FosteringC Businessh iand n Cultural a HarmonyIn between s i the g China h and t the U.S. VOL. 9 NO. 2 www.chinainsight.info FEBRUARY 2010 HISTORY Formosa Betrayed: A thrilling drama set to engage audience in Taiwan’s political history By Albert Leung, Staff Writer aiwan’s fight for indepen- government in Taiwan to quell dence has been ongoing since dissent against the government and the island was occupied by their desire to reunite the island TJapan prior to World War II. with mainland China. Its tumultuous political history and current “One reason why I wanted political situation continues to be a misun- to tell this story is because I feel derstood and widely unknown issue among like the Taiwan situation is poorly those in the United States. understood. Frankly not just in In the upcoming filmFormosa Betrayed, the U.S. but also in Taiwan and the movie hopes to shed light and incite China,” said co-star, co-producer Culture discussion on Taiwan’s political past and its and story writer Will Tiao. “This is struggle to be recognized as an independent a part of history that we feel isn’t and sovereign country. The film, directed that well known so we wanted to James Van Der Beek in a scene from Formosa Be- by Adam Kane, is based on true events and portray it so people can feel and trayed depicts FBI agent James Kelly’s (James Van understand where these emotions Der Beek) investigation into the murder continue the investigation. Upon arriving, are originating for the Taiwanese.” of Chicago college professor and political he quickly finds himself clashing with the Tiao handle multiple responsibilities activist Henry Chen. Kelly’s investigation local U.S. State Department, Taiwanese for this film and was the main catalyst be- leads him to the two suspected murderers government and investigators, and Chinese hind the making of the movie when he first who flee to Taiwan for refuge after realizing Mafia. As his search for the killers continue began writing the story in 2005. Tiao also the FBI was on their trail. abroad, Kelly uncovers the brutal techniques established the film production company Agent Kelly is dispatched to Taiwan to once employed by the Republic of China Formosa continues on Page 6

Chinese New Year

Minnesota exports drop by 17 GUNG HAY FAT CHOY! percent in third quarter eflecting a weak world econ- omy, Minnesota’s manufac- tured exports were valued at RUS$3.7 billion in the third quarter of 2009. Exports fell by 17 percent (US$757 million) since the third quarter of 2008. U.S. exports fell by 21 percent. Among the 20 largest exporting states (Minnesota ranks 20th), Minnesota had the fifth-smallest export decrease, behind Ken- tucky with the smallest decline (2 percent), and Texas, Indiana and Tennessee with the next-smallest declines (15 percent). Utah (14 percent growth to US$2.7 billion, ranked 26th) and Wyoming (4 percent to US$242 million, ranked 47th) were the only states ALSO IN THIS ISSUE to experience positive export growth during this period. Announcements / 2 Year-to-date, Minnesota exports have History / 3 shrunk 18 percent, while U.S. exports have * The overall 24 percent decline in ex- million) – and in petroleum-related goods fallen 23 percent. ports to Minnesota’s main export market, (down 71 percent or by US$63 million). Education / 4 Canada, was the result of declines in the ma- * The Philippines dropped to the state’s Culture / 5, 8 & 12-15 Export Growth to Three of Minnesota’s jor exports to this country – transportation 11th-largest market as the dominant export, Arts / 6 & 7 Top 10 Markets equipment (down 24 percent or by US$77 computers and electronics, plunged 47 per- Chinese New Year / 9 & 16 * Exports grew to three of the state’s top million), machinery (down 22 percent or cent. Similarly, declining exports to Ireland Economy / 10 10 markets – Japan (up 3 percent), Korea by US$37 million), food (down 15 percent were driven by a 24 percent drop in the main (up 7 percent) and Australia (up 7 percent) or by US$22 million), and computers and exported industry, miscellaneous products Business / 11 – while those to China were stable compared electronics (down 22 percent or by US$30 with this period in the previous year. Exports continues on Page 13 PAGE 2 > FEBRUARY 2010 announcements www.chinainsight.info Making it easier for Americans to support Ch i n a In s i g h t

Haiti Publisher: will allow taxpayers to receive the tax ben- (www.WhiteHouse.gov/blog) Gregory J. Hugh efit from donations made to the Haiti effort Posted by Macon Phillips on January 22, [email protected] in this tax season, rather than having to wait 2010 at 07:17 PM EST until they file their 2010 tax returns next Editor: year. Specifically, cash donations to chari- Jennifer Nordin ties for the Haitian relief effort given after [email protected] January 11 and before March 1 of this year may be treated as if the contribution was Manager of Operations/ made on December 31 of last year so that Circulation: the contribution can be deducted from 2009 President Obama Signs Legislation Pro- income. This measure applies to monetary Richard He viding Immediate Tax Deductions for donations, not goods or services. [email protected] Haiti Charitable Contributions January One way to contribute is the Clinton 22, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Bush Haiti Fund. To donate, visit Clinton- Production Editor: Pete Souza) BushHaitiFund.org or text “QUAKE” to Dawn Murphy 20222 to charge a [US]$10 donation that [email protected] In the days since the earthquake in Haiti, will be added to your cell phone bill. To Americans have shown their generosity with learn more about the situation in Haiti and Edeline B. Clermont weeps in the Little Haiti millions of dollars in donations. [On Jan. Artist/Intern: what you can do to help, visit WhiteHouse. area of Miami as she talks to her sister after 22] President Obama signed a bill into law Lauren Hugh gov/HaitiEarthquake.  both were unable to contact relatives in that makes it easier to give. This legislation Source: The White House Blog Haiti (Alan Diaz/Associated Press) Staff Writers: Greg Hugh The Guthrie presents Yellow Face by David [email protected] Albert Leung Henry Hwang [email protected]

A Mu Performing Arts production Jennifer Nordin The Guthrie presents a Mu Performing Miss Saigon controversy and a landscape of Ticket prices range from US$18 to [email protected] Arts production of Yellow Face by David missteps, broken relationships and political US$30. There will be a post-play discussion Henry Hwang. Directed by Rick Shiomi, investigations. In this 2008 Pulitzer Prize of Yellow Face after the 1 p.m. performances Mike Xiong Yellow Face will be performed in the Dowl- finalist, Hwang turns his own travails into on Sunday, Feb. 7 and Sunday, Feb. 14. [email protected] ing Studio Feb. 4 to Feb. 21, 2010. humorous insights and warns us that good American Sign Language interpretation and In classic David Hwang fashion, Yellow intentions do not necessarily make the world audio description will be provided at the 7:30 p.m. performance on Friday, Feb. 19. Face is a head-spinning comedy that deliv- go round. About Ch i n a In s i g h t ers poignancy with a punch. Following the For more information about Mu Per- ASL interpreters will be Cathy Mosher and playwright’s alter-ego DHH, the play takes forming Arts, visit www.muperformingarts. Carrie Wilbert. The play will be described Ch i n a In s i g h t is a monthly English us from the pinnacle of his Tony Award org. by Cynthia Hamre.  language newspaper fostering business with M. Butterfly downward through the and cultural harmony between China and the U.S.

Ch i n a In s i g h t is a Member of The Minnesota Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).

Submissions & Correspondence

Ch i n a In s i g h t welcomes guest articles and mail for the Letters to the Editor column. Correspondence should be addressed to:

Editor, Ch i n a In s i g h t 6520 South Bay Drive Minnetrista, MN 55331 Tel: 952-472-4757 Fax: 952 472-6665 [email protected] h i n a Letters to the Editor become the C In s i g h t In s i g h t property of Ch i n a In s i g h t and may SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM Guaranteed be edited for length and published. 10 issues - $24 for a domestic subscription and $40 for Articles will not be published international. without the express consent of YES you could run to the the author. Please make check payable to Ch i n a In s i g h t , 6520 South store and pick up a copy, but Bay Drive, Minnetrista, MN 55331 did you know you can have NOTICE TO READERS: The Name______Ch i n a In s i g h t delivered directly views epressed in articles are the Address______to your mailbox? author’s and not neccesarily those of Ch i n a In s i g h t . Authors may have City/State/Zip______A subscription costs a mere a business relationship with the Phone______$24 and brings a full year (10 companies or businesses they Email______issues) of new understand- discuss. Company______ing about today’s China, from language to business oppor- Title______tunities. Copyright 2008 Ch i n a In s i g h t , Inc. All Rights Reserved. www.chinainsight.info history FEBRUARY 2010 > PAGE 3

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

National Angel Island Day, 2010

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION One hundred years ago, the Angel Island Immigration Station in San Francisco Bay opened for the first time, and an important chapter of the American narrative began. It would be written by those who walked through the station’s doors over the next three decades. From the cities, villages, and farms of their birth, they journeyed across the Pacific, seeking better lives for themselves and their children. No r t h Am e r i c a n Translations Many arrived at Angel Island, weary but hopeful, only to be unjustly confined for months or, in some cases, years. As we remember Your one-stop source for pre- their struggle, we honor all who have been drawn to America by dreams of limitless opportunity. Unlike immigrants who marveled at the Statue of Liberty upon arrival at Ellis Island, those who came to Angel Island were greeted cise technical translations be- by an intake facility that was sometimes called the “Guardian of the Western Gate.” Racially prejudiced immigration laws of the time tween Chinese and English. subjected many to rigorous exams and interrogations, as well as detention in crowded, unsanitary barracks. Some expressed themselves We specialize in legal, financial, by carving poetry and inscriptions into the walls in their native language – from Chinese, Japanese, and Korean to Russian, German, engineering and medical trans- and Urdu. These etchings remain on Angel Island today as poignant reminders of the immigrant experience and an unjust time in our lation work. history. If there is any vindication for the Angel Island immigrants who endured so many hardships, it is the success achieved by those who were allowed entry, and the many who, at long last, gained citizenship. They have contributed immeasurably to our Nation as leaders Our high-quality serice is com- in every sector of American life. The children of Angel Island have seized the opportunities their ancestors saw from across an ocean. petitively priced. Contact us By demonstrating that all things are possible in America, this vibrant community has created a beacon of hope for future generations today to get your free quote. of immigrants. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Phone: 612-799-5415 the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 21, 2010, as National Angel Island Day. I call upon the people of the United States to learn more about the history of Angel Island and to observe this anniversary with appropriate ceremonies Fax: 612-643-3498 and activities. Email: IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and [email protected] of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

