SACU-China Eye Issue 67 Autumn 2020
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China Eye SACU: The Society which has promoted understanding between the peoples of China and the UK since 1965 Autumn 2020 Number 67 Contents include: British and European contacts with China 1700-1800 The Will of Dr Sun Yatsen An interview with a Wuhan Doctor SACU Zoom discussion; The Opium War The Art of Kingfisher Feather Decorations - Part II ‘Real Word Ready’ Chinese Horoscopes Sino File of Current Events Sinophile CHINA EYE Contents Autumn 2020 Issue No 67 3 Welcome 4 SACU Notices China Eye is published by the Society for Anglo-Chinese 5 British and European Contacts with China 1700-1800 Understanding (SACU), a registered charity No 294651 and a 9 The Art of Kingfisher Feather Decoration, Part II company limited by guarantee No 00876179. 13 The Will of Dr Sun Yatsen 15 An interview with a Wuhan Doctor SACU was founded in 1965 to promote understanding and 16 Opium War: SACU Zoom friendship between the peoples of China and Britain and is open to 18 Reactions to Zoom Discussions and Imperial Twilight all those interested in Chinese affairs and who are supportive of its 20 ‘Real World Ready’ aims, regardless of political affiliations. 21 Sino File of Current Affairs Views of contributors to China Eye are their own and should 24 Sinophile not be regarded as those of the SACU Council of Management, 25 China Eye Diary the editor or editorial board. 25 Chinese Horoscopes 26 The Great Tea Race and Chinese ‘Contributions’ SACU aims to avoid stereotyping and language liable to cause offence or discomfort, including any discriminatory references based on race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation and SACU Branch secretaries and local contacts physical or mental disabilities. Furthermore, SACU does not condone the reproduction of negative images of any country or Beijing people. Michael Crook. Tel (emergency only 13366068134) E Mail; [email protected] Cover design; Keith Ray Leeds/West Riding Contributors; Flo and Ivor Kenna, Walter Fung, David Rosier. Linda Rosen, 5 Nunroyd Grove, Moortown, Leeds LS17 6PW. Tel Rob Stallard, Tom Harper, Rodney Mantle, Barnaby Powell, Ros 0113 269 4108, E mail; [email protected] Wong, Dirk Nimmegeers London Editorial; Walter Fung Ivor and Florence Kenna, 72 Compton Street, London EC1V 0BN, Tel 020 7253 8221 SACU Registered Address: 15a Napoleon Road, Twickenham TW1 3EW South Wales Tel; 07768 207702 Peter Hunter, 23 Maes-Yr-Hafod, Cadoxton, Neath, West Email; [email protected] Glamorgan SA10 8AZ SACU website www.sacu.org.uk Manchester Email; [email protected] Cilla Hollman, E mail [email protected] Membership; [email protected] Sussex Details of membership are on page 4. Corinne Attwood, E mail [email protected] President; Michael Wood: SACU E mail Newsletter SACU issues a monthly E mail newsletter providing details of Vice Presidents; events and news about China. Members are invited to send details Jane Hadley of happenings to SACU for inclusion in the newsletter. If you wish Frances Wood to receive it, please let Ros Wong have your E mail address. It will Jenny Clegg be sent out bcc (blind copies). This means that nobody else can see Rob Stallard your E mail address and it will only be used for SACU business. It will not be passed to anyone else without your permission and you Chairperson: Zoe Reed can unsubscribe at any time. Contact Ros Wong at Secretary: Corinne Attwood [email protected] Treasurer: Yuan Gao Membership Secretary: Ros Wong The Winter issue (Number 68) of China Eye will be available in E mail Bulletin Michael Sheringham/Fang Wang early December 2020. Please send news or articles for inclusion Webmaster: Peter Jarvis before 20 November 2020 to Walter Fung, 11 Collyhurst Marketing; Cai Chen Avenue, Walkden, Worsley, Manchester M28 3DJ. Tel 0161 SACU Archivist: Linxi Li 799 6944, E mail; [email protected] Editorial assistance: Cilla Hollman, Linxi Li and Peter Jarvis Front cover: Shaolin Temple Gateway (WF) Back cover: ‘Forest of Pagodas’ at the Shaolin Temple (WF) ISSN 2513-8898 (printed) ISSN 2633-240X (on-line) All photographs are by the authors except where stated. 2 Welcome A new ‘Cold War’ US hostility against China is very worrying, at least the Viruses are creeping up on us. This is a very trying time for ‘containment policy’ is now in the open and apparent to the Anglo-Chinese relations. The political virus has proved very whole world. Kishore Mahbubani, the Singapore diplomat effective amongst some Western nations. Time will heal. and academic presents his views in interviews available on Richard Horton, the editor of The Lancet, a British peer Youtube, which I can recommend. He has also written a reviewed international medical journal, reports that five couple of books on the current superpower situation. articles published in the journal in the last week of January Historical analysts believe the Thucydides Trap approaches. 