hina nsight C Fostering business and culturalI harmony between and the U.S. VOL. 14 NO. 3 March 2015 Historic exhibit,‘Jewish Refugees in ,’ tells story of survival By Greg Hugh

Today, few would guess that Shanghai once played host to a bustling community of 18,000 – 20,000 Jews -- the focus of History, pp.4-5 the exhibit “Jewish Refugees in Shanghai (1932-1941).” For Jews desperate to flee the Nazi regime but barred from entry al- most everywhere, Shanghai was the “Last Place on Earth” and a rescuing Noah’s Ark. The exhibit runs March 19 – May 7, 2015, at the Sabes Jewish Community Center, 4330 S. Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park. A grand opening reception will take place on Thursday, March 19, at 5 p.m. Business in China, p.1, 7 and is free and open to the public. As part of the grand opening reception, a question and answer panel will be held with a few of the Minnesota Shanghailanders that have agreed to attend.

continued on page 4 Doing business with China and the Chinese people: a conversation on cultural challenges, part 3 Arts & Culture, p.8, 10 By Chang Wang and Joe Pearman, contributors

Editor’s note: This is the continuation of the multipart conversation series on doing business with mainland China (excluding , and ) and the Han Chinese living within mainland China. It describes some of the ins and outs of interacting with Chinese individuals or firms in the contexts of cross-border communications and negotiations. Through this con- versation, the authors hope to help the business community become aware of the miscommunication that stems from the “parallel universes” the American and the Chinese inhabit, to expose the hidden rationales underscoring the official narratives of Chinese history, and to reveal cultural and linguistic misunderstandings that frequently occur during the process of finding “common ground.” Food, p. 12, 16 In last month’s “They eat puppies, don’t they?” the authors discussed how both Americans and Chinese could misjudge and misread situations based on their own innate cultural biases. This month’s conversation, Hidden Rules, will illustrate the work- ings of a “shadow code.” Watch for the continuation of the series in the next few issues where the authors will discuss guanxi, ti-yong, and additional resources to gain a greater understanding of China and the Chinese way.

“Hidden Rules” them, would just encourage people to do how things work in their society. More of- Wang: In cross-border communica- whatever they could to avoid punishment. ten than not, of course, they’re quite wrong. tion, you have to guard against not only According to Confucius, it was better to For starters, Confucius was not a pas- mistranslation, but also misinterpretation. craft a code and keep it secret from ordi- sive individual. He was a firm believer For instance, if you go to the Supreme nary citizens. Doing so would allow those in exercise and fitness; maintaining good Inventions, p. 15 Court of Minnesota, you will see a mural who enforced the code to use some moral physical health was one of the marks of of Confucius and his disciples titled “The judgment and discretion in applying it. But a “true gentleman.” And he didn’t wait In This Issue Recording of the Precedents.” In it, they why then should the Westerners believe around for students to come to him; he are making records of past legal proceed- Confucius was a great lawgiver and even publicized his ideals vigorously and was ings to guide future rulings. If you go to recorded precedents? a great orator. So in the end, he typified Arts & Culture 8,10 the United States Supreme Court, you also Pearman: I think it has to do with the someone who taught by example and Business 1, 7 will find Confucius on the top of the “East- popular image and perception of Confucius. personal inspiration - which is how he felt Community 9 Westerners imagine Confucius as a with- society should be led. ern Pediment,” sharing space with Moses Education 6 and Solon, who are chosen to represent ered wise man with a long beard, handing Confucianism is not the only part of Food 12, 16 the lawgivers of three great civilizations: out sage advice to his disciples. And in the China that’s misunderstood by many Amer- Judea, China and Athens. But Confucius West, the idea of “lawgiver” is a natural icans. Indeed, I think a lot of people who Government 14 was adamantly against the public procla- outgrowth from the idea of “teacher.” A come to China have the mindset that China History 4-5 mations of the laws, he did not like laws. teacher explains the ways to live and con- is simply an undeveloped United States Inventions 15 He believed that if a society’s rulers were duct oneself properly; a lawgiver codifies with no minimum wage. What I mean by News 2-3 these teachings into rules for a civilization. that is that they’re unprepared for many of virtuous and moral; their subjects would People 11, 13 emulate them, obviating the need for laws. Wang: Exactly. People start with a the things they will face in doing business. The practice of creating and publishing popular image (which is erroneous, by the For instance, it is commonly accepted laws, then punishing people for violating way), and then extrapolate from it based on Continued on page 7 PAGE 2 / March 2015 news chinainsight.info ChinaInsight This bleating confusing Publisher: Gregory J. Hugh Lunar New Year! [email protected] Production Editor: By Elaine Dunn Teresa Khamlusa [email protected] Manager of Operations/ can quite agree.” as little more than a mindless drone, Circulation: Google actually kept not leadership material. The ? It’s Richard He track of how the Lunar New sometimes associated with old age, [email protected] Year was being searched: defeat, blame or overall ineptitude. the Philippines had the high- The ram is sometimes used to convey Staff Writers: Greg Hugh est search levels for “year masculinity. But … [email protected] of the sheep, followed by A scholar, Dong Zhong- Canada, Australia, U.S. and shu, once said that people “should be Elaine Dunn United Kingdom. “Year of more like goats because: goats don’t [email protected] the ram” is used most com- hurt people with their horns and goats monly in India, followed by never cry or howl.” Contributors: Canada and the U.S. But The head of the department of Chi- Madeline Christensen from Jan. 19 to Feb. 14, "as nese language and literature at Hong [email protected] anticipation for the holiday Kong’s Chinese University, professor grew, searches for 'year of Raymond Lum Ho Chewah also thinks it’s most likely [email protected] the sheep' and 'year of the a bearded goat! According to him, goats goat' have been neck and had positive associations, and in ancient Chang Wang neck,” said a Google Asia China, were eaten by the rich. Ho thinks [email protected] Pacific communications the Chinese character “羊” resembles person. Patrick Welsh an animal with two horns and a pointy The animal in the Chi- [email protected] face – a goat! nese zodiac is often referred A Chinese lecturer of linguistics to as a sheep. Los Angeles’ Webmaster: and translation studies at an Australian Disneyland celebrated “Year Will Ahern university said the confusion stems from of the Sheep.” HK Tourism [email protected] the fact that Chinese uses one generic This Lunar New Year had many Board welcomed the Year of the Sheep term for a certain family of animals Honorary: people, linguists included, puzzled. with a blue and pink sheep in its parade. while English is more specific in terms Jennifer Nordin, Editor Emertus And the media had a field day with (However, since the pink-colored one [email protected] of gender and age. But she also pointed clever headlines such as “The big ‘yang’ was decked out in heels and dress, would that make it the Year of the Ewe??) out that Year of the / Mouse never theory,” “Sod off sheep! It’s the Year of drew as much consternation. For her, the Goat” “Whatever floats your goat,” London’s branch of the Hong Kong Eco- nomic and Trade Office held Year of the whether it’s sheep, ram or goat, it does About ChinaInsight “Sheep, goat or ram debate shepherds C h i na Insight is a monthly English Ram parties. They’re in the same camp not matter “as long as the animal has response,” etc. language newspaper fostering business as the Hong Kong Postal Service, which curly horns, it fits the bill.” What’s the hoopla all about? In and cultural harmony between China and issued a series of colorful ram stamps for A Beijing-based Chinese folklorist the U.S. Chinese, it’s the Year of the Yang (羊), the occasion. Vietnamese and Cambo- said, “This is ridiculous. Goat and sheep which can be translated into sheep, ram C h i n a Insight is a Member of The dians celebrated the Year of the Goat as are different in French and English, but or goat in English. So … in English, Minnesota Chapter of the Asian American sheep do not survive in their hot weather. what’s that got to do with Chinese tra- Journalists Association (AAJA). this Lunar New Year had been called The Canadians seem to have settled on ditional culture?” Year of the Sheep / Ram / Goat. Which Year of the Goat as well. The Koreans In China, most people don’t care Submissions & should it be? also went with sheep. And, three major whether it’s sheep or goat even though Correspondence The two top contenders are the sheep ChinaInsight welcomes guest articles Australian cities each welcomed a year most concede that sheep are “cuter, soft and letters to the editor. Correspondence and goat. But there isn’t a consensus. with different animal. And mainland and fluffy.” Seems like only the West- should be addressed to: As Hong Kong’s South China Morning China avoided all confusion by staying erners are all wrapped up in this bleating Editor, ChinaInsight Post puts is, “Don’t feel too sheepish if ♦ with Spring Festival! discussion. 750 Mainstreet you’ve got it wrong, as it seems no one Many Chinese consider the sheep Hopkins, MN 55343 Tel: 952-472-4757 Fax: 952 472-6665 Insight [email protected] ChinaInsight Letters to the editor become the property of ChinaInsight and may be edited for SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM Guaranteed length and published. Articles will not be 10 issues - $24 for a domestic subscription and $40 for published without the express consent of the author. international. YES you could run to the store and pick up a copy, NOTICE TO READERS: The views Please make check payable to ChinaInsight, 750 Main- but did you know you can expressed in articles are the author’s and street, Hopkins, MN 55343 not neccesarily those of ChinaInsight. have ChinaInsight delivered Authors may have a business relationship Name______directly to your mailbox? with the companies or businesses they Address______A subscription costs a mere discuss. City/State/Zip______$24 and brings a full year (10 Phone______issues) of new understanding Email______about today’s China, from Company______language to business Title______opportunities. Copyright 2015 ChinaInsight, Inc. All Rights Reserved. chinainsight.info news March 2015 / PAGE 3 Diamonds are China becoming more Briefs than just women’s best friend Beijing metro’s creepy watermelon head By Wu Yiyao, China Daily, Feb. 18 Beijing subway riders encountered a young guy with a watermelon mask over his head. The creepy looking mask had stars carved out as eyes and a curlicue stem sticking out on top. Riders have nicknamed him “Watermelon Brother,” and some have called the cops on him. One rider said the bro had a bottle of baijiu (a 110-proof spirit made from sor- ghum, wheat or rice) in one hand and beer in the other and was drunk as a skunk! # 1 6 Leaning tower of Shanghai 3 An ancient Buddhist pagoda known as the By the numbers # Huzhu Tower leans 7.1 degrees (4 more # # 2 than Italy’s Tower of Pisa). The leaning 7 increased by 0.58 degrees since the 1980s, Executive pay capped! In August the last time it was measured. The tower, 2014, the 25-member decision-making built in 1157 on mud, was further dam- committee, also known as the Politburo, aged by a fire in 1788. Preservation plans announced salary caps for senior execu- are in the works. Okey-dokey. tives at state-owned enterprises (SOE). The pay reform is meant to even out the Return of the yellow brollies growth rate of salaries between senior Barely two months after police dis- executives and lower-level workers. mantled the pro-democracy protesters’ SOE executives are usually appointed barricades at three Umbrella Revolution by the government and the party, and sites, approximately 13,000 gathered on their pay, up until this reform, had been Feb 1 in Hong Kong’s financial district much more generous than executives in to “remind” the government about “fake” other organizations. The reform plan universal suffrage. Meanwhile, there’s A staff member holds a 100-carat perfect diamond in a classic emerald-cut at Sothe- also instituted basic salaries that will be still “chatter” that the U.S. is orchestrating by’s auction house in central London, Feb 13, 2015. The diamond is expected to fetch a multiple of the enterprise’s average pay the protests! between $19-25 million at the auction house’s Magnificent Jewels auction in New of all workers of the previous year. York on April 21. [Photo/Agencies] They went to Disneyland! 