Some of the people who passed through BARACK OBAMA Angel Island had false papers, claiming in many cases to be sons and daughters of Chinese American citizens, a ticket for admission under the era’s restrictive laws. Angel Island revisited: a place of hope and These so-called “paper sons” had spent con- siderable time studying the background of despair their supposed ancestors, and the job of the By Greg Hugh, Staff Writer immigration officers was to ferret out these “paper sons” through extensive interroga- The U.S. Immigration Station, a Na- brushes on its walls. The walls were then tion sessions. If they were caught, they were tional Historic Landmark, located on Angel painted which covered up the first genera- shipped back to China; if they succeeded Island in San Francisco bay, near the Tibu- tion of poems. Subsequently, the detainees they were admitted. Hundreds, perhaps ron peninsula, recently observed its 100th began to carve their poems into the walls. thousands, of immigrants got through the anniversary and was commemorated by a These poems reflect and record the hardship process using false papers. Proclamation issued by President Barak endured, and the indignity suffered by the When immigration laws were relaxed in Obama. early Chinese while establishing roots in Emigration station, Angel Island, CA the 1950s and ‘60s, the government offered What Ellis Island symbolizes to Ameri- America. amnesty to people who had used false pa- cans of European heritage who immigrated In the years that the Immigration Sta- pers. Many accepted, but there are probably to the East Coast, Angel Island symbolizes tion operated on Angel Island (1910-40), it many more paper sons and daughters who to Americans of Asian heritage on the West has been estimated that approximately one did not confess. Likely many of them did Coast. It was like Ellis Island in New York, million people were processed through the not trust the U.S. government, particularly but with a major difference since Ellis Island station. Out of this number, approximately in the era before the United States normal- was more of a welcoming gateway to Euro- 250,000 Chinese and 150,000 Japanese im- ized relations with what many conservatives pean immigrants, and we always celebrated migrants were detained at the Station. Small called “Red China.” the immigration story of that island but the numbers of immigrants from other Pacific The Immigration Station was closed majority of people coming from Asia were Rim countries, including Russia, Korea, after a fire in 1940. Angel Island is now not welcomed. and the Philippines were also detained at a state park, and the Immigration Station Most of the first Chinese immigrants the Station, but only briefly. buildings have been restored. In 1962, the arrived in the United States during the The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 Chinese American community successfully California Gold Rush (1849-50) and were provided tough entry restrictions, so many lobbied the State of California to designate then recruited as a major source of labor to immigrants waited on the island for as long the Immigration Station as a State Land- build the railroad and the economic devel- as two years while they exhausted appeals. mark. Today, the Angel Island Immigration opment of the western frontier. With the Upon arrival at Angel Island, Chinese im- Station is a federally designated National passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of migrants were held in detention barracks for Historic Landmark. It was renovated by 1882, Congress restricted the immigration weeks or months until their paperwork was the California State Parks and reopened on of Chinese laborers and prohibited Chinese approved. The Chinese Exclusion Act was February 16, 2009. immigrants, already in this country, from be- repealed in 1943 when China became an ally For more information visit www.an- coming American citizens. Exempted were of the United States during World War II. gelisland.com/immigration_station/index. merchants, diplomats, ministers, travelers, During their long wait on Angel Island, php students, and children of American citizens. some Chinese men, confined in the barracks,  Many Chinese attempted to immigrate under expressed their bitterness, frustration, and A Chinese poem carved on the wall at Angel “When we see persons of worth, we should these exempt categories which prompted despair with poems carved in the redwood Island. Contemporary photograph by Chris think of equaling them; when we see persons U.S. officials to scrutinize all Chinese im- walls. Constructed in 1908, the barracks Huie. Reproduced from the cover of Island: of a contrary character, we should turn migration documents. soon had poems written with Chinese ink Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants inwards and examine ourselves.” on Angel Island, 1910-1940 ...Confucius PAGE 4 > FEBRUARY 2010 education www.chinainsight.info Yinghua Academy enters Q Comp The 31st charter school to enter professional development and achievement-based pay system Minnesota Commissioner of Education * Curriculum and Instruction Team conducted in May by the Academic Director evaluation score of 1.5 to 2.4. Alice Seagren announced [Dec. 7] that Yin- (CIT) Leader: coordinates schoolwide pro- or School Director and at least one member ghua Academy will implement Minnesota’s fessional development and conduct monthly of the EAT. Alternative professional pay schedule nation-leading Q Comp performance and team meetings. Teachers must earn an average score of The school awards contracts annually to professional pay program. The school will * Evaluation and Assessment Team 2.5 to 4.0 to earn full performance pay for employees meeting the performance stan- receive US$59,280 in total revenue for the (EAT) Leader: participates in individual the evaluations or an average score of 1.5 to dards. There is not a steps and lanes salary 2009-10 school year for implementation. evaluations, conducts monthly team meet- 2.4 to earn half of the performance pay. system in place. “I commend Yinghua Academy on their ings, reviews the quality of student testing Yinghua Academy is the 31st charter decision to participate in this important edu- tools, helps coordinate student testing Performance pay school to be approved for the Q Comp cation reform,” said Commissioner Seagren. requirements and participates in staff evalu- A teacher’s compensation will be based program. The other charter schools to “Q Comp will give participating teachers an ations. on the following factors: implement Q Comp are: Dugsi Academy, opportunity to enhance their skills and take * PST Member: meets with teachers 20 percent (US$180) for schoolwide Nova Classical Academy, Noble Academy, part in real-time, research-based profes- experiencing chronic behavior or academic student achievement gains based MCA-II Harvest Prep Academy, The Best Academy, sional development, which will help raise problems with their students, provides re- performance. Cyber Village Academy, Paideia Academy, student achievement.” sources and solutions for general education * Full compensation is paid to all teach- Seven Hills Classical Academy, Academy In 2005, Governor Tim Pawlenty pro- interventions, and offers ways to objectively ers if at least 80 percent of students achieve for Science and Agriculture, HOPE Com- posed and the state legislature approved track interventions by providing data to en- proficiency on the Reading MCA-II and at munity Academy, Lakes International Minnesota’s Q Comp program. Q Comp courage student progress in problem areas. least 85 percent of students achieve profi- Language Academy, Crosslake Community provides up to US$86 million for districts * CIT Member: reviews grade level ciency on the Mathematics MCA-II. School, New Visions School, TRIO Wolf that join the program. The Q Comp program curriculum map progress triannually and * Half compensation paid if 60 percent Creek Charter School, Emily Charter, El has funds available for school districts, reports to Academic Director, determines or above of the students achieve proficiency Colegio Charter School, STRIDE Academy, school sites and charter schools to imple- needs for professional development, pre- on both the reading and mathematics MCA- Minnesota Transitions Charter Schools, ment a program for the 2009-10 school year. pares recommendations and coordinates II assessments. Northfield School of Art and Technology This funding is available on a first-come, schoolwide professional development, 40 percent (US$360) for measures of (ARTech), Beacon Academy, Duluth Public first-served basis until all available funds evaluates grade level curriculum needs and student achievement based on Northwest Schools Academy, Sojourner Truth Acad- have been exhausted. reports to Academic Director. Evaluation Association Measures of Aca- emy, Ridgeway Charter School, E.C.H.O Q Comp is designed to advance the * EAT Member: reviews the quality of demic Progress (NWEA MAP) or the Stu- Charter School, Hmong Academy, Tarek teaching profession by providing structured student testing tools, help coordinate student dent Oral Proficiency Assessment (SOPA) ibn Ziyad Academy, Birch Grove Com- professional development and evaluation, as testing requirements, helps teachers build performance. munity School well as an alternative pay schedule that com- Individual Development Plan (IDP) and 50 percent (US$180) for meeting the School districts that began implementing pensates teachers based on performance, participates in staff following mathematics goal on either the the Q Comp program during the 2008-09 not just seniority. The program brings NWEA MAP for Primary Grades or the school year: Annandale, Mahtomedi, North together career advancement, professional Job-embedded professional NWEA MAP test is available to all class- Branch, Edina, Minneapolis (various sites), development and compensation linked to development room teachers in grades K-5: Chisago Lakes academic achievement. It includes a locally As the focus for the Q Comp plan, the * Full compensation if 85 percent of the The following districts were approved agreed-upon peer evaluation process for school has selected the following student individual class is at grade level. for Q Comp during the 2007-08 school every teacher that is based on skills, re- achievement goal from the Educational * Half the compensation if 70 percent year: Princeton, Rosemount-Eagan-Apple sponsibilities and student academic growth. Improvement Plan (EIP): are at grade level. Valley, Roseville (three sites), Orono, Forest This plan is voluntary and will add up to an * At least 80 percent of students consis- 50 percent (US$180) for meeting the Lake, Minneapolis (various sites), Brooklyn additional US$260 per student in participat- tently enrolled for three years in grades tak- following English goal for grades 3-5 or Center ing districts. ing the Minnesota Comprehensive Assess- Chinese goal for grades K-5. School districts that began implementing “Our program, which focuses on the ment (MCA-II) reading test will earn a score * English teachers at all grades are eli- the Q Comp program during the 2006-07 development of intellectual curiosity and at the proficiency level (Meets the Standards gible for full compensation if 80 percent of school year: Grand Meadow, Albert Lea, Al- critical-thinking skills, is dependent on or Exceeds the Standards) in 2009. the individual class is at grade level. den-Conger, Brainerd, Wayzata, Eden Prai- dedicated, high-quality teachers,” said Betsy * At least 85 percent of students con- * English teachers at all grades are eli- rie, Red Rock Central, International Falls, Lueth, Yinghua Academy executive direc- sistently enrolled for three years in grades gible for half compensation if 60 percent of Le Center, St. Louis Park, Osseo, Lac Qui tor. “This is achieved through embedded taking the Minnesota Comprehensive As- the individual class is at grade level. Parle, North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale, professional development and incentive sessment (MCA-II) mathematics test will * Chinese teachers at all grades are Clearbrook-Gonvick, Proctor, Burnsville, programs for high-performing teachers. earn a score at the proficiency level (Meets eligible for full compensation if 85 percent St. Anthony-New Brighton, Minnetonka, As a leading Chinese immersion charter the Standards or Exceeds the Standards) of the individual class is at grade level and Delano, Centennial, Pine River, Brandon, school in the nation, we want to establish a in 2009. tracking to the level of Junior Intermediate South Washington County, South Saint Paul, model for language immersion and rigorous Teachers will meet weekly for 60 min- Low (JIL) by fifth grade on the SOPA. Farmington, Roseville (various sites), Min- academics. Q-Comp will help us support utes in collaborative grade level teams of * Chinese teachers at all grades are eligi- neapolis (various sites) this initiative.” two to four teachers. In addition, teachers ble for half compensation if 70 percent of the School districts that started imple- The Q Comp program gives participat- will be expected to participate in the follow- individual class is at grade level and tracking menting the Q Comp program during the ing schools the flexibility to meet local needs ing once monthly meetings as well: to JIL by fifth grade on the SOPA. 2005-06 school year: Minneapolis (various within a comprehensive model of improved * One 60-minute curriculum meeting 40 percent (US$360) for teacher evalu- sites), Hopkins, St. Francis, Mounds View, teaching and learning. The Yinghua Acad- with a focus in instructional content areas. ation based on the average score earned at St. Cloud, Fridley, La Crescent-Hokah, emy administration and teacher representa- * One 60-minute assessment meet- the end of the three observations. Marshall tives have agreed to the following: ing with a focus on instructional content * Full compensation for an average Several schools and districts have indi- areas. evaluation score of 2.5 to 4.0. cated they are planning to submit Q Comp Provide career ladders or career * One 60-minute staff meeting with a * Half compensation for an average applications.  advancement opportunities for focus on classroom management, differ- teachers entiation and curriculum alternating as the The career ladder includes eight posi- monthly theme. tions with various duties and compensa- tions. These positions are: Teacher Observation/Evaluation * Professional Educator: responsible Each teacher at Yinghua Academy will for providing resources to all grade level and be observed and receive formative evalua- specialist staff, participating in Curriculum tions three times per year by multiple trained and Instruction team meetings, conducting evaluators/observers. The three formative triannual review of teacher’s lesson plans evaluations of each teacher will be con- and providing feedback and suggestions to ducted in the following formats: the Academic Director, and field-testing new * One formal observation in the fall instructional strategies. of the year, which will be completed in * Instructional Leader: serves as the October. department coordinator and instructional * Three informal walk-through ob- leader for the grade level team in his/her servations conducted between November designated area. and January, which will be reported to * Problem Solving Team (PST) Lead- the teacher as a formative observation in er: serves as the team leader and conduct February. monthly team meetings. * A second formal observation will be www.chinainsight.info culture FEBRUARY 2010 > PAGE 5 China displayed at Daughter-in-law with the center of the a difference By Zhang Lingling world in rare 1602 Three decades earlier most Chinese before the holiday, my daughter-in-law got people would have regarded a romantic wind of the fact that Chinese TV channels relationship with a foreigner as something would be available on their cable system in beyond their imaginations, even actively the U.S. They immediately purchased the World Map seeking to avoid such a taboo scenario. package, and ordered the equipment. But in However, as the opening-up and reforms order to save money they decided to install nudged China into interacting with the out- it themselves. My amazing daughter-in-law, side world, society has begun to view this as who has a background in wireless technol- a normal occurrence. Expats are no longer ogy and engineering, was able to tackle that exotic and mysterious to ordinary Chinese project and get it all going. people, and interracial couples have risen While sharing some traditional snacks out of China’s increasingly international- that I brought from my hometown, our fam- ized society. ily watched the star-studded performance on TV as we do every year, humming familiar tunes and laughing over the comic dialogues and skits. Even though we were in the U.S. we felt as though we were home. When my daughter-in-law suggested: “Why not send our festival greeting message to the broad- cast?” We happily obeyed, and fired off an E-mail. Moments later the CCTV hostess announced: “We have received hundreds of congratulatory messages from all over the world.” I felt so elated because I knew that one of them was ours. Our message read: “Best wishes for our country’s peace and unification, thriving and prosperity.” These are hopes that represent the common aspirations of all Chinese people no mater where in the world. In the following days my daughter- in-law took us around to tourist sites and Interracial couples are becoming more shops, just as a Chinese wife would do. I The 17th Century Ricci Map. 1: China - 2: India - 3: Russia - 4: Europe - 5: Japan - 6: ubiquitous in modern Chinese society could see she was deeply in love with my Canada - 7: US - 8: South America - 9: Africa - 10: Middle East) son. But she adhered to her “rules” in their During the initial years of the reform daily lives, which she thought crucial for a the map for US$1 million from the firm of A rare, 400-year-old map that displays and opening-up, cross-cultural marriages lasting healthy relationship. For example, Bernard J. Shapero, a noted dealer of rare China at the center of the world will be on were left to the realm of a few “vanguards.” she insisted that she and my son manage books and maps in London, for the benefit exhibit at the Library of Congress from Jan. Today, with increasing numbers of foreign- their incomes separately. So, when it comes of the James Ford Bell Library. 12 to April 10, before it heads to its intended ers coming to visit, study or work in China, to paying for their dinners out, rent, furniture When the map returns to Minnesota, it home at the James Ford Bell Library at the and with more and more Chinese people fol- or car, they share the cost equally. But when will be displayed for a limited time at the University of Minnesota. The map is on loan lowing suit in the opposite directions, these it comes to personal commodities such as Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Afterward from the James Ford Bell Trust. romantic worlds were bound to collide. Top clothes or cosmetics, they cover it individu- it will move to its intended home in the The Matteo Ricci World Map, the first that off with a greater access to the Internet, ally, as needed. In the beginning my son had James Ford Bell Library at the University in Chinese to show the Americas, will it is no wonder that the idea of international a tough time with this, as he believes in the of Minnesota. be on exhibit for the first time in North marriage has become a commonplace in Chinese tradition of unified family saving The James Ford Bell Library documents America, joining the Library of Congress’ our daily lives. However, I never imagined and spending. But he eventually decided to the history and impact of international trade cartographic gem, the 1507 Waldseemüller that one day an American girl would join respect her opinions and try a new way of prior to 1800. Its premier collection of rare World Map, in the ongoing exhibition “Ex- my family. thinking. books, maps and manuscripts illustrates the ploring the Early Americas.” The exhibit is A few years ago my son went off to the I was glad to learn from my son that his ways in which cultural influences expanded free and open to the public from 8:30 a.m. U.S. to study, and ended up working there American wife is thriftier than many from worldwide, with a special emphasis on Eu- to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, in after receiving his doctorate degree. Soon China, where frugality is traditionally a ropean interactions. the Northwest Pavilion on the second floor he married an American girl, and they had meritorious trait. When they go out for din- Founded in 1800, the Library of Con- of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First a baby daughter. Last year they invited my ner, my son often orders more dishes than gress is the nation’s oldest federal cul- St. S.E., Washington, D.C. husband and I to the U.S. for a family re- they can finish. My daughter-in-law always tural institution and the largest library in After the three-month display, the Li- union during the Spring Festival. insists on taking the leftovers back home, the world, with nearly 145 million items in brary of Congress Geography and Map Divi- To my surprise, on New Year’s Eve, and lectures my son for being so wasteful. various languages, disciplines and formats. sion will digitally scan the 1602 document my American daughter-in-law prepared a “After living together with a foreign hus- The Library serves the U.S. Congress and and make the electronic image available to cornucopia of delicious Chinese dishes for band for such a long time, I realized that it is the nation both on-site, in its reading rooms scholars and students for research. us. We sat around and chatted with each essential that both parties in any intercultural on Capitol Hill, and through its award-win- “When the James Ford Bell Trust asked other, enjoying some wonderful wine and marriage understand each other, and accept ning web site at www.loc.gov. Many of the the Library to be the site for unveiling the soaking in the joy. As per tradition I handed each other’s cultural differences, traditions Library’s rich resources and treasures may Ricci map in North America, I was de- a “red envelope” bearing money to my and habits. Both should regard the other as also be accessed via interactive exhibitions lighted,” said Deanna Marcum, associate granddaughter. She replied politely in her best friend without any sense of superiority. on a personalized web site at myLOC.gov. librarian for Library Services. “The Ricci  cute Chinese tinged with an English accent: This is the only way to sustain the affection map, the first map in Chinese to show the “Thank you for the gift, dear grandma.” between them,” said my daughter-in-law. Americas, will be placed near the Library’s After dinner my daughter-in-law turned I hope that my son and his American Waldseemüller Map of 1507, the first Advertisers on the TV. Suddenly the familiar hosts wife continue their respect and passion document to name America and to depict Your potential customers and hostesses of China Central Television toward each other forever, and the same a separate and full Western Hemisphere. (CCTV) appeared on screen. “Wow! How is for other couples like them. I also look are reading Ch i n a In s i g h t . These two maps will ‘talk’ to each other, it that we can watch CCTV in the U.S.?” I forward to seeing stable and strong growth offering a unique perspective on East-West Shouldn’t you be bringing asked my husband, sort of half surprised and in the Sino-U.S. relations and increasing linkages.” them in the door with an half filled with a childlike pleasure. Immedi- understanding between the two peoples in The 1602 map was drawn by Jesuit priest ately I realized that it was due to a concerted the coming years.  Matteo Ricci (1552-1610), a missionary in ad? effort made by my son and daughter-in-law Reprinted by permission of China Today China, and measures 5.5 feet tall by 12.5 Contact: Greg Hugh to make sure that we could enjoy the CCTV (www.chinatoday.com.cn) feet wide. It was designed to be mounted (952) 472-4757 Spring Festival Gala, which almost all fami- on a folding screen. lies watch in China on the day. Half a month The James Ford Bell Trust purchased Email: [email protected] PAGE 6 > FEBRUARY 2010 arts www.chinainsight.info