2020 detailed the nature of the coronavirus; it is deadly, no This when a dominant superpower and a rising superpower known cure, people-to-people contact infectious, the need clash, usually violently. As examples they quote: Athens and for isolation and personal protection equipment. All this Sparta, Rome and Carthage, Britain and Germany etc. Other information was published and known to the world by the factors add to the current situation: fear of the ‘Yellow Peril’ end of January. His interview is on Youtube. and a perceived challenge to liberal democratic values of the Western world. There are fundamental differences which are th The Times of 29 January 2020, complemented Chinese likely to always separate nations e.g.: East (family and scientists in releasing the genetic sequence of the collective values) and West (value of the individual), th coronavirus on 13 January. No mean task - it took four Western capitalism versus Eastern socialism and months to identify the genetics of the SARS virus. In the communism. Sunday Times magazine of June 7th 2020 was an interview by Bryan Appleyard with Richard Horton, in which he gave SACU activities the names of three Chinese scientists who were happy to The coronavirus has changed the way of life of us all. help. He does not know why they were not consulted. Eventually data was accepted from Italy but much later, People have been forced to work from home but this has its advantages, no commuting saving time and money. SACU during March. This view begs the question, could the has also had to change ways of doing things, which have pandemic have been better managed and lives saved by seeking early Chinese advice? The Chinese lockdown of 65 brought some benefits. We have held two Zoom China Chat sessions, which have both been very well attended. The first days seemed to have substantially halted the spread of the ‘pilot’ Zoom was held on 25th June. The subject was the virus. Opium War and was introduced by Jenny Clegg. Two It is worrying how some senior UK Tories and some of the reports on the event appear on pages 16 – 20. media, without any evidence, were very quick to make rd judgement. ‘We need to rethink the way we do business A second Zoom China Chat was held on August 23 , when Andrew Hicks and Barnaby Powell led a discussion on the with China.’ Sinophobia appears to have become more current Hong Kong situation. Members who have not been widespread. Comments on social media are scathing, many believing every word of some senior US politicians, again able to attend actual meetings, due to distance or unable to leave home, have been able to join us. Notably, members in without any evidence. Yet initially, the World Health China have been able to participate – very difficult in ‘real’ Organisation and politicians in the US, UK and France praised China. A report in China Daily Global Weekly 21- life. In addition, the cost of hiring venues, which contributes to limiting activities does not arise. Further information on 27/2/20). states that ‘Xi Jinping spoke recently to Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron of France. Johnson spoke events is always available on www.sacu.org.uk highly of the measures taken by China to prevent and By the time members receive and read this issue of China control the disease, share information with the international Eye, a very important SACU Zoom event will have taken community in a timely manner and make efforts to stop the place on September 1st, ‘entitled, ‘Finding our way forward global spread of the disease’. Macron said virtually the in difficult times’. It will involve our new President Michael same, praising China’s effective measures and its openness Wood and three other distinguished speakers, Ruby Wong, and transparency. Graham Perry and Kerry Brown. The effect on Chinese restaurants worldwide is devastating. Some Council news: Linxi Li was appointed SACU Even well before lockdown, people were staying away from Archivist at the last SACU Council meeting. Linxi has Chinese businesses believing that you were more likely to already carried out a substantial amount of work. catch the virus from Chinese people. But even after restrictions are lifted, recovery will take a long time. At the SACU’s 2020 AGM, postponed from July will be held via th moment, confidence in anything Chinese seems to have zoom on 10 October this year. There will be workshops in been dented. But I don’t think this will be long lasting, which members can participate Please see page 4 and watch especially for international trade. Maybe five to ten years out for details in the SACU E mail Newsletters. from now, Western businesses seeking new markets will no doubt look at up to 600 million middle class Chinese as Walter Fung potential customers, this will apply especially to luxury goods.