CHINAInsight Fostering Business and Cultural Harmony between China and the U.S. VOL. 8 NO. 3 www.chinainsight.info MARCH 2009 The colorful history of

Chinese stamps Page 16 By Huo Jianying, China Today Staff Writer advantage of the birds’ north-south odyssey wild goose on whose leg was attached a let- by attaching tiny scrolls to their feet. The ter from Su Wu, informing him that he was phrase, “hongyan chuan shu” (wild geese herding sheep near a wetland. Believing his deliver messages), has survived the millen- lie to be exposed, the khan apologized to the nia to become one of the oldest idioms in envoy and released Su Wu. the modern Chinese language. Su Wu’s story may have been no more than a legend, but an actual, documented The Wild Goose as Messenger instance of a wild goose serving as a courier The earliest record of “hongyan chuan A sheetlet depicting a mounted estafette dates back to 1274, when a Mongol envoy shu” can be found in Chronicles of the Han issued in 1982. during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127- Dynasty: The Biography of Su Wu. It reports n August 1982, the First Congress 1279), Hao Jing, did exactly that. When the that during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD of the All-China Philatelic Federa- powerful Mongol cavalry swept across its 220), Su Wu traveled to Xiongnu (Hun) tion convened in Beijing, and the northern territory and pushed toward the as a Han imperial envoy to the Western Chinese Ministry of Post and Tele- Yangtze River, the Southern Song Prime Butterfly Project I Regions, but was detained along the way Minister Jia Sidao pledged obedience to Page 3 communications issued a stamp sheetlet in by the Xiongnu khan and exiled to Beihai commemoration. The stamp motif depicts Kublai Khan and offered annual tribute in to herd sheep. an ancient courier galloping on horseback, return for peace. Kublai Khan agreed and When Han Emperor Zhaodi succeeded while in the background wild geese fly in withdrew his troops, sending Hao Jing to to the throne, he tried to maintain good the Southern Song to negotiate a formal graceful formation. Wild geese are migra- relations with Xiongnu, and again sent an tory birds, and every autumn they can be peace agreement. envoy to ask for Su Wu’s return. He was counted on to set off on their thousand- Upon returning home, Jia Sidao bragged told, however, that Su had died. Only later kilometer migration southward to warmer of his “heroic leadership” in “defeating” did the envoy learn the truth from a member climes. With no better means of commu- the Mongol army, mentioning nothing of Su Wu’s entourage. He confronted the nication, ancient Chinese who wished to of a peace deal. When Hao Jing arrived Xiongnu khan, and using a ruse of his own, send messages over great distances took at Zhenzhou (now Yizheng, Jiangsu), he claimed that the Han emperor had caught a first contacted Jia Sidao, who detained the Mongol envoy immediately fearing the truth Sichuan Earthquake would be revealed. Page 7 Hao Jing was imprisoned in Zhenzhou China’s stimulus for 16 years. He wrote a letter to the Song emperor every month, begging for a meet- ing, but all were intercepted by Jia Sidao. ignites economy Finally, Hao raised and trained a wild goose and wrote a letter on a piece of silk, which By Don Miller, Associate Editor, Money Morning he attached to the goose’s leg. He reported his situation, and at the end of the letter, hina’s giant [US]$585 billion median estimates of 14 economists in a sur- he wrote: “This bird was let go on the first (4 trillion yuan) economic vey released […] by Bloomberg News, the day of the ninth moon in the 15th year of stimulus package is show- world’s third-biggest economy will expand the Zhongtong Reign (1274). Anyone who ing signs of taking effect. 6.6% in the second quarter after slowing to C catches it should not kill it. The letter is Economists now project that China will be 6.3% in the first quarter. written by Imperial Envoy Hao Jing in the the likely leader of an elusive worldwide That growth will accelerate to 7.2% for New Hall of the Zhenzhou Loyal and Gal- economic recovery. the full year, according to Wang Qian, an China’s Ethnic lant Army Barrack.” Chinese banks heeded the government’s economist with JPMorgan Chase & Co. Minorities Pages 10-12 Hao Jing released the bird in the autumn, call to extend more credit to support the (JPM) in Hong Kong. Stimulus spending and the next spring the Mongols received economy as they issued [US]$237 billion will account for 3% of the total, she esti- the letter and presented it to Kublai Khan, (1.62 trillion yuan) in new loans in Janu- mates. who immediately dispatched his troops to ary, up a whopping 101% year-over-year, “China looks set to be the first major attack the Southern Song. When the Mongol the People’s Bank of China said. The surge economy to recover from the current global troops approached the Southern Song capital provides evidence that state-owned banks meltdown,” said Lu Ting, an economist Lin’an (today’s Hangzhou), Jia Sidao’s lie are heeding the government’s call to extend with Merrill Lynch & Co. (MER) in Hong was exposed. Hao Jing was released and more credit to support the economy. Kong told Bloomberg Asia. “China is the returned to the Yuan capital Dadu (now Bei- “The banks are fighting for the best proj- only economy in the world to see sig- jing). His 16-year imprisonment had ruined ects in the government’s stimulus package,” nificant growth in credit to corporate and his health, however, and he died soon after Ha Jiming, chief economist of China Inter- household sectors after September 2008, at the age of 53. But he had written many national Capital Corp, told China Daily. when the financial crisis worsened to a near letters to the Song imperial court during his “It’s not surprising to see that an array of the collapse.” long captivity, amounting by some estimates deals were sealed in the past month.” As Money Morning reported in its Out- to hundreds of thousands of characters, in ALSO IN THIS ISSUE The massive jump in lending is equal to look 2009 series, there is ample evidence addition to hundreds of volumes of articles, Announcements / 2 about one-third of the loans issued in all of that the stimulus will be large enough to poems and reading annotations. In 1279, Culture / 3, 10-12 & 16 2008, prompting some economists to say assure China’s economy and markets will the Yuan Dynasty overthrew the Southern the government might discontinue cutting weather the storm and ultimately thrive in Events / 4 Song and united China. Hao Jing’s “wild interest rates. the year ahead. Education / 5 & 6 goose letter” was later preserved in the Yuan “The bank lending figures are just a The government announced the huge Earthquake / 7 imperial archive. stunningly good piece of news for China,” stimulus package on Nov. 9 to boost domes- Chinese New Year / 8 & 9 Glenn Maguire, chief Asian economist for tic demand and shore up investment. Though Messenger “Fish” and Birds Arts / 13 Societe Generale (ADR: SCGLY) in Hong the central government will bear one-third A souvenir stamp sheetlet issued in Business / 14 & 15 Kong, told Reuters. of the cost, state-owned banks will play a November 1990 for the Third All-China Now, it looks like the lending is spur- critical role in financing the construction of Philatelic Federation Congress takes the ring China’s turnaround. According to the Economy continues on Page 12 Stamps continues on Page 14 PAGE 2 > MARCH 2009 announcements www.chinainsight.info TV Converter Box Coupon CHINAINSIGHT Publisher: Gregory J. Hugh Program [email protected] Frequently asked questions: Editor: 1. What is the digital television a government coupon. A converter box plugs Consumers can apply for up to two $40 Jennifer Nordin into your TV and will keep it working after coupons per household by going online at transition? [email protected] Many full-power broadcast television your local stations stop analog broadcasts www.DTV2009.gov, calling 1-888-DTV- stations in the United States have stopped no later than June 12, 2009, or 2009 (1-888- 388-2009), or by mailing analog broadcasting and are broadcasting 2. Connect to cable, satellite or other their application to PO Box 2000, Portland, Manager of Operations/ only in digital. The remaining stations pay service, or OR 97208-2000. Requests from eligible Circulation: will stop broadcasting analog sometime 3. Purchase a television with a digital households will be filled on a first-come, Richard He between now and June 12, 2009. June 12, tuner. first-served basis. Supplies are limited. Cou- [email protected] 2009 is the final deadline for terminating pons will be mailed to eligible households analog broadcasts under legislation passed 4. What is a TV converter box? and are good for 90 days from the date they Production Editor: by Congress. Digital broadcasting provides A TV converter box plugs into your are mailed. Since most stations are already Dawn Murphy analog TV and, along with your antenna, a clearer picture and more channels and transmitting digital broadcasts, consum- [email protected] will free up airwaves for use by emergency will keep your analog set working after your ers with older model televisions using an responders. local stations stop analog broadcasting. A antenna to receive their free channels can TV converter box is a one-time purchase and connect the converter box and begin to enjoy 2. Will my television work after the usually costs between $40 and $80. A TV the benefits of digital TV now. Artist/Intern: transition? connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV Lauren Hugh Analog television sets receiving free TV service does not require a TV converter box. 7. Where can I use my coupons? using an antenna will not work after stations For a list of TV converter boxes that can be When the coupon is mailed to you, it Staff Writers: in your local area stop analog broadcast- purchased with $40 government coupons, will include an insert with a list of nearby Greg Hugh ing, which will occur no later than June 12, please visit www.DTV2009.gov. participating retailers as well as online and [email protected] 2009. Television viewers with these sets that Your coupons will also come with a list telephone retailers. You can expect to buy are not connected to a pay TV service will of nearby retailers—as well as online and TV converter boxes and use your coupons need to take action now. Most consumers telephone retailers— at retail stores where you would normally Albert Leung who purchase a converter box today con- that you should keep and use to find a con- buy consumer electronics products. You [email protected] nect it to their existing television and begin verter box. can also go online at www.DTV2009.gov, enjoying the benefits of digital television enter your zip code, and locate participating Jennifer Nordin immediately. 5. What is the TV Converter Box retailers on a map.  [email protected] Coupon Program? Congress created the TV Converter Box 3. What are my options so I can Mike Xiong continue to get TV after the analog Coupon Program for households wishing to shut-off? keep using their analog TV sets after stations [email protected] Consumers have a variety of options. If stop analog broadcasting no later than June you’re not sure what to do, take a quick quiz 12, 2009. The Program allows U.S. house- to help you figure out what to do at www. holds to obtain up to two coupons, each About Ch i n a Insight DTVTransition.org. Options to explore worth $40 that can be applied toward the Ch i n a Insight is a monthly English include: cost of eligible converter boxes. 1. Keep your existing analog TV and language newspaper fostering business purchase a TV converter box with or without 6. How do I get my coupons? and cultural harmony between China and the U.S.

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YES you could run to the NOTICE TO READERS: The views store and pick up a copy, but did epressed in articles are the author’s and not neccesarily those of ChinaInsight. you know you can have Ch i n a Authors may have a business Insight delivered directly to your relationship with the companies or mailbox? businesses they discuss. A subscription costs a mere $24 and brings a full year (11 issues) of new understanding about today’s China, from lan- guage to business opportuni- ties. Copyright 2008 Ch i n a Insight, Inc. All Rights Reserved. www.chinainsight.info culture MARCH 2009 > PAGE 3 A Passage to China features Butterfly Project tions to include popular topics such as cooking, tai chi, and the timeless Chinese game of jianze, a hacky-sack type game employ- ing a feathered shuttlecock. With more space available at the MOA, cultural performances now will be performed in a dedicated space at the Sears Court. The interactive games, the heart of the event, will take place at the Rotunda. With more than 30 Chinese organiza- tions participating, there will be activities, engrossing and chal- lenging, to keep entire families engaged for much of the time e a c h e r s a r e f r e e t o that the event will be open. More T At its second annual outreach event, A information also will be available about u s e t h e d r a w i n g s a n d Chinese Studies in the Twin Cities area. Passage to China, to be held at the Mall c a n e v e n e n l a r g e t h e m of America on April 4 and 5, the Chinese All in all, this year’s A Passage to China Heritage Foundation, in collaboration with promises to attract more families and pro- o n t h e i r c o p y m a c h i n e s vide them with ample opportunities to learn China Insight, is launching a new school t o s e r v e a s t e m p l a t e s project, the Butterfly Project, designed to about and interact with the entire Chinese engage students of all grades. community f o r t h e i r s c h o o l p r o j - This project invites students to make e c t . authentic models of butterflies, native to specific regions of China, out of recyclable or sustainable materials. These models can be 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional, with wingspans between 6” to 12”. The butterflies should be properly identified, labeled with the province to which they are native, and attached to a string (4’ to 5’ long, preferably one strand per class). Students should then bring their strands to the Foundation’s table on either April 4 or 5 where their strands will For templates of butterflies and infor- be hung on a specially built arbor. mation on specific butterflies from China please visit the Foundation’s Web site: www. chineseheritagefoundation.org. For your convenience several examples have been included in this article. 