Formosa from Page 1 The Fifth Chinese Bridge: Formosa Films and began filmingFormosa Betrayed under his new company. U.S. High School Student “This movie is an attempt to tell the story of my parents’ generation who are Chinese Speech Contest from Taiwan,” said Tiao. “They had friends who were persecuted and some were cases The Fifth Chinese Bridge: US High missions received after midnight (Eastern involved murders. I went out and researched School Student Chinese Speech Contest Standard Time) will be accepted. this material through congressional materi- gives students the opportunity to test their March 30, 2010: Speech Contestants als, past press coverage and the number of skills against the best high school Chinese Finalist Notification books that were written about the subject, language students in the United States. This April 24, 2010: Speech contest is held and then created the story version of this contest, held on April 24, 2010, is open to in Marlborough, MA, USA. movie.” non-heritage Mandarin speakers study- Formosa Betrayed is a thrilling and ing Chinese as a foreign language in an Interested students should visit www. engaging drama that will surely enthrall American Public or Private High School. mandarincontest.com for complete contest audiences in its active and unpredictable To apply for the 5th Annual Chinese Bridge: rules and to apply. storyline. The film attempts to not take a US High School Chinese Language Speech political stance but it is easy to sympathize Contest, students must submit a speech of About the Sponsors with those who are lobbying for Taiwan’s 3-5 minutes in Chinese based on the follow- CLASS (Chinese Language Associa- independence. ing theme: Learning Chinese Brings Me into tion of Secondary-Elementary Schools) the World Community CLASS is a highly respected profes- Contest sponsors, CLASS (Chinese sional associated for Chinese language mainland China. Language Association of Secondary- professionals dedicated to providing infor- • Does the Chinese government rec- Elementary Schools), HANBAN (Chinese mation on Chinese language and culture. ognize the people of Taiwan as Chinese? Language Council International), and The CLASS offers a platform for K-12 teachers The Chinese government considers University of Massachusetts China Institute, to communicate with each other, exchange Taiwan as part of its territory, and thus The former television star James Van began this contest in 2005 to promote the ideas, and network with members for the considers all residents of Taiwan as Chinese. Der Beek delivers a strong silver screen teaching and learning of Chinese language purpose of encouraging more students to Many on the island of Taiwan disagree performance in this film and showcases his and culture in American High Schools. learn Chinese. The main goal of CLASS with this, and call for a separate identity as more mature acting abilities. Hopefully his Since the inception of the World Speech is to ensure that the teaching of Chinese Taiwanese. recognizable face and past fame will help Contest in China, successful participants in becomes an integral part of the mainstream • Do Taiwanese consider themselves convince American movie-goers to see For- the American Contest have placed highly American educational system. Chinese? mosa Betrayed and not make it seem like a -- winning year-long scholarships in China http://classk12.org The issue of identity is complex in foreign film with difficult subtitles. and many other prizes. HANBAN (Chinese Language Coun- Taiwan. Roughly people in Taiwan can be Having shown in numerous film festivals Participants will be divided into three cil International) divided into two groups – those who came this past year, Formosa Betrayed has already categories based on language skill (as The Chinese Language Council Interna- with the KMT and Chiang Kai-Shek (and garnered a bevy of awards including Best explained below): Group I, Group 2, and tional is composed of members of 12 state their descendents) tend to call themselves Feature Film and Best Actor at the 2009 Special. ministries and commissions in China. A Chinese. Those whose ancestors have been San Diego Film Festival and the Audience Group 1: Students who have attended non-governmental and non-profit organiza- in Taiwan for many generations tend to call Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Chinese language classes for less than two tion affiliated to the Ministry of Education themselves Taiwanese. 2009 Philadelphia Asian American Film academic years. of China, Hanban is committed to making • What is the One-China policy and Festival. Group 2: Students who have attended the Chinese language and culture teach- what is Taiwan’s position regarding it? The film will surely help bring more Chinese language classes for more than two ing resources and services available to the The One-China policy states that the awareness to the topic to the public once it academic years. world, to meeting the demands of overseas People’s Republic of China (PRC) is the hits theaters on Feb. 26 in Los Angeles, New Special: Students who have spent more Chinese learners, and to continuing the sole legitimate government of mainland York, San Francisco and Boston. Other cities than 6 months in China or had prolonged formation of a world of cultural diversity China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. All across the United States and Canada will be opportunities beyond the high-school spon- and harmony. countries seeking diplomatic relations with announced later. sored learning experiences that provided http://www.hanban.edu.cn/hbsm.php the PRC must acknowledge this policy and opportunities to speak the language. The University of Massachusetts refrain from maintaining official relations Understanding the Formosa Conflict with the Republic of China on Taiwan. The Judges are invited to serve by rep- China Institute The purpose of the University of Mas- There are two different camps in Taiwan resentatives of Hanban, CLASS, and the Editor’s Note: While Ch i n a In s i g h t does regarding the issue. Taiwan’s Democratic University of Massachusetts China Institute. sachusetts China Institute is to maximize the not take a position on this topic, we feel Progressive Party (DPP) does not agree To protect the integrity of the contest and the potential of the University of Massachusetts it is important to understand the Taiwan with the One-China principle and states privacy of the judges and contestants, the and the Commonwealth in responding to (Formosa) situation so we are providing that Taiwan and China are two separate names of the judges will not be distributed. the emerging impact of China in the world. the following background information that countries. However the Kuomintang (KMT) All contact with the judging panel must be The China Institute works through The was furnished to the media by the film’s is supportive of the One-China policy and directed to the China Institute. University of Massachusetts Confucius producers. The following are important dates Institute at Boston to promote the teaching moving Taiwan towards becoming an of- ficial part of the PRC. leading up to the competition: and understanding of Chinese language and • What is Formosa? • Why is the Taiwan-China issue still Feb. 28, 2010: Contest opens for sub- culture and to support Chinese language Formosa is the Portuguese word for ‘is- relevant today? missions education in Massachusetts. land.’ In 1590, a Dutch navigator aboard a Because the fight for Taiwan indepen- March 6, 2010: Contest closes. No sub- http://www.umasschinainstitute.org  Portuguese ship spotted the island of Taiwan dence is ongoing and poses a complicated and declared it “Ilha Formosa”, meaning problem for the world’s nations seeking to “beautiful island.” Formosa became Tai- create economic ties with both Taiwan and ASIAN BLOOD DONORS NEEDED wan’s name for the next four centuries. China’s booming economies. • What was/is Taiwan’s relationship Call 1-800-59-DONOR toll free for more information. • What are the global implications with China? of Taiwan declaring independence from Taiwan and China do not have official China? relations, as China maintains that Taiwan is There are over 1500 missiles currently part of its territory. However, the Chinese pointed from mainland China towards Tai- government has never actually ruled Taiwan. wan, in case Taiwan declares independence. China maintains hundreds of missiles point- In 1996, when Taiwan held its first demo- ed at the island of Taiwan as a threat against cratic elections, China lobbed 2 missiles declaring its independence. Economically, near the island to warn it from declaring trade flows between Taiwan and China are independence. President Clinton sent two over $100 billion. U.S. battleships in the Taiwan Strait in the • What was/is Taiwan’s relationship largest show of U.S. military force in Asia with the United States? since the Vietnam War. The United States does not recognize The threat of a military conflict over Taiwan as a sovereign nation. It maintains this issue is ongoing. The United States is a “One-China” policy, which states that obligated under the Taiwan Relations Act there is one China, which Taiwan is a part to “help defend” Taiwan if it is attacked. of. However, under the Taiwan Relations Taiwan independence is the most likely Act, the United States is obligated to “help source of military conflict between China defend” Taiwan in case of attack from and the United States.  www.chinainsight.info arts FEBRUARY 2010 > PAGE 7 BOOKS

