaded guilty to one count of the only Asian American in school, he ex- opened his front door in suburban Phila- incident: mishandling data and released. perienced his share of schoolyard taunting, delphia and his life was turned completely In October 2013, two Chinese scientists These cases have the serious potential which showed him at an early age the reality upside down. at Eli Lilly were arrested and jailed for for tarnishing the reputation and image of of racial inequalities. . He also found that “It was so urgent, the pounding was passing proprietary information to a Chinese Chinese Americans, not to mention the po- the more he tried to assimilate and refuse to so urgent that I run here to open the door drug company. Turned out the information tential for weakening U.S.-China relations. be labeled “Asian,” the more it made him without even being fully dressed,” recounted was not proprietary after all and the charges These were some of the cases Frank H. stand out from his peers. Xiaoxing Xi. He was being interviewed by were changed to wire fraud. Wu, chair of the Committee of 100 (C-100) Wu received a B.A. from the Johns Bill Whitaker of CBS’ “60 Minutes” for a Then there’s Sherry Chen, a Chinese since April 2016, mentioned when he met Hopkins University, piece titled “Collateral Damage. American hydrologist with the National with a few members from the local Chinese continued on next page chinainsight.info science & technology October 2016 / PAGE 13 China’s Turing Robot envisions AI as part of every household

By Ke Jin, AllChinaTech, Sept. 7, 2016 Yu Zhichen, founder and CEO of Turing Robot (Photo from Yijian) Can a robot think and feel? Can pro- the “upgraded AI,” something which was Turing OS is committed to helping their its Series B financing of RMB 100 million gramming lead to something that imitates defined by Yu as the AI that actually makes business partners’ efforts to make their own (USD 15 million), followed by another human intelligence and consciousness? a robot capable of reasoning and solving robots, or developing AI applications for RMB 50 million from Alpha Group earlier Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) compa- problems. The entrepreneur, still in his 30s, their respective fields. this year. Yu said the funding has been ny Turing Robot works to build brains for said, “Before I retire at 60, I would devote It consists of three engines: the emo- used for R&D, service maintenance, and robots, and envisions putting an AI robot in my last 30 years to make the future happen, tion-computing engine that can recognize marketing. every household. a future when upgraded AI comes true.” 25 human emotions via intonations and The road ahead is long and… AI in the spotlight Two major products: a brain body language; the thinking-enhancement possibly bright The future when every household lives and an OS for robots engine that trains robots to think like a China’s Ministry of Industry and Infor- with an AI robot could be nearer than you Yu and his team have been working human and greatly extends the duration mation Technology, the National Devel- thought. to integrate robotics with AI and internet. of human-machine interaction; and the opment and Reform Commission and the In 1997, IBM’s chess-playing computer However, instead of making robots, they self-learning engine that allows robots to Ministry of Finance jointly predicted that, Deep Blue defeated world champion Gary positioned themselves to build the brains of upgrade themselves with data collected from by 2020, the market for service robots in Kasparov. Less than 20 years later, in March robots from the very beginning. the interactions with users. China may reach a total of RMB 30 billion. of 2016, Google’s deep learning computer Founded in 2010, the company released This late July witnessed the upgrade of Additionally, according to the International program AlphaGO claimed victory over the Turing Robot in 2014, an open platform the self-developed Turing OS 1.0 to Turing Federation of Robotics, the global market champion Lee Sedol at Go, a game which for AI robots covering the technologies of OS 1.5 at the company’s innovation con- for service robots is estimated to reach USD is widely considered to be the most complex voice recognition, semantic recognition, and ference. Some Turing robots with the latest 46.2 billion by 2017. board game in the world in terms of total cognitive computing. It is a highly intelli- system will meet the public in the second Though the main target at present is still possibilities and game permutations. gent robot brain in the context of Chinese half of 2016. within China, Yu said that Turing Robot will For there to exist AI that can