72 Number of SOEs whose executives Hong Kong Disneyland Resort reported Gem sales hit $160 million in for sales of diamond jewelry. saw revised salaries as of January 2015 that 7.5 million people (that’s more than China during the second half of However, many investors are well as dictated by the Politburo. Executives the entire population of HK!) visited at China National Petroleum Corp., China the theme park in 2014. Its net profit last year aware that according to recent reports Gold is traditional, when it comes from companies such as the world’s Petroleum & Chemical Corp. and China increased by 36 percent to HKD332 Mobile are among the ones impacted. million. to gifts or invest- largest diamond supplier De Beers ments - but not everyone is on the Group, supply growth of the precious 200 The approximate number of execu- Gold rush days over hunt for the yellow medal these days, gem may stagnate over the next five tives affected. A Guangzhou newspaper reported that preferring instead to plough their years before beginning to shrink in gold bar sales on the eve of the 2015 into something a little more sparkling. 2020. 765,000* Average annual salary of Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) Chen Hao, a 41-year-old Beijing In many cities in China, new- principal executives at the SOEs received plunged 60 percent! Jewelry stores used investor, has done just that, splashing ly-weds are reported to be buying in 2013. “Buy 15 grams, get one gram free” to more diamond rings and gold items. promote sales. Chinese demand for the out 300,000 ($48,000) on dia- monds, with the simple rationale that Kent Wong, managing director 996,900* Annual salary received by the yellow metal dropped by 25 percent to president of the Bank of China in 2013. 886 tons during 2014, including a 58.7 despite a relatively low current price, at Chow Tai Fok Jewellery Group, percent decrease for gold bars. the gap between supply and demand expects China’s demand for gold and 10,000,000* Top annual salary some of has been growing. diamond jewelry to grow between 12 the SOE top executives received in 2013. Japan reigns supreme Global diamond prices have ac- and 15 percent over the next five years. Chinese are leaving their anti-Japanese tually been falling over the past six Investment advisors say unlike 600,000* The new maximum level of sentiments behind when it comes to their months, about 9 percent year-on-year gold bars and , which are rel- annual salary for executives beginning own behinds. Herds of Chinese tourists by December, according to data from atively standardized products, a in 2015. are going to Japan to snap up fancy toilet Petra Diamonds Ltd, the diamond diamond value and price is decided seats that spray, heat and play music! The mining group and supplier of rough by many factors, but especially by 8 Number of times executive earnings state newspaper, People’s Daily, recently can exceed that of average-paid low- ran an editorial titled, “Do Japanese toilet diamonds. whether a piece is considered “bling”, However, increasing numbers of or worth collecting. er-level SOE employees after January lids smell better?” suggesting buying 2015. Japanese toilets is unpatriotic. Chinese investors such as Chen be- “Consumers need to be clear: lieve that the price will climb in the Is their goal to buy diamonds to be 12 Number of times executive earnings Novelty fund-raising item long run. worn and enjoyed or for investment? exceeded that of average-paid lower-level To raise funds for their pro-democracy The conditions for each may be very SOE employees in 2013. cause, the Hong Kong Democratic Party During the second half of 2014, different,” said Ma Juan, manager of planned to sell rolls of special toilet paper diamond sales were worth 1 billion Shanghai’s Shenmei Jewellery Co. 30 Percent of executives’ total annual printed with the image of C. Y. Leung, yuan, and sales of large-sized stones, As a rule of thumb, Ma offered pay that went toward incentives such as HK’s chief executive, at the Chinese New those between two and five carats, a simple piece of advice: If you find subsidies, access to premium healthcare Year fair. Unfortunately, the Chinese and rights to use government cars. authorities raided the Shenzhen factory surged 40 percent, according to data something pleasing on the eye, then buy only if you wish to hold onto it printing it and confiscated the entire lot. from cngold.com, a jewelry invest- * Salary in Chinese yuan. No humour. No freedom of expression ment information platform. The Lunar for a long time. ♦ Note: One yuan is worth approximately either. New Year is always the busy season US$0.16. PAGE 4 / March 2015 history chinainsight.info Historic exhibit,‘Jewish Refugees in Shanghai,’ tells story of survival continued from page 1 tells the stories of European Jews who this same period, has been located and immigrated to Shanghai to escape Nazi his recollections will be added to the persecution. Why should one see this exhibit. exhibit? Joan Brzezinski, executive The exhibit is a collaborative com- director of the Confucius Institute at munity effort to share information about the University of Minnesota, one of the the unique experiences of Jewish refu- sponsoring organizations of the exhibit, gees in Shanghai during World War II. stated that “This is a story of survival Additional events including academic and cooperation between two groups lectures for the general public and work- of diverse but similar people that both shops for grades 5-12 teachers about the experienced extreme hardships.” Steve Holocaust, will be made available. Hunegs, executive director of the Jewish The organizers hope the exhibit will Community Relations Council com- illustrate the compassion of the Shang- mented, “This exhibit shows how two hai people during this period of hard of the world’s oldest civilizations were times and the contribution Shanghai able to co-exist and survive through made for the development of the Jewish great adversity.” civilization. To preserve this history, Chaim Weizmann, the leading Jew- Shanghai is applying to have the neigh- ish statesman of his time and, later, first borhood that sheltered Jewish refugees President of Israel, noted ruefully in during WWII added to the UNESCO 1936: “(from the perspective of central Memory of the World Register. The and Eastern European Jews) the world Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum is divided into two places where they is working with the Hongkou district cannot live and places where they can- government to complete the application. not enter.” As part of the application, the city com- Across thousands of miles and pleted the compilation of the refugee culture, though, the Chinese opened list, data bank, literary, video and audio the doors of survival to Jews who connections. Their personal stories, refugees settled. For the first several materials. could reach Shanghai. One year after family photographs, and surviving ar- years, they lived at the Chaoufoong The exhibit started its U.S. tour in Weizmann’s assessment, Japan invaded tifacts have been added to the existing Road Heim, a converted warehouse New York City in 2013. Since then it’s China and subjected the Chinese people traveling display. The organizers hope designated for Jewish refugees. Even been seen in Chicago, Houston, Wash- to vast and horrible atrocities. Neverthe- that by sharing the unique stories of as a child, Gabler remembers recogniz- ington, D.C. and many others. Through less, the Chinese protected the European Helen Bix, Manny Gabler, Kurt Hort ing how many of the Chinese people in the Confucius Institute partnership, Jews who had found their way to their and Ellen Wiss will inspire visitors to their community were suffering from it had also been to many universities. country as these two great and ancient learn more about this period in history extreme poverty, illness and starvation. It will be heading to Savannah State civilizations descended into their re- and learn more about the people who are He had positive interactions with his University, Georgia, after leaving spective dark and dangerous passages part of our community. Chinese neighbors, and remembers they Minneapolis. Additional stops hosted of the 1930s and 1940s. Attendees will learn how Helen displayed no prejudice against the Jews. by the Confucius Institute includes History is brought to life in this Bix, as a little girl in 1938 Germany, Gabler and his brother Ralph returned Webster University, Missouri; Central exhibit with photos, documents and witnessed her comfortable lifestyle to Shanghai in 1998 and visited the Connecticut State University; Arizona artifacts from the Shanghai Jewish disappear. What she thought was her Hongkou district and the SJRM. During State University and the University of Refugees Museum (SJRM) and personal home was no longer a safe place. After a tour of the neighborhood, they identi- Hawaii. stories from “Shanghailanders,” the a long and arduous trek that lasted four fied the door to their former apartment Jewish Refugees in Shanghai term given to this group of Jewish refu- months, Bix, aged 4, her mother and and found that the doorframe had not (1933-1941): A Journey of hope for gees. The Shanghai museum is located brother arrived in Shanghai, an Open been painted for 50 years. The holes more than 18,000 Jews to China, is on Changyang Road in the Hongkou City for Jewish immigrants. Bix began where their mezuzah had been were still organized by the Confucius Institute at District of Shanghai. Housed in the for- a life experiencing different cultures, clearly visible! the University of Minnesota, the Jew- mer Ohel Moshe Synagogue where the language barriers, rampant tropical Kurt Hort arrived in Shanghai at ish Community Relations Council of Jewish refugees gathered for religious diseases, and unsanitary conditions. The the age of 18. He and his family were Minnesota and the Dakotas, and Sabes activities, it was established in memory exhibit shows how she managed to settle placed in the Chaoufoong Road Heim Jewish Community Center. Addition- of the time when Jewish refugees sought in Minnesota and persevered to get an refugee camp in the Hongkou district, al partners include the University of sanctuary from massacre during the education and run a successful business. which he remembers as a “cross between Minnesota Center for Jewish Studies, Second World War. The museum holds Memories from Ellen Eisner Wiss’ a POW camp and a concentration ghet- the University of Minnesota Center for many scrolls and other cultural relics, childhood in Shanghai are limited to to…” After the war, he was relocated Holocaust and Genocide Studies, and which will be displayed in storyboards. impressions of the family’s room and with his family to Minnesota where he the St. Paul Jewish Community Center. Exhibit attendees will learn why and playing at Wayside Park. After the became a very successful businessman. Detailed information about this and how the Jews settled in Shanghai. ghetto was officially liberated on Sept. In addition, Hort was also a respected related events can be found at http:// The traveling exhibit created by the 3, 1945, and most of the refugees were community leader. He was president of confucius.umn.edu or www.minndak- SJRM has given communities around able to leave quickly. However, because the Saint Paul chapter of B’Nai Brith for jcrc.org. ♦ the world an opportunity to learn about Wiss was born in Shanghai, she was many years, eventually becoming presi- this significant, but little-known, story considered “stateless,” which fell under dent for the entire Midwest region. He about Jewish immigration and settle- a separate quota and delayed her fami- also actively participates in Holocaust ment in world history. The 40- panel ly’s departure by more than two years. remembrance activities and educational exhibit highlights historical content and The parents of Manny Gabler arrived opportunities so new generations can biographies of many “Shanghailanders” in Milan just before Manny’s birth. In learn about the ghettoes of Shanghai. Read the paper who escaped Europe and made Shanghai 1939, when Gabler was 1, the family Hort says he is “proud and happy” to call online at their temporary home. left for Shanghai by ship, departing Minnesota - “a place of such decency In Minnesota, the exhibit will be en- from Genoa. The Gabler family arrived and liberal values” - his home now. www.chinainsight.info hanced with additional stories from four in Shanghai’s Hongkou district near In addition, Doug Lew, a Chinese Shanghailanders with deep Minnesota the docks, where most of the Jewish gentleman who lived in Shanghai during chinainsight.info history March 2015 / PAGE 5 The