This Butterfly Project integrates several disciplines of a typical school curriculum: art, science, geography, and multicultural studies. It is also a program that is so elastic that it can span many levels of difficulty and sophistication, allowing teachers of these diverse disciplines to delve into their specialty at any length to fit their respective syllabi. “We envision a colorful display of multiple strands of authentic butterflies on our arbor for all visitors to enjoy, and we invite all the teachers and students to stay and ‘tour’ our free event,” said Ming Tchou, president of the Foundation. “Students rep- resent our future and establishing a connec- tion with them through fun and knowledge is a priority of our Foundation.” Butterflies have long held a special place in the hearts of the Chinese. The tragic story of the Butterfly Lovers, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, is one of the most celebrated romance stories in China. In addition to launching this Butterfly Project at A Passage to China, the Founda- tion is also expanding cultural demonstra- PAGE 4 > MARCH 2009 events www.chinainsight.info HD multilingual Major exhibition of radio comes to local Chinese brush Minnesota painting opens at Multi Cultural Radio Network (MCRN), tion and particularly appealing to immigrant represented by lead agency Asian Media and refugee populations that traditionally Access, is a collaboration of Pan Asian, depend on this medium to keep abreast of Bloomington Art Russian, Pan African, and American Indian current events. The pilot Radio ASIA’s non-profit organizations serving the Twin partners include: Cities metro area and greater Minnesota. * Asian Media Access Center Since 2007, MCRN has been working with * Chinese Social Services Center Minnesota-based broadcasting group - BOB * Laos Assistance Center FM 106.1 FM (Milestone Radio, LLC) to * SEWA/Asian Indian Family Well- realize its vision of multi-channel broadcast- ness ing of diverse cultural and linguistic produc- * Slavic Community Center tions via supplemental HD digital audio * Somali Community Resettlement channels, and to start the state’s first ever, Services twenty-four/non-stop HD radio broadcast Every partner will share 4 hours of for immigrants in their native languages. broadcasting time in its native language, This public broadcasting initiative - Asian Media Access’ Executive Director, Blue Mountain Filled with Spring Desire, Multi Cultural Radio Network (MCRN) Ange Hwang, shared her appreciation, “Al- Hong Zhang - will bring linguistically isolated popula- though we know it is the first multi-cultural Mr. Zhang, educated in the Shanghai tions news, emergency broadcasts, music HD radio channel in the State, [the] idea Fine Arts Institute under the late Master from local/ national/ international artists, of such collaboration is not new for our Artist, Sheng Shijia, has been living in Min- community events, English-as-a-Second immigrant communities; we all have been nesota since 1985. He has been engaged in language, and call-in talk show focusing on working together to expand our resources teaching for many years at the University of community health and wellness. Indigenous to the maximum, and this time, we simply Minnesota, in his private studio and partici- languages facing extinction will be revi- apply such idea to the radio. The benefit pated in seminars and workshops. talized through daily language programs. to the ethnic communities represented in Students of Hong Zhang exhibiting Youth from the distinct listening audiences MCRN will be great. A sense of community are: Mary Kwan, Sandy Kwan , Ming Lin, will be offered the opportunity to learn ra- is so important when most immigrant groups Ye Lisi, Joanne Ke-Eng Liu, Paula Mason, dio production and eventually will produce are isolated from others due to language Chi: Capturing the Spirit: Traditional Kitty Matthews, Bob Schmitt, Joan Weber, a weekly program for broadcast in their and cultural barriers. The community-at- Chinese brushwork by Hong Zhang and Irene Sukee Wong, and Julia Wong. specific non-English languages. large will also have the opportunity to learn his protégés is an exhibition of paintings by The opening reception was Feb. 27. The first step in realization of such dream about these communities, learn some of their local Chinese painting master Hong Zhang The show runs Feb. 27- April 3, 2009 at the is the opening for the new HD radio technol- languages and customs, and hopefully start and 11 of his accomplished students. Mr. Bloomington Art Center, Inez Greenberg ogy studio at BOB FM, at 14443 Armstrong to bridge the gaps between the community- Zhang has curated this show which includes Gallery, 1800 West Old Shakopee Road, Blvd., just west of Hwy. 10 in Ramsey, MN. at-large and immigrant and indigenous over 80 pieces of original art work, explor- Bloomington, MN 952-563-8587, A ribbon-cutting ceremony has hosted for communities in Minnesota. There is no ing the rich tradition and poetic sentiment www.bloomingtonartcenter.com.  the new BOB FM radio broadcast facility downside to this endeavor. It is truly a win- in Chinese calligraphy and painting. on Feb. 4. The new facility has included a win opportunity for all involved.” multi-microphone interview room, a state Gedaly Meerovich, The Slavic Com- of the art Master Control suite, and four munity Center’s Executive Director added, MCRN partner studios - Asian, African, “We are honored to part of this group of Get informed, Russian and Native American Production different immigrant and indigenous com- Studios. The first pilot 24-hour HD radio munities. We think this kind of partnership, station - Radio ASIA, 106.1 HD3 will be which represents the whole globe, is best for get ready, launched on March 1, 2009. all of us, because on the local level we will The Multicultural Radio Network be able to share resources and information, (MCRN) will initially produce program- and support each other.” ming that is a combination of music and talk For more information on this MCRN get connected: radio broadcast in non-English languages: initiative and the Launching of Radio ASIA, Asian American & Pacific Islander census 2010 kick-off event Chinese, Hindi, Hmong, Laotian, Russian, please contact Asian Media Access, 612- Census 2010 is just a year away. The answer your questions and concerns about and Somali, etc. Digital radio broadcasting 376-7715, [email protected].  Asian American and Pacific Islander com- Census 2010 is on the cutting edge of mass communica- munity has gathered as a whole to create *Get Ready – Learn about what you and the Asian American and Pacific Islander your community should do to ensure that Complete Count Committee. The Com- your community is accurately counted mittee is focused on making sure that the *Get Connected – Find out what re- community is informed and connected to sources and support are out there to help resources so that indeed everyone can and your community Chopin Society will be counted. In order to accomplish our goal, the help and assistance of every com- What is the Census? munity member is needed. * The census is a count of everyone liv- presents Yuja Wang The Committee will host Asian Ameri- ing in the United States every 10 years. can & Pacific Islander’s Census 2010 Kick- * The census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. Beijing na- seasons she has made highly-acclaimed last- Off Event on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, * The next census is in 2010. tive Yuja Wang, minute substitutions with major orchestras 4-6 p.m., at Lao Family of Minnesota, Inc., * Your participation in the census is who came to the for luminaries Radu Lupu, Martha Argerich 320 University Avenue, St. Paul. Light required by law. United States at and Murray Perahia. Her recital programs refreshments will be served. The event is * It takes less than 10 minutes to com- age 15 to study at are intriguingly diverse and reveal her as- free and open to the public, but the commit- plete. the Curtis Insti- tonishing range of musical gifts. tee asks those who wish to attend to RSVP * Federal law protects the personal infor- tute, consistently Wang will perform on Sunday, Mar. 15 Jovita Bjoraker at Jovita.bjoraker@state. mation you share during the census. brings audiences at 3 p.m. the Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center mn.us or 651-296-0538. * Census data are used to distribute Con- Yuja Wang to their feet with Concert Hall on the Macalester College At the event, attendees will have the gressional seats to states, to make decisions her poised but campus, 1600 Grand Ave., St. Paul. Call following resources to prepare for Census about what community services to provide, electrifying command of the most chal- 612-822-0123 for tickets. 2010: and to distribute $300 billion in federal lenging works in the repertoire. Since she For more information about the Frederic *Mock Census – Fill out a sample 2010 funds to local, state and tribal governments was named a Gilmore Young Artist in 2006, Chopin Society, visit Census questionnaire and find out how easy each year her career has taken off rapidly in North www.chopinsocietymn.org. and simple it is  Source: US Census America, Europe and Asia, and the past two *Get Informed – Census experts will www.chinainsight.info education MARCH 2009 > PAGE 5 Associated Colleges in China a hidden gem By Heidi Chun

rants, small supermarkets, or the school two trips. Past destinations include Xi’an, cafeteria for lunch. Many ACC participants Luoyang, Datong, Shanghai, Huangshan, enjoy the local baoziguanr that serves up and Chengdu. ACC buys hard-sleeper train ACC students at Famen Temple small steamed buns filled with vegetables tickets, books high-end hotel rooms, and People go to China for a variety of to describe the content of the lesson. As the and/or meat, and students and instructors arranges for a tour bus and tour guide to reasons—to travel, to adopt children, to class moves through the story, the instruc- alike also frequent the nearby jianbing place take students to locations of interest. All visit family, to find work or internships, or tor clarifies usage of words, phrases, and that specializes in crepe-omelet sandwiches ACC-arranged travel, hotel, and ticket costs to advance their understanding of Chinese sentence patterns, and then asks students to with sauces, green scallions, lettuce, fried and some of the meals are included in ACC’s culture and language. For those individuals create examples with them to ensure their wafers and other desired fillings. Students comprehensive tuition, so no students are serious about studying Mandarin Chinese, understanding. spend afternoons exploring Beijing, going excluded from the travels due to finances. finding a respectable and intense language At 9 a.m. students attend drills classes to the local gym, participating in extracur- During the four day trip to Xi-an, ACC took instruction center may pose a challenge. with about three other students. Instructors ricular activities and completing homework. students to see Huaqing Hot Springs, Famen Associated Colleges in China, a hidden gem write six to eight important sentence patterns Evenings are spent studying for the follow- Temple, the Terracotta Army Museum, and among all of the study-in-China programs, on the board along with a “bank” of previ- ing day’s lesson. the mausoleum of Western Han Emperor may be an ideal option. ously studied phrases, idioms, and sentence Extracurricular activities are held once Liu Qi, and then also gave them two days Founded in 1996 as a result of col- patterns. He or she then asks students guided a week and are taught by ACC instructors. to explore other places of interest in Xi’an laboration between Lawrence University, questions meant to encourage them to use Participants may choose from Chinese on their own. ACC’s excursions reflect the Hamilton College, and Williams College, the new structures in different environments. Cooking, Ping Pong, Chinese Chess, Chi- program’s general philosophy of cultivating Associated Colleges in China (ACC) is In this manner, students deepen and expand nese Painting, Calligraphy, and individual work hard, play hard attitudes and personal an intensive language study center located their understanding while reviewing previ- 15- to 30-minute pronunciation tutorials. understanding of China. at the Capital University of Business and ously studied material. ACC also arranges for local scholars to These trips and weekend travels pale in Economics in Beijing. The program stands After drills, students have a twenty- provide lectures for students and faculty. comparison to the intensity of ACC’s lan- out for its excellent teaching, fast-paced minute break and then proceed to a dia- All extracurricular classes and most lectures guage courses. At ACC, the top priority is academics, small class sizes, close relation- logue class in which two students hold a are given in Mandarin Chinese. Examples Mandarin studies, and students looking for ships between students and instructors, and discussion about a prepared topic. This of visiting scholars from 2008 included a more travel- or culture-oriented programs strictly enforced language pledge. opportunity allows students to use previ- traditional Chinese musical quintet, a well- or who are hoping for a relaxing time in ACC requires a minimum of one to two ously studied material in a different context known Beijing photographer, an expert on China would be best to choose a differ- years of previous college-level Mandarin and practice holding discussions of relative tea, and a scholar specializing in famous ent study center. But for students willing instruction or the equivalent. The program depth in Chinese. The instructor actively Chinese essayists. to devote six months to speaking nothing offers spring, summer, and fall semesters, corrects students’ grammar and tones, points ACC goes to extensive lengths to ensure but Mandarin and studying Chinese at an and it strongly encourages students to sign out chances to use new sentence structures, that students make the most of their time intensive pace, ACC offers the opportunity up for two terms as teachers have found it and provides new or forgotten vocabulary in China. On weekends, students may visit for them to do so.  takes a minimum of five to six months for the students need to convey their ideas to their Chinese host families or get together students to reach a level of considerable one another. At the fourth-year level and with their Chinese language partners. In fluency in the language. A semester at ACC beyond a Classical Chinese course may addition, ACC organizes an activity every ASIAN is equivalent to a college year of language take the place of the dialogue class twice weekend to further introduce students to the instruction, and a day of the program cov- a week. local culture. All transportation costs and BLOOD DONERS ers the same amount of material an average Finally, students attend a one-on-one entrance fees are covered by tuition, and Mandarin course does in a week. course with an instructor in which they instructors also participate in them. Activi- Individuals of multi-ethnic Students attend four hours of class may ask questions and practice using new ties in 2008 included going to the famous descent (Asian, Pacific Is- daily from Monday through Thursday. They grammatical and idiomatic constructions. Beijing acrobatics show, visiting the Great lander, Hispanic/Latino, African Wall, Jingshan Park, the Peking Opera, prepare for classes by reading, listening to, The content of the class may include the American, Mixed Race) are and understanding the lesson, memorizing studied text but often branches off to other a well-known teahouse, and attending a vocabulary, and completing homework. topics of the student’s interest. The nature contemporary play. ACC also organizes desperately needed to register They can also ask teachers questions during of this course allows students to grow closer weekend trips for students. One Friday as potential marrow/stem cell office hours, held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 to the ACC instructors, and many partici- night last year, ACC participants stayed in doners. p.m. Sunday through Thursday nights. On pants cite it as one of their favorite parts of a countryside area and chatted with locals Yo u c o u l d b e t h e o n e t o the day of class, teachers arrive early and the program. Moreover, the course gives about changes in their lifestyles in recent write important vocabulary and grammar instructors the opportunity to identify and years. Another weekend they took a day trip s a v e a l i f e b y to Longqing Gorges, rode a riverboat, hiked sentence patterns on the board. The large- correct students’ individual problems with registering a s a group classes of up to ten students begin at grammar and pronunciation. Such indi- and bungee jumped. 8 a.m. with a dictation consisting of short vidualized teaching helps students progress In addition to weekend adventures, p o t e n t i a l d o n o r . phrases and sentences from the prepared at a fast pace and gain confidence in their summer semester students go on one multi- texts. The teacher then calls on students to speaking abilities. day trip to a different location in China, Call 1-800-59-DONOR toll free use sentence patterns written on the board After class, students may go to restau- and academic semester students go on for more information. PAGE 6 > MARCH 2009 education www.chinainsight.info