Women of the Silk By Gail Tsukiyama Synopsis and clamor in a vast silk factory from In Women of dawn to dusk. Leading the first strike the the Silk Gail Tsu- village has ever seen, the young women use kiyama takes her the strength of their ambition, dreams, and readers back to ru- friendship to achieve the freedom they could ral China in 1926, never have hoped for on their own. Tsuki- where a group of yama’s graceful prose weaves the details of women forge a sis- “the silk work” and Chinese village life into terhood amidst the a story of courage and strength. reeling machines that reverberate

Mao’s China and the Cold War By Chen Jian ­Synopsis China as a central actor--represented the This compre- only major “hot” conflicts during the Cold hensive study of War period, making East Asia the main China’s Cold War battlefield of the Cold War, while creating experience reveals conditions to prevent the two superpowers the crucial role from engaging in a direct military show- Beijing played in down. Beijing’s split with Moscow and rap- shaping the orien- prochement with Washington fundamentally tation of the global transformed the international balance of Cold War and the power, argues Chen, eventually leading to confrontation be- the end of the Cold War with the collapse tween the United of the Soviet Empire and the decline of States and the Soviet Union. international communism. The success of China’s Communist Based on sources that include recently revolution in 1949 set the stage, Chen says. declassified Chinese documents, the book The Korean War, the Taiwan Strait crises, offers path-breaking insights into the course OPINION: Dance Review and the Vietnam War--all of which involved and outcome of the Cold War. Way to Go, TCCDC! The House of Sixty Fathers By Hua Chen By Meindert Dejong, Maurice Sendak (Illustrator) The Twin Cities Chinese Dance Center “Pursuit of Dream” is another classi- Synopsis its moorings and drifted right back to the (TCCDC) has always been my favorite art cal style dance. This Han dance reflects Tien Pao was all Japanese soldiers. With only his lucky pig institute. However, since the previous artis- the strength of Chinese women who break alone in enemy terri- for company, Tien Pao must begin a long tic director, Qiang Yang, left Minnesota, I through the traditional social norms to fully tory. Only a few days and dangerous journey in search of his home haven’t heard much about TCCDC’s activi- realize their potential. “Peach Fairy” is before, his family and family. ties. That’s why I was so excited to learn that another style of classical dance; it depicts had escaped from ‘A vividly realistic story of China dur- TCCDC just invited their new artistic direc- a bride’s hope to grow a family that thrives the Japanese army, ing the early days of the Japanese invasion tor from China. I drove 50 minutes to Eden like the blooming peach trees. “Shao Duo fleeing downriver by [which tells of young Tien Pao’s journey to Prairie to see their first show on Dec. 19th. Li” performed by three wonderful girls put boat. Then came the find his family].’ —C. The opening dance “Drumming Awak- the daily life activities of Dai, one of the terrible rainstorm. ‘Valuable as enrichment literature for ens Spring” brought us great atmosphere minorities in southern China, into graceful Tien Pao was fast elementary students involved in Chinese of pleasant and new spring! The beautiful steps with Dai music. asleep in the little studies.’ —Scholastic Teacher. girls danced with the drums by young men, I The Jiangnan dance of “Footsteps in sampan when the boat broke loose from Source: barnesandnoble.com feel like being back to my hometown again. the Spring Rain”, “Enchanting Jasmine” Throughout the countryside, rollicking and the western Chinese dance of “Fiery percussion echoes the thundering energy of Red Girls”, “Kazakh Swans” and “Happy spring. These young dancers grow up in the Uyghur Girls”, all these dances make us feel “When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for United States, they do not have the direct so warm in the cold winter of Minnesota. yourself.” experiences of this very traditional and I believe this is the magic of dance! I also ...Confucius authentic Chinese Han culture, this must be enjoyed the song, “A Kashgar Lady”, by the a great challenge for the artistic director. I well-known Chinese singer in Minnesota, was amazed by the fantastic work done by Mr. Huashao Zhou. the artistic director that those young danc- I met with the artistic director, Ms. Ch i n a Insight ers’ movements brought me back to my Huanru Zhang, after the show on the back SEEKS ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE… motherland. stage. She seems so humble and peaceful. The following dance “Girls behind Facing all these flowers and praises from Must be passionate about our mission: in addition Banana Leaves” and “A Yao Folk Song” the audiences, she just slightly smiled. “We to being success-oriented, must be self-motivated, expressed the joyful life of girls in differ- still need a lot of improvement! Advices are ent minorities in China. These kid dancers welcome.” I learned from the parents of resourceful, creative, disciplined and community- [were] like angels on the stage! some young dancers that it only took her minded. “Martial Arts Dream” is a master piece three month[s] to prepare for the show! I combining with both Chinese classical dance believe that under the lead of Ms. Huanru Ge n e r o u s Co m m i s s i o n Sc h e d u l e techniques and Martial Arts. No one can tell Zhang, TCCDC will present us with more Contact: Greg Hugh that those dancers who with accurate steps fantastic shows. Like the last dance “Be- (952) 472-4757 and sprits grow up in the United States. TC- yond Your Dreams”, TCCDC can also go Email: [email protected] CDC’s effort of promoting Chinese culture beyond its dream!  is highly appreciated. PAGE 8 > FEBRUARY 2010 culture www.chinainsight.info The attributes and artistic elements of Chinese dances By Huanru Zhang, TCCDC Artistic Director combined with the mind; the mind can be combined with energy; energy combined with the strength and strength combined with shapes. People often say that “the eyes are windows into the soul”. While the eyes of “gather, put, condensate and close” does not mean that the eye movement itself, but rather is subject to the domination of internal psychological connections and the rhythm of internal spirit. “Before the movement takes shape, there has to be spirit first; when the shape has vanished the spirit lingers”. The Chinese dance theory combined with the dance elements of body techniques formed a high degree of unity, harmoniza- tion, composition and dance aesthetic theory with unique Chinese characteristics. Rhythm is very prominent in Chinese classical dance and has an inseparable connection with Chinese music. Compared with Western music which has more regular most of the times are very acrobatic such as uniform tones, Chinese music is heavier continuously spinning of the handkerchiefs in pulse-like rhythm, generally expressed or sticks, balancing hats, plates, or umbrel- as flexible combination of rhythm and the las using their hands or heads while they characteristics of points and lines. Reflected hina is a multi-cultural coun- highlighted “crouching”. During the Tang dance. The styles are significantly different in the rhythm, mostly like point (stretch - in try, with 56 different ethnici- Dynasty dance highlighted the curves of a from one region to another. Dance in North time), or cut points (in time - stretch), or ties. Each of these ethnicities female body. Chinese dance has also incor- Eastern China is very muscular, the ener- two stretch the middle of rush, or two catch has their own folk culture porated from traditional folk dance such as getic red ribbon and drum dance is found C in the middle stretch, or the tight playing and dances. Chinese classical dance incor- Jiaozhou Yang Ge the twist, turn and soft in Shaanxi Province (Central China), the then slow, or slow to tight playing and so porates dance elements from these ethnic yet hard stomps. It has also adopted the feminine fan dance is in Southern China, and on. Therefore, the formation of the internal dances, Chinese operas, Chinese martial art ocean wave like, reach, block and twist the very festive lantern dance is in Yunnan rhythm of movement, such as soft vs. tough, forms and folk operas. Over time these have steps from Ocean Yang Ge and the tilted (South Eastern China). This list can go on fast move vs. sudden freeze, slow vs. rush, merged, forming the unique system that we body from Flower-drum Lantern dance fa- and be endless. put vs. collect, breath in and out, cadence, call Chinese classical dance today. It has mous in FengYang. From Chinese Opera, If we expand to different ethnic groups, combined points and lines, etc., results in the been refined, redeveloped and rejuvenated it incorporated Zi Wu look, YingYang face the Chinese dances become more splendor- dynamic law of Chinese music’s particular over thousands of years. and the body twists unique to Chinese dance. ous. In the Tibetan dance, male dancers characteristics and sense of rhythms. dance with special ox tail costumes that are