By Pat Welsh, contributor

could confer with the Western Powers. ward. This success of the Chinese led The Qing court’s unwillingness to com- the Qing court to believe that the An- ply, led to the Anglo-French envoys in glo-French forces would never dare to Shanghai to dispatch their fleets to the attempt a similar assault again and that mouth of the Beihe River that leads to the unequal treaties with the British and Tianjin, where they sacked the Qing French could be abolished. forts at Dagu on May 20, 1858. Sadly, in March of 1860, a reinforced Alarmed, the Qing court sent Grand Anglo-French force reappeared, defeat- Secretary Guiliang and Minister of ed Chinese resistance and forced their Civil Appointments Hua Shannai as the way into Beijing. The Chinese Xian- emperor’s plenipotentiaries to arrange feng emperor (咸豐), fled to Rehe, just a truce in Tianjin. Instead of negotia- northeast of the great wall. In Beijing, tions, the British and French produced the was looted and de- a total of 98 items and articles, which stroyed, the remains of which are now the Qings were forced to accept and to a tourist attraction. In October 1860, sign. This became the Treaties of Tianjin separate treaties were signed with the in June 1858. British and French, which reaffirmed the The main points of British treaty articles of the Treaty of Tianjin, opened included provisions that allowed Chi- Tianjin as a treaty port and leased the nese and British envoys in Beijing and Kowloon peninsula across from Hong London. This provision would make it While the was future. Ye refused and claimed that the Kong to the British. gaining ground, the also boat was a Chinese craft even if it had clear to the Qing court that Chinese em- peror was dealing with an equal, Queen Up until these new treaties, Chinese had to contend with another foreign been registered in Hong Kong. Ye also diplomatic negotiations had been man- incursion from France and England. claimed that the British license had ex- Victoria. Also allowed were new trade ports, some of which had to await the aged by local provincial authorities. Russia and the United States also were pired when it was seized and that those As China had considered all foreign involved, but only in diplomatic efforts. taken off were Chinese. Parkes and suppression of the Taiping Rebellion. nations as vassal states, the Office of This second war was really only a Bowring replied back by giving Ye 48 British subjects were now allowed to Colonial Affairs (Li-fan-yuan 理番院) series of military ventures. Dismayed hours to comply with their demands, travel into the interior of China and had managed the Qing Court’s relation at the slow response of the Chinese to after which the British were free to take 2,000,000 of silver were to be paid with Mongol, Tibetan and other barbar- implement the terms of the Treaty of further action. as reparations. Finally, the rate of tariff ian nations. Lifanyuan means “regulate Nanjing of 1842, it only took a spark to Ye’s refusal this time allowed the duties was to be revised by negotiations reignite hostilities between China and British navy to bombard several Qing between the two countries. the barbarians bureau” and it implied the West. That spark occurred in 1856. forts along the Pearl River and on Oct. The Sino-French Treaty contained that nations other than China were At that time, pirates and merchants had 23, 1856, the British seized Qing forts the same main points as the Sino-Brit- inferior and less civilized. This office been smuggling opium along the Chi- at Whampoa (Huangpu District) east of ish treaty above plus the permission of had been considered as the legitimate nese seacoast of Fujian and Guangdong Guangzhou. Since Ye was still refus- missionaries to propagate Christianity organ in charge of foreign affairs with along China’s southeastern coastline. ing to take any conciliatory measures, in the interior of China. Legal disputes the Western Powers. Under its purview, They had been using Hong Kong as a British force of a thousand seized between the two sides were first to be negotiations with the West were under- a safe asylum and had been flying the Guangzhou on Oct. 27 for the purpose of judged by French consuls. Then if a taken at provincial cities near the coast Union Jack, the British flag, for protec- subduing Ye. Having no success in this French consul could not decide the by officials chosen in Beijing. Now with tion. One of these vessels, named the and no intention of occupying the city, legal suits, he could invite the Chinese envoys in both London and Beijing, the Arrow, was entering the Pearl River the British then withdrew. Organized officials to assist with a joint decision. Qing court had gradually found itself Delta from the South China Sea in Oc- by Qing officials, a mob Lastly, France was to enjoy a most-fa- forced to recognize the Western rulers as tober 1856. The Chinese water patrol followed the British retreat and burned vored-nation treatment whenever Chi- their equals with negotiations in Beijing boarded the boat because it believed that factories in the suburbs of the city. For- na granted special privileges to other rather than only in provincial cities. pirates were aboard using the British tunately for the Chinese, a great mutiny nations. The death of the Xianfeng emperor flag for protection. The patrol arrested had broken out in India in May of 1857 Feeling humiliated by these treaties, in Rehe in 1861 ushered in a brief in- 12 Chinese sailors and hauled down the causing the British to shift resources the Qing court ordered a well-known terregnum period that eventually lead British flag. from Guangzhou to India leaving the Mongolian, Senggelinqin, to repair and to the rise of the dowager-empress Cixi. The British governor of Hong Kong, British unable to wage a serious war strengthen the military defense around These events will be the topic of my Sir John Bowring, and the British Con- against China for about six months. Tianjin as soon as the foreign fleets next article. ♦ sul at Guangzhou, Harry Parkes, filed The murder of a French missionary sailed away from Dagu. These actions a protest to Ye Mingchen, the Chinese in February 1856 motivated France were designed to bar future foreign governor of Guangdong Province. They to promise to send troops to China to incursions and protect Beijing from About Pat Welsh advised Ye that the lowering of the Brit- assist the British. In December 1857, threats to its safety. The British and In 2009 while teaching English at French envoys mistook these actions ish flag on the Arrow was viewed as a Anglo-French forces seized Guangzhou University, Welsh was asked great insult to Britain. Ye had a strong and occupied the city for three years. as reluctance of the Qing court to ratify to give a speech where he was intro- dislike of the West. He also had a brief They also arrested Ye for violating these treaties. As a result, the British duced to the audience as a “pioneer success against the British in Guang- diplomatic procedures by trying to flee and French envoys commanded their of Chinese American relations” as zhou in 1852 when he had refused to Guangzhou. They then exiled him to fleets in June 1859 to force their way a result of his cooperative work in let the British into Guangzhou. Yet here Calcutta, India, where he became ill and into the mouth of the Beihe River. international banking during the Deng in 1856, he overplayed his hand and, died shortly thereafter. The Qing court sent a request to Xiaoping era. For more than 65 years, seemingly out of arrogance, replied to Guangzhou having been seized, the British and French envoys to meet Welsh has been learning Chinese and the British that the British flag had not the Anglo-French authorities turned Chinese representatives at Beitang near has used this knowledge both profes- sionally and personally to enhance his been displayed and that the vessel was their attention to securing a revision of the mouth of the river. The British and understanding of Chinese and Asian manned by Chinese at that time. several treaties. Russian and American French refused and fired on the Chi- affairs. He currently resides in Geor- Unsatisfied with Ye’s reply, Parkes officials also were invited to Shanghai to nese defenses. Senggelinqin ordered gia and occasionally lectures on China and Bowring demanded the return of meet with a chief grand councilor from the fortresses on both banks to return to classes in World History and World the 12, an apology and a promise to the Qing court who was requested to fire. Suffering severe damage, the Literature. refrain from similar incidents in the commission a sole plenipotentiary who Anglo-French forces withdrew south- PAGE 6 / March 2015 education chinainsight.info How Chinese students at U.S. colleges deal with criticisms of China (Sources: Journal of Studies in International Education, InsideHigherEd)

graduate students and one was ways the Chinese international students conflict. One of the graduate students told an undergraduate. Six of the reacted to criticisms of China: Hail he avoided talking about China because subjects had lived in the U.S. • Status-based: “The students were upset he felt misunderstood and did not want to for only five to seven months because they felt that the status of China cause personal conflict with each other. while the others had been here or Chinese people was being attacked or The Chinese said, “I feel that sometimes for at least two years. threatened in some way,” Hail wrote. They my American friends, I think they have this He recently published his viewed criticisms of a specific aspect of Chi- kind of bias... maybe when they go to China findings, “Patriotism abroad: na as equivalent to an attack on the status of [and] see the situation themselves, they will overseas Chinese students’ the whole nation or its people. In one case, a find the truth.” encounters with criticisms subject described asking an American what • Utilitarian: Some of Hail’s subjects of China,” in the “Journal she thought of China. The American said were sensitive to the practical effect of any of Studies in International that China’s pollution was very serious. The criticism of their country. They objected to Education.” Chinese subject asked if the American had criticism that they believed was intended to Earlier research on inter- seen the Beijing Olympics. The American undermine China’s national interests. “If national education suggests replied she saw the opening ceremony and what [Americans] criticize is about China The quarter-million strong students from that host country students’ lack of interest in asked the Chinese whether the festivities being more behind other countries, this kind mainland China studying at U.S. institutes talking to international students is the lead- reflected China’s yearning to develop and of criticism stings, but Chinese of course of higher learning makes up the largest ing cause of international student segrega- protect the environment. “After this the have the right to listen or not listen, use or contingent of foreign students (by country tion. Some Chinese international students, Chinese felt very unhappy.” not use this criticism to improve China. But of origin) on U.S. campuses. Their engage- however, complained that the host students • Loyalty-based: Hail concluded many if they want to divide China, [and] make ment, or lack thereof, with U.S. students and who wanted to talk with them about China Chinese students felt it was important to Tibet and Taiwan split from China, and then the broader campus community has been a often brought with them their misinformed, demonstrate loyalty to China in talking use human rights as an excuse, I personally cause for concern. How comfortable are prejudiced and offensive views of Chinese to Americans. Even though some survey think this kind of criticism is incorrect. they in their daily interactions with non-Chi- current events, which often caused tension. respondents were critical of some aspects Although the Chinese government needs to nese and how do they deal with criticisms Hail’s study pointed out there was both of China, they also thought it important improve in some ways, the most important of China? positive and negative interactions and used to establish their loyalty to their country thing for China is to be united ... So as a Chi- A Ph.D. candidate in sociology at the social identity theory to explain why ten- in a conversation with Hail, an American nese person, I am strongly against this kind University of California – Irvine, Henry sions may arise. He found that a lot of the researcher. As Hail said, “While being of criticism,” one graduate student told Hail. Chiu Hail, had heard plenty of complaints defensiveness on the part of the Chinese interviewed, several Chinese participants Hail added that opportunities for Chi- from Chinese students who didn’t like the students he interviewed was situational in started to complain about various problems nese international students to observe way their professors or peers talked about nature, with many feeling that they needed in China, only to follow their complaints American “democracy in action” could be China. A particularly tense period was to counteract perceived anti-China biases with an expression of guilt and a desire to more effective than lectures on China’s hu- around the time of the Beijing Olympics: in the American media. “The fact is that re-establish their sense of loyalty to China. man rights record. He quoted one graduate Chinese students on many U.S. campuses not only do Americans mostly see negative For example, one student, after spending student saying, “… I think people can have protested perceived anti-China biases. images of China, not only do they often see several minutes talking about corruption in different thoughts. It’s our freedom and we Hail studied this issue on a small scale China as a threat, but furthermore a lot of China, suddenly asked me, ‘Do you think can speak out, show our thoughts. I think by using an open-ended written survey Chinese see the United States as jealous of that I’m a traitor? I shouldn’t say bad things maybe I don’t use those rights but I want to and interviews. He recruited 18 Chinese China’s rising power. They see the United about China to you.’” have them too … I think also it can serve as subjects at a public research university in States as trying to limit China’s ascen- • Harmony-seeking: In this mode, stu- a communication between the government Hawaii. Two of the subjects were assistant dance,” says Hail. dents sought to avoid speaking of sensitive and public. You can say your opinion rather professors with U.S. degrees, fifteen were Hail’s study identified four common subjects with Americans in order to avoid than the government just ruling us.” ♦ Maison Mode delivers Chinese-French fusion to ’s luxury retail scene By Susan Owens, Jing Daily, Feb. 5, 2015

moths including Lane Crawford, Swire for European retailers can only dream of in with the first opening in Maison Mode, in its Daci Temple project, and the New Centu- their home markets, including 80,000 VIP March. A second J Gala will open in Maison ry Global Center—the world’s largest mall. customers who enjoy a personal valet to Mode Grand. Enter mall developer Lessin, a main- carry their shopping bags and entry to a Billet and Planty’s two decades of China land-based company led by Jacky Chen, a luxurious VIP room. market experience position them to buy for maverick mainland Chinese retailer who en- In the fourth quarter of 2015, Lessin’s China with advantages European-owned joys long-standing European luxury connec- second luxury mall, Maison Mode Grand mono-brand boutiques do not enjoy. Many tions. His Lessin group is in the ascendancy will open. This 38,000-square-meter fail to consider the nuances of China’s in Chengdu, addressing the material desires shopping paradise, a one-hour drive from varying tastes beyond Beijing and Shanghai. of a population of 120 million. the sister mall, will include a “lifestyle” Only the smarter mono-brands educate their Chen’s European fashion initiatives supermarket with imported foods, inter- Chinese buyers to challenge the traditional stretch back to 1999, when Lessin opened national restaurants and bars, a hotel, and dictates from Paris. Maison Mode’s mall in Chengdu. the first Salvatore Ferragamo boutique in serviced apartments. Luxury European Before founding Fashion Intelligence, (King Shore) Chengdu. From 2001, he established part- fashion brands are integral to the shopping Billet opened the Paris buying office for nerships and franchisees with French-owned experience. Joyce Ma, the visionary retailer whose Joyce Three little words, “Made in Paris” are Agnes B, Chaumet, Chloé and Italy’s Ser- “You might compare Maison Mode to boutiques were the first to sell with the Eu- chiming with Chengdu’s language of luxury gio Rossi and Brioni. By the end of 2013, the Avenue Montaigne in Paris,” says Chris- ropean multi-brand concept in China. After as French savoir faire hits a high note with Lessin owned 150 stores in 20 Chinese tophe Billet, who is charged with buying seven years with Joyce, he went on to head local tastes. cities, stretching from Harbin in the north European brands for Lessin, “while Maison the Paris buying office for Harvey Nichols Located in the southwest province of Si- to Shenzen in the south. In 2013, turnover Mode Grand will be more akin to Neuilly,” in Hong Kong and Three on the Bund in chuan and described by Forbes magazine in reached 220 million euros. an area in Paris favored by the wealthy for its Shanghai. Almost concurrently, Planty 2010 as “the world’s fastest-growing city in Lessin’s first mall in China, the French- elegant houses surrounded by leafy gardens. spent nine years building the Paris buying the next decade,” Chengdu is the holy grail named Maison Mode, in Chengdu’s CBD Billet and business partner Martina office for Lane Crawford during a period for global retail. For the first eight months is a true El Dorado for European brands. Planty are the founders of Fashion Intelli- when the department store was helmed by of 2014, the city’s total retail sales reached Many of the 50-plus freestanding boutiques gence, a new Paris buying office specialized the legendary retailer Bonnie Brooks, who RMB270.29 billion (US$43.2 billion), up are populated by French-owned favorites in placing European brands in China’s is now vice-chairman of Canada’s Hudson 12.9 percent year-on-year. including Hermès, Bottega Veneta, Chloé emerging multi-brand boutiques. Bay. Now the world’s top city for shopping and Céline. They have spearheaded buying for continued on page 16 developments, it has attracted retail behe- The mall boasts numbers that these Lessin’s own multi-brand boutique, J Gala, chinainsight.info business March 2015 / PAGE 7