Creating opportunities for faculty and students to study abroad

Minneapolis Community and Techni- tours of several U.S. cities. The program US$300 for lodging, meals, classes, and cal College (MCTC) have several unique consists of academic or professional training sightseeing, the students get to experience academic and cultural exchange programs and cultural exploration. The professional China first hand. So far twenty-nine students with two Chinese universities. These in- training involves lectures on various topics and faculty from MCTC have gone to China. volve both faculty and students. As they on effective teaching and learning, class Seventeen nursing students and instructors are all short-term programs, they have been discussion, visiting various classes and labs. from Huzhou College have come to Min- attractive to faculty and students alike. The cultural exploration takes participants nesota for a two-week program in the last One program is the annual faculty cultural to museums, the state Capitol, the Min- two fall semesters, hosted by the MCTC studies tour for MCTC faculty and staff to neapolis Public Library, and other cultural Nursing Department. go to China, another is the summer teacher cultural and historical sites, as well as an sites. The visiting professors also get to Right now, the annual faculty/staff cul- training program offered by MCTC for evening party with students, dinner parties watch the Aquatennial Torchlight parade, tural studies tour has been expanded to allow professors from Jiaxing University in China, with administrators. As the participants stay listen to music in public parks, visit public all Minne- and the last is MCTC’s nursing student and in Jiaxing University’s hotel, they are on gardens, and so on. What is unique about sota com- faculty exchange program with Huzhou campus to interact with Chinese faculty and this program is that the Chinese professors m u n i t y College in China. students any time. This program has existed stay with U.S. host families, which gives the members The faculty/staff cultural studies tour for three years. Wendi Chen, English In- host and the guest not only opportunities to to par- is offered between the spring and summer structor at MCTC and a native from China, exchange ideas about teaching and learn- ticipate. terms. It is usually seventeen days long. has led more than seventy people to Jiaxing ing, but also to learn and understand each The 2009 Jiaxing University in Zhejiang Province is University, including some from several other’s cultures. Ch i n a In- the host institution arranging all the activi- other neighboring community colleges. All The third program is the exchange sight’s ties for the visitors. The main goals of the those who went on the tour agreed that this program of nursing students and faculty tour will tour are twofold: first, to immerse the U.S. was no ordinary tour; it was an amazing between MCTC and Huzhou College in take place faculty in the Chinese culture to enable learning experience because the participants China. For three years, Jeff Paurus, Nursing between them to learn about various aspects of that were not tourists but respected guests who Instructor, has led three groups of MCTC May 14 and May 31. MCTC is already culture; and second, to gain the first-hand were invited to hospitals, schools and even nursing students and faculty to Huzhou for starting the registration process. The nurs- experience and understanding of global farmers’ homes for an insider’s view. a three-week summer program, learning ing students study abroad program has also education, so that the faculty can better Another successful exchange program is Chinese language, calligraphy, Chinese started recruiting students for this summer. deliver it to students. summer teacher exchange program offered medicinal practices, and visiting hospitals These types of international exchanges have The participants take part in cultural and by MCTC’s Continuing Education Depart- and cultural sites. Most importantly, partici- both academic and cultural values. They educational activities which include lectures ment to professors from Jiaxing. This is a pants learn about Chinese culture through have deepened the mutual understanding on history, culture, education and various three-week program, with two weeks given close contact with Chinese students and between the United States and Chinese forms of art.. There are well-planned tours to intensive academic and cultural activi- faculty. Each MCTC student is assigned educators and students, and built bridges of museums, schools, hospitals, and other ties in Minnesota, and one week to cultural two Chinese student partners. Paying only between two very different cultures.  www.chinainsight.info earthquake MARCH 2009 > PAGE 7 Reconstruction from the ground up By China Today staff reporter Lu Rucai

On May 12, 2008, an earthquake reg- planks is quite difficult, because few people istering eight on the Richter scale struck use them in daily life. We collect existing Wenchuan County in Sichuan Province. light steel planks from around the province The massive quake also had an impact on and transport them to Lanzhou, then on to neighboring areas, such as Longnan City quake-hit areas at night,” explained Qiu. in Gansu Province. Although there were no At the same time, Wang Yongqian, sec- reports of heavy casualties in Gansu, the retary of the Gansu Provincial Committee disaster still left 5 million people homeless. of the Chinese Communist Youth League, Over 1.3 million houses, mostly of wood led a group of designers to assess suitable and clay, collapsed in 10 quake-hit cities sites for reconstruction. Designers then drew and prefectures. Cave dwellings were also up reconstruction plans based on these as- highly vulnerable in the ruinous quake. In sessments. The first Mobile Hope School Longnan City alone, 850,000 houses fell in Bikou Town, Wenxian County, was built down. Local residents are working intensely and became fully operational only ten days to rebuild their homes. after assessment work began on May 19. It takes over eight hours to drive from “During the school’s opening ceremony, Gansu’s provincial capital Lanzhou to children were cheering, but all the cadres Sijiaba, where they have been relocated, falls the government. Their prices are over 30 Longnan City, which was hit hardest in the and children’s parents there were crying,” under the jurisdiction of another village. As percent lower than the market level, which province by May’s earthquake. The wind- recalled Qiu, choking at the memory. land is the collective property of the village, eases some of the burden on us.” ing mountain road looked crowded due to More than 20 quake proof Hope Schools Fan has to consult with the Village Commit- The new houses are brick-concrete destruction of some sections and increasing have been built, including about 400 mobile tee to rent the land. Finally, they made the structures, and reinforcing steel bars are numbers of heavy-duty trucks loaded with classrooms, in Wenxian, Wudu, Kangxian deal at a price of [US$6,586] per mu (or 1/6 now a must for houses in rural areas. “The construction materials. and Xihe, with a total investment exceeding acre). Fifteen households, including Fan’s government requires that all houses meet In Longnan there were signs of the [US$1.46 million]. family, built their new homes in an area of certain quakeproof standards,” said Fan. earthquake everywhere. Bulldozers squat- “The most important thing is to build less than 5 mu at the foot of a mountain. Qiu Yingqi tells China Today that the ted beside large piles of sand and cement permanent replacements,” said Qiu Yingqi. Each new house comprises four rooms, government guaranteed that all victims on both sides of many roads. Government The construction expenditure for each per- with an estimated construction cost of living in tents and have warm clothes and aid tents, marked with “Jiuzai,” the Chinese manent school was raised from [US$29,200- [US$7,318 to US$8,781]. The government quilts in winter. word for “disaster relief,” were pitched US$36,600] to [US$73,200]. “We need to earmarked a subsidiary of [US$2,927] for The new home of Yang Xiaoying, a along the roadside and at the foot of moun- guarantee the quality of each classroom every family that was seriously affected by villager in Fengjiaya Village, was under tains. Banners reading “Bear President Hu building, even if we can’t build enough the disaster, but victims need to raise the construction, scheduled to be completed and Premier Wen’s trust in mind and devote schools due to a lack of money,” said Qiu. remaining money themselves. Fan Guilin by the end of December. However, the yourself to reconstruction work” could be After the earthquake the Construction said that the central government offered a pace of building was slow. “We know that seen in streets and lanes. Department of Gansu Province issued loan of [US$4,391] to each family. “The our government does care about us. But quakeproof building guidelines and con- price of construction materials has gone up due to the large number of victims, we can Prioritizing Construction of Quakeproof struction standards, requiring that all build- dramatically,” said Fan. “The good news is understand when the process slows down Schools ings be able to withstand quakes of at least that we can purchase materials from certain sometimes.”  The P&G Hope Primary School in magnitude eight. brick and cement suppliers designated by Reprinted with permission from China Longnan’s Bolin Township, Wudu District Today (http://www.chinatoday.com.cn) lost all its classrooms in the earthquake. Depending on Ourselves and Helping In September, 609 students returned to a Each Other new temporary school after the summer In Jiadian relocation site in Foya Town- [vacation]. ship, Wudu District, Longnan City, most “Now there are 14 temporary classrooms new houses have been roofed. Jiadian Twin Cities and 10 offices. Although the conditions Village was in the first group of key recon- are not very good, the school can operate struction sites in Foya, and work started … on a normal schedule,” Headmaster Zhao one month after the earthquake. Of its 95 supports Sichuan Wenxue said. Mobile classrooms were do- quake-hit households, 37 chose to rebuild nated by P&G and built by a construction their homes at the foot of the mountain, not people quickly and effectively. His friend team from Beijing. far from their original village. Mr. Youngman, whose Kaifa Group was Despite rain and mud, children were Staff working in the Reconstruction recognized by China’s SAFEA as a expert playing outside under umbrellas during Command Center told China Today that consultation group, sponsored his travel. breaks. Inside the classrooms, wooden there are government functionaries in charge A former instructor at National Uni- desks and chairs were laid out in orderly of the transportation and supply of construc- versity of Singapore, Peking University rows, while the encouraging slogan “Study tion materials. Local villagers carried out and other renowned institutes, Augsburg hard and make progress everyday” was construction themselves. Residents moved Professor Tan said he will, while travel- on the wall beside the national flag. “Any into their new homes in October. Each ing in Washington, connect with Beijing classroom is ok for us as long as we can con- family has at least three rooms. Jiao Yaya, Normal University Disaster Management tinue our study,” the children said. “Those a five-year-old girl, spent five months with and China Association of Social Work, to temporary classrooms will be very cold in her parents in a tent. She entered primary find social workers who would volunteer winter. We are working out solutions,” said school in September. “I have to walk an Map showing the epicentre of the 2008 Sich- in Sichuan. Headmaster Zhao. hour to school, but I don’t feel tired at all,” uan earthquake and its maximum extent. University of Minnesota voices were As in Sichuan, schools were the most she said resolutely. According to the new also heard at the conference. Mr. Liu, who severely damaged buildings in Gansu. village construction plan, there will be a The 5/12 Earthquake in Sichuan China was an officer at China’s Civil Affair Bu- Among all the schools in the province, over primary school and health care center in has left people a deformed land upon which reau and now a scholar at the University 6,500 were affected by the disaster to varied each village, and every household will have they must rebuild. In addition to the Chinese of Minnesota, agreed that social work is extent. Classes were suspended in middle a methane tank in their courtyard. When the government’s effort, local businessmen, important to help affected people. and primary schools in Longnan City’s plan is realized, children like Yaya will be scholars and students gathered on Dec, 13, Di Wu, a Web site assistant at the Wudu District and Wenxian County, where able to study near their homes again. 2008 at Kowloon restaurant to contribute Gleason’s Lab and a Co-Chair of Chinese the damage was severest. “The government will allocate what they could. Student Union, which hosted over 20 events Qiu Yingqi is director of the Commis- [US$2,927] to each family for reconstruc- Dr. Huang from China Action Love to promote Sino-America communication sion for Discipline Inspection of the Gansu tion in severely damaged areas like Wudu Volunteer Association (aka China Christian and Julia Huang, a student volunteer at local Provincial Committee of the Chinese Com- District,” explained staff working at Recon- Action Love Volunteer Association, CCAL) business International Counseling for Edu- munist Youth League. Since the earthquake, struction Command Center. flew in to speak at the meeting. cators (ICE), introduced the idea of possibly she had been working as the coordinator for Fan Guilin and his neighbors had more Dr. Huang said rebuilding a city re- offering free online education programs to the Mobile Hope School Construction Proj- worries than most. They just laid the founda- quires an incredible number of volunteers. Sichuan schools before new teachers step ect, responsible for selecting construction tions of their new homes, located alongside The more volunteers he can recruit from back into the classroom, so as to minimize companies, light steel plank procurement a road near Jiadian Village. Fan Guilin’s old all around the world, the more likely they Sichuan students’ delay in learning. and transportation. “Purchasing light steel home was in Laohuaishu Village. However, can provide a variety of assistance to the PAGE 8 > MARCH 2009 chinese new year www.chinainsight.info Minnetonka School USCPFA hosts District celebrates Chinese New Year Chinese New Year banquet By Greg Hugh, Staff Writer evening program included remarks by he Minnetonka School Dis- ting. Two of the more popular activities were Mayor R.T. Rybak about the importance trict, located in the western the face painting and free photo provided by of reaching a hand of friendship “across Twin Cities area, held its sec- Minnetonka Community Education. Partici- the table and across the globe,” and a DVD Tond annual open house for the pation in all of the activities was strongly presentation by Charles Lee and Richard community to celebrate Chinese New Year encouraged and participants could earn a Ji of a recent trip to Harbin (the sister-city at Minnetonka High School where a portion prize by getting stamp for each activity on to the City of Minneapolis) celebrating the of the school was decorated and transformed a provided card. annual snow and ice sculpture festival. to reflect the festive nature of the event. As The entertainment portion of the cel- Special guests were the 22 high school the group began to assemble about 5 p.m. on ebration began about 6 p.m. with a lion students and their two teachers from the a Friday evening, it was apparent that they dance performed in the cafeteria area. The Renda Fuzhong high school in Beijing who were anxious to celebrate the Year of the Ox crowd then moved to the Commons Area have been doing home stays with families as many of them came dressed in traditional where they were treated to performances by of Breck School students. They gave a Chinese attire. the Kindergarten, First Grade and Second paper cutting and water-color painting The celebration began with Chinese grade classes from Minnetonka’s Chinese demo, sang both traditional and modern food served by two popular Chinese restau- Immersion School. The Green Dragon songs and dance, and, with their host fami- rants from the Minnetonka area. Throughout Kung Fu Club and Scenic Heights Club Margaret Wong and Walter Graff lies, contributed to the festive atmosphere. the evening there were numerous activities gave a Kung Fu demonstration and musi- Linda Mealey-Lohmann talked about the held throughout the halls and common cal performances by Zhang Yin and dance he Minnesota Chapter of the two sister-city China Garden projects that area. These activities included fun Chinese performances by the Twin Cities Chinese US-China Peoples Friendship the Minnesota China Friendship Garden games, guessing game, writing of Chinese Dance Center. The evening concluded with Association celebrated the Society is working on – a northern-style characters, chopstick lessons and paper cut- another Lion Dance.  TYear of the Ox at its annual China Friendship pavilion in Minneapolis New Year Banquet on Feb. 8 with more than (Harbin sister-city project) and a southern- 150 attendees at the Peking Restaurant in St. style China Friendship pavilion at Phalen Paul. The evening included a welcome by Park (Changsha sister-city project). The co-president Walter Graff and was emceed evening ended with the traditional singing by USCPFA-MN board members Margaret of “Auld Lang Syne” in both Chinese and Wong and Linda Mealey-Lohmann. The English.