Attributes of Chinese Dances decorated with jingling bells. Female danc- The lineage of many of the dances can Artistic Elements of Chinese Dances ers hold special-made ox skin drums. The be traced back to the Royal Court dances Chinese dance originated from people’s bells and the drums create strong rhythm to of the culture of the Zhou, Tang, and Song life. It also stays very close to daily life. It guide the dancers’ footsteps. In Mongolian Dynasties 5,000 years ago, where the char- combines entertainment with performing dance, dancers shake their shoulders and acter of the nation was expressed through art. It is one piece of great treasure of the arms vigorously by following the music dance, incorporating movements influenced Chinese history and culture. they create themselves using chopsticks by folk stories, historic figures and classic China is a geographically wide-spread You can also see the Dragon and Monkey hitting on different parts of their costume. myths and legends, and expressing society’s country. The uniqueness of Mother Nature in styles from Chinese Martial Arts. Every The Uyghur style dance shows very elegant respect for morality, compassion, loyalty, the living environment, the religious and the element of the body techniques in Chinese movement of the eyes, hands and neck. wisdom, and trustworthiness. It represents history of each ethnic group has cultivated dance from Curving, Turning, Twisting, The Korean dance in North Eastern China a unique system with diversity of move- their specific culture. In turn, their unique Tilting and Rounding, when combined well, features in dancers carrying the hourglass ment, refinement of form, and richness of culture has shown significant impact on their demonstrates the beauty of the human body. shaped drums in front of their body. By character and culture. different forms of art, including their dances. Every body part including head, neck, chest, hitting the sticks on different parts of the Chinese dance requires the dancers to We could almost say their dances are the waist, hips, shoulder, elbow, wrist, arm, drums, the dancers use their body to create undergo strict physical training. Actions showcases of each ethnic group. Different palm to knee, ankle and foot all have their very musical movements at the same time, and movements called “body techniques” costumes, different props, and different own specific requirements for movement. sometimes slow, others fast; sometimes need to be accurate and precise, and every expression of feelings are apparent in their ShenYun, roughly translated as body joyful, others sad. action, movement and look needs to fol- dances. Different instruments and differ- rhythm, is the most important Chinese clas- In conclusion, Chinese classical dance low the preset rules. The ent languages are clear as well. All these sical dance perfor- has formed its own system, which has a body techniques stress features make Chinese dance very colorful mance technique. It strong national identity, emphasizing its beauty in various forms and entertaining. However, they also make focuses on “Shape, nation’s aesthetic character and aesthetic like “twist, tilt, round, the dance techniques very delicate and chal- spirit, strength and norms, with its own way of artistic ex- curve, lookup, stoop, lenging. Thus, teaching Chinese dance and pattern” as the four pression. It is a dance system that can be turn, roll”. Furthermore, dancer training is a very specialized area basic elements of replaced by no other.  it emphasizes that in- body rhythm and because dancers are not only trained in body ner spirit should initiate form. Shape refers movements, dancing techniques, but also body movements. Per- to the external ac- need to be trained to understand the differ- formers not only need to tion, gesture and ent cultural backgrounds and stories behind master the techniques of movement connect- each dance. Dancers also need to tune to Chinese dance, but also perfect their moral ed with the movement line. Spirit means different style of music, some red hot, some character and willpower in order to portray internal senses and mind playing the role very expressive and emotional. the fundamental inner meaning of the Chi- of leading the thinking and determining For example, in Han ethnic dance, there nese culture. movements. Strength is the force, guid- is beautiful choreography combined with It is not hard to trace an evolving line of ing the severity, urgency, strong vs. weak, some interesting props that come from succession from the many relics of ancient long vs. short, rigid vs. flexible part of the people’s daily life, such as handkerchiefs, times that bore images of dancers from movement. Pattern indicates the execution hats, umbrellas, chopsticks and plates. The various dynasties. Historical evidence can by defined dance standards. These four ele- step work sometimes requires power and be seen in unearthed tomb figurines and the ments integrated together yield an internal firmness, while at other times require el- Dunhuang frescoes. Signature movements and external unity where the heart can be egance. On top of that, the dancers always in Qin and Han Dynasty dance figurines show special techniques using their props, www.chinainsight.info chinese new year FEBRUARY 2010 > PAGE 9

The ninth annual 2010 Chinese New Year Bob and Kim Griffin Celebration Building U.S.-China Bridges Lecture

The U.S. and China: Place: North Star Ballroom, St. Paul Student Center, University of Minnesota A relationship marred by misperceptions (2017 Buford Ave, St. Paul, MN 55108) by Burton Levin Time: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Sunday February 7, 2010 Former Ambassador to Burma & Consul General in Hong Kong 2:30 p.m. Admission 3 p.m. Performances: Lion dance, Chinese dances, Chinese music, Talent Shows, Martial arts, and more! Wednesday, February 10, 2010 5 p.m. Lucky Money for children, Door Prizes (US$2,000 total) 4:30 p.m. Lecture and Q&A Delicious choice of food - Food Bazaar 6:00 p.m. Reception & Chinese New Year Celebration Tickets: Adult: US$12 (in advance, or US$15 at door) Free and open to the public. Student/Senior: US$10 (in advance, or US$12 at door) Child (5-12 years old): US$8 (in advance, or US$10 at door) Great Hall, Coffman Memorial Union Raffle Ticket: US$2/each (in advance, or at door) University of Minnesota 300 Washington Ave. S.E. * Free admissions for children younger than 5 years old. * Total of US$2,000 in door prizes!

Advanced tickets are available, before Feb. 1, at the Twin Cities Chinese Language China Center More information: School on Saturdays, or from ticket-sales volunteers. For further ticket information, www.chinacenter.umn.edu/news/griffin_lecture e-mail [email protected], or call 651-733-9827.

Sponsors: MN Chinese Cultural Services Center, Chinese American Academic & Professional The Bob and Kim Association in MN, MN Chinese Student Association, MN Chinese Veterans Associa- tion Griffin Building Cosponsors: 3M Company, China Center at the University of Minnesota, Merrill Lynch U.S.-China Bridges US – China Peoples Friendship Lecture urton Levin, Former Ambas- 6:00 p.m. Reception Association of Minnesota sador to Burma and Consul Place: Great Hall, Coffman Union invites you to General in Hong Kong, will Cost: Free and open to the public Celebrate the Bpresent The U.S. and China: Contact the China Center: 612-624-1002 or Year of the Tiger A relationship marred by misperceptions for [email protected] with questions. the ninth annual Bob and Kim Griffin Build- Sunday, February 21, 2010 ing U.S.-China Bridges Lecture at the China Griffin Lecture Series 5:00 Gathering 5:30 Dinner 7:00 Program Center at the University of Minnesota. Building a legacy for their children and Grand Szechuan Restaurant The U.S.-China relationship has been for Minnesota, Bob and Kim Griffin donated 10602 France Avenue South in Bloomington marked by misconceptions, unfulfilled US$500,000 to the China Center to create

expectations and a high degree of emo- an endowment fund to establish the Bob and US$25 members, US$30 non-members, US$13 for kids under 12 Cost: tionalism. This mix has produced dramatic Kim Griffin Building U.S.-China Bridges (add US$5 after February 15) Sponsor a table of 10 for US$400 swings in the way these two nations have Lecture. The Griffin’s gift reflects their

viewed and dealt with each other. Friendship commitment to promoting mutual respect Send guest names and check payable to USCPFA-MN RSVP: has alternated with hostility, with resultant between the two cultures and their passion c/o Wen Li, 10119 Portland Ave South, Bloomington 55420 major and at times disastrous consequences to connect people with China. For questions: [email protected] or 612-692-7068 for both the Chinese and American peoples. Bob Griffin is president of Griffin In-