compete language recognition, with a semantic rec- Household robots hold the soon march into English-speaking countries, with and even show signs of surpassing ognition rate reaching 94.7 percent. newest opportunities “Now is a great time, with an abundance human intelligence, or that computers in In addition, it employs technologies Instead of straining to enter into the of opportunities, and good products and general can exist including Deep arena of developing industrial robots – the services must go global for further improve- – without which QA and natural edge of which has been led by counterparts ments and more users.” our world today language under- in countries like Germany and Japan, Turing Turing Robot’s development may well would be quite standing (NLU) Robot focuses on household robots. serve Alan Turing’s vision, as he once said, different – we to offer further Yu believes that the commercialization “We can only see a short distance ahead, must pay tribute services. As of of AI and robotics is speeding up, and that but we can see plenty there that needs to to the father of this July, Turing human-machine cooperation may soon be- be done.”♦ theoretical com- Robot has accu- come popular in industries like education, puter science mulated more healthcare, and finance. Nevertheless, for and AI, Alan Robots supported by Turing OS (Photo screened from than 230,000 Turing Robot, the focus will stay on educa- Turing. Tuling123.com) third-party de- tion and entertainment for children. Ke Jin is a writer at AllChinaTech. “I respect velopers, con- Among the 150 members of Turing She graduated from the University of Ed- Alan Turing be- tributing to a Robot, about 83 percent are engineers from inburgh with a Master’s Degree in English cause he was determined to make things total of 16.2 billion service requests. the world’s top-ranked universities, each and has worked on projects with Ipsos happen, even when faced with great dif- Another major product is Turing OS, with their own specialized area of expertise, MORI and SDI Media. She’s particularly ficulties from all sides,” said Yu Zhichen, an AI-level robot operating system that each contributing to the company’s over intrigued by China’s thriving technology scene and is eager to write about this founder and CEO of Turing Robot. provides natural and friendly modes for 200 patents. flourishing industry. Yu and his team have been working on human-machine. Released in late 2015, Last December, the company secured

Society Frank Wu and C-100’s call to arms continued from page 12 a J.D. from the University of Michigan, and perpetual foreigner.” He co-authored in American society and to provide public Coalition building is the key,” Wu said. completed the Management Development “Race, Rights and Reparation: Law and policy resource for the Chinese-American He is currently working on a book on the Program of the Harvard University Graduate the Japanese American Internment,” for community. Among its 100-plus by- Vincent Chin case. School of Education. which he received the largest grant issued invitation-only prominent members are Wu is a big believer in “bridge building. by the federal Civil Liberties and Public Steve Chen, YouTube co-founder; Michelle “I believe strongly in [C-100’s] mission and Education Fund. Kwan, figure skater; Yo Yo Ma, renowned the powerful impact it can have on U.S.- “It’s about time we stood up and cellist; I.M. Pei, architect. China relations and the standing of Chinese spoke out,” said Wu, “For so long, Asian- In 1982, a 27-year-old Chinese American Americans,” he said on becoming chair Americans have been thought of as named Vincent Chin was severely beaten in of the committee. “A strong relationship submissive or passive … This pattern of a Detroit suburb. Chin died from his injuries between the U.S. and China is now more wrongful prosecutions, based potentially a few days later. His attackers were two important than ever and the distinguished on targeting people due to race, ethnicity white autoworkers who took out their anger Chinese-American membership of C-100 or country of origin goes against the fiber of numerous layoffs in the Detroit auto is uniquely positioned to serve as a bridge of what this country is about.” industry on Chin, whom they thought was between the two countries. I look forward Wu is currently on sabbatical from Japanese. One of the two was convicted of to working with my fellow members and Wu presented the “Committee of 100 the University of California where he was manslaughter and for violating Chin’s civil the greater Chinese American community Global Leadership Award” to Ban Ki-moon the Chancellor and Dean of the Hastings rights, the latter of which