Doing Business Part 3 continued from page 1 that China is a Confucian society under have a feeling that didn’t turn out very well. Wang: Moreover, there was no guaran- Communist rule, or China is a Communist Wang: It didn’t. Without a publicized tee that whomever they selected to replace regime with Confucian values. But Chinese law code, you see, there was no way to guard them would not simply return to corruption. - like Professor Wu Si, a leading historian against abuses. And if Chinese officials The sad truth of the matter is, not even the and intellectual - would tell you that China were parents, they were the sort of parents upheavals of the 20th century have disrupted aspects of government? is actually a society governed by “hidden who would lose their children today. Part the basic ideas of “hidden rules.” It was in Wang: Absolutely! Consider another rules.” It’s something of a shadow code, a of the ideology of being a “parent official” 1999 that historian Wu Si coined the term aspect of the “parent official.” Parents, parallel system of practices that aren’t pub- meant that the official-and the government “hidden rules,” but they are far from history. unfortunately, often feel as if their child licly acknowledged, but everybody knows as a whole - automatically knew better than Pearman: Hidden rules developed be- has no right to keep secrets from them; they except the outsiders. One must understand the people they governed, and were allowed cause of the lack of a publicized legal code. have no right to privacy. In China, the gov- and obey these rules to do business with to hurt them - in order to help them. Of Are you saying that having a widely known ernment, despite all laws and protestations China and the Chinese. And more than course, this was in the name of protecting set of laws hasn’t helped? to the contrary, essentially believes that its that, this system informs a great deal of the and teaching them. They saw no need to Wang: It has helped, but less than you citizens have no right to any privacy. The unofficial governing philosophy of China. take the considerations of the people they might think. I’ll give you an example. The government should be able to know every- The system of “hidden rules” dates back governed into account; do parents let a tod- salaries of many civil servants in China thing about them whenever it wants. thousands of years, though it’s only been dler tell them what sort of groceries to buy? are quite low. Yet plenty of candidates are Pearman: That’s fascinating, and more named and even partially acknowledged in Pearman: Paternalism at its most con- always available to fill them. Many do this than a little terrifying. It is an interesting the last decade-and-a-half. descending, in other words. And I’m sure because they approach the job the same way contrast with the American system: here, the Pearman: How did these hidden rules that none of those officials missed out on the officials did when they purchased positions government is seen as potentially intrusive come to be? chance to line their own pockets. in the Imperial system. The job is simply and subject to checks, whereas in China, Wang: Maybe it all started with Con- Wang: Rampant corruption was atten- the key to wealth and power. government intrusion is a “good” thing - the fucianism. As I said earlier, Confucius dant to the system. Low-level officials Pearman: So the law can say what it government knows best and has only your taught that the legal code should not be exploited the peasants and merchants; likes, but the idea of a “parent official” is best interest at heart. widely known or understood. Hence, in higher-level officials demanded “gifts” from too ingrained in the culture to be erased Wang: Yes. There’s also an unfortunate Imperial China, knowledge of the law was their inferiors. If you didn’t play the game, overnight? corollary: anyone who agitates for the right reserved for officials. Only the officials you never got anywhere, and you were likely Wang: Sadly, this appears to be the of privacy must be suspect. were allowed to know the laws, because they to be forced from your job, or worse. The case. Many at even the highest levels of Pearman: Because why would you want were considered the “parents” of society. Ming and Qing dynasties tried to eradicate government still feel that having a position to hide things from your “parents?” Confucius believed that if the officials knew this corruption, but they were unsuccessful, of power entitles them to enrich themselves Wang: Precisely. ♦ the laws, they would guide people down a because corruption is embedded within the at the cost of society. Only recently, Zhou righteous path by example, use compassion system. One of the “hidden rules” is that Yongkang, former head of the entire security About the authors and flexibility to correct them, and cultivate corruption is permitted as long as you are and the judiciary, was arrested on charges of Chang Wang, a native of China, is the chief an atmosphere of virtue. loyal to the system. But the King/Party has corruption. It turned out that he was not only research and academic officer at Thomson Pearman: So in essence, the officials total discretion to use corruption to punish/ extremely corrupt on a personal basis; he Reuters, the world’s leading source of intel- had complete control over the people they discipline you if you lose their trust. was the “godfather” of the biggest organized ligent information for businesses and profes- administered, and those people had no way Pearman: I take it that mass executions crime organization in the world. sionals. Joe Pearman, a native Minnesotan, is an undergraduate student majoring in of knowing what rights they might have or of the Imperial bureaucrats would have been Pearman: I’m curious …does that sense business at the University of Minnesota. if an official were doing anything wrong. I too steep a price to pay. of personal entitlement bleed over into other PAGE 8 / March 2015 art chinainsight.info Well-established and hot, upcoming contemporary artists at Hong Kong’s most interesting art event By Elaine Dunn

Excitement is growing among the Hong see the 3,000 artworks on display and meet to browse and buy art 24/7, year round, on angxi Province in 1955, Qiu is a graduate Kong art cognoscenti. With barely weeks to many of the artists, before the show opens the show’s new accompanying website - of one of the most respected art academies go until the opening of the biannual Spring to the public on Friday, 1 p.m. Hong Kong’s largest art website - www. in China, the Jigndezhen Ceramic Insti- 2015Asia Contemporary Art Show, local “Having so many artists present and asiacontemporaryart.com. The site features tute. Although he majored in sculpture, his and international art collectors are ready to from such diverse backgrounds really sets 700 artists from 44 countries. paintings integrate art with browse and buy! A growing list (60, as this us apart, and provides a far more interesting modern fashion art concepts A sample of exhibiting Chinese paper goes to press) of exhibiting artists will and engaging experience for collectors and Rainbow Tse (Hong Kong) At just 18 be attending the four-day event, which runs art buyers than at most art fairs. The artists artists years of age, local Hong Kong resident Tse March 12-15 on five full floors at the five- love it too, because they can explain the Alice Chan (Hong Kong) Chan teaches has caught the show organizers’ eye as an star Conrad Hong Kong in Pacific Place, inspiration behind their works, and learn Chinese at a secondary school. An amateur artist with great potential! Tse specializes a mere 10-minute taxi ride from the Hong what Hong Kong collectors like and value.” ceramic artist since 2009, she decided to in watercolors, painting mainly cityscapes Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. VIP tickets go for US$33.50 per per- further develop her interest in ceramics by and landscapes, and shows a mature ap- The opening preview for VIPs is timed to son and VIP ticket holders have access to taking the Art Specialist course at the Hong preciation of light, shadow, mood, colour kick off two busy weeks of art-related events the VIP Collectors Preview on Thursday Kong visual Art Center. She believes word and atmosphere. When not painting, she is in Hong Kong. evening, complimentary drinks as well as and art pieces should be synergized and studying for her International Baccalaureate, With more than 100 exhibitors from 19 entry to the show the following three days. given a harmonious inspiration. and hopes to pursue further studies in the countries, the show is expected to (again) “Standard” tickets are US$23.20, which T.K. Chan (Hong Kong) A graduate United Kingdom. be the largest satellite art fair to Art Basel admit two if purchased online and admit of Napier University, Scotland, where she Yu Nancheng (China) Born in Chang- Hong Kong this spring. The contingent one if purchased at the door. worked for five years. She began exploring zhou, Jiangsu Province, in 1956, Yu (alias from mainland China dominates. At last The show was started in 2012 by three interdisciplinary design and its potential for Mr. Fish, because of his last name) lives in count, there were 167 and 22 artists from longtime Hong Kong residents with back- recording her experiences as a Hong Kong Shanghai. He studied painting early in his China and Hong Kong respectively. There grounds in media, events and eCommerce: Chinese living in Scotland so as to promote childhood and has engaged in creating art are also artists from Australia, Israel, New Saunderson, Douwe Cramer and Sarah Scottish culture after her return to Hong for more than 40 years. In recent years, he Zealand and the Philippines, to name a few Benecke. They wanted a venue for hot Kong. Her work bears the imprint of her broke new ground in his oil painting tech- countries represented. young and mid-career artists to showcase cultural background. nique, painting layers with his palette knife. Artists wishing to be included in the their works alongside established artists. Ben Chen (China) Born in Guangzhou Zhao Kailin (China) Born in 1961, show may submit applications that are On the flip side, it provides art collectors in 1959, Chen is active and holds official Zhao graduated from Central Art Academy evaluated by a selection committee. First an opportunity to examine and buy original posts in many art associations, one of which in Beijing in 1991. He lived in Stockholm and foremost for committee consideration paintings, limited editions, sculpture and is the directorship of Guangdong Artists in the early 1990s before emigrating to the is the content mix: diversity of material and photography from some of the world’s most Association. His painting style has evolved U.S. His latest paintings of young women media, artists’ technical skills, sustainability, interesting and promising artists. from a classic and careful tone to a world of capture the essential aura of young women and whether the work will generate collector Attendance at past shows approximate incandescent light and color. suspended between childhood innocence interest. The show organizers also have an 10,000. Most (90 percent) attendees are Du Xi (China) Born in Yunnan in 1980, and the smoldering sexuality of woman- active program to reach out to interesting, well-heeled young - 30 percent of the Du is a graduate of Yunnan Art University. hood, evoking a sense of longing, dreams promising artists from around the world. attendees are under 30 - Hong Kong resi- Du specializes in oils and is highly influ- and desire. “The Asia Contemporary Art Show dents. Twenty-one percent has disposable enced by his family and the classical martial Can’t make it to the spring show? Book opens with our exclusive VIP Collectors incomes of more than US$129,000. Sixty arts stories, describing his own style as “Ori- your flight for the fall show scheduled for Preview on Thursday evening, March 12,” percent are female. And they, collectively, ental spirit.” He emphasizes the importance Oct. 8 – 11, and meet some of Asia’s most said Mark Saunderson, director of Asia Con- are estimated to part with upward of US$3.1 of expressing his interests in a natural and promising artists. ♦ temporary Art Ltd. “VIP guests and ticket million at the show! humourous way. holders will have the first opportunity to After the show, art lovers can continue Qiu Shengxian (China) Born in Ji-

Yu Nancheng (China)

Alice Chan (Hong Kong) Ben Chen (China) Qiu Shengxian (China) Rainbow Tse (Hong Kong)

T.K. Chan (Hong Kong) Du Xi (China) Zhao Kailin (China) chinainsight.info community March 2015 / PAGE 9 New Year “Dance of Joy V” production by Twin Cities Chinese Dance Center

By Liu Xiaohe, TCCDC

To celebrate Chinese New Year, Yajin. The dances represented the dif- Twin Cities Chinese Dance Center ferent ethnicities of China celebrating (TCCDC) presented “Dance of Joy V” the New Year. on Feb. 7 & 8 at The O’Shaughnessy, Saint Paul. TCCDC’s annual show included a variety of Chinese traditional and folk dances and songs. The show opened with “Flowers in Spring” dance, which showed beautiful ladies riding the white clouds from heaven landing on earth to join in the celebration with earthly folks. Sixty dancers portrayed peonies, a well-loved flower by the Chinese. Then two groups of children aged 4-7 performed “Auspicious Family,” a Mongolian dance, and “Flower Drum,” In addition to the dances, there also a Chinese Han folk dance. These were performances from professional sign- followed by a modern dance, group ers from China Jinxing Zhou and Lili dances and three solo performances by Fang. Their ending song, “Time to say Cynthia Zheng, Yan Hass and Wang goodbye” brought the house down! ♦ New Year celebration by Minnesota International Chinese School and Edina Chinese Association

By Hanjin Hedy Jiang, 10th grader, International School of Minnesota

Ms. Melody Zhou, principal of MICS, is student from The International School of one of the organizers along with MCA for Minnesota, said that being at the Carnival this wonderful (annual) event. Although helped him feel not so lonely during Spring the Chinese here were not in their Chinese Festival when he is so far away from his hometown and away from their relatives, the family. organizers hoped the event will help them The carnival even got support from the feel the traditional atmosphere of Spring Governor’s Office. As Ms. Zhou mentioned, Festival right here. MICS is willing to hold more activities like There were more than 30 enthusiastic to help spread Chinese traditional culture sponsors for the event, 158 volunteers and and make Chinese who live in Minnesota 172 performers all played a big part in this feel closer to their Chinese hometowns. ♦ event. One of the volunteers, Sun, a Chinese Celebrating "40 Years of Friendship With China" By Walter Graff and Linda Mealey-Lohmann, USCPFA

On Feb. 20, the US-China Peoples Friendship Association-Minnesota Chapter (USCPFA-MN) hosted its annual Chinese (Hedy Jiang, right, volunteering) New Year banquet to celebrate "40 Years On Feb 15, Spring Festival Carnival was a fashion show of Chinese minority tribal of Friendship with China." Co-President held at Valley View Middle School in Edina. costumes and other programs made many Walter Graff welcomed 110 guests to the More than 1,500 Chinese, including ap- Chinese homesick. Several restaurants banquet at Peking Garden Restaurant, Saint proximately 160 students and teachers from provided delicious food for the carnival Paul, and explained that USCPFA-MN Minnesota International Chinese School and as a reminder to the participants that food Chapter and National USCPFA were found- 300 or so parents and many local Chinese is always part of the Chinese New Year ed in 1974 - 40 years ago. attended. Many non-Chinese who were celebration too. In those early years, to fulfill its mission meal with generous portions, which includ- interested in Chinese culture also attended of "developing friendships and understand- ed Peking Duck and lobster. USCPFA-MN and actively participated. The atmosphere ing between the two countries," USCPFA Board members Margaret Wong and Linda was quite ardent. was the only way most Americans could Mealey-Lohmann emceed the evening. The The carnival was divided into several travel to China. USCPFA-MN played a key entertainment included a vocal performance parts. There was not only riddles solving, role in establishing the sister relationships by one of Wong’s students, Stacy Yuan, who which is beloved by Chinese, but also mak- between Minnesota and China. Some of had a lovely singing voice. The highlight of ing dumplings and doing Chinese calligra- those early members were in attendance at the ‘entertainment’ were two of the Breck phy. Everyone here was all enthusiastic to the banquet, including Joyce Hsiao, Ming China exchange students, Maxwell Miao join in these activities. At the same time, Tchou, Margaret Wong and Professor Ted and William Liang, with their host brothers traditional Chinese Spring Festival celebra- Farmer. nd their host parents. They talked about tion performance was going on. Lion dance, he banquet was a delicious 11-course continued on page 11 PAGE 10 / February 2015 arts & culture chinainsight.info New CD “Pipa Potluck” from local musician Gao Hong