Starting center left moving clockwise: Judith Farmer, Ted Farmer, Linda Mealey-Lohmann, Margaret Wong, Walter Graff, Meagan O’Hara, Grace Rybak, Mayor R.T. Rybak, Joyce Hsiao, CC Hsiao.

Chinese games and activities for Chinese New Year at Minnetonka High School

Margaret Wong with the Renda Fuzhong high school Chinese students www.chinainsight.info chinese new year MARCH 2009 > PAGE 9 The New Year Midtown Global Comedy: a new way Market celebrates to celebrate the Year of the Ox any gathered to celebrate Arts School wowed the crowd with their the Year of the Ox at performance. The Minnesota International Chinese New Year the Chinese New Year Lion Dance team capped off the evening By Zhiguo Ye MCelebration at Midtown with the traditional two lion dance that Global Market on Friday, Jan. 30, 2009. paraded through the Market, ending at Jade hinese New Year is the most Cinema, was packed on New Year’s Eve Members of the Chinese Senior Citizen Asian Bar and Restaurant. Midtown Global important of traditional Chi- and stayed open until 1 a.m. Young couples, Society and the Chinese Heritage Founda- Market gave out hundreds of fortune cook- nese holidays. Speaking of parents with children and even a family of tion read fortunes and translated children’s ies with great Market coupons inside, and Cthe New Year celebration, we three generations came to celebrate the New names to Chinese, and wrote them in cal- the Northrop auditorium gave away two always think of the family reunion dinner, Year and have fun. In the midst of the global ligraphy onto bookmarks. There was also tickets to their Devine Performing Arts red envelopes, dragon dance, lion dance, and financial and economic crisis, the New Year a cooking demonstration by Pham’s Deli Chinese New Year Spectacular. A fun time fireworks. Besides the customs that Chinese film market has been less affected compared owner Katie Pham, Jarelle Barton played the was had by all!  enjoy for hundreds of years, there are some to other industries. It has proven itself as the guzheng, and the Golden Leopard Martial new “traditions” that have been developed most popular cultural commodities during Below, traditional two-lion dance to celebrate the New Year in China today. the New Year holiday. With the celebratory The most popular one is “The New Year style and the happy ending, the New Year Comedy” (hesui pian) that began in the comedy sets out to provide relief, empathy mid-1990s. and entertainment for urban consumers in the bad economy. According to Wang Xiaofeng, a film critic and a writer, fearful and depressed people would seek comfort in the New Year comedy. In the financial crisis, it is a way for people to “escape from reality.” With shrewd business awareness, Feng Xiaogang re-entered the New Year Comedy market with an urban love story, If you are the one, after experimenting in different film genres for four years. The filmIf you are the one is about a Chinese scientist in his 40s who went back to China from the United States. After making his “first pot of gold” in China, he looked to settle down and start a family in China. He does this by going on an infinite procession of blind dates. The film tried to home in on many hot topics of the year, such as the financial crisis, “sea turtles (hai gui)”, extramarital affairs, and China’s crashed stock-market. The film shows with black humor how Chinese struggle with love, family and money in today’s rapidly Movie poster for “The New Year Comedy” changing society. Feng believes that his countrymen are in desperate need of a New Year comedies are films made lighthearted comedy following the deadly Chinese New Year especially for exhibition for the extended Sichuan earthquake and the financial crisis. New Year period between Christmas and He hopes the New Year Comedy would Chinese New Year. “help people regain happiness.” celebrations at In mainland China, where the cinema season was previously scheduled more for social convenience or political need than commercial considerations, the idea Eagle Creek of New Year screenings was an innovative one. It was directly inspired by the Hong Kong Lunar New Year Film, which was elementary school introduced to China in 1995 through Jackie 2nd graders at Eagle Creek Elementary Chan’s Rumble in the Bronx, one of the ten School in Shakopee, MN, learning about foreign blockbusters imported into China in and celebrating Chinese New Year with their that year. This novel model of combining own luogu percussion ensembles and a pa- commercialized cultural consumption with rade complete with a dragon on Jan. 27. the traditional New Year celebration proved immediately popular. The first New Year Comedy was The Dream Factory, or Party A, Party B (Jiafang yifang) directed by Feng Xiaogang. Since then, Feng delivered New Year films almost every Chinese New Year season. All of his films have become box office hits. Feng established himself as the most successful Movie poster for “If you are the one” commercial film director in the new film genre. With the efforts of Feng and great Advertisers crowds of followers and imitators, the New Your potential customers are Year comedy has flourished in the past de- reading Ch i n a Insight. Shouldn’t cade. Watching New Year comedies during you be bringing them in the door the winter holiday season has become an with an ad? annual ritual for most Chinese in China. Contact: Greg Hugh The year of 2009 has been no excep- (952) 472-4757 tion. Beijing’s largest cinema, the Capital Email: [email protected] PAGE 10 > MARCH 2009 culture www.chinainsight.info China’s ethnic minorities and the New. in the woods, and the area is also rich in History A sideline occupation for which Bonan mineral resources, such as coal, iron, zinc, Studies of the language, names and geo- We continue our series on China’s 55 are particularly noted is the making of antimony, copper, petroleum, asbestos and graphical distribution of the Bouyeis indi- ethnic minority groups. This month fea- knives. A cottage industry, the Bonan knives mercury. cate that they have a common ancestry with tures the Bonan, Bouyei, Dai, Daur ethnic are famous all over China for their beauty The Bouyei language is of the Zhuang- the Zhuangs. The ancient Yue people, who minorities. and sturdiness. Dai branch of the Zhuang-Dong group were widely distributed, were composed of belonging to the Chinese-Tibetan family of such ethnic groups as the Xiou and Louyue The Bonan ethnic minority The Bouyei ethnic minority languages. In the past, the Bouyeis had no in Guangdong and Guizhou provinces and Population: 11,700 Population: 2.54 million written language of their own, and used Han Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The Major area of distribution: Gansu Major area of distribution: Guizhou characters instead. After 1949, the govern- similarity between the modern Zhuang and Language: Bonan Language: Bouyei ment helped formulate a Bouyei writing Bouyei languages and the ancient Louyue Religion: Islam Religion: Polytheism system based on Latin letters. tongue is a strong indication of the origin of The Bonan is one of China’s smallest Most of China’s 2,548,300 Bouyei peo- This ethnic group possesses a rich folk the Bouyeis. In addition, many habits and ethnic minorities, with only 11,700 people. literature, which includes fairy tales, fables, customs of the Yues still prevail among the Its language folk songs, proverbs and poems. During Bouyeis. belongs to the weddings, scores of young men and women For several centuries before the Tang M o n g o l i a n are invited to join in antiphonal singing of a Dynasty (A.D. 618-907), both the Zhuang branch of the rich ethnic quality. In the Biandan Mountain and Bouyei peoples were referred to as Altaic lan- area of Zhenning County, old women are “the alien barbarians,” but long separation guage family invited to sing songs of blessing by firesides. eventually led to development of different and is close to They can sing day and night for up to a cultures and lifestyles. After A.D. 900, they that of the Tu week without repeating the words of their became recognized as separate minority and Dongxi- ballads. Popular musical instruments of the groups. ang ethnic mi- Bouyeis include the suona horn, yueqin, After the second century B.C., increas- norities. Due Bonan gentleman dongxiao, short xiao, and sister xiao (all ing contacts between the Bouyeis and the to long years vertical bamboo flutes) and a copper drum. Hans boosted the former’s productivity, of contact and exchanges with the neighbor- Their favorite dances include the weaving and feudal economic relationships were ing Han and Hui people, the Bonan people dance and the lion dance. established. have borrowed quite a number of words The Bouyeis are skilled in arts and crafts. By the Tang Dynasty, the central impe- from the Han language. The Han language Their colorful and beautifully-patterned ba- rial court had established in the Bouyei is accepted as the common written language tik dates far back to ancient times. In 1953, a region an administrative system, under among the Bonan. batik factory was built in the city of Anshun which local feudal lords were appointed Judging from their legends, language with the help of the local authorities, and prefectural governors, and land became features and customs, many of which were traditional technology was improved. Now, their hereditary property. The system lasted identical with those of the Mongolians, batik has become one of their best-selling for more than 1,000 years, until the Qing the Bonan minority seems to have taken handicrafts, popular both on domestic and court forced minority officials to surrender shape after many years of interchanges Women of the Bouyei ethnic group per- foreign markets. In addition, their colorful their powers. Under the rule of minority during the Yuan and Ming (1271-1644) form ethnic dance embroidery, exquisite summer sleeping mats headmen, the Bouyei society had retained periods between Islamic Mongolians who and bamboo hats are not only durable and its feudal lord presence until 1911. Feudal settled down as garrison troops in Qinghai’s ple live in several Bouyei-Miao autonomous attractive, but also highly artistic. lords and local officials owned all the land, Tongren County, and the neighboring Hui, counties in Xingyi and Anshun prefectures They live mostly on plains or in river but not literally the peasants or serfs within Han, Tibetan and Tu people. The Bonan and Qiannan Bouyei-Miao Autonomous valleys in villages composed of families their territories. Lords still subjected peas- used to live in three major villages in the Prefecture in Guizhou Province. Others are from several different clans, in two-storied ants to cruel exploitation, but were no longer Baoan region, situated along the banks of distributed in counties in the Qiandongnan houses, bungalows or a combination of the allowed to kill them at will. Each peasant the Longwu River within the boundaries of Miao-Dong Autonomous Prefecture or near two. Often people live on an upper floor, household was given a piece of land to sup- Tongren County. Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou. and keep livestock on the lower. port itself, but was forbidden to purchase it. During the early years of the reign of The Bouyei region is on the Yunnan- Young Bouyei males generally wear Peasants and serfs were thus bound to the Qing Emperor Tongzhi (1862-1874), they Guizhou Plateau, which slopes from an short buttoned jackets and long trousers, land and made to work for the feudal lords fled from the oppression of the feudal altitude of 1,000 meters in the north to 400 with scarves on their heads. Women wear for generations. serf owners of the local Lamaist Longwu meters in the south. The Miaoling Moun- jackets buttoned on the right (although some During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Monastery. After staying for a few years in tains stretch across the plateau, forming part young women prefer lace-trimmed jackets the imperial court abolished the rule of mi- Xunhua, they moved on into Gansu Prov- of its striking landscape. buttoning down the middle), and long trou- nority headmen, and appointed officials with ince and finally settled down at the foot of The famous Huangguoshu Falls cascade sers or pleated skirts. They also wear scarves limited tenures. As a result, the feudal lord Jishi Mountain in Dahejia and Liuji, Linxia down more than 60 meters near the Yunnan- and a variety of silver jewelry. economy collapsed and a landlord economy County. Incidentally, they again formed Guizhou highway in Zhenning Bouyei-Miao They are monogamous, but [young men took its place. As most land was owned by themselves into three villages -- Dadun, Autonomous County. The thunder of water and women] mix freely. When they go to the rich few and exploitation of the peasants Ganmei and Gaoli -- which they referred can be heard several kilometers away, and fairs or other festivities, unmarried young by landlords became even crueler, class to as the “tripartite village of Baoan” in mists from the falls contribute to a mag- men and women get together to sing songs. conflicts intensified and led to many peas- remembrance of their roots. nificent view. If a woman is attracted to a man, she will ant uprisings, the biggest of which was the Dahejia in western Linxia