was overturned on to ensure that we can be a force for positive, for promoting global philanthropy. College of Law and holds the Distinguished appeal. Both were sentenced to three years lasting change.” He is a prolific contributor to the Professor title there. C-100’s outgoing of probation and never saw a day behind Historically, Chinese Americans have Huffington Post and appears regularly as chair Herman Li said, “Not only has he bars. The Chin case galvanized Asian- been subjected to much unfair treatment, a media commentator and speaker. He is [Wu] been a vocal and effective advocate Americans and was key in Asian-American but have seldom made themselves heard. the author of “Yellow: Race in America against racial bias, he also has a long civil rights history. Wu urges Chinese Americans to be mindful Beyond Black and White,” which offers history of commitment to a variety of Even though Wu was only a teenager of self-isolation, especially linguistically a unique perspective on how changing philanthropic and cultural causes that will when Chin was killed, the incident and (Mandarin vs. Cantonese) and to bust out ideas of racial identity will affect race be of tremendous benefit to our members.” outcome inspired Wu to pursue an active of our circumspect comfort zones because relations in the 21st century and confronts The influential non-profit C-100 was role in civil rights advocacy and law. “It it is crucial to be part of the civics culture damaging Asian-American stereotypes established in 1990 to promote full inclusion was the Chin case that taught me how on an everyday basis. Remaining silent is such as “the model minority” and “the and equal protection of Chinese Americans important it was to stand out and speak up. not an option. ♦ PAGE 14 / October 2016 government & politics chinainsight.info Hong Kong, China, independence

By Elaine Dunn

China not only the leased New Territories prevented from leading student unions. Editor’s note: The term “democracy” is used throughout this article. However, the and small islands but Kowloon and Hong The Hong Kong University student Chinese interpretation of the word is not exactly the same as what it stands for in the Kong as well when the 99-year lease ends. union president responded with, “Hong West after the early 1900s. Following decades of turmoil and civil war leading to the The Basic Law, Hong Kong’s constitutional Kong is not China and any discussion on rise of the Communist party, “democracy,” or “minzhu (民主),” was only used in document, was part and parcel of the han- Hong Kong’s prospects should be encour- party speak by Chairman Mao Tse Tung, as in “China would be ruled by a people’s dover agreement, which would allow Hong aged and not prohibited. Discussion of democratic dictatorship,” meaning “the party will represent the people.” The current Kong to continue its status quo for 50 more Hong Kong independence should never be president, Xi Jinping, has made it quite clear that Western-style democracy is not for years and provide democratic elections. The a taboo.” China. handover ceremony was very telling of Chi- Realistically, is Hong Kong indepen- na’s attitude toward Britain’s sovereignty dence an option? Hong Kong, Kowloon over Hong Kong – the British trooped off and the New Territories are dependent on the stage and the Chinese entered. British China for most resources, from water to flag lowered; Chinese flag raised. No doc- food supply, fuel and other raw materials. uments exchanged, no speeches, and barely This makes independence rather unlikely a handshake. Done deal. unless China agrees, which is even more Those who believed Beijing must have highly unlikely. been drinking some powerful Kool-Aid. An additional obstacle for Hong Kong Since the handover in 1997, Beijing had gaining more democracy (in the Western been exerting increasing restrictions on sense) or independence is that the Chinese Hong Kongers’ civil liberties. Under the government fear any additional freedoms Basic Law, the democratic opposition has obtained by Hong Kongers may give main- the right to veto bills without any need landers ideas, and that is absolutely not to to act responsibly to deliver on campaign be tolerated. promises. However, the newly elected slate of A growing economic divide from younger, more militant LegCo members sig- stagnant wages and rising cost of living in- nals the fight is on. How will Beijing react? creased frustration, perhaps even a sense of For the Uighers and Tibetans, Beijing desperation, among Hong Kongers. Add to lowers its iron fists on them. All move- that a definite fear that Beijing will end the ments related with any hint of autonomy or Hong Kong handover ceremony, July 