[NORTHFIELD, Minn.] When pipa player And on the appropriately titled “Lutes Around and composer Gao Hong (高虹) has a potluck, the World,” the voices of the pipa, the banjo, the the guests include a couple of Grammy winners, oud, the slack key guitar and all the guests come one of the nation’s foremost authorities on Arabic together to close the album out. music, and a healthy helping of string instru- Gao began her career as a professional ments. Featuring two original compositions by musician at age 12. She graduated from the Gao and collaborations on both new and tradi- Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, where tional songs, “Pipa Potluck”stirs up a warm and she studied with the great Lin Shicheng. In both nourishing multicultural meal on pipa, banjo, China and the U.S., Gao has received numerous fiddle, slack key guitar, oud and regular guitar. top awards and honors. She is the only musician Recorded half in the studio and half at a in any genre to win four McKnight Fellowships live concert at St. Catherine’s University, Saint for Performing Musicians, and was the first mu- Paul, the CD could be looked at as a series of sician to win a Bush Fellowship for Traditional courses, but also conversations. The flavors and Folk Arts. Gao has performed throughout and languages comingle with all their identities Europe, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, China, intact, giving a warm sense that yes, we can and the U.S. in solo concerts and with symphony all get along on this planet. On “Cluck Old orchestras, jazz musicians and musicians from Hen,” “Sally Johnson” and Gao’s own “Green other cultures. As a composer, she has received Willow Tree,” she finds common ground with commissions from the American Composers Fo- Grammy-winning banjoist Alison Brown, fiddle rum, Walker Art Center, the Jerome Foundation, player Matt Combs and bassist Garry West. The Zeitgeist, Ragamala, Theater Mu, Minneapolis interplay between pipa and the slack key guitar of Guitar Quartet, Lars Hannibal and Twin Cities 4-time Grammy-winner George Kahumoku, Jr. Public TV. She is currently on the music faculty stand out on “Mosquito Song” and “The Source of Carleton College where she teaches Chinese of the Spring Water.” The Middle Eastern oud instruments and directs the Chinese music There is a Chinese New Year special promotion: $15 each with free shipping appears twice, played by Yair Dalal on “Friend- ensemble. She also is a Guest Professor at the and $25 for two CDs. To order, email [email protected] or visit www. ship” and Bassam Saba on “Longa Nahawand.” Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. ♦ chinesepipa.com. Veronique Michel’s new book, “China Online” on Chinese netspeak and wordplay out March 10 By Elaine Dunn

the social changes of their strokes and characters.” presenting them to people whom she did not country. “China Online” While surfing the Chinese Internet in De- consider “China culture experts.” The idea will be published March cember 2008, she came across an electronic was to ensure that the complicated concept 10 by Tuttle Publishing, translator, (much like Google Translate) that she was presenting would not be lost on long regarded as one of translated Chinese into Martian! To the un- people who did not have a background in the world’s premier pub- initiated, “Martian” is the nickname for the Chinese culture and language. Of course, lishers of books rooted in unconventional use of Chinese characters she also sought the input and suggestions of Asian culture, language online. Intrigued and impressed, she dug the experts. The end product is a book that’s and history. deeper and began collecting wordplays, a good read for both foreigners interested in A French native, the puns, “talking numbers” and language used the modern nuances of the Chinese youth multi-talented Michel by the so-called modern-day tribes (online as well as Chinese interested in learning has lived outside France communities) such as the poetic Moonlight, English as English play on words echoes for more than 25 years, the Flea, and the Tuhao (土豪, the nouveaux Chinese play on words. the bulk of which was in riches from the mainland who lack manners For anyone in the international business, Japan and China, where and sophistication). To her, this was her marketing and communication industries, she earned diplomas in yellow brick road to getting a better grasp “China Online” is an essential resource for Asian Studies and learned of modern China. She takes her readers on a “demystifying” China. the languages. While in guided tour of the Chinese netizen lifestyle. learners in particular will benefit from the China, she wrote arti- Armed with her data, she engaged na- insights and cultural discoveries of one of cles for China Daily and tive Chinese speakers (students, professors the most fascinating aspects of Chinese Vogue (China edition). and Internet users) to clarify and check her online youth culture. To quote Hervé Can- “China Online” is the research for accuracy, quality and validity. tal of the Chinese Language and Cultural result of spending sev- Her goal was to have the best information Association, Passeport pour la Chine, “The eral hours each night for (buzzwords, puns, etc.) that reflected the Chinese aren’t well understood in general several years immersed evolving Chinese society. She was keen to and the Chinese online world even less so. in China’s social media include Internet word trends that accurate- With “China Online,” Véronique Michel scene, reading all types ly depicted the aspirations of the Chinese lets us access its language and get to know of Chinese blogs and vis- netizens, which in her mind, are not only its speakers “ iting different websites, trendsetters, but also astute writers who A tireless researcher, Michel shares (lists of these are included painted in a very clever way, the changes her knowledge of and insights on China in at the end of her book), of their society. two earlier books, “Chinese Netspeak” and researching and collect- “I admire the insight of the Chinese “Chinese Communication Style” published ing data on the Chinese Internet users, their wit, their openness to by SEPIA. She is currently back in France The 700 million-strong Chinese netizens Internet. This book is an entertaining and the world and the accuracy with which they and working on another book that also mixes have to be among some of the most sophis- engaging exploration of the online language depict their society,” she said in her email Chinese netspeak with Chinese idiomatic ticated worldwide. This fact is not lost on codes of China’s ultra-connected youth. It to me. “The Chinese Internet users will expressions and old sayings to reflect a so- French author Veronique Michel. Her book is “a glimpse into a Chinese youth culture definitely have an impact on our Global ciety that keeps its traditions while moving “China Online” (paperback and e-book for- in transition, using humor and creativity — Village.” forward. mats, 160 pages) focuses on the electronic including the ingenious "talking numbers" She also took great pains to test her find- “China Online” is available at Amazon language of China’s Internet users, capturing used to convey meanings with fewer key- ings by regularly writing several pages and and bookstores around the country. ♦ chinainsight.info people February 2015 / PAGE 11 Tradition of quality food and service continues at David Fong’s Restaurant with Eddie Fong

By Greg Hugh

Over the years, David Fong’s Restaurant him not to deviate from the basic philoso- has been featured in numerous articles in phy that contributed to their success: never China Insight, chronicling the many awards compromise the quality of food and service, and recognitions it continuously receives. which Eddie vows will never happen. He Its iconic status in the Twin Cities commu- also commented that he still consults with nity, especially in Bloomington where it is his parents on day-to-day operations ever located. There also has been much coverage so often. given to owners David and Helen Fong. Acknowledging that the restaurant When they retired approximately 20 years business has a very high mortality rate, the ago, it was turned over to #1 son, Eddie question was raised as to what David Fong’s Fong. China Insight checked in with Eddie would do to remain relevant? Eddie stated to see how the transition has gone. that it was important to spot the trends and For those who are not familiar with the incorporate items that would complement history of David Fong’s, you may be sur- what had been done over the past 57 years. prised to learn that in 1958, David Fong and One example is expanding the wine portfolio his wife Helen, opened a four-item takeout to highlight wines that would pair well with restaurant in a 600-square foot space in any item on the menu, and recommend them Bloomington. Within eight years, by 1966, accordingly. This has proven to be a very they had outgrown it and moved to their nice touch that customers have appreciated. current location It is also important to embrace technological on Lyndale Ave- tools to better manage the business as well nue - expanding as using social media to stay in touch with into a full service the customers, and to not take the customers restaurant serving for granted. Surprisingly, Eddie did not feel Chinese and Amer- there was much need to change the menu Eddie Fong with some of the awards David Fong’s has earned over the years ican-style cuisines. since it is still 80 percent the same menu that The building, his parents created. Furthermore, they still family and not awarded to David Fong the minimum wage issue. It appears that which was built by the family, contains two get requests to ship their renowned chicken personally since he had chosen to keep a Eddie is keeping the Fong tradition alive bars, a dining room, takeout area and ban- chow mein across the country. Evidently low profile after his retirement, really made and Eddie’s son Daniel, now a manager at quet facilities. All six of the Fong children the menu is still what four generations of the Fong family proud, especially so for the David Fong’s Restaurant, may have even patriarch who is extremely proud of all his have worked in the restaurant at one point customers have come to love and expect, equally big shoes to fill. ♦ or another. Nowtheir eldest son, Eddie, is which according to Eddie, “would be silly to children’s achievements. running the restaurant. mess with someone’s comfort food.” In addition to their everyday service, During our meeting, Eddie wanted to Finally, during the late ‘80s, his parents the family supports the area through do- make it perfectly clear that 20 years ago it decided to retire and created a transition nations to local charities, offering meeting was not a foregone conclusion that he would plan for him to take over. To be equitable, space to civic groups and fundraisers. The "40 Years one day take over the business from his par- David and Helen agreed to help any of the restaurant also has sponsored many youth ents. As noted above, all his siblings worked other children who wanted to be part of athletic teams and organizations. Eddie, as of Friend- at the restaurant. Their parents taught them the restaurant business to open up another his father before him, believes that when to be independent, to work hard and to pur- restaurant. The generous offer was well good fortune comes to you, sharing good ship With sue whatever that would make them happy. received - there are now two other Fong fortune with those who got you there will Eddie thought about other options and at- restaurants located in Prior Lake (Fong’s perpetuate success. China" tended the University of Minnesota where Restaurant and Bar, www.davidfongs.com) David Fong was previously inducted he majored in Asian Studies and business. and Savage (D. Fong’s, www.dfongs.com). into the Minnesota Restaurant’s Minne- continued from page 9 Evidently, the gravy must have gotten Over the course of more than 57 years, sota Hospitality Hall of Fame, and last into his blood since Eddie continued at the David Fong’s has established itself as an year was awarded the Legacy Award by restaurant, learning all aspects of the busi- integral part of the community and a hos- the Bloomington Community Foundation. ness, which included spending three years pitality landmark. There are employees David Fong’s Restaurant also was selected in the kitchen before finally getting more who have worked there for decades, and by Bloomington residents to be included as involved with the day-to-day management customers who have been coming in for part of the “Bloomington Mapworks III” of the restaurant. Working closely with his generations. It’s been the recipient of exhibit in 2013. The restaurant was the only parents for approximately 20 years, Eddie numerous awards, including those for best family-owned establishment/quasi-public stated that although his parents didn’t neces- Chinese restaurant and best community institution among the eight landmarks that sarily always agreed with him, they let him restaurant. As a salute to outstanding cus- were painted and part of the exhibit. try new ideas and make the final decisions. tomer service, employees in Bloomington’s Awards for the restaurant have already their experiences, why they chose to come to the U.S. for education, con- He did state that a few times he wished they tourism, hospitality and retail industries, started to come in this year: David Fong’s trasts between education in China and had told him they did not agree with him so the Bloomington Convention & Visitors’ earned the Best Chinese Restaurant Award the U.S., and the perspective of the Bureau last year presented the restaurant its by WCCO-TV, and the Sun Current News- as to save him from making the mistakes. host families. Their words were very Were there ever any major differences 18th annual Diamond Service Award. The paper gave it the “most popular Chinese germane to what USCPFA is all about. between their management styles? Eddie event recognizes exceptional individuals restaurant” award. Eddie Fong is the Many thanks to the event sponsors responded that his parents gave him a free who contribute to Bloomington’s success president-elect of the Minnesota Restaurant Joyce Hsiao, Wen Li, Ted Farmer, Gly- hand, but he would need to learn from any as a friendly world-class travel destination. Association and recently appeared on the nis Hinschberger, Ralph Beha, and the mistakes he made. They also encouraged The award, bestowed on the David Fong front page of the Star Tribune speaking on China Center and Confucius institute. ♦ PAGE 12 / March 2015 food chinainsight.info Tracing lobsters from North Atlantic Ocean to Chinese dining table