County is the The Bouyeis are blessed with fertile throw him a ball made of silk strips which Nanlong Uprising in 1797. place where the Bonan mainly concentrated. land and a mild climate. The average an- she has embroidered herself. If the man is The area is thickly wooded and enjoys a nual temperature is 16 degrees Centigrade, agreeable, they then make a date at which Post-1949 Development moderate temperature supported by plenty and an essentially tropical environment, they will sing love songs to each other. In the early years of the People’s Repub- of water and lush grass, which make it receiving between 100 and 140 centimeters After several dates, they may announce lic, few Bouyeis took part in management. suitable for farming and stockbreeding. of rain a year, is ideal for farming. Local their engagement. Under the feudal system By 1981, however, there were 8,220 Bouyei However, until the mid-20th century, un- crops include paddy rice, wheat, maize, dry of the past, however, most marriages were administrators, accounting for 65 percent der the heavy burden of feudal oppression rice, millet, sorghum, buckwheat, potatoes arranged by parents. of the total minority managerial staff in and exploitation, the place had been bleak and beans. Farmers also grow cotton, ramie, In the past, the Bouyeis believed in the area. and desolate. In Dahejia, Bonan and Hui tobacco, sugar cane, tung oil, tea and oil-tea spirits and worshipped ancestors, although Before 1949, Bouyei agriculture was bureaucrats, landlords and religious lead- camellia as profitable cash crops. many living near missionary outposts were backward, especially in remote moun- ers owned large tracts of farmland, forests As the Red River valley is low-lying converted to Christianity. In general, they tain areas, where slash-and-burn farming and orchards. They also monopolized the and tropical, paddy rice yields two harvests observe the same festivals as the Han. On methods still dominated. Since liberation, river transport and owned 20 of the 27 wa- annually. Silk, hemp, bamboo shoots and June 6 and April 8, however, they celebrate tremendous changes have taken place. By ter mills. The majority of the people were bananas complement the local economy, their own festivals in commemoration of 1982, grain output totaled 720,000 tons, reduced to tenants toiling under the severe and coffee and cocoa have also been planted the leaders of ancient uprisings and their nearly twice as much as the 1949 figure, exploitation of land rents and usury. Rent there recently. ancestors. On “Ox King Festival,” April and 12,880 water conservancy projects had in kind was a form of exploitation widely The valley is also rich in trees, yielding 8, special cakes and glutinous rice dyed in been built. These stored 200 million cubic practiced in the area. In most cases, rents a variety of timber, which is good for con- five different colors are made and offered to meters of water, and brought 6,600 hectares were as high as 50 percent. Exploitation by struction, such as pines and China firs. The ancestors. After the ceremony, half of these of land under irrigation -- a six-fold increase the landlords also took on other forms such remote, heavily-forested mountain and river offerings are given to their cattle, which are over the 1949 area. as hiring farm laborers on a long-term basis areas provide a habitat for tigers, leopards, also granted a day of rest as a reward for Before 1949, there was virtually no and trading in slave girls. bears, musk deer, foxes, golden pheasants their hard work. industry in the Bouyei region. Since then, The Bonan people, mainly Muslims, are and others. Medicinal herbs are abundant divided into two different sects -- the Old Minorities continues on Page 11 www.chinainsight.info culture MARCH 2009 > PAGE 11

Minorities from Page 10 developed agriculture. They used oxen however, many industries have been devel- and elephants to till the land, grew large oped, including iron and steel, coal, machine quantities of rice and had built an extensive building, chemicals, electronic products, irrigation system. They used kapok for building materials and plastics. weaving, panned salt and made weapons In 1949, the total length of roads came of metal. They plated their teeth with gold to only 296 kilometers in what is now Qian- and silver. nan Prefecture. By 1981, 6,100 kilometers In the 12th century, a Dai chieftain of new roads had been built. And three named Bazhen unified all the tribes and main railway lines (Guizhou-Guangxi, established the Mengle local regime with Yunnan-Guizhou and Hunan-Guizhou) run Jinghong as the capital, and called it the through Bouyei areas in Qiannan, Anshun “Jinglong Golden Hall Kingdom.” Ac- and Guiyang. In addition, air services now cording to local records, the kingdom had link Guiyang with Beijing, Shanghai and a population of more than one million, and other big Chinese cities. was famous for white elephants and fine- Education and medical care have also breed horses. It recognized the Chinese improved greatly since 1949. By 1981, imperial court as its sovereign. When Ba- the numbers of secondary and primary zhen ascended the throne, he was given a schools had already risen to 150 and 3,789 “tiger-head gold seal” by the Emperor, and respectively, compared with hardly any in the title “Lord of the Region.” Previously, 1949. Teacher training schools and colleges the Dai in the Dehong region had established teaching modern farming methods have also the Mengmao Kingdom, with Ruilijiang as been established. the capital. In the past, medical facilities in the area During the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), were very poor. Epidemic diseases, such as the Dai area was subordinate to Yunnan smallpox, cholera and dysentery were ram- Province and the system of appointing pant, with malaria alone affecting 58 percent hereditary headmen from among the ethnic of the local population. After 1949, the gov- minorities was instituted; this system was ernment supplied financial aid, equipment consolidated during the Ming Dynasty and large numbers of medical workers to (1368-1644). help the Bouyeis improve health care. Now, Past Socio-Economic Conditions besides major hospitals at prefectural level, The increasing economic and cultural every county has its own hospital, epidemic interflow between the Han and Dai peoples, prevention station and maternal health cen- as well as the migration of many Han people ter, and every district has a clinic. to the frontiers, taking with them advanced The Dai ethnic minority production skills and culture and science, Population: 1.02 million promoted the economic development of Dai Major area of distribution: Yunnan society. The feudal lord system established Language: Dai in the Dai areas at the end of the Yuan Religion: Buddhism Dynasty and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty further promoted social production. The use of iron implements was widespread, new strains of crops were cultivated, and the whole village. cotton was grown extensively. A number of The manorial lords established a set Customs and Habits fairly large commercial townships such as of political institutions, and had their own The marriage of the Dai was character- Cheli were established. troops, courts and prisons to facilitate their ized by intermarriage on strictly equal social The Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), on the plunder and strengthen their rule. and economic status. Polygamy was com- whole, carried on the practice of the Yuan The frontier Dai areas such as Dehong, mon among chieftains, who also humiliated and Ming system in the minority areas. Menglian and Gengma were nearly the same the wives and daughters of peasants at will. However, it placed the Dai areas with more as Xishuangbanna, basically having a feudal The patriarchal monogamous nuclear fam- advanced economy under its jurisdiction manorial economy. However, their social ily was the common form among peasants. Dai women and sent officials to practice direct control. economy underwent new changes. The Pre-marital social contact between young land allocated to the peasants became more men and women was quite free, especially The Dai ethnic group lives in the south- During the Kuomintang rule, a county was stabilized and hereditary, and land rent in during festivals. It was common for the ern part of Yunnan Province, mainly in the set up in the Dai area close to the frontier and kind was widely practiced. In Mangshi and groom to move into the bride’s home after Xishuangbanna region. The area is subtropi- the policy of national oppression was carried Yingjiang, the landlord economy developed the wedding. cal, with plentiful rainfall and fertile land. out through the county administration. faster and the rich peasant economy also The graveyards of aristocrats and poor Local products include rice, sugar The historical conditions of the Dai com- grew, because of the Dai people’s frequent people were strictly separated. When a cane, coffee, hemp, rubber, camphor and munities were not the same, nor were the contact with the Hans. monk or a Buddhist leader died, he was a wide variety of fruits. Xishuangbanna is stages of their social development. So each For a long time the Dai had grown rice cremated and his ashes placed in a pottery the home of China’s famous Pu’er tea. The had its own characteristics as to the form of as their main crop, and they had developed urn to be buried behind a temple. dense forests produce large amounts of teak, land ownership, class structure and political a rather complete, intensive farming system Men wore collarless tight-sleeved short sandalwood and medicinal plants, and are system. Such areas as Jingdong, Xinping and gained rich experience in irrigation. jackets, with the opening at the front or home to wild animals including elephants, and Yuanjiang, where the Dai mingled with However, under the shackles of feudalism, along the right side, and long baggy trou- tigers and peacocks. the Hans, had entered the feudal landlord yields were low. The reckless exploitation sers. In winter they drape a blanket over The Dai language belongs to the Chi- economy stage earlier because the Dais ab- by the luxury loving ruling class and the their shoulders. They wore black or white nese-Tibetan language family and has three sorbed the Han’s more advanced tools and Han landlords and merchants forced many turbans. Tattooing was common. When a major dialects. It is written in an alphabetic techniques of production. Social progress peasants to flee their villages. boy reached the age of 11 or 12, a tattoo art- script. was slower in Xishuangbanna and Dehong on the border, particularly Xishuangbanna, ist was invited to tattoo his body and limbs History which still retained a fairly complete feudal Religion with designs of animals, flowers, geometric The religious beliefs of the Dai people patterns or the Dai written script. Tradition- The history of contact between the Dai manorial economy. were closely related to their economic ally, women wore tight-sleeved short dresses and Han peoples dates back to 109 B.C., Since the Yuan, Ming and Qing regimes development. Residents on the borders and sarongs. when Emperor Wu Di of the Han Dynasty practiced the system of appointing national- generally were followers of Hinayana, a Rice is the staple food. The Dai in De- set up Yizhou Prefecture in southwestern minority hereditary headmen, the “Cheli sect of Buddhism, while retaining remnants hong prefer dry rice, while those in Xish- Yi (the name used to signify the minority Official” had for generations been the high- of shamanism. There were many Buddhist uangbanna like sticky rice. All love sour and areas of what are now Sichuan, Yunnan est manorial lord and ruler until liberation. temples in the countryside, and it was a com- hot flavors. In addition to beef, chicken and and Guizhou provinces). The Dai in subse- All the land, forests and water belonged to mon practice, especially in Xishuangbanna, duck, they enjoy fish and shrimp. Cabbages, quent years sent tribute to the Han court in him, and he subdivided his domain to be to send young boys to the temples to learn carrots, bamboo shoots and beans are among Luoyang, and among the emissaries were hereditarily ruled by his clan members and to read and write and chant scriptures, as a the popular vegetables. The Dai also love musicians and acrobats. The Han court trusted followers. Under such a system, part form of schooling. Some of them became wine, liquor, and betel nuts. gave gold seals to the Dai ambassadors and of the land owned directly by the manorial monks, while most of them returned to The villages of the Dai in Dehong and their chieftain was given the title “Great lords became their private manors or served secular life. While staying in the temple, the Xishuangbanna are found on the plains, Captain.” as pay for their household officials. The boys had to do all kinds of hard work, and near rivers or streams, and among clusters According to Chinese documents of remaining part was allocated to the serfs the Dai people had to bear all the financial the ninth century, the Dai had a fairly well and came under the common ownership of Minorities continues on Page 12 burden of the temples. PAGE 12 > MARCH 2009 culture www.chinainsight.info