1, 1997 way of life as they know it. In July 2016, independence are suppressed. However, in Hong Kong residents who say they “feel Hong Kong, under the 50-year agreement “All peoples have the right entertain the idea of independence. That’s Chinese” dropped to a record low – 31per- at the handover, political freedom, freedom not going to happen. cent, 8 percent lower than in 2015. of expression and press are supposed to be to self-determination.” Following is a simplistic version of how The 2014 announcement by the Chinese protected. So Beijing does what it does things arrived to this point. Communist Party to start vetting candidates best, issue an edict that anyone advocating Declaration on the Granting of Indepen- After China lost the first Opium War, for Hong Kong elections incited the “Um- independence will be punished! Xi Jinping dence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Hong Kong was ceded to Britain in 1842. (It brella Revolution.” (See November-Decem- made it clear to Hong Kongers that their December 1960 should be pointed out that China never con- ber 2014 & January 2015 issues at www. only option is to work within Beijing’s pa- sidered the treaty under which Hong Kong chinainsight.info.) Fall 2015 saw the dis- rameters, and being a separate entity is not Almost 20 years after its return to China, was ceded an “equal” treaty.) At that time, appearance of five Hong Kong booksellers within that realm. election for the fifth chief executive of Hong Hong Kong was nothing but a “barren rock,” who sell books critical of China. And prior It is understandable for China to be Kong will take place on March 26, 2017. a sleepy fishing village off the southern coast to last month’s LegCo elections, Beijing protective of its territories. But if Beijing Hong Kong was a British Crown Colony of China blessed with a natural deep-water exacted pledges from all candidates that meddles much more with Hong Kong’s civil until it was handed back to China in 1997. harbor. At the end of the second Opium War “Hong Kong is an “inalienable” part of Chi- liberties and imposes more restrictions on its From 1960-1972, it was accorded the same in 1860, the British gained a perpetual lease na” or be disqualified. Worst yet, Reuters political and press freedoms, Hong Kong’s rights to independence as other British col- for Kowloon Peninsula, the land across from and the South China Morning Post obtained international reputation will suffer, possibly onies and territories, such as Fiji & Kenya. Hong Kong island and adjacent to the main- documents that Chinese state-owned em- causing economic instability, which, in turn, However, one year after China was admit- land. In 1898, feeling a need for a “buffer ployers in Hong Kong instructed their staff may trigger stronger protests for democracy ted to the United Nations in 1971, China zone,” Britain signed an agreement with to vote for candidates in the pro-Beijing and independence. With some of the newly requested Hong Kong be removed from China to lease the land north of Kowloon, camp at the September LegCo election. minted LegCo members who are not op- the list of countries and territories and, with known as the New Territories, and some There also was word from Beijing to posed to violence in pursuing their cause, that, “all steps should be taken to enable 200 surrounding small islands for 99 years. teachers that “independence advocacy” will where will that lead? them to enjoy complete independence and The British took a laissez faire approach not be allowed and those encouraging such It may behoove Beijing to step back freedom” was taken away from the Hong to its colony’s commerce and the tiny island discussions face losing their jobs. Fanny or at least consider the call from some of Kong people. thrived. It became a powerful international Law, a former education official and close the younger pro-democracy activists for a Last month, the first election of Legis- financial center and one of the world’s larg- advisor to the Chief Executive, called for “self-determination referendum” to be held lative Council1 (LegCo for short) members est container ports. pro-independence groups to be banned from 10 years out, in which independence from after the Umbrella Revolution - the pro-de- In 1984, Britain agreed to return to schools, and that their representatives to be China would be an option. After all, regard- mocracy demonstrations of fall 2014 - took less of how China views it, Hong Kong is place. Hong Kong voters turned out in more Hong Kong than China, with its own record numbers and elected a new genera- particular culture and history. tion of pro-democratic lawmakers. Six of It has been said that humans are