China’s growing political and economic ternational Companies, which he founded Menu: weight is evident in a more active and as- in 1997. Under Griffin’s leadership as Appetizers: Szechuan Cucumbers, Bamboo Shoots in Chili Sauce, Szech- sertive Chinese role on the international president, Griffin International Companies uan Dan Dan mian, Dechuan Lotus Roots scene. How China and the United States has become one of the Twin Cities’ leading Entrees: Beef Chow Fun, Cumin Lamb, Chung King Chili Chicken, Chinese relate to each other under these changing import firms, focusing on custom products Shredded Pork with Rice Cake, Sweet & Sour Fish Fillet circumstances will have a great bearing on developed in the U.S. and sourced from Veggie Dishes: Szechuan Green Beans, Home Style Tofu, Shredded Po- the fate of the two nations and on the global Asia. tato with Green Peppers, Stir Fried Pea Tips order. In treating this major issue, Levin Dessert: Sesame Rice Balls will highlight the underlying and persistent Past Lectures factors that have made Sino-U.S. relations The Bob and Kim Griffin Building U.S.- so special and, at times, so difficult. China Bridges Lectures have featured many outstanding speakers and China experts Time: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 Gung Hay Fat Choy from Ch i n a In s i g h t 4:30 p.m. Lecture and Q&A Griffin continues on Page 15 PAGE 10 > FEBRUARY 2010 economy www.chinainsight.info Top 10 economic forecasts China Today’s editors predict how China will grow its economy in 2010 China Today Editor’s Note: Since the market is watching how the government official from the Ministry of Commerce, percent from 2008 levels after falling for beginning of 2008, China’s GDP growth will manage inflation while maintaining this predicted that retail sales will increase 16 most of 2009, revealing a sign of poten- has shown a perfect “V” shape, indicating monetary policy. percent to 14.6 trillion yuan in 2010. tial inflation this year. The government is a solid recovery from the global economic 3. Fiscal investment in welfare 6. Increasing residential income considering ways to manage the threat of slump. There is no doubt that China has Experts believe central and local gov- Increasing the incomes of residents inflation, with the greater liquidity trigger- achieved the goal of 8 percent GDP growth ernments will fund the people’s social wel- must be a part of economic restructuring ing anticipations for a slow rise in consumer in 2009, but how will the economy grow fare system and economic restructuring, as to drive domestic consumption to grow the prices this year. this year? Our editors have made the top well as medical care reform this year. In ad- economy this year. Some experts propose 9. Rebalancing regional development 10 forecasts for how China will grow its dition, small and medium-sized companies that the government increase incomes of The central government approved nine economy in 2010. and under-developed regions will receive people, especially middle-class and lower- regional development plans last year, more 1. Restructuring the economy more fiscal support. class residents, and also raise the individual than the total of the previous four years, Thanks to the central government’s mas- 4. Exports to recover income tax threshold. which showed its resolve to rebalance sive stimulus package and prompt loans, China’s foreign trade is expected to pick 7. Slowing housing price hikes regional economies. China’s competitive there is no doubt that China has achieved up about 10 percent year-on-year in 2010, In 2009, the nation’s booming housing advantage demands cooperation among its goal of 8 percent GDP growth in 2009. due to the recovery of external markets and sector became a pillar of the country’s un- coastal areas and central, western and north- Economists suggest that adjusting the eco- the support of domestic policies. However, expectedly quick economic recovery from eastern regions. nomic structure should top the agenda in some analysts warned exporters to be cau- the global recession. Will property prices 10. Benefits for emerging industries 2010 to address regional imbalances and tious in the face of increasing trade protec- keep rising in the new year? Some experts Some emerging industries in sectors production overcapacity. tionism against China. said the real estate prices might rise in such as new energy, building materials non- 2. Fine-tuning monetary policy 5. Boosting domestic demand second-tier and third-tier cities, which face ferrous metal and chemicals are expected The Central Economic Work Confer- China adopted a series of policies short supplies. However, the price increase to benefit the most from China’s economic ence in December decided to continue its to boost domestic demand in 2009, and in first-tier cities is expected to slow down recovery.  “moderately loose” monetary policy this analysts said the government’s measures this year. Reprinted by permission of China Daily year, but the central bank will still have to boost consumption will contribute more 8. Managing inflation (chinadaily.com.cn) room for “fine-tuning” the policy. Now the to economic growth in 2010. Wang Bin, an Consumer prices in November rose 0.6 Updated: 2010-01-14 06:10

Exports from Page 1

(including medical goods). percent or US$154 million) and transporta- tion equipment (down 21 percent or US$111 Exports of Paper and Fabricated Metals million) – in the Philippines, Canada, Bel- Rise, Although Most Industries Face Export Declines gium and other countries.

* Minnesota exports of fabricated met- Despite Sharp Drop in Integrated als jumped 11 percent based on strong Circuits, Other Strong Segments growth in the largest market, the United Contribute Positive Growth Kingdom. Exports to this market increased * Non-electrical medical and surgical 705 percent to US$42 million, accounting instruments made up the second-largest to US$12 million) contributed the most to manufacturing.htm on DEED’s web site. for 25 percent of the state’s sales of these four-digit product group with US$219 mil- export growth of self-adhesive materials. Industry-level export data based on products and consisting primarily of arms lion in exports (up 7 percent). Demand for Minnesota Quarterly Export Statistics North American Industry Classification and ammunition. needles and catheters was particularly strong is the most current resource available for System industries (NAICS) are collected * Sales of paper goods grew strongly in Ireland and China. tracking the state’s manufactured export by the U.S. Department of Commerce to Korea (up 97 percent to US$15 million), * The Philippines accounted for 67 per- trends and is prepared for the Minnesota (USDOC) and are distributed by the World Germany (up 453 percent to US$7 million) cent of the drop in sales of integrated circuits Trade Office (MTO) by the Department Institute of Social and Economic Research and China (up 24 percent to US$28 mil- (down 45 percent to US$130 million). of Employment and Economic Develop- (WISER). Product-level export data based lion). One of the growing paper areas was * Malaysia (up 310 percent to US$34 ment’s (DEED) Analysis and Evaluation on the Harmonized Tariff System (Schedule self-adhesive papers. million) and Thailand (up 423 percent to Office (Thu-Mai Ho-Kim, 651-259-7180). B) are collected by the USDOC and are * Demand sharply decreased for three US$23 million) contributed the most to Past issues may be viewed at www.export- distributed by the Global Trade Information of the state’s top four export industries – Minnesota’s export growth of office ma- minnesota.com/itradestats.htm and results Services. Product-level export data provide computers and electronics (down 19 percent chine parts, while China (up 37 percent to from manufacturing conditions surveys additional information and insights on the or US$207 million), machinery (down 21 US$24 million) and Korea (up 157 percent are located at www.deed.state.mn.us/facts/ industry-level export data.