held in May, when pigs and oxen would be ships -- all nowadays linked by roads and a sacrificed to the gods to ensure prosperity railway. Local cadres have been trained to for the coming year. At the Spring Festival, administer the banner. sacrifices were made to the ancestors and Industry has come to the Daur communi- firecrackers set off in the evening. Everyone ty for the first time, with factories producing joined in a round of visits to their neighbors electric motors, transformers and chemical to partake of steamed New Year cakes and fertilizer. Farm machinery and power supply give presents of various delicacies. sources have also contributed greatly to the Pipes are passed to visitors, men and development of agriculture. women alike, as a sign of respect. Girls With the development of education, make elaborate tobacco pouches and slip nearly all Daur children of school age them into the pockets of young men who now attend primary schools. An increasing take their fancy. number of young Daur go to middle schools Wrestling, horse racing and archery are and colleges. popular sports among the Daur. They also Epidemics, particularly “keshan” dis- play a kind of football with a ball made of ease which affects the heart, are a thing of ox hair. the past now that the banner has some 30 Daur villages are neat, usually built on medical centers.  mountain slopes and facing streams, and the houses have courtyards surrounded by Source: People’s Daily Online (http://eng- wickerwork fences. lish.people.com.cn/) The women have always been renowned Minorities from Page 11 Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner, for their needlework, decorating their cloth- ing with fine patterns. Men wear straw hats of bamboo. The buildings generally are built which was set up on August 15, 1958 on the in summer or simply tie a piece of white on stilts. Some of the houses are square, left bank of the Nenjiang River in Heilongji- Economy from Page 1 cloth around their foreheads. In winter they with two stories. The upper story serves ang Province. This 11,943 sq. km.-area has bridges, railways and highways. wear leather caps with ear flaps. Women as the living place, while the lower space, lush pasture and farmland. The main crops China is trying to recover from an wear white cloth socks and patterned shoes without walls, is used as a storehouse and are maize, sorghum, wheat, soybeans and economic slide that forced it to shed 20 in summer, donning leather boots and long for keeping livestock. rice. In the mountains which border the million jobs, as exports dropped and the gowns in winter. Dai festivals, closely related to religious Daur community on the north are stands of real estate market slumped. Spending on Typical of the daily diet of the Daur is activities, included the “Door-Closing” fes- valuable timber -- such as oak, birch and elm roads, railways and housing has increased millet or buckwheat noodles mixed with tival in mid-June by the lunar calendar, the -- and medicinal herbs. Wildlife, including prices for iron ore and other commodities, milk, buckwheat cakes and oat porridge “Door-Opening” festival in mid-September, bears, deer, lynx and otters are found in the and helped drive the record number of cooked with soybeans. Game figures high and the “Water-Splashing” festival in spring. forests. Mineral deposits in the area include new loans in January. on the list of Daur delicacies, especially deer “Door-Closing” started three months of gold, mica, iron and coal. The lending multiplies the effect of meat, pheasant and duck. They cultivate a intensive religious activities. “Door-Open- the government’s spending in ways that History variety of vegetables. ing” marked the beginning of normal life. wouldn’t be possible in the United States The Daur people are thought to be Inseparable from the Daur scene is the “Water-Splashing,” still held every year, is and Europe, where banks are burdened by descended, along with the Ewenkis and “leleche” -- a small cart with large wheels the most important festival, during which toxic assets, Dwyfor Evans, a strategist Oroqens, from the Khitan nomads, who drawn by an ox. the Dai splash water on one another, and with State Street Global Markets in Hong founded the Liao Dynasty (916-1125). They hold dragon boat races in the hope of chas- Kong, told Bloomberg. originally inhabited the lower reaches of the Cultural Life ing away all the illnesses and bad fortune Stimulus projects are evident through- Heilong River. The Daur have a rich repertory of folk of the past year and bringing about good out the country. The building of public In the early Qing Dynasty, the Daurs dances which they love to perform dur- weather and bumper harvests. houses in Shaanxi province and Shanghai had a diversified economy which comprised ing festivals. Women participate in group The Dai have a rich, colorful culture. began in December, while Shandong fishing, hunting, farming and raising stock. singing and most women own a musical They have their own calendar, which started province started work on three new rail- They traded hides for metal implements, instrument called a “mukulian.” Men play in 638 A.D. There are books in Dai script way lines the same month. cloth and other articles from the more eco- a similar instrument, but the women are the for calculating solar and lunar eclipses. Dai “The economy is bottoming,” Tao nomically advanced Hans. most accomplished players. historical documents carry a rich variety Dong, chief Asia economist at Credit During the reign of Emperor Shun Zhi Daur folk literature is mostly based on of literary works covering poetry, legends, Suisse Group AG (ADR: CS) in Hong (1644-1662), the Daurs moved south and observations of nature, but it also contains stories, fables and children’s tales. They love Kong, told Bloomberg. settled on the banks of the Nenjiang River, a wealth of legends and fables. One of their to sing and dance, accompanied by their Prices for China’s imported iron from where they were constantly conscripted most popular stories is called “The Young native musical instruments. ore has climbed 28% since October. to serve in the armies of the Qing emperors Stalwart and Dai Fu.” It tells of the struggles Hot-rolled steel has surged 41% and the The Daur ethnic minority and in garrisons all over the Chinese empire. of the Daur against national oppression and their feudal rulers in the latter part of the Baltic Dry Index, or shipping costs for Population: 121,500 The Daurs helped to repel Cossack invaders 19th century. Also famous among the Daur commodities, has more than doubled Major areas of distribution: Inner from Tsarist Russia in 1643 and 1651. When are stories by Ahlabudan, a Qing Dynasty since Jan. 28. Mongolia, Heilongjiang and Xinjiang the Japanese invaded China’s Northeast in author, such as “Fringed Iris Pouch,” “Song “You are starting to see the underlying Language: Daur and Han 1931, the Daur opposed them and helped the of the Four Seasons” and “Song of Refrain- demand of the Chinese economy,” BHP Religion: Shamanism resistance forces until liberation in 1945. ing from Drinking.” Also well known are Billiton Ltd. (ADR: BHP) Chief Execu- Traditional Economy and Customs tales adapted from classical Chinese novels. tive Officer Marius Kloppers said Feb. Before the founding of the People’s The best-read contemporary works are those 4. “We have seen in the steel business in Republic of China in 1949, the Daur had a by a Daur writer named Qin Tongpu, such China that the de-stocking cycle is almost well developed agriculture, with per-hectare as “A Farmer’s Song,” “Song of the Fisher- complete and that means people are com- yield of grain reaching 350 kg. They raised men” and “Song of the Lumbermen.” The ing back into the market and buying.” horses and oxen. Those living in the moun- Daur have a love for poetry, which they Even if the global recession lasts tainous north of the area were also engaged compose in several unique verse forms. years, China has the ammunition to in hunting, charcoal burning, edible plants Their long winter evenings are also enliv- maintain growth, said Merrill Lynch’s gathering, tanning, and the manufacture ened by oral literature, riddles and proverbs, Lu. It has public debt of only 18.5% of of carts and wooden pipes. Distribution of as well as handicrafts such as toy making, gross domestic product, foreign currency reserves of [US]$1.95 trillion, and a bal- Women of the Daur ethnic group land and animals was very uneven, with embroidery and paper cuts. the big landlords exploiting the majority of The dead are buried in graveyards ar- anced budget. The Daur live mainly in the Inner Mon- the people. ranged according to family lineage. Buried “China has perhaps the deepest golia Autonomous Region and Heilongjiang Monogamy was the general rule, and along with the deceased are ornaments, pockets in the world,” Lu said. “It can Province. About several thousand of them marriages were arranged by the parents. A tobacco pipes, cooking utensils, and some- relentlessly ramp up spending to create are found in the Tacheng area in the Xinjiang man from a different clan would go to live times slaughtered horses. jobs and meet its growth target.” Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest with his wife’s family, but had no claim on Investors are also showing a renewed China. They are descendents of Daur who their property. Closest ties are those between Life Today interest. Stock volumes on Feb. 11 were moved to China’s western region in the brothers-in-law. All important celebrations Nirji Town is the seat of the govern- the highest in at least three years. The early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The Daur require the presence of the brothers-in-law ment of the Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Shanghai Composite Index of stocks has speak a language related to Mongolian and and their families, who send gifts to new- Banner (County). The town has a People’s climbed about 36% from November’s used Manchu during the Qing Dynasty born children. Cultural Palace, and thriving machine- lows on optimism that government spend- as their written language. Since the 1911 The religion of the Daur was shaman- building, repair, food-processing and chemi- ing will bolster corporate earnings.  Revolution, Mandarin Chinese has replaced ism, while a few were followers of Lama- cal industries. Manchu. ism. The biggest festival of the year was There are more than 100 settlements Reprinted by permission of Money The biggest Daur community is in the in the region and seven autonomous town- Morning: www.moneymorning.com. www.chinainsight.info arts MARCH 2009 > PAGE 13 Settling for subtitles By Albert Leung, Staff Writer Movie makers always find the most imaginative ways to impress me. It could be the outcome of a story, a particularly eloquent scene or the actor’s portrayal of the character; most movies can find a means to strike me emotionally. Although no matter how beautiful a movie is made, one detail can ruin the experience: dialogue. Over the past few years I have become a bit of a moving picture enthusiast with particular appreciation for foreign films. I typically watch at least one international film a week (A bit obsessive?). Prior to my foreign film exposure, I was naïve in think- ing that the United States made the best movies in the world since very few foreign features played at the local theater. As my thirst for international films grew, I realized my obliviousness and found there were in- true story. deed many great stories told in all countries. Translations can be lost when subtitling Along with my international film exposure, I a foreign language film but maintaining a also began to critique how American movie “The Forbidden Kingdom” movie poster Scene from “Valkyrie” culture’s language allows viewers to experi- makers portrayed stories and people of other ence the story in a genuine manner and al- cultures. I recognized that many American lows for a truer reflection of the culture that Along with the Li and Chan duo, the spoke to each other mostly in English as films stray from dialogue in foreign lan- the story is drawn from. Not all American film also stars Chinese actress Yifei Liu as well but perhaps that was for Tripitikas’ guages and impose an English speaking movie makers have fallen into the habit of Golden Sparrow and American actor Mi- benefit. Why did Tripitikas not magically dictum. For me, at least, I’d rather read it defaulting into English dialogue. Clint East- chael Angarano as the lead character Jason possess the ability to speak Chinese? Why in English than have to hear it. wood, one of the biggest American cinema Tripitikas. The Forbidden Kingdom tells a didn’t he pick up the language through his For example, take the two recently icons, directed the movie Letters From Iwo story about a kung fu movie fanatic, Tripi- kung fu films? I don’t think that would be released films The Forbidden Kingdom Jima which depicted Japan’s military stand tikas, who comes into the possession of a any more absurd than the way the movie and Valkyrie. The Forbidden Kingdom is a against America on the island of Iwo Jima, golden staff which belonged to the mythical was portrayed. Chinese folktale-like movie and Valkyrie is Japan. The movie was a companion piece Chinese character Sun Wukong, otherwise For me, when the Chinese movie char- a German story about a plot to assassinate to the movie Flags of our Fathers and was known as Monkey King. Upon possessing acters of ancient times speak English, the Hitler. These two films are rooted deeply raved about by many American film critics. the fighting-staff, Tripitikas is inexplicably film loses a lot of authenticity in the story. in each respective culture and country yet It received tremendous reviews from critics whisked into ancient China where he is to This tale is already quite far-fetched but both are portrayed predominantly in English and makes me hope that these are the types save Sun Wukong who was imprisoned by with more use of the Chinese language, it dialogue. The English dialogue may not take of films we’ll see more often from our film an immortal called the Jade Warlord. With would have helped its believability rather much away from the storytelling but for creators. him on the journey is a team of martial arts than mixing English dialogue into the lines me it feels a bit disingenuous. It’s kind of Despite critical acclaim with nomina- masters played by Li, Chan and Liu. so willy-nilly. like buying a replica Burberry bag. On the tions and an award from the 2007 Golden The Forbidden Kingdom, I must admit, I think the movie Valkyrie, starring the surface it looks fine but it still pesters you Globes, as well as nominations at the 2007 is somewhat entertaining but glaringly enigmatic Tom Cruise, cheats language bar- to know it isn’t the real thing. Academy Awards, the movie did not find lacked consistent dialogue. When the film riers in the most egregious way. The movie A few weeks ago, I had a weak moment much commercial success in the United takes viewers into ancient China, some of starts with Cruise speaking a few lines in and watched Jet Li’s and Jackie Chan’s States. Perhaps people are intimidated or an- the Chinese movie characters inexplicably German then the dialogue gradually transi- latest American cinema foray, The Forbid- noyed at the idea of reading subtitles during speak fluent English. For instance, when tions as the German dialogue fades away den Kingdom. Li plays the characters “The a movie. It is my hope, though, that movies Lu Yan is introduced in the movie, he is and English dialogue gets fed into its place. Silent Monk” and “Monkey King,” while that stand by using foreign languages are the able to fluently converse with Tripitikas in The remaining movie is in English except Chan portrays the characters “Lu Yan” and types of movies that will become a staple English. Almost as baffled as I am when I for the lines “Heil Hitler” and “Heil mein “Old Hop.” When I first saw the movie in American cinema. The United States see an athletic martial arts move, I thought, Führer.” Despite all the English chatter, ev- trailers I was not impressed and somewhat has always been considered a melting pot, “How does he do that?” If there were maybe ery sign and written document in the movie saddened to see where their acting careers combined of all the world’s languages and an explanation as to why or how these char- remained in German. The inconsistencies have turned. I decided, however, to give it cultures. It is long overdue these cultures