By Yan Zhonghua, Zeng Dejin, Cristoph De Caermichael, Xinhua, Feb.17

[HALIFAX, Canada] Canada’s Atlantic early 1870s. lobster, a maritime delicacy, is gradually Our boat slowed a bit as it neared Cot- becoming a popular dish, despite the high ter’s white buoy, drifting in waters 15 kilo- prices, on the table of the Chinese people, meters away from the shore and 40 meters especially during the country’s most im- deep. Each lobster fisher has uniquely col- portant the Lunar New Year holiday, which ored buoys identifying their trap locations. falls on Feb. 19. The buoy-lines were secured by gaffe (long Previously, the Chinese lobster market pole with a hook on the end) and secured is mainly dominated by Australia’s warm to an electronic hauler. Cotter and White Founded 94 years ago, the company, lobster exports to China would amount to water soft-shell ones. Now the hard-shell were getting busy. Winches began to whirl owned by 185 fishermen, is one of the larg- about 100 tons, accounting for 25 percent lobsters from Canada’s Atlantic Ocean, and the lobster traps were being pulled out est Atlantic lobster processors on the island. of Canada’s weekly global exports of live known as the “King of Seafood,” manage of the water. “We used to do more ships into the lobsters. to crawl their way onto the Chinese table, as With rubber gloves on both hands, U.S. and Europe than to China, but live However, limited airfreight routes link- seafood connoisseurs in the country regard White quickly captured the lobsters in the lobster export to China has quadrupled in ing Canada and the booming Chinese market Atlantic lobsters as “wild and not polluted.” trap and carefully examined their carapace the last three years,” he said, adding, “I see is a problem faced by the industry as there Bureau of Statistics data showed that length with a metal gauge to ensure that a great future, because the Asian countries, are very limited flights out of Vancouver, from 2010 to 2013, Canada’s live lobster they were of legal size. He then started including China, have developed a taste Toronto and Halifax to Beijing, Shanghai, exports to China rose from 7.67 million to put a tracking rubber ring with a digital for lobster.” Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Canadian dollars to 41.75 million dollars, code embedded on the lobsters for buyers Ron Mackinley, Minister of Fisheries, Mackinley revealed that the provincial registering an annual growth rate of 113.79 to trace the lobsters. Aquaculture and Rural Development of governments in eastern Canada planned to percent. As of October 2014, this figure “The rubber rings can also help prevent Prince Edward Island, said: “When I became solve the logistic problem in cooperation reached 56.89 million Canadian dollars. the lobsters from huddling together and the minister in 2011, I have noticed there with local lobster enterprises, including On a cold winter day in late January, fighting each other,” he explained. was a market I wanted to break into, and building large cold storage facilities near the Xinhua reporters ventured an incredible White said his salary was around 5,000 that was China.” airports and setting up online order services lobster-harvesting journey by driving 1, Canadian dollars a month in wintertime, or “Chinese people are now eating more for Chinese buyers. 800 kilometers from Toronto to Lockeport, 20 percent of each harvest. But he could lobsters. A good natural product from the Canada exported on average 500 tons of a fishing town in Nova Scotia, one of Can- earn 10,000 Canadian dollars a week in sea to your table. A win-win situation,” lobsters worldwide a week mainly through ada’s three Maritime provinces, to see how summer peak season. he said. the international airports in Toronto, Mon- lobsters are harvested from the cold pristine Aside from some advances in boat and It reportedly takes seven to eight years treal, New York and Boston, according to water along the rugged north Atlantic coast, gear technology, little has changed in the for a lobster to grow one pound. Its size the middle-aged woman, who immigrated packaged live and shipped to Chinese peo- past 150 years in the way of lobster fishing, will be doubling every time when it molts to Canada from China a decade ago and ple’s dining table. which involves hours of intensive labor at in one and a half years. Scientists believe started to be engaged in exporting live lob- sea. The uncertainty of the weather and the that lobsters do not get old and they are not sters to China. Harvesting catch could be frustrating. prone to aging organ failure. The largest “Any company that can combine fishing, “The lobster boat is ready, waiting on When we asked him this question, White lobster ever caught reportedly was about 65 warehousing, packaging, shipping, with you,” Michael Cotter, a lobster dealer from said: “Yes, it’s uncertain. Each time when I years old and weighed 44 pounds. wholesale and delivery businesses together Lockeport’s Cotter’s Ocean Products Inc., go out fishing, I don’t know what I can get. Once considered a poor man’s food, it will be in full control of the supply chain, greeted us, together with his partner Ernie But every day is a new day. My dream is was not until the second half of the 19th that’s to see lobsters go from the Atlantic White, a lobster fisherman, when seeing us to buy my own boat.” He said that a new century that the lobster industry began to Ocean to the Chinese dining table,” Liu said. walk toward their boat on an early morning. lobster fishing boat would cost 100,000 flourish in Canada, providing now more “We are now working overtime to try As soon as we hurried on to the 100,000- Canadian dollars, even a second-hand one, than half of the world’s supply for live and to meet the demand for Canada’s lobster ton boat, the engine was started and the boat 50,000 Canadian dollars. processed Atlantic lobsters. during China’s Spring Festival,” said Dennis headed slowly toward the open water, slic- Lobster fishermen who are at the low- Canada has 41 Atlantic lobster fishing d’ Entremont, owner of a lobster packaging ing through the chilly waves. The swaying end of the industry now plan to raise and areas covering five eastern provinces, plant in Lower West Pubnico, a one-hour including Quebec, Prince Edward Island, and plunging of the vessel soon took its unify the purchasing prices of lobsters, drive west from Lockeport. Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfound- infamous toll, we were overwhelmed by which have remained almost the same for He said China’s Spring Festival has a land and Labrador. seasickness, the smell of the sea and the the past years despite the fact of the rapidly great impact on the workload of his com- Official statistics showed that in 2012, fishy boat. We started to vomit, shivering increasing demand. pany, the Captain’s Choice Lobster Facto- Canada exported 4.1 billion Canadian meanwhile due to the bone-chilling cold, “It’s of course good news that more and ry. It was already midnight, more than 20 dollars of fish and seafood products, with despite the bright sunshine. more buyers come from China,” White said workers were still busy with classifying and lobster, the country’s top export species in Cotter, in his 50s, told us that you must to us, “I know Feb. 19 is China’s Spring weighing lobsters before they were sealed terms of value, standing at 1 billion Cana- obtain a license issued by the federal De- Festival (the Lunar New Year) this year.” with plastic films, packaged into foam- dian dollars. partment of Fisheries and Ocean in advance Considering our serious seasickness, lined boxes with specification generally of Liu Yun, a Chinese-Canadian woman for lobster fishing. The number of trapping Cotter and White decided to retrieve only 30 pounds, transported to the airports and in Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, cages allowed for each license, which costs 10-20 lobster traps this time, replace baits shipped to China. 500,000 Canadian dollars, is different, described the emergence of the Chinese with fish heads and then return to shore. According to d’Entremont, at present, 85 depending on the fishing areas, normally market, now the No. 2 largest lobster market On the way back, White was quietly percent of his company’s total business was ranging between 200 and 300 traps. So far, for Canada following the United States, as looking at the fading horizon, and his beard related to the Asian market, particularly the only 6,000 licenses were issued in the past “unbelievable” and “unimaginable.” glinted in the sunshine. His image was Chinese market. In less than 40 hours, the two decades. Liu, the sales director of the World Link reminding us of Hemingway’s “Old Man lobsters would appear at China’s seafood White, whose family had been engaged Food Distributors Inc., said lobster sales and the Sea.” wholesale markets, he said. used to slump after Christmas and in Janu- in lobster fishery for generations in Locke- Though far away from Canada, Chinese ary. Now if fishermen could not sell their port, a historic port town, told us that the consumers can track a lobster through the Packaged live, shipped to lobsters at a good price before Christmas, Canadian government has strict rules for rubber ring on the website: www.traceme. lobster fishery in order to promote a sus- they start to aim at the Chinese New Year Chinese table ca as to where and when the lobster was tained development of the aquatic industry. “Look at the Chinese flag, raised espe- market. captured and by which boat. Each lobster must be carefully examined and cially for you,” Francis Morrissey, manager She said that “The air freight space for Aside from the limited airfreight space, measured to ensure that it has reached the of the Royal Star Foods in Tignish, a fishing January and February (usually the time of the death rate of lobsters, which stood at legal size. Undersize and berried females community in western Prince County, wel- China’s Spring Festival), has been sold out around 20 percent, after 30-36 hours and (egg- bearing) are returned to the sea. This comed us at the northwestern tip of Prince as early as October.” She estimated that conservation practice dated back to the Edward Island. this 2015 season, the weekly Canadian live continued on page 16 chinainsight.info people March 2015 / PAGE 13 Influential Chinese Women

By Elaine Dunn

International Women’s Day is family. Today, Chinese women enjoy 6. married at 14 to the son of the reigning celebrated on March 8 every year – a the same benefits as their male counter- 楊貴妃 Emperor Xuanzong. The Emperor later day to show respect, appreciation and parts. And, in many cases, women hold Yang Guifei decided he wanted Yang for himself. To love toward women. The day was first the upper hand in marriage negotiations (A.D. 719 —756), deflect criticisms, he made her a nun in observed in 1977 when the United because of the ratio of men to women also known as a Taoist temple briefly before bringing Yang Yuhuan, was her back to court, and bestowed another Nations General Assembly invited in the country. (See “The Mid-Autumn the beloved consort woman to be his son’s wife! member states to proclaim March 8 as Festival: Why eight boys won’t get the of Emperor Xu- Emperor Xuanzhong indulged in her the UN Day for women’s rights. girl,” China Insight, September 2014). anzong (唐明皇) beauty and did not attend to his court Unlike today, women’s social status However, despite the tumultuous of . duties. The weakened army and deterio- in ancient China was abysmal. They history of women’s social status in She is also one of rating state led to a governor’s rebellion were expected to be men’s subordinates China, there were quite a few who the Four Beauties in 755. where her greatest duty in life was to stood out for their influence throughout of China. Yang was considered the root of the bear a son for her husband and his Chinese history. Yang’s story is typical - a great beauty troubles by ministers. The ministers that caused the downfall of a monarch and forced the emperor to have his beloved his nation. Youngest of four beautiful concubine commit suicide. 1. Daji 妲己 the prime cause of the downfall of the daughters of a census official, she was Daji was the Shang Dynasty. favorite concu- She is portrayed as an evil, nine-tailed 7. XiaoZhuang 孝庄 a concubine of Emperor Hong Taiji at age bine of King fox spirit who possessed a female human XiaoZhuang was 13 and was widowed by 30. 紂王 Zhou ( ), in the classic Chinese novel “Fengshen the empress of Em- She devoted herself to bringing up son the last king of Yanyi.” It was said she enjoyed hearing peror Huang Taiji ( Shunzhi and exerted significant influence the Shang Dy- the tormented cry of people. It was said 皇太子), the mother during his reign. When Shunzhi died nasty. she cut off the feet of a farmer so she of Emperor Shunzhi prematurely young, her grandson Kangzi She was could see why he could walk on ice in (順治帝) and grand- ascended the throne at age 8. She again born into a no- his barefoot; she cut the stomach of a mother of Emperor guided her grandson in his court duties. ble family. The pregnant woman open so she would see Kangzi (康熙帝). She is known for her wisdom and po- king was infat- “what happened inside,” and gougied the Born of a Mongol litical ability. She was a largely respected uated with her heart out of a loyal minister so she could clan, XiaoZhuang (1613-1688) is a de- figure in Chinese history. and did everything in his power to keep inspect “a good man’s heart.” scendant of Genghis Khan. She became her company to the detriment of minding She was executed by King Wu of state affairs. She is, therefore, considered Zhou after the call of the Shang Dynasty. 8. Dowager boy became Emperor Tongzhi (同治帝). Cixi 慈禧太后 Her greed for power was insatiable. She 西施 2. now Province, it was said her The notorious seized the throne and resisted adopting Xi Shi was beauty would put the flowers to shame. Dowager Cixi (1835 modern tools such as trains and telegraphs 吳 born in 506 B.C.. She bewitched Prince FuChai of Wu ( –1908) is one of because they came from the west. 王夫差 She was the first ) with her appearance. Because the most powerful Cixi’s ruling period was regarded as of the renowned of her, FuChai killed his advisor, built an women in the his- the weakest and most corrupt period of Four Beauties of imperial park and neglected his official tory of China. She the Qing Dynasty. She was known to ancient China. duties, causing the downfall of his king- was a charismatic have 150 dishes at a banquet and drank The beautiful dom. woman who effec- from a jade cup. She squandered daughter of a tea After FuChai’s death, she lived in tively controlled the on building the Summer Palace instead trader in what is obscurity with one of her earlier lovers. Chinese government for 47 years. of strengthening the Navy, which led to She started out as a low-ranking China’s defeat in the Sino-Japanese War 3. Lü Zhi 吕雉 Gaozu in building the Han Dyansty and concubine of Emperor Xianfeng (咸 (1894-1895). Her blind anti-foreign Lü Zhi (241 is the first woman to assume the title 豐帝), but she bore him his only son. policies were the cause of the decline of – 180 B.C.) was Empress of China. Upon the Emperor’s death, the 6-yr-old the Qing dynasty. the consort of She was considered as a ruthless, un- Emperor Gao- feeling and cruel empress. After her hus- 9. Soong Meiling 20th century. Their father was an Amer- zu (高祖), the band’s death, she dominated the political 宋美龄 ican-educated Methodist minister who founder of the scene, planning to replace Liu’s Dyansty Soong Meil- made a fortune in banking. Meiling Han Dynasty. to Lü’s, but failed. She also had two of ing (1898 –2003) was a Wellesley College graduate and She is credit- her husband’s concubines put to death. was the celebrated introduced western ideas and culture to ed with assisting (second) wife of Chiang. President Chiang During WWII, she was well known Kai-shek (蔣介石) for holding numerous speeches around 4. DiaoChan 貂 acter in the classic novel “Romance of of the Republic of the United States garnering support of 蝉 the .” China. She is con- China against the Japanese invasion. She DiaoChan is Legend has it that when DiaoChan sidered one of the urged the peaceful resolution of the Xian another one of paid offerings to the moon at midnight, most influential incident, organized the early phase of the the Four Beau- Chang’e (the Chinese Moon Goddess) women of the 20th century. Chinese air force in the anti-Japanese war. ties of ancient hid behind the clouds because she feels She is one of the legendary three Her speech to American Congress in 1943 China. Howev- inferior in beauty compared to DiaoChan. Soong sisters whose husbands all held was a major factor in garnering American er, some suggest significant political power in the early logistic support for the war. she never existed except as a char- 10. Jiang Qing 江 munist Party’s Propaganda Department 青 in the 1950s and served as an important 5.Wu Zetian 武 for more than half a century. She had Jiang Qing emissary for Mao in the early stages of 则天 many roles: concubine, empress, mother (1914 – 1991) was the Cultural Revolution. There are of Emperor and nun in a temple. She an actress and a ma- Jiang formed the radical political alli- more than 400 was cruel and merciless, and achieved jor political figure ance known as the “Gang of Four,” which emperors in the her goals through fair or foul means. during the Cultural was officially blamed by the Chinese , She created a secret police to spy on her Revolution (1966- government for the worst excesses of the Wu Zetian (A.D. opposition. 1976). societal chaos that ensued during the 10 624-705) is the Nevertheless, she made great achieve- She was the last years of turmoil. The gang’s downfall, a only female em- ments in stabilizing and consolidating wife of Chairman Mao and the most in- month after Mao’s death in 1976, brought peror of China. the Tang Dynasty. She claimed the ideal fluential woman in the People’s Republic about major celebrations on the streets of She ruled the ruler was one who ruled as a mother does of China until her downfall in 1976. She Beijing and marked the end of a turbulent Tang Dynasty her children. was head of the Film Section of the Com- political era in China. ♦ PAGE 14 / March 2015 government chinainsight.info Transformations of China’s legal system By Hua Zi, CHINA TODAY-Dec. 30, 2014