COMMENTARY: How to further boost consumption? By Louis Kuijs, Senior Economist, World Bank Office, Beijing Increasing the role of domestic con- industry-led pattern of growth. The 11th on average in this period. consumption directly, such as subsidies sumption is one of the key objectives of Five Year Plan (2005-10) aims at redressing When the global crisis broke out, for rural consumption, lower taxes, and China’s 11th Five Year Plan. China’s over- the imbalances, in large part by adjusting the China’s senior leaders stressed that, with higher pensions. And the government has all economic growth and development in pattern of growth. the outlook for exports more subdued in been increasing its role in financing health, recent decades has been truly impressive. Consumption has actually grown briskly the “new normal,” rebalancing and getting education, and social safety, which makes However, it has been accompanied by some in China in the last decade. Overall con- more growth out of the domestic economy people feel less restrained to consume. The imbalances. A relatively low and declining sumption (private plus public) rose by 7.8 has become even more important. stimulus and its impact has also helped to role of consumption has been one of the percent per year on average since 2003, in China’s short term policy response to the contain the decline in consumer confidence key imbalances, together with increasing real terms. The imbalances that the govern- crisis has mainly focused on investment, but during the global crisis. income inequality, intense use of resources ment is trying to address have arisen because it also helped in keeping up consumption But, more is needed to boost the role and impact on the environment, and a rising consumption and services have lagged growth. The RMB 4 trillion stimulus plan of consumption in China’s economy on a trade surplus. The imbalances are largely investment and industry for a long period. largely fueled infrastructure investment. sustained basis. With the economic recovery an outcome of China’s capital-intensive, Real investment grew 11.9 percent per year But some policy measures have helped Commentary continues on Page 15 www.chinainsight.info business FEBRUARY 2010 > PAGE 11 Foreign investment doubles in December By Ding Qingfen, China Daily Foreign direct investment (FDI) to Yao called China “a most attractive FDI first growth in the past 14 months. “The FDI China more than doubled in December, in destination” and said the country’s invest- will continue to grow during the first half of the latest sign of economic recovery in the ment situation is getting better. this year, but at a slow speed,” Li said. world’s fastest-growing economy. Chinese analysts echoed Yao’s claim. FDI skyrocketed by 103.1 percent from “As China’s economic growth gains Google not a threat a year earlier to [US]$12.14 billion, com- speed, the nation gains more trust from Yao also said online search giant pared to the 32 percent year-on-year growth global investors,” said Li Jianfeng, a macro- Google’s recent intention to pull out of in November, the Ministry of Commerce economy analyst at Shanghai Securities. China will not hurt Sino-US trade or dampen said on [Jan. 15]. “The global economic recovery is also investors’ confidence. The foreign investment, which excludes helping push up the surge,” he said. “No matter what decision Google investment in the financial sector, jumped China’s GDP growth will probably in- makes, it will not affect overall trade and for five months since August. crease to 10.8 percent during the last quarter economic relations between China and the However, if full-year data is taken into of 2009, compared with the 8.9-percent in United States,” Yao said. account, China’s FDI and newly approved the third quarter, according to a median “The two countries have multiple com- foreign enterprises fell by 2.6 and 14.8 of forecasts by 12 economists polled by munication channels. We are confident percent to [US]$90.03 billion and 23,435 Dow Jones. They also believed the growth in the healthy development of economic respectively. for 2009 would stand at 8.5 percent, 0.5 and trade relations between China and the company will not consider exiting China, Ministry spokesman Yao Jian said the percentage points higher than the govern- United States.” citing the growth trend. latest figure signals foreign investors’ con- ment’s goal. The world’s largest Internet search com- Similarly, the 2010 Business Climate fidence in the Chinese market despite the “The financial crisis made them (for- pany threatened to quit the Chinese market Survey released by the American Chamber financial crisis. eign investors) hold back, but now they are - which contributed less than 2 percent of its of Commerce in China this week showed its Last year, 52 percent of foreign invest- turning active again,” said Jinny Yan, an global revenue - citing concerns of censor- members remained optimistic about China ment went to the manufacturing sector and economist from Standard Chartered. ship and cyber hacks. over the medium- and long-term.  42 percent went to the service sector. But The better-than-expected exports in A number of foreign investors said they Yao said the service sector will attract more December had already provided a clue to would not follow Google’s move. Reprinted by permission of China Daily investors, who are expected to resort to the FDI surge, Li said. Chinese exports rose In a Bloomberg interview on [Jan. 14], (chinadaily.com.cn) mergers and acquisitions more often. by 17.7 percent year-on-year last month, the Microsoft Corp CEO Steve Ballmer said the Updated: 2010-01-16 07:50 Investing in U.S. and Chinese medical startups discussed by a serial entrepreneur and investor By Greg Hugh, Staff Writer have less market risk, thus are generally which he illustrated with several business Concluding the presentation was a ques- The first 2010 meeting of U.S.-China preferred. However, experienced investors/ models. This approach allows for entering tion and answer session. Business Connections (UCBC) held in innovators also realize that a new market the market of a developing region faster January at the Metropolitan Community and represents high risk but also provide high since clinical trials there may run faster as Technical College in Minneapolis, Minn. rewards when successful. Another dis- the patient population is larger and such was attended by a capacity group that filled tinction to keep in mind is in whether you trials may run faster than the FDA process the packed meeting room. are operating in a developed region like in the United States. Addressing the group was Dr. Hui Hu, the United States or a developing region According to Hui, about 40 percent of whose impressive background makes him like China since the United States is more trial funding from the pharmaceutical indus- imminently qualified to discuss investing performance/feature-driven while China is try has moved to Asia with a commitment in U.S. and Chinese medical startups. Hui more cost-conscious. to success in developing regions. Hui is the grew up in China where he attended Beijing Hui then provided detailed examples of Founder and CEO of a Seattle based com- University, received his PhD in Physics innovation commercialization in developed pany called VPDiagnostics, which provides from the University of Utah in 1989, was vs. developing regions with companies with precision risk profiling for atherosclerosis professionally trained in the United States, which he has been personally involved. He management and stroke prevention. While Dr. Hu (l) answering additional questions developed products at GE Medical, had noted that innovations tend to be accepted/ the company is conducting a NIH-funded after the presentation numerous publications and has launched commercialized in developed regions first multi-centers clinical trial to be submitted and then in developing regions later. Some for FDA approval for the U.S. market, it and sold startups in the United States and February UCBC Meeting China. innovations are less likely to be accepted plans a similar trial for China market right The topic of the UCBC monthly break- At the beginning of his presentation Hui in developed regions due to timing/need now. fast meeting will be Chinese Financial stated that it is important for entrepreneurs mismatch and may have better chances in In the final part of his presentation, Hui Industry Partnerships to be presented by and investors to set the right expectations developing regions. He noted that some in- discussed how improving Translational Pieter Tsiknas with Merrill Lynch. whether operating in the United States or novations out of favor in the United States Research in developing regions. One of UCBC meetings are held at Minneapolis China. The primary goal is to be able to may have chances to succeed in developing Hui’s involvements is a U.S. non-profit or- Community & Technical College, 1501 commercialize innovations and not to be- regions since the market there is still open ganization called GlobalMD, which brings Hennepin Avenue, Wheelock Whitney Hall, come a giant. It takes a lot of luck to succeed for new comers. This is especially possible together FDA and SFDA (the Chinese Room L3000 (3rd Floor), Minneapolis, MN and the success rate is very low. The rate of if the established competition here has not counterpart of FDA) as well as medical 55403. success increases substantially when a new been established and the markets/distribu- Key Opinion Leaders in United States The fee is US$25 per person. UCBC venture is complementary to or can partner tion are segmented there where the patent and China. For example, it organizes an members and college students are free. To with a much larger, established firm but such base is larger and the growth rate is high. unprecedented summit of Sino-American register, e-mail [email protected] or arrangements are difficult to set up. Hui went on to state that the unmet need Symposium on Clinical and Translational call Jim Smith at 612-865-6543. As Hui continued with his presentation may be quite different in developing regions Research this summer in Beijing, which will For free parking at the MCTC Ramp, he stated that innovation can take several which favor innovations that substantially include prominent leaders from the National please mention your name for the UCBC forms and identified them as market pull reduce cost and certain diseases are more Institutes of Health, the Chinese Academy meeting to the parking staff. The MCTC (unmet need) vs. innovation push (solu- prevalent there which may be effected by lo- of Medical Sciences, and approximately 600 parking ramp is located at 1420 Hennepin tion searching for problem), noting that the cal environment and government policies. clinicians and researchers at over 300 hos- Avenue (north side of Hennepin Ave). Ad- market pull is preferred everywhere. There Continuing with this presentation, Hui pitals. The education and communication ditional information on parking: http://www. are also differences in an existing/replace- noted that some innovations deserve paral- events like this will bridge the sophistica- minneapolis.edu/parking.cfm  ment market vs. a new market. Innovations lel commercialization with a short delay tion gap in translational medicine between that replace solutions in an existing market between developed and developing regions developed and developing regions. PAGE 12 > FEBRUARY 2010 culture www.chinainsight.info China’s ethnic minorities We continue our series on China’s 55 ethnic minority groups. This month features the Mulam, Naxi, Nu, and Oroqen ethnic minorities. The Mulam ethnic minority although horses were sometimes used also. local drama) are very popular among the the middle of the 13th century, produc- Population: 160,600 Some 60 percent of arable land was taken up people. The songs are antiphonal and sung tion in the Lijiang area underwent marked Major area of distribution: Guangxi by paddy fields, and the Mulams had long in the Han language. changes, as agriculture replaced livestock Language: Mulam known the use of manure fertilizer. breeding as the main occupation of the Religion: Taoism and Buddhism The Mulams’ well-developed irrigation The Naxi ethnic minority people. Scores of agricultural, handicraft, system, unfortunately, was under the control Population: 277,800 mineral and livestock products were turned of the rich landlords, who channeled most of Major area of distribution: Yunnan and out, and the county presented a picture of the water off for themselves. The encroach- Sichuan prosperity. During that period, a number of ment of insects and wild animals was a seri- Language: Naxi slave-owning groups in Ninglang, Lijiang ous problem for the Mulam farmers. Religion: Dongba and Lamaism and Weixi counties gradually grew into a In the past, each household was a basic feudal manorial lord caste. production unit. The division of labor be- In 1278 the Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368) tween men and women was not strict, but established Lijiang Prefecture representing plowing, carrying manure and threshing the imperial court in Yunnan Province. This were usually men’s jobs, while women did resulted in closer links between the Lijiang the rice transplanting, sowing and house- area and the center of the empire. work. In the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Also well developed were sideline prod- the leader of the Naxi people, named Mude, ucts, which included collecting medicinal was made the hereditary chieftain of Liji- herbs, raising livestock, blacksmithing, ang Prefecture, exercising control over the making pottery and weaving cloth. Naxi people and other ethnic groups in the Prior to the founding of the People’s The Naxi ethnic minority has a popula- vicinity. Throughout the Ming Dynasty, the Republic of China, land in the Mulam areas tion of 277,800, most of whom live in con- hereditary chieftains from the Mu family was heavily concentrated in the hands of the centrated communities in the Lijiang Naxi kept taxes and tribute flowing to the Ming The Mulam ethnic minority has a popu- rich landlords, especially the most fertile Autonomous County in Yunnan Province, court in the form of silver and grain. The lation of 160,600, of which the majority live parts. The landlords demanded that their the rest being scattered in Weixi, Zhong- Ming, in turn, relied on the Mu family as in Luocheng County in the Guangxi Zhuang tenants pay rent in kind and provide unpaid dian, Ninglang, Deqin, Yongsheng, Heqing, the mainstay for the control of the people Autonomous Region. Others are scattered in labor service. They also exploited the poorer Jianchuan and Lanping counties in Yunnan of various ethnic groups in northwestern neighboring counties. peasants by means of usury. Province, as well as Yanyuan, Yanbian and Yunnan Province. The Mulam language is a member of Muli counties in Sichuan Province. A small Later, with the development of the the Zhuang-Dong language group of the Customs and Culture number live in Mangkang County of Tibet productive forces, buying, selling and rent- Chinese-Tibetan language family, but be- Mulam houses consist of three rooms, Autonomous Region. ing of land began to take place in the Naxi cause of extensive contacts with the majority usually one-storied, with mud walls and The Naxi areas, traversed by the Jinsha, areas, marking the beginning of a landlord Han and local Zhuangs many Mulams speak tile roofs. Inside, on the left of the door, Lancang and Yalong rivers, and the Yunling, economy. one or both of these languages in addition the ground is dug away to form a cooking Xueshan and Yulong mountain ranges, From 1723, during the Qing Dynasty to their own. pit. The livestock are kept away from the have a complicated terrain. There are cold (1644-1911), hereditary local chieftains in living quarters. mountainous areas, uplands, basins, rivers the Lijiang area began to be replaced by Rice, maize and potatoes are the staple and valleys, averaging [8,910 feet] above court officials and the hereditary chieftain diet of the Mulams, who also enjoy eating sea level. The climate varies from cold surnamed Mu thus became the local ad- hot peppers and glutinous rice. It is taboo to and temperate to subtropical. Rainfall is ministrator. eat cats or snakes. Mulams who bear the sur- plentiful. names Luo and Wu are forbidden to eat dog Agriculture is the main occupation of Art and Literature meat or the internal organs of animals. the Naxi people. The