acters became so fluent in English, it might were distracting and I felt it failed to fully a chance since I grew up watching the two and languages which make America are have seemed less weird. The characters communicate the story’s seriousness and kung fu movie legends flying-kick and kung truly reflected in the American movies. Silent Monk, Lu Yan and Golden Sparrow it was hard to believe that it is based on a fu-punch their way into stardom.

turning China into a world superpower at any trip or for anyone wanting to understand breakneck speed. This eye-opening and this complex country. In one hundred brief, BOOKS cautionary account is essential reading for reader-friendly chapters, alphabetized by all concerned not only with China’s but subject, China A to Z introduces a general America’s future role in the world. audience to contemporary Chinese society, as well as its venerable history. Discover: • Why Chinese names are written in Postcards from Tomorrow Square: Reports China A to Z: Every- reverse order from China thing You Need to • What to bring when visiting a Chinese by James Fallows household Know to Understand • What the current relationship is be- Synopsis —from “China Makes, the World tween Japan and China “Americans need not be Takes” Chinese Customs • Why you should wrap gifts in red or hostile toward China’s rise, Since December 2006, The Atlantic pink paper, and never send white flowers but they should be wary Magazine’s James Fallows has been writing and Culture With the 2008 Summer Olympics be- about its eventual effects. some of the most discerning accounts of the by May-Lee Chai, Winberg Chai ing held in Beijing, thousands of Chinese The United States is the only economic and political transformation oc- Synopsis adoptions occurring each year, and China nation with the scale and curring in China. The ten essays collected A practical and accessible becoming the fourth most popular interna- power to try to set the terms here cover a wide-range of topics: from guide to an ancient but rap- tional destination, the need of its interaction with China rather than just visionary tycoons and TV-battling entre- idly changing culture for information about this succumb. So starting now, Americans need preneurs, to environmental pollution and Perfect for business and complex country is greater to consider the economic, environmental, how China subsidizes our economy. Fallows armchair travelers alike, than ever. political, and social goals they care about expertly and lucidly explains the economic, China A to Z explains the All synopses from defending as Chinese influence grows.” political, social, and cultural forces at work customs, culture, and etiquette essential for www.barnesandnoble.com PAGE 14 > MARCH 2009 business www.chinainsight.info

Stamps from Page 1 The colorful history of Chinese stamps ancient Gusu (present-day Suzhou) Post as to 476 BC) dynasties, and they remained tally, a credential carried by an ancient its motif, and its background sheet is printed in use for more than 2,000 years. The Han estafette. The origin of the tiger tally is with the ancient character “yu,” or “fish.” Dynasty built more beacon towers than any not known, but it was widely used during The prototype of this pictograph is actually other dynasty. the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). a sketch of fish, and its use on a commemo- Beginning in the Spring and Autumn A tiger tally was composed of two halves, rative stamp recalls another post-related and Warring States periods (770-221 BC), made of gold, jade, bronze, bamboo or Chinese idiom, “yu chuan chisu,” or “Fish chariots and horses were employed to enrich wood, in various shapes, mostly of a tiger. delivers foot-long plain silk.” the beacon communication system, and the They were issued by the imperial court The 1986 sheetlet with a tiger tally motif. ancient mounted postal system came into (or a commander) to an officer dispatched being. After Emperor Qinshihuang united on a mission. One half of the tally was to each official piece of mail. The sheet de- China in 221 BC, he built many postal roads kept by the issuer, and the other half by tailed the type, amount and date of the mail, and stations and expanded the system into the dispatched officer. The messenger and relay posts along the way were required an established institution. of either side had to match his half tally to fill in related information, such as when the The mounted estafette shown on the with its counterpart to ensure secure com- mail arrived at a given post. stamp sheetlet for the First All-China Phila- munications. The stamp sheetlet issued in 1996 for the telic Federation Congress is modeled after Several such tallies from the War- centenary of modern China’s postal service an estafette, or military relay courier, as ring States Period have been unearthed, contains the first eight stamps issued by the depicted on a brick picture found in a tomb including a bronze dragon tally. The nine Qing Post Bureau on February 2, 1897. The The 1990 Gusu Post Station sheetlet. from the Wei (Kingdom)-Jin (Dynasty) characters carved on the tally ordered background margin shows two lines from a Apart from bamboo and wooden slips, Period (220-420) in the Gobi Desert, in that post stations should provide food and government paper requesting imperial ap- the ancient Chinese also wrote letters on Gansu’s Jiayuguan City. There are hundreds lodging to the bearer of the tally. A pair proval for the establishment of a postal ser- strips of plain silk. During the Tang Dy- of ancient tombs in the desert, and eight of of round tallies have also been unearthed vice. On March 20, 1896, Emperor Guangxu nasty (618-907), a silk letter measured them were excavated in 1972. More than from Western Xia ruins. gave his imperial approval, marking the birth about a Chinese foot in length, and a letter 600 murals and pictures were discovered on The 2000 Fifth All-China Phila- of the modern postal service in China. was therefore called “chisu,” or “foot-long the walls and bricks in six of the tombs, usu- telic Federation Congress souvenir stamp plain silk.” To deliver it, a “chisu” letter was ally with one picture per brick. The estafette sheetlet shows a Qing Dynasty postal Reprinted with permission from China usually tied into the shape of double fish, was on one of them. service record sheet, which was attached Today (http://www.chinatoday.com.cn) hence the term “yu chuan chisu.” Moreover, In early times, an estafette only deliv- the “envelope” for a “chisu” was fashioned ered military and official communications, out of a pair of wooden plates cut into the never private correspondence. Before the shape of a fish. Han Dynasty, an estafette traveled mostly by China’s growth U.S. Deputy Before paper was invented, letters writ- chariot or boat, and later horses were used falls Secretary of State ten on bamboo, wooden slips or silk would as a more efficient and economical means. be sandwiched between these two fish- During the Han Dynasty, a post station China’s economic growth fell to 6.8 confident of future shaped pieces, whose outer surfaces would was set up every 15 kilometers to furnish percent in the fourth quarter of 2008 – the be carved with grooves to accommodate the relays. According to historical records, an slowest pace in seven years but there are Sino-U.S. ties cord that bound them together. Many ancient estafette could travel as much as 200 kilo- signs that the slowdown is bottoming. Ac- John Negroponte, U.S. Deputy Secretary poems include such terms as “fish letter,” meters a day, and one who bore a red and cording to the preliminary economic data of State, held a press conference in Beijing … “fish silk” and “double carp,” which allude white envelope indicated he was carrying of 2008 released by the National Bureau that showed he is confident in future Sino- to this early postal service. an “emergency delivery.” of Statistics, China’s GDP grew 9 percent U.S. ties. He said the two frameworks set In October 1998, China Post issued a last year after expanding 13 percent in Post Stations up during the Bush Administration that he set of four postcards to celebrate the 22nd 2007. However, industrial output rose 5.7 recommended to the Obama administration Every dynasty had its own rule for its Universal Postal Union Congress in Beijing. percent in December accelerating from were the Strategic Economic Dialogue, and postal services, and each set post stations at Three of the postcards depict a flying bird, 5.4 percent in November, which suggests the Six Party Talks mechanisms. Negroponte regular intervals along the country’s main in acknowledgment of the ancient idiom that the nation’s growth could be bottom- also said he believed Chinese diplomats were roads. The posts were administered by the “qingniao chuan shu,” or “A bluebird deliv- ing. Fixed asset investment climbed 25.5 eager to work with the new U.S. administra- military forces of their locality, and they pro- ers a message” – a far older myth than the percent last year, up 0.7 percentage points tion in [2009]. vided accommodation, replenishment and  stories of wild geese and fish. from a year earlier. Retail sales jumped Source: U.S. Commercial Service China post-horses – or chariots and boats, if needed Chinese mythology has it that the Queen 22.1 - 4.8 percentage points faster than Pulse (www.export.gov/china/chinapulse) Mother of the West had three bluebirds as – for estafettes and traveling officials. Apart 2007.  her messengers. Wherever she went, one from a post manager, they had couriers to Source: U.S. Commercial Service Chi- of the birds would fly across the mountains replace exhausted estafettes, as well as post na Pulse (www.export.gov/china/chi- and rivers to deliver her missives. Conse- corvees to provide needed services. napulse) China to take quently, the ancient Chinese worshipped The Han Dynasty built post stations bluebirds as messengers of auspiciousness. along the roads from the capital to all its measures to spur In later mythology, bluebirds evolved into vassal states, and the Gusu Post depicted on the “Queen of Birds” – the mythical phoe- the 1990 souvenir stamp sheetlet was one of China’s FDI up 23.6 consumption, nix, which rises intact from the ashes of its them. During the Tang Dynasty, there were percent in 2008 stimulate foreign own destruction. more than 1,600 post stations, including terrestrial and riverine, as well as combina- Foreign direct investment (FDI) in trade From Beacons to Mounted Estafette tions of the two, that employed more than China jumped 23.58 percent year on year hina is working on more measures to The souvenir stamp sheetlet issued in 20,000 servicemen. to US$92.4 billion last year, Ministry of C stimulate domestic demand and maintain 1994 for the Fourth All-China Philatelic In 1995, the Ministry of Post and Tele- Commerce spokesman Yao Jian said.... steady growth of foreign trade. This is ac- Federation Congress features the remains communications issued a set of two “An- According to Yao, the increase in foreign cording to an executive meeting of the State of the Han Dynasty Kizil Beacon Tower cient Post Stations” stamps. One of them, investment, mainly flow to the service Council … presided over by Premier Wen in Xinjiang’s Kuqa County. The tower was the Yucheng Post Town in Jiangsu’s Gaoyou sector, which attracted US$38.12 bil- Jiabao. The State Council meeting discussed built 2,000 years ago during the Western County, was a land-water post built in 1375, lion of FDI last year, up 24.23 percent. solutions for exporters who are experiencing Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), and its in the early Ming Dynasty. More than 80 China approved the establishment of 2,562 difficulties due to the global financial crisis. remains are about 15 meters tall. post buildings spread over an area of 1.4 overseas-funded enterprises in December, The government will increase tax rebates for In ancient times, beacons were built at hectares have survived to this day. down 25.78 percent year on year. Last exporters of some machinery and electronic regular intervals in frontier areas. During The second, the Jiming Mountain Post in year, foreign companies invested more products. It will abolish restrictions on exports the night, fires would be lit to pass mes- Hebei’s Huailai County, was set up in 1420 money in western and central China, of some energy saving and hi-tech products. sages along the route, and during the day during the Ming Dynasty and developed into instead of the comparatively-developed The government will also urge banks to im- smoke took over the function. Dried wolf a 20-hectare post town, equipped with such eastern region, Yao said. FDI surged nearly prove services for foreign traders, especially excrement was the best material for gener- facilities as a post administrator’s office, 80 percent last year from 2007 in western small and medium sized firms. ating thick smoke, therefore a beacon was hotels, barns for grain and stables for post- China, while that in central China rose Source: U.S. Commercial Service China also known colloquially as a “wolf smoke horses, and pastures. The Jiming Mountain 36.44 percent.  Pulse (www.export.gov/china/chinapulse) tower.” It was an essential installation dur- Post Town is the best preserved of its kind Source: Xinhua News Agency, Jan.15, ing the construction of the Great Wall. in China. 2009. http://news.xinhuanet.com/ Beacons were first adopted as a means of english/2009-01/15/content_10662757. communication for military purposes 3,000 Postal Artifacts htm years ago, around the turn of the Shang (c. The Second All-China Philatelic Federa- 1600-1046 BC) and Zhou (c.11th century tion Congress stamp sheetlet features a tiger www.chinainsight.info business MARCH 2009 > PAGE 15