the country according to law and makes it hensively advancing the rule of law, which a socialist country under the rule of law.” was adopted by the Fourth Plenary Session In 2002, the 16th CPC National Congress of the 18th CPC Central Committee held set the comprehensive implementation of from October 20 to 23, 2014. Mo believed the rule of law as an important goal for that it was of historic significance, for it was building a moderately prosperous society the first time in 65 years of the PRC that in all respects. In 2004, “the State respects “the country should be ruled in line with the and preserves human rights” was included Constitution” was explicitly put forward in into the Constitution. a binding CPC document. In 2012, during the 18th CPC National After 65 years of growth China has Congress, the function of the rule of law established a socialist legal system with was redefined as a basic way of running Chinese characteristics with the Constitu- the country. And new principles were also tion at its core. outlined – to make laws in a scientific way, Li Lin believes that the rule of law has enforce them strictly, administer justice become a core socialist value, and is thus impartially, and ensure that everyone abides embedded in the collective values, ideals by the law. During the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, “pro- and lifestyle of the Chinese people. ♦ In September 1949, the Common Program of the Chinese People’s Political moting the rule of law in China” was set as Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which bore the nature of a temporary constitution, one of the key themes of comprehensively was promulgated. deepening reform.

From the Rule of Law to the Maison From “rule of man” to “building a legal thing than nothing,” Deng said. Therefore, Rule of the Constitution system,” to “rule of law” and finally, to the legislation was expedited. In June 1979, The year 2004 was a turning point for the “rule of the Constitution,” the development the Second Session of the Fifth NPC for- rule of law in China. “China’s legal structure Mode of China’s legal structure epitomizes its mulated or amended seven laws including was entering the stage of socialist consti- learning curve of state governance. the Organic Law, Electoral Law, Organic tutionalism, which is an advanced stage of Law of the People’s Courts, Organic Law the rule of law,” said Xu Xianming, former delivers From Rule of Man to Building of the People’s Procuratorates, Criminal president of China University of Political a Legal System Law, Criminal Procedure Law, and Law on Science and Law. continued from page 6 The first building block of the PRC’s Chinese-Foreign Joint Ventures, marking a He believes there are six symbolic legal construction was the establishment of big step in law and democracy. events: First, the country’s decision to inte- the socialist legal system. The question of “rule of man” versus color — including Manish Aurora, Maison grate the CPC leadership, the position of the Margiela, Christopher Kane, Mary Katrant- In September 1949, the Common Pro- “rule of law” triggered a wide debate in people as masters of the country, and the rule China’s jurisprudential circle at the end of zou and Kris Van Assche. Overall, Paris gram of the Chinese People’s Political Con- of law in the cause of promoting socialist runways show a consistent trend for prima- sultative Conference (CPPCC), which bore 1970s. The philosophy of the rule of law democracy.Second, the statement that “the ry colors, which some industry observers the nature of a temporary constitution, was was gradually accepted by more and more State respects and preserves human rights” say is an effort to cater to Chinese tastes. promulgated. Five years later, the first con- people. “The debate, which lasted for nearly was included into the Constitution. Third, “The Chengdu market has moved on stitution of the PRC was adopted at the First 20 years, laid a solid theoretical foundation governing the country according to the from dressing from head-to-toe in one National People’s Congress (NPC). It is thus for the CPC Central Committee and the law was set as the basic way of exercising label as a status symbol,” said Billet. “The often referred to as the 1954 Constitution. NPC to set the ‘rule of law’ as a central power. Fourth, the CPC Central Committee attitude is ‘let’s dress up’ and ‘dare to try.’” In the following 20-plus years, China strategy for state governance and ‘building put forward a scientific outlook on devel- encountered various setbacks in creating the country on the basis of the rule of law’ opment with the focus on people, forming a legal system. At a meeting of the cen- as the country’s goal,” Li Buyun said. a people-oriented view of law. Fifth, the tral leadership in November 1978, Deng State Council promulgated the Outline for Xiao-ping proposed that the legal system As a new decade dawned, legal scholars Promoting Law-based Administration in an be enhanced in order to guarantee people’s published a large body of writings to advo- All-round Way, announcing its plan of build- democratic rights. At that time the Third Ple- cate the rule of law, which played a very ing the government under the rule of law. nary Session of the 11th Central Committee important role in spreading its principles. Sixth, democracy and the rule of law were of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was On December 4, 1982, the Fifth Session set as the first of the six basic characteristics about to convene. China would soon enter of the Fifth NPC passed a new constitution, of a socialist harmonious society. a new stage of mind emancipation, reform popularly known as the 1982 Constitution. In 2007 during the commemoration The entrance to Maison Mode in Chengdu. and opening-up. The nation’s legal frame- It was an important milestone in China’s of the 10th anniversary of the rule of law (Chengdu Retail Business Association) work also breathed new life. People started history of the rule of law and served as a being raised as a fundamental principle of to break restrictions and discuss issues that pillar of the legal system in the new era. governance in China, some legal experts were previously considered taboo. “I think Thereafter, a batch of fundamental laws believed that China had entered the phase of Fashion Intelligence is building a bridge a new era dawned, one in which the science concerning civil affairs, administration and socialist constitutionalism. At that time, Li between China’s emerging multi-brand of law was awakening,” said Li Buyun, commercial activities were passed, includ- Lin, director of the CASS Institute of Law, boutiques — with a thirst to discover new a researcher with the Institute of Law at ing the General Principles of the Civil Law, summed up the 10 years of legal develop- European designers — and those designers the Chinese Academy of Social Science the Administrative Procedure Law, Contract ment in China by saying that one of its most in Europe who are inexperienced in dealing (CASS), when he recalled the events of over Law, Property Law, Company Law, and the important achievements was to propose the with China. 30 years ago. Enterprise Bankruptcy Law. In 2011, Wu concepts of “the rule of the Constitution” “Opening a boutique is the easiest part,” The Third Plenary Session of the 11th Bangguo, then chairman of the Standing and “governing in line with the Constitu- says Billet, “so we help them understand the Central Committee of the CPC, which took Committee of the NPC, announced that a tion,” so highlighting the supreme authority rules of the game and work to satisfy Chi- place on December 18, 1978, has been socialist legal system with Chinese charac- of the Constitution. nese tastes. The first mainland multi-brand referred to as a turning point in Chinese teristics had been formed. 1 2 3 boutiques ‘followed the lead,’ imitating the history. From Li Buyun’s point of view, By April 2014, China had 242 laws The “rule of the Constitution” was again buying choices of highly experienced Hong this meeting marked the starting point of in force. Meanwhile, the formulation and proposed on December 4, 2012. President Kong buyers.” the rule of law in modern China. Deng amendment of 68 laws have been put on Xi Jinping, the first president in Chinese But the picture is changing as Chinese Xiaoping contributed greatly to the rule of the agenda of the NPC and its standing history with a PhD in law, said on the 30th boutique owners acknowledge regional law in China. He believed that the primary committee. In contrast to the previous anniversary of China’s 1982 Constitution fashion nuances and enjoy the support precondition and decisive factor for the legislation that centered on fundamental that running the nation by lawful means, first of a European buying office like Fashion prosperity and lasting stability of a state was areas, the current laws-in-the-making focus and foremost, ruling the nation according to Intelligence. a sound legal system instead of one or two on specific concerns of the public, such as the Constitution, and governing by law is at In Chengdu, where the young fashion wise leaders, according to Li Buyun. food safety, education and environmental the core of governance in accordance with spend is split 50-50 between men and A communiqué of the session stressed protection. the Constitution. women (in Europe it’s 30 percent men that in order to safeguard democracy it was Mo Jihong, deputy director of the CASS and 70 percent women), local tastes may imperative to strengthen the socialist legal From Building a Legal System Institute of Law, pointed out that such a shift increasingly challenge groups like France’s system so that democracy would become to the Rule of Law in the nation’s understanding of law is a Galeries Lafayette or Italy’s Corso Como if institutionalized and written into law – the “It took 20 years for China to move from fundamental transition and, therefore, marks their boutiques take a formulaic approach only way to ensure the stability, continuity ‘building a legal system’ to ‘achieving the great progress. It indicates a new direction and replicate offerings at home. “There’s a and full authority of the democratic system rule of law,’ a journey rife with obstacles for the CPC Central Committee to compre- taste for adventure in Chengdu, the Chinese and its laws; laws had to be made, observed that jurisprudential circles are all too aware hensively implement the rule of law, and to are eager to discover the new, you cannot and strictly enforced, and law breakers must of,” Li Buyun said. improve the party’s leadership pattern and move fast enough,” says Billet. be prosecuted. From that point, legislative “China has a long history of feudalism. governing style based on the Constitution. It all bodes well for the traditional Silk work was expected to occupy an important In a country where rule of man has deep Road, signaling a bright future for European In September 2014, President Xi Jinping designers in Chengdu. Brighter still—if it’s place on the agenda of the NPC and its roots, upholding the rule of law marks stressed several times at a ceremony mark- not in black. ♦ Standing Committee. historic progress. It is of epoch-making sig- ing the 65th founding anniversary of the The extensive legislative endeavors nificance,” said Wang Jiafu, former director CPPCC and 60th founding anniversary of made in 1979 are the most obvious symbol of the CASS Institute of Law. the NPC that China should be committed to Susan Owens is the founder and of the new era in China’s construction of Since the 15th CPC National Congress the integration of the CPC’s leadership and editor of Paris Chérie, a Paris-based the legal system. Under Deng Xiaoping’s the phrase “rule of law” has been cropping people’s position as masters of the country fashion website dedicated to bringing direction, a series of laws concerning dif- up with increasing frequency. In 1999, a new and the rule of law. ferent areas needed to be worked out as paragraph was added to the Constitution, Mo Jihong participated in drafting a de- French style news to Chinese readers. soon as possible. “It is better to have some- “the People’s Republic of China governs cision on major issues concerning compre- chinainsight.info inventions March 2015 / PAGE 15 Paper money, a Chinese invention?