not the newly elected ran on greater pro-inde- good students, that not only do we not learn pendence and self-determination platforms. from our mistakes, we make the same ones This outcome sent a strong signal to Beijing from generation to generation with tedious that Hong Kongers plan to continue their regularity. Were there any lessons from pro-democracy, if not independence, fight. Tiananmen Massacre to be learned? Response from Beijing was swift. The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Of- 1) The Legislative Council enacts, amends fice of the State Council2 noted that certain or repeals laws; examines and approves organizations and candidates were publicly budgets, taxation and public expenditure; advocating for “Hong Kong independence.” and raises questions on the work of the It announced Hong Kong independence government. Total number of councilors is was “against the Constitution of China, the 70, of which 35 are directly elected through Basic Law and relevant laws of the Hong five geographical constituencies. Kong SAR,” and that it threatened China’s sovereignty and security, damaged the 2) The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and of the State Council is an organ assisting the was counter to the fundamental interests of Chinese Premier to deal with affairs related Hong Kong citizens. In other words, do not to Hong Kong and Macao. ♦ chinainsight.info news October 2016 / PAGE 15 Asian-Americans fastest growing electorate, but given little attention

By Denisse Moreno, Epoch Times, Sept.16, 2016

backgrounds are primarily registered as independent or undecided, according to AAJC data. The top five issues that Asian-Americans care about are education, health care, terror at- tacks, jobs and the economy, and retirement security. In the 2012 presidential elec- tion, 73 percent of Asian-Amer- icans voted for President Barack Robena Cheung votes at a polling station in Obama, according to exit-polls. Monterey Park, Los Angeles County, on Nov. This time around, Asian- 6, 2012. Monterey Park is one of 6 cities in Americans are leaning towards California’s 49th Assembly District where Asian- Hillary Clinton. The former Americans make up the majority of the population. secretary of state also got their (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) support during the primaries, with NEW YORK—Asian-Americans are the Asian-Americans supporting her fastest growing racial group in the country. more than any other candidate including But despite the fact that 9.3 million Asian- Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump and Ted Americans are eligible to vote—about a Cruz. 1.3 million increase compared to 2012, “I definitely want Hillary to win,” said according to Asian Americans Advancing Avanti Gupta, 25, an Indian-American who Justice (AAJC)—the group is receiving little lives in Manhattan and works in the fashion attention from the presidential candidates. industry. This will be the second time she Advocacy groups say that the group is casts a ballot. “Hillary is a woman. It’s a huge stride,” ticipation is not that high, says Ao Minnis. not only largely ignored, but that Asian- A negative experience might also Americans also face challenges at polling said Gupta. However, both presidential candidates discourage Asian-Americans from future places including discrimination and have done little, aside from talking about voting, says Vattamala. language barriers. the group on their websites, to reach out to Turnout and future voters However, the dynamic of the 2016 Asian-American voters. Although the Asian-American electorate race, and concerns over anti-immigration “We appreciate when candidates reach is rapidly growing, the actual number of rhetoric, is making more Asian-Americans out,” said Terry Ao Minnis, director of the those registering and voting lags behind motivated to vote this year, says James census and voting programs for AAJC. “The all other major racial groups. In the 2012 An Asian-American voter receives instruc- Hong, interim executive director at the first step is to acknowledge the community.” presidential election, 47 percent of eligible tions prior to casting her ballot at a polling MinKwon Center for Community Action Jerry Vattamala, director of the De- Asian-Americans cast ballots, compared to station in Monterey Park, Los Angeles in New York City. mocracy Program at Asian American Legal 67 percent of black voters, 64 percent of County, on Nov. 6, 2012. (FREDERIC J. “They don’t feel welcome as a result of Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), non-Hispanic white voters, and 48 percent BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) what has happened in this