No r t h Am e r i c a n Translations China resources and services Your one-stop source for pre- cise technical translations be- tween Chinese and English. presented at UCBC meeting We specialize in legal, financial, The topic of the February U.S.-China adults and children, cultural activities like engineering and medical trans- Business Connections (UCBC) monthly kung fu demonstrations and shadow pup- lation work. meeting was “China Resources and Services petry workshops, and custom-designed pro- at the University of Minnesota.” Presenting grams for businesses in Chinese language were Ms. Joan Brzezinski, acting direc- and culture. Our high-quality serice is com- tor of the new Confucius Institute at the Businesses have a particularly strong petitively priced. Contact us University of Minnesota (CIUMN), and understanding of the economic, national today to get your free quote. Dr. Yongwei Zhang, director of the China security, trade, and technological reasons to Center. Brzezinski and Zhang each spoke study Chinese. Drawing on this, Brzezinski Phone: 612-799-5415 about the services their departments offer shared how the state of Minnesota is prepar- Fax: 612-643-3498 to the community. ing students and the future workforce for a Email: global business environment. In the past six [email protected] years, the statewide enrollment in Chinese language in Minnesota public schools has http//www.natranslations.com grown 164 percent. CIUMN is also work- ing with Minnesota state agencies and the will continue its work within the Minnesota University to better support professional business community to help facilitate con- development of Chinese language teachers nections with Chinese businesses. UCBC speaker Dr. Zhang, Director of and Chinese language programs in school UCBC President Warren Vollmar introduced The China Center also provides scholar- China Center with UCBC President War- districts as interest in Chinese language China Insight and the “A Passage to China” ship opportunities for University students ren Vollmar continues to grow. after the talk wishing to study in China, recruits top More information about CIUMN pro- Chinese undergraduate students to study Brzezinski introduced CIUMN and its gramming can be found at the China Center’s presence in China. This at the University of Minnesota, conducts mission to UCBC members. CIUMN is a www.confucius.umn.edu. has been a goal of the China Center for sev- leadership training for Chinese business ex- joint partnership between the University Zhang presented the services available eral years and it is close to being realized. A ecutives and academic leaders, hosts educa- and the Chinese Language Council Inter- through the China Center. Many UCBC location convenient for conducting business tional and cultural events, arranges meetings national also commonly known as Hanban. members are familiar with the China Center has been identified and work is underway for visiting Chinese guests, and serves as a There are approximately 250 Confucius because of its long history—this year marks to establish a staffed office. This will be a resource on China issues for government Institutes worldwide, 50 of which are in the Center’s 30th Anniversary. There are valuable resource for supporting University agencies and the private sector. the United States. CIUMN supports the some new initiatives underway that will faculty, staff, and alumni as well as Minne- More information about the China Cen- University’s outreach mission by offering make this year particularly significant. One sota businesses for their work in China. In ter can be found at non-credit Chinese language programs for of the most exciting initiatives is to increase addition to new initiatives, the China Center www.chinacenter.umn.edu. 

(CS ADB) augments the series of regular The same upending of the traditional rela- China ophthalmic monthly reports, giving U.S. exporters tionships between marketer and consumer, UCBC equipment and advance information of Asian government professional and amateur, and authority and tenders. The focus of this report is on the the average person on the street is happening products market national procurement initiated both in ad- in China, too. breakfast vance, as well as ongoing ADB procurement In China, however, the revolution has hina’s total medical devices market C and recruitment of consultants for projects followed a somewhat different trajectory continues to grow at a rate of between 14 financed by the ADB. than in the developed world. Some of the to 15 percent per annum though there is To bid on the projects included in this major topographic features of the social meetings no official data available to show the total report, U.S. firms may send their Expression media landscape—such as the challenge to market size for ophthalmic equipment and of Interest (EOI) directly to the executing mainstream news from web-based media— March Meeting products. Based on one industry source, the agency listed on the procurement notice. may feel familiar at first blush, but a closer The March meeting of UCBC will be ophthalmic equipment and products market Details of the bidding procedures are stated examination reveals contours shaped by a held Wednesday, Mar. 4, 2009. This break- has been growing between 20 to 30 percent in the Bidding Documents issued by the distinct Chinese Internet culture. As the In- fast meeting will feature a panel presentation annually and is expected to grow at a similar executing agency or otherwise stated in the ternet assumes a more central role in Chinese by Mike Xiong (Co-founder of UCBC) of pace in the years to come. Feedback from procurement notice. cultural and commercial life, understanding Thomson Reuters; Hong Cai, US Bank; the industry shows that the global financial U.S. firms are encouraged to keep in this landscape—with all of its perils, pitfalls, and Sam Wils, US Bank. The topic will be: crisis is believed to have little or no influ- contact with CS ADB especially if they and possibilities—is vital to running almost From Revolution to Reform to Response ence on the market for these products in decide to participate in ADB procurement any business in China today. to Global Financial Crisis: Socialism with China because domestic suppliers cannot activities. This office works closely with For the full article, please go to: Chinese Characteristics’ meet the market demand for the variety the Office of the U.S. Executive Director http://www.chinabusinessreview.com/ and quality of products sought. Based on April Meeting (US/ED) to the ADB to increase American public/0901/kuo.html.  information from one industry source, the The April meeting of UCBC will be awareness of and participation in ADB’s Source: U.S. Commercial Service China annual market in this subsector is estimated held Wednesday, April 1, 2009. The topic procurement activities. Pulse (www.export.gov/china/chinapulse) at about US$70 million in end market sales,  will be China Business Travel Tips featur- For more information go to: http://buyu- with 70 to 80 percent of products supplied ing speaker Melody Zhou and others CIAC sainfo.net/docs/x_13088.pdf by foreign suppliers. The import market is Travel. Source: U.S. Commercial Service China dominated by American suppliers. The large The UCBC meetings are held at Min- Pulse (www.export.gov/china/chinapulse) Ch i n a Insight foreign players are believed to be active in neapolis Community & Technical College, SEEKS ADVERTISING China. 1501 Hennepin Avenue, Wheelock Whitney  If you interested in the full article, please REPRESENTATIVE… Hall, Room L3000 (3rd Floor), Minneapo- contact Mrs. Shuyu Sun at shuyu.sun@mail. lis, MN 55403. China’s social doc.gov. Must be passionate about our mis- The fee is US$20 per person. UCBC Source: U.S. Commercial Service China media members and college students are free. sion: in addition to being success- Pulse (www.export.gov/china/chinapulse) Everyone can bring a guest who can be ad- environment oriented, must be self-motivated, mitted for half price (US$10). To register, resourceful, creative, disciplined e-mail [email protected] or call Jim By now it is clear that the social media and community-minded. Smith at 612-8656543. revolution—which includes the emergence ADB projects and of blogs, YouTube, wikis (Web sites in For free parking at the MCTC Ramp, Ge n e r o u s Co m m i s s i o n please mention your name for the UCBC procurement which users can edit content), and social meeting to the parking staff. The MCTC networking Web sites—has put digitally Sc h e d u l e parking ramp is located at 1420 Hennepin notices empowered consumers in the driver’s seat Contact: Greg Hugh and changed the game for marketers and (952) 472-4757 Avenue (north side of Hennepin Ave). Ad- his Foreign Government Tender T media alike. It is also clear that the revolu- Email: [email protected] ditional information on parking: http://www. report from the US Commercial Service tion has spread beyond the developed world. minneapolis.edu/parking.cfm Asian Development Bank Liaison Office PAGE 16 > MARCH 2009 culture www.chinainsight.info