By Elaine Dunn

During last month’s Chinese New Year Song (宋朝, 960-1279) dynasties, many and more popular, the practice was quickly celebrations, many hong baos (laisees, or red varieties of paper were developed, including adopted by the government for forwarding envelopes) exchanged hands. This greatly bamboo paper, hemp paper, hide paper and tax payments. welcomed custom of giving / receiving xuan paper. Xuan paper is mainly used for In 1024, the Song government took over “lucky money” would have been a night- Chinese painting and calligraphy because the printing of paper money and control of mare had paper money not been invented! of its smoothness and durability, and its its distribution. “Factories” were estab- Can you imagine walking around whiteness. Paper products have evolved lished in Chengdu, Hangzhou, Huizhou with 50 Susan B. Anthony’s stuffed in 50 and developed over the years, but the main and Anqi to print money with woodblocks. individual red envelopes for a week? In difference between the papers we use now- Different fiber mixes were used and stamped fact, my brother and I conjectured that one adays and the papers manufactured in China with different “ seals” (寳鈔印) miserly aunt “upgraded” her usual $3 hong then remains constant: its smoothness, to discourage counterfeiting. These notes baos (containing three separate $1 bills) to which is increased with the use of a “filler.” expired after three years, to be replaced with a single-billed $5 hong bao when the HK$1 And what might that “filler” be? China clay! new notes. By 1260, an Imperial Mint was bill was replaced with a $1 . Oh yeah, Today, one of the most popular paper created in Yanjing (燕京). The world’s first the weight of those coins got her to open up products in use is paper money. official government-issued paper currency, her purse strings a little bit more! known as (交子), was in place. Who invented paper money? Can the The government used paper money as Chinese lay claim to this invention? Seems a medium of exchange, backed by metal logical. The Chinese invented paper, which coins deposited in its Treasury. At first, the Da Ming tong xing bao chao note logically would eventually lead to paper government issued paper money cautiously During the , the Da Ming money. and in small amounts. As the three-year-old tong xing bao chao (大明洪武通行寶鈔) There’s also a school of thought that says notes were withdrawn and replaced by new note was the only one used throughout the the Egyptians discovered paper. The word notes, the government also charged a three- dynasty. It was also supposed to be the big- “paper” came from the “papyrus,” a type of percent service charge – a great revenue gest banknote on record – 8.6”W x 13.4”H! reed available in a region by the River Nile. generator! By 1265, the Song government The note (pictured) was painted on dark The Egyptians, around 2200 B.C. began introduced an official national currency, slate paper of the mulberry tree. Its inscrip- soaking the papyrus to soften them up. By printed to a single, consistent standard, rec- tions include the name of the issuer, The overlapping strips of papyrus and pounding ognized and used across the entire country, Great Ming Dynasty, on the top line. The them together to form a sheet, they could and backed by gold or silver. Denomina- denomination of the note is represented by write on it, albeit not too well because the tions available were between one and 100 the two characters and by ten piles of coins surface was very rough and scratchy. strings of coins. When the below the two characters. On the Chinese end, the mulberry tree fell to the Mongols, the system collapsed. The bottom text box, read vertically had been cultivated in the Yellow River Evolution of Chinese paper However, the most famous Chinese from right to left, states, “Printed by impe- Valley (Shang period, 18th to 12th century money issuer of paper money was Kublai Khan, 元 朝 rial authorization by the Minister of Finance B.C.) for centuries. The first traces of pa- head of the Mongol’s ( , Paper money can be said to be the : The note of the Great Ming Dynasty circu- per date back to the second half of the first 1271-1368), which ruled the Chinese in the by-product of China’s invention of paper lates together with copper money. Forgers century B.C., but it was not used as writing 13th century. The early Yuan Dynasty was and block printing. will be decapitated and those who can give material then. Recent archaeological digs the most successful period of paper money The first appeared in China information which leads to the arrest of forg- have unearthed ancient paper specimens dat- around A.D. 806. Until then, much of history in China. The Mongols issued notes of indeterminate duration and allowed full ers are offered a reward of 250 liang () ed to 200 B.C. in cities along the Silk Road. high-value commerce was conducted in convertibility to gold and silver, or “strings” of silver in addition to the belongings of the gold, silver and silk. For everyday transac- The paper maker of bronze coins; and, they also allowed forger; (made in the era) Hung Wu ___year 蔡倫 tions, bronze was used. Merchants would Cai Lun ( ), a court eunuch, is often conversion of Song Dynasty notes to their ___month __ day.” The blanks were to be carry around heavy strings of coins, which credited with the invention of paper and own at very fair exchange rates, greatly completed by hand. proved unwieldy and impractical. improving on papermaking techniques. smoothing the succession process. Although the Ming government carried With the invention of paper, privately is- Cai was born in Henan Province during Kublai Khan’s established paper curren- on printing unbacked money, it did finally 漢朝 sued letters of credit/promissory notes were the Han Dynasty ( , 206 B.C. – A.D. cy was called the chao (鈔). Unfortunately, suspended the use of paper money in 1450 used to transfer large monetary amounts 220). He was promoted to head the office unlike the jiaozi, it was not backed by silver and reverted back to using silver, and then over long distances. The merchants would overseeing the manufacturing of instru- or gold. Khan decreed that his paper money metal coins, as its currency of choice. deposit metal coins in specific shops in the ments and weapons in A.D. 89. He exper- is the predominant circulating legal tender China did not again use paper money capital, receiving a paper “exchange certif- imented with a variety of fibrous materials and must be accepted by all traders. Those earnestly until the 1890s, when the Qing such as rope remnants, old fishing nets, rags, icate,” which could be exchanged for metal who did not accept his paper money were Dynasty (清朝, 1644-1912) introduced bamboo fibers and mulberry tree bark, wood coins in other cities. executed! He went so far as to confiscating the yuan (元). However, in 1853, to raise ash and lime. He started by boiling his raw These early letters of credit came to be all gold and silver, even those brought in by funds to suppress the Taiping Rebellion, the 飛錢 materials for approximately a month and known as “flying money, ” because foreign traders! Marco Polo was impressed Qing government briefly issued two types then beat the mixture to a pulp. He also they were so light they were easily blown by the efficiency of the Chinese system, of notes: the hu bu guan piao (户部官票, added a vital ingredient, birch leaves extract, out of one’s hands. which he chronicled in his “The Travels of Official Note of the Ministry of Interior and to the pulp mixture at the end of the boiling The first use of a paper money system Marco Polo:” Finance) and the Da Qing bao chao (大清寶 process, which increased the strength of on a regular basis was in Szechuan Province “All these pieces of paper are issued with 鈔, Treasure Note of the Great Qing). the paper and added to its smoothness. The where there were frequent copper shortages as much solemnity and authority as if they On Dec. 1, 1948, the Chinese Commu- mixture was then filtered through a flat cloth (copper is a component of bronze) and, were of pure gold or silver; and on every nist Party issued the renmenbi (人民幣), mesh strainer. The fibers that remained on also, where the art of printing was invent- piece a variety of officials, whose duty it is, the Chinese currency that is still in use in the strainer were left to dry flat. Paper is ed. Shortage of copper meant reverting have to write their names, and to put their the mainland today. Renmenbi literally still made pretty much the same way today. to the use of iron coins. When paper was seals. And when all is prepared duly, the translates to mean “people’s currency.” This Inexpensive and smooth, Cai’s paper readily available, it was a welcome option. chief officer deputed by the Khan smears initial issue was during its struggle with the was ideal for writing. Its light weight also The initial paper money had pictures of the seal entrusted to him with vermilion, and Chinese Nationalist Party. In 1962, multi- made it easy for storing and carrying around. houses, trees and people printed in red and impresses it on the paper, so that the form colored printing and hand-engraved printing So mass production of paper began and black inks. Bank seals were affixed and of the seal remains imprinted upon it in red; plates were introduced. By 1999, the fifth its use spread, reaching Korea in the 3rd confidential marks added to each note to the money is then authentic.” series notes bore the image of Mao Zedong, century, Japan around A.D. 610, and then deter counterfeiting. These pictures were However, during the short-lived Yuan a watermark, magnetic and fluorescent inks. moved to Vietnam and India at the beginning not just for decoration or anti-counterfeit- Dynasty, no paper notes were withdrawn For being the first country to use paper of the sixth century. It took almost another ing purposes though, they depicted scenes while new notes continued to be printed and currency, China was also the first to expe- thousand years after its invention before from Chinese history, economics, politics added into circulation. This led to run-away rience disastrous soaring inflation to the reaching Europe! The first known paper and culture. Even paper money from the inflation, a problem that overflowed to the point where they discontinued paper money. mill in England was built in 1490. And, 1920s on often provided images of ancient subsequent Ming Dynasty (明朝, 1368 – China is now urging its citizens to put aside hard to swallow, paper finally made it to the Chinese historical sites such as the Summer 1644). The inflationary spiral was deathly: at least 5 percent of their savings in gold Americas in the 16th century, by which time Palace, Great Wall and Confucian Temple in 1380, one guan piao (官票) was worth and silver. Is there a message in there for it had already become a truly global product. (at Qufu) as well. 1000 copper coins; by 1535, one guan piao the rest of us? ♦ During the Tang (唐朝, 618-907) and As the use of paper money became more was valued at merely 0.28 copper coin! PAGE 16 / March 2015 food chinainsight.info Tracing lobsters continued from page 12

10,000-kilometer journey from Canada’s Atlantic coast to China, is another challenging factor faced by the industry. The best solution for lobsters to survive longer is to keep them in the 0-2 degrees centigrade cold water for 2-3 days to make hibernation occur, said d’Entremont. He jokingly de- scribing the method as a “confidential trade secret” obtained through years of experience. A survey in China indicated that the Chinese consumed 10 tons of live lobsters a day. Canada’s media reported that on Nov. 11, 2014, or “Singles Day,” alone, more than 90,000 Atlantic lobsters were sold via the site of Alibaba Group, a Chinese e-commerce giant. According to residents of Prince Edward Island, the lob- ster price in Canada’s local fish market was only 2.5 Canadian dollars per pound in summer fishing season. Lobster’s FOB (free on board) price in Halifax was eight Canadian dollars per pound. However, the prices skyrocketed to between 150 yuan and 288 yuan per kilogram in China’s supermarkets and restaurants due to high cost of air shipping, customs duties and other factors. “I have a dream over the past years that’s to take Canadian lobsters to every family’s table in China,” said Liu, hoping all Chinese could enjoy this deep-sea, wild-caught and most delicious bounty from the Atlantic Ocean. Otherwise, it’s a pity,” she claimed. (1 U.S. dollar = 1.24 Canadian dollars, 1 U.S. dollar = 6. 24 yuan, 1 pound = 0.45 kg) ♦ Popular Chinese recipes for preparing lobsters

Lobster with black bean sauce Ingerdients 1 lobster, 1 1/2 to 2 lbs. Lobster with ginger & scallions 3 to 4 tbsp. oil Ingredients 1/2 tsp. salt 2 lobster tails, chopped into bite-sized pieces with shell on 1 clove garlic, crushed 6 scallions, chopped lengthwise at an angle 1/4 lb. pork hash 2 inches worth of ginger, sliced 2/3 c. soup stock 3 cloves of garlic, minced 2 tsp. soy sauce Corn flour (to lightly coat the lobster) 2 tbsp. fermented black beans CORNSTARCH MIXTURE: Seasonings 1/4 c. water Dash of Chinese Rice Wine (' wine) 1 tbsp. cornstarch 1-2 tsps of light soy sauce Mix cornstarch mixture until smooth. Set aside. 1/2 bowl of water mixed with 1 tsp corn flour for the gravy EGG MIXTURE: 2 eggs Directions 3 tbsp. water Lightly coat the lobster pieces in the corn flour. Next, poach in hot oil for a quick minute - not too Whisk egg mixture and stop before it froths. Set aside. long, as soon as the shell turns red, remove from oil. Remove excess oil, leaving about 2-3 tbsps Directions in the wok. Turn the heat lower - then add the garlic, ginger and scallions to avoid burnt garlic. Chop lobster, shell and all, in half lengthwise, then cross cut into 1 1/4 inch pieces. Heat oil, add Saute till fragrant, and add the lobster pieces back into the wok. Add the seasoning, then finally salt and garlic and brown slightly. Add pork hash and stir-fry about 2 minutes. Add soy sauce pour in the water mixed with corn flour for the gravy. 10. Garnish top with scallions or snow peas and black beans and stir-fry for approximately30 seconds. Add lobster pieces and stir-fry about and serve. Serves 4-6. 1 minute. Add soup stock. Cover and cook over medium heat about 3 minutes. Add cornstarch mixture to lobster to thicken. Cook for additional 1 to 2 minutes. Turn off heat. Add egg mixture. Stir-fry briefly then serve at once. Makes 4 to 6 servings.