election cycle,” says it’s hard to speculate why the group of Latino voters, according to the Pew Re- said Hong. receives little attention. He said initially and had their names missing or misspelled search Center. In an Asian-American voter survey it was believed that the demographic was in the poll books. Hong of MinKwon Center hopes more conducted by AAJC last spring, over half ignored because “the numbers were too low Vattamala said that some of the voters voters will hit the polls this year. of the Asian-Americans polled were “more or because they didn’t vote.” reported being told by poll workers, “You “We made a big push,” said Hong. enthusiastic” about voting in this election “[It’s] still not the type of outreach you don’t look American.” The MinkWon Center registered 5,000 compared to previous elections (51 percent). Asian-American voters from September would like to see,” said Ao Minnis. “Voters In Boston’s Chinatown, a federal lawsuit 2015 to April 2016. Leaning Democrat are not getting touched at a high rate.” was launched after Chinese-American vot- A majority of Asian-Americans of The Asian-American population is Reaching out to the demographic could ers were put into a “Chinese line” in 2004. Indian, Japanese, Korean, and Filipino benefit candidates. expected to grow by 74 percent between In a settlement, the city required there to background are registered as democratic, “A third of our community identify as 2015 and 2040. During that time period, be Chinese and Vietnamese materials and while those with Chinese and Vietnamese independents,” said Ao Minnis, noting that the number of Asian-American registered translators at poll sites. the “untapped group of voters will increase from 5.9 million to voters” is an opportunity Asian-Americans are victims of the 12.2 million, according to a study by the for candidates. “perpetual foreigner stereotype,” says Ao UCLA Center for the Study of Inequality Problems at the Minnis. “Because they don’t speak perfect and the Asian Pacific American Institute for English [they are] treated in a hostile way.” Congressional Studies. ♦ polls This creates an environment where par- In 2014, AALDEF volunteers monitored poll sites in 11 states and sur- veyed more than 4,000 WWTT? Asian-Americans who voted. They recorded ANSWER: If you said Brad Pitt, you’re over 340 complaints. partially correct. Someone with too much Among those who time on his/her hands in China “darkened” complained were voters the skin tone of nine Hollywood stars, who said that they were widened their noses, thickened their lips and Ji Son celebrates after voting on election day in Los Angeles on unlawfully required to then posted the images on state-run sites. Nov. 6, 2012. Monterey Park is one of 6 cities in California’s prove their U.S. citizen- Shortly after a query from the Wall Street 49th Assembly District where Asian-Americans make up the ship. Voters also said they Journal, the page was taken down. What were majority of the population. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/ were not provided voting they thinking? Getty Images) material in their language, PAGE 16 / October 2016 arts & culture chinainsight.info A classic Chinese novel to life as an opera continued from page 1

The creative team Smith and Gockley As conceived by Sheng, the opera clever touch by Hwang – could take on some to take Waltner’s course, she said. assembled included Shanghai-born Sheng, a focuses on political intrigue and a love of the exposition that seems to slow down Ken Lau, another Minneapolitan in the 2001 MacArthur Fellow who has spent most triangle involving a young and impetuous the first act. (Sheng said the next day that he house, is treasurer of the Chinese Heritage of his career in the United States. Sheng was nobleman, Bao Yu, and two very different expects to make subtle changes in the score Foundation. A retired accountant, Lau first 12 when he first read the “Red Chamber,” at women: the frail Dai Yu, his soul mate, and before it goes to Hong Kong.) visited San Francisco in 1965 when, at the a time during the Cultural Revolution when Bao Chai, a young and beautiful heiress. In the tender final scene, Dai Yu departs age of 19, he arrived from Hong Kong – 19 the novel was banned in China. He considers The spiritual resonance is that Bao Yu is this world during a melancholy chorus: days by steamer – with six suitcases. Then himself an amateur ‘Redologist,” that is, an the incarnation of an ancient divine stone, “When spring has fled, and beauty is spent, he traveled by Greyhound bus – three days expert on the novel. and Dai Yu, a crimson pearl flower. Both who cares for the fallen petals? Both flower and two nights – to Minneapolis, where he (As an indication of native Chinese read- seek to be human. The question becomes, and maiden return to dust.” The thought is enrolled at the University of Minnesota. ers’ devotion to the novel, this writer got a as Sheng put it: Can perfect love exist in an typically Chinese: Life is impermanent and “I believe in the Heritage Foundation short but learned lecture on the importance imperfect world? all existence is evanescent. and its idea of bringing Chinese culture to of the “Red Chamber” from a Chinese-born On Sept. 10 a near-capacity crowd, in- Among the Minnesotans present Satur- America,” he said. cab driver on the trip from the opera house cluding 170 Minnesotans, took their seats day night was Ann Waltner, a professor of Another foundation supporter who had to the writer’s hotel.) in the cavernous 84-year-old War Memorial history at the University of Minnesota who come for the opera, Greg Hugh, a Chi- Sheng brought in Hwang as librettist. Opera House in order to find the answer to is author of a free online course on “Red nese-American born in Chicago, is publisher They were friends who had collaborated that question and to hear an important new Chamber.” and CEO of China Insight, a monthly news- on an earlier opera, “The Silver River.” opera. What they saw was a stunningly paper with offices in Hopkins that seeks The playwright and director Stan Lai was beautiful and picturesque production. Yip’s to foster business and cultural harmony engaged to stage the work, and Tim Yip, an dreamlike sets are highlighted by painted between China and the U.S. (Minnesota, Oscar-winner for art direction for “Crouch- panels that rise and fall to create various he said, quoting official figures, has 29,400 ing Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” would be the intricate patterns. The costumes are lavish people of Chinese descent.) designer. George Manahan, former music and detailed. During his visit, Hugh went to San Fran- director at Minnesota Opera and a specialist Music is Western but with cisco’s famous Chinatown. “I wanted to see in new music, would conduct. coloristic touches from Asia how they celebrated the Mid Autumn Moon Contracts took two years to settle. (The As is characteristic of the 60-year-old Festival,” he said. “I found it crowded and Chinese Heritage Foundation’s total con- Sheng’s music for the theater and the con- commercial without any real emphasis on tribution, which included money from the cert hall, the essential idiom of the opera is Chinese culture of the sort that’s presented late Bruce Dayton, came to $250,000, which Western but with coloristic touches from Playwright David Henry Hwang speaking during our Passage to China at the Mall of paid the commissions to Sheng and Hwang.) Asia, most prominently in this case, the at the Sept. 9 banquet. America.” “Twice as long as ‘War and exotic sound of the qin, a Chinese zither. The Bergad, on the other hand, who had co- Peace’ “ vocal lines, though perhaps overdominated Courtesy of the Chinese Heritage ordinated the entire “Red Chamber” project “By 2013 I was wondering, are we really by high notes – a Sheng trademark — are from its beginnings in 2001 all the way going to do this?” said Hwang. “This novel gracefully written, and Sheng’s orchestra- The audience included Roxanne Deny- to Saturday night, looked both happy and is twice as long as ‘War and Peace.’ It has tions are customarily lush and inventive. siuk, a retired interior designer, and Anna relieved. She said, “I have felt such over- 120 chapters and 400 characters. There are The young cast was uniformly strong. Murray, who’s in commercial real estate. whelming joy and gratitude to see so many so many ways this could go wrong. But Running 2 hours and 25 minutes, the From Minneapolis, they’ve been friends people embracing this project in the Chinese Bright had a vision of how to do it, what opera can’t be called long, though the first since the seventh grade. “We both love community in Minnesota and here in San story to tell. So I said he should come on act seems slow at times, possibly because opera, and we thought this would be a good Francisco and also in the arts community.” as co-librettist.” And that’s how the opera the tempos of the scenes don’t vary much. experience, and it was,” said Murray. De- Who knows? Maybe the enterprising ended up being billed — both Sheng and Perhaps the opera’s narrator, a monk who nysiuk had just finished the third of the five Minnesota Opera will put on “Dream of the Hwang as librettists. is perhaps also the author of the novel – a volumes of the “Red Chamber.” She plans Red Chamber” someday. ♦

Additional photos by CHF members Angela Brain, John Ho and Paul Kwok