chief crops are rice, Naxi literature is rich in form and con- The Mulams used to be famous for their maize, wheat, potatoes, beans, hemp and tent. Besides works by Naxi scholars and spinning, weaving and dyeing, and their fa- cotton. The bend of the Jinsha River is heav- writers, there is a repository of oral folk lit- vorite color is deep blue. Traditionally, men ily forested, and Yulong Mountain is known erature. “Genesis,” “The Rich Steal Oxen,” wore jackets with large buttons down the at home and abroad as a “flora storehouse.” “Revenge” and “Song of Elopement” are front, long, baggy trousers and straw san- The extensive dense forests contain Chinese characterized by simple and fresh expres- Their homeland is one of rolling hills dals. Young girls wear their hair in braids, fir, Korean pine, Yunnan pine and other valu- sions, and distinctive national flavor. The interspersed with lush green valleys. The which is coiled up onto their heads after able trees, as well as many varieties of herbs “Dongba Scripture,” a religious work, dates Wuyang and Longjiang rivers cross their marriage. Women’s jewelry includes silver including fritillary bulbs, Chinese caterpillar back to the Tang Dynasty. Written in the territory, which has an ideal climate for earrings, bracelets and finger rings. fungus and musk. pictographic script, it describes the various growing paddy rice, maize, beans, potatoes, Early marriage arranged by the parents There are rich reserves of such non- aspects of life of the Naxi people during melons and cotton. The area is famous for its was common before 1949. Brides did not ferrous metals as gold, silver, copper, their long transition from slavery to feudal- tea and medicinal herbs, as well as mineral live with their husbands until the first child aluminum and manganese. Water resources ism. It is extremely important for the study resources such as coal, iron and sulfur. was born. Intermarriage with the Hans and are abundant. of Naxi literature, history and religion. Zhuangs was permissible, but weddings The Naxi language belongs to the The Naxis are fond of singing and danc- History were costly affairs which drained the wealth Chinese-Tibetan language family. More ing, especially at weddings and funerals. Historical records trace the Mulam of a family. than 1,000 years ago, the Naxi people had The most popular songs are descriptive and ethnic group back to the period of the Yuan The Mulams used to be animists, and already created pictographic characters short. They are sung at very high pitch and Dynasty (1271-1368), when their society celebrated a festival every month, the most called the “Dongba” script and a syllabic with strong rhythms, to the accompaniment seems to have been entering the feudal stage. important of which was the Yifan Festival. writing known as the “Geba” script. With of simple dances. The most common musi- The Mulam villages paid tribute in grain to At this celebration, pigs and sheep were these scripts they recorded a lot of beautiful cal instruments are flutes, reed pipes and the imperial court twice a year. slaughtered, dramas and lion and dragon folklore, legends, poems and religious clas- wind-string instruments. The ancient musi- In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) the dances were performed, and the shamans sics. However, they were difficult to master, cal piece, “Baishaxiyue,” which dates back Mulam areas were divided into “Li,” under chanted incantations. The lunar New Year’s and in 1957 the government helped the Naxi to the Yuan Dynasty, was rediscovered and which were “Dongs” -- units of ten house- Day was the Mulam’s New Year, and the design an alphabetic script. Over the past preserved after the founding of the People’s holds. eighth day of the fourth lunar month was few hundred years, as the Naxi people have Republic of China. The Dong chief was responsible for “Ox Birthday,” when the oxen were given come into closer contact with the people in Naxi architecture, sculpture and painting collecting taxes and law and order. The a rest and fed glutinous rice, and wine and other parts of China politically, economi- have reached fairly high standards. More- Dongs were mostly inhabited by families meat were offered to the Ox God. On the cally and culturally, the oral and written over, they are mixed with the traditional sharing the same surname. Later, when they fifth day of the fifth lunar month the Dragon Chinese has become an important means of styles of the Hans and Tibetans. Some fa- increased in size, the Dongs were divided Boat Festival was celebrated. Unlike the communication in Naxi society. mous buildings preserved in Lijiang, such into “Fangs.” Han and Zhuang Dragon Boat festivals, as the “Dabao Palace,” “Glazed Hall,” the Mulams used to carry a paper boat into History “Dading Pavilion” and “Five-Phoenix Economy the fields and a shaman would chant spells According to historical documents, the Chamber,” were all built during the Ming Even prior to 1949, the farming economy to drive away insects and ensure a good forefathers of the Naxi people were closely Dynasty. All the murals in these buildings of the Mulams was comparatively advanced. harvest. The 15th day of the eighth lunar related to a tribe called “Maoniu Yi” in the have the concise and harmonious strokes Farming techniques, crop varieties and tools month was Youth Festival, when young Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220), “Mosha of Tibetan painting, and the style of Taoist were basically the same as those of their people gathered to sing folk songs and make Yi” in the Jin Dynasty (265-420) and “Mox- and Buddhist paintings of the Tang Dynasty. Han and Zhuang neighbors. Oxen and water lovers’ trysts. ie Yi” in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). buffaloes were the main draught animals, Folk songs and “Caidiao” (a form of Between the early 10th century and Minorities continues on Page 13 www.chinainsight.info culture FEBRUARY 2010 > PAGE 13 Minorities from Page 12 mother’s brothers. Women comprised the major crops were maize, buckwheat, barley, Modern Naxi painting has made fresh prog- main labor force, respected at home and in Tibetan barley, potatoes, yams and beans. ress since 1949 outside society. Output was low, as fertilizer was not used and crop techniques were primitive. The Religion Social Economy annual grain harvest was some [220 pounds] Before 1949, most Naxi people were The Naxi communities had reached short of the per capita need and the diet was followers of the “Dongba” religion, which the stage of feudal society long before the supplemented by hunting and fishing using was a form of Shamanism. Sorcerers, called nationwide liberation in 1949, though the bows and poisoned arrows. “Dongba,” were invited to chant scriptures stages of development were not the same. Industry was represented by handicraft at weddings, funerals, the New Year Day In Lijiang, southern Weixi and Yongsheng products made on a cottage-industry basis and other festivals. Some of the Naxis were counties where a feudal landlord economy -- linen, bamboo and wooden articles, followers of Lamaism. Buddhism, Taoism was prevalent, certain factors of capital- iron tools, and liquor. Surplus handicrafts and Christianity only had limited access to ism began to take shape. In Jinjiang and were bartered for necessities in the small the Lijiang area. Sanba in Zhongdian County the remnants markets. of manorial economy could still be found. The Nu people speak a language belong- Before China’s national liberation in Customs and Habits In northern Weixi and part of Ninglang ing to the Tibetan-Myanmese group of the 1949, land ownership took three forms: Naxi women wear wide-sleeved loose counties in Yunnan Province and Yanyuan Chinese-Tibetan language family. It has no primitive communal type, private and gowns, with jackets and long trousers, tied County in Sichuan Province, the main form written form, and, like many of their ethnic group-ownership. The older Nu villages in with richly decorated belts at the waist. of economy was manorial. minority neighbors, the Nus used to keep Bijiang and Fugong retained vestiges of the They often wear sheepskin slung over the The level of agricultural production was records by carving notches on sticks; edu- ancient patriarchal clan system; there were shoulder, on which are seven stars exqui- higher in the landlord economy areas. The cated Nus nowadays use the Han language ten clan communes located in ten separate sitely embroidered, with sun and moon landlords and rich peasants, who accounted (Chinese) for administrative purposes. villages, which each had communal land. symbols, one on each side. This reflects the for 10 per cent of the population, owned 60 The Nu homeland is a country of high According to a 1953 survey, a landlord Naxis’ admiration for diligence -- “people to 70 percent of the land. They exploited the mountains and deep ravines crossed by economy had emerged in Bijiang County, start working early in the morning and do peasants through land rent, usury and hiring the Lancang, Dulong and Nujiang rivers. with an increasing number of land sales, not stop until late in the evening.” Women them as farmhands. The rates of the rent The famous Grand Nujiang Canyon is sur- mortgages and leases. In some places, rich in Ninglang County wear short jackets and ranged from 50 to 80 percent of the crops rounded by mountains, which reach 3,000 peasants exploited their poorer neighbors long skirts reaching the ground, with many harvested and the annual interest rates of the meters above sea level. Dense virgin forests by a system called “washua,” under which folds. They wrap large black cotton turbans usury reached as much as 300 percent. They of pines and firs cover the mountain slopes peasants labored in semi-serf conditions. around their heads and wear big silver ear- also exploited the peasants through their and are the habitat of tigers, leopards, bears, Slavery was practiced in a fraudulent form rings. Men’s garments are similar to those privileges, with the backing of reactionary deer, giant hawks and pheasants. of son adoption. of the Han people. political rulers. They forced the peasants to The area is rich in mineral deposits and Monogamy was the general practice, work for them without pay, to present them valuable medicinal herbs. In addition, with a although a few wealthy landlords and com- with gifts, and to render various kinds of warm climate and plentiful rain, it promises mune headmen sometimes had more than corvee labor. great hydroelectric potential. one wife. After marriage, men would move In the manorial economy areas, the out of the family dwelling and set up a new manorial lords owned almost all the land, Origins and History household with some of the family property. water resources, grasslands and forests. In In the eighth century, the area inhabited The new family, however, still retained a some places, each peasant had to do as many by the Nus came under the jurisdiction of cooperative relationship with the parental as 150 days of unpaid labor a year. The ma- the Nanzhao and Dali principalities, which family and the whole clan. The youngest norial lords in the Yongning area invented were tributary to the Tang (618-907) court. son lived with his parents and inherited their 35 pretexts to exploit the peasants. They During the Yuan and Ming dynasties it property. Women had low social status, do- included the so-called fish tax, water tax, came under the rule of a Naxi headman ing the household chores and working in the firewood tax, death tax, and passer-by tax. in Lijiang. From the 17th century, rulers fields but having no economic rights at all. Under the manorial lord, the commoners comprised various Tibetan and Bai head- The traditional burial forms dictated that were second-class citizens. Generally, the men and Tibetan lamaseries. These rulers males be buried face upward with straight commoners did not own any land, and only usurped the Nus’ land and carried many of limbs, while females lay sideways with bent after they had accepted merciless exploita- them off as slaves. limbs. In the case of a dead couple, the fe- tion, such as heavy taxes and corvees, were From the mid-1850s, the British co- male was made to lie on her side facing the they given a small piece of land. In this lonialists who had conquered Myanmur man and with bent limbs -- symbolizing the way they actually became serfs tied to the pushed up the Nujiang River valley. They submission of the female to the male. When land of the lords. If they failed to pay their were followed by American, French and an adult died, all the members of the clan The traditional festivals include the debts or committed crimes, they could be German adventurers. This caused friction or village commune observed three days of “Farm-Tool Fair” in January, “God of the reduced to the status of household slaves. with the Nu and other minority peoples in mourning. Rain Festival” in March, and “Mule and Completely under their masters’ disposal, the area, such as the Lisu, Tibetan and Drung The Nus live in wooden or bamboo Horse Fair” in July. There are also the Lunar they could be sold, bought, exchanged or ethnic minorities. In 1907, these peoples houses, each usually consisting of two New Year, the Pure Brightness Festival, given as presents. banded together to stage a mass uprising rooms. The outer one is for guests and also the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn During the War of Resistance Against against the encroachments of French mis- serves as the kitchen. In the middle is the Festival and the Torch Festival -- all being Japan in the 1930s and 1940s, foreign trade sionaries. fireplace, with an iron or stone tripod for the same as those of the Hans. in China’s southeastern coastal area came hanging cooking pots from. The inner room Cremation has been a tradition since to a standstill and transport between China Culture and Customs is used as a bedroom and grain storage, and ancient times, but in some of the Naxi areas and Myanmur was blockaded by Japan. is off-limits to outsiders. The houses are the custom of burying the dead was adopted This resulted in an unprecedented boosting built by the common efforts of all the villag- in the late Qing Dynasty. It was common of Sino-Indian trade, and Lijiang became a ers and are usually erected in one day. in the past to chant scriptures at the funeral trading center for India, Tibet and China’s Until the mid-20th century, both men ceremony to expiate the sins of the dead. interior. Millionaire businessmen (some and women wore linen clothes. Girls after The monogamous family under the feu- being Naxis) began to appear. puberty wore long skirts and jackets with dal landlord economy was the main type of Lijiang County had a more developed buttons on the right side. Nu women in Naxi family in Lijiang, Weixi and Yongsh- handicraft industry than the other Naxi areas Gongshan wrapped themselves in two eng counties before liberation. However, where landlord economy predominated. It pieces of linen cloth and stuck elaborately- the man enjoyed a predominant status in covered iron, copper, carpentry, tanning, worked bamboo tubes through their pierced the family while the woman had little say textiles, papermaking, tailoring, construc- ears. Married women in Bijiang and Fugong and was denied the right to inherit property. tion and sculpture. Copper articles and wore coral, agate, shell and silver coin orna- Young people’s marriages were all arranged leather products were particularly famous. Before the founding of the People’s ments in their hair and on their chests. For by their parents. Republic of China in 1949, social develop- earrings they used shoulder-length copper Among some of the Naxi people in The Nu ethnic minority ment was uneven among the various Nu rings. Besides, all Nu women like to adorn Yongning County in Yunnan Province and Population: 27,200 communities. The Nu people in Lanping themselves with thin rattan bracelets, belts Yanyuan County in Sichuan Province, there Major area of distribution: Yunnan and Weixi counties had long entered the and anklets. Nu men wear linen gowns still existed remnants of a matriarchal fam- Language: Nu feudal stage, and their methods of produc- and shorts, and carry axes and bows and ily structure until the eve of the democratic Religion: Polytheism tion and standard of living were similar to arrows. reform after liberation. The pedigree of the The Nu ethnic minority, numbering those of the Hans, Bais and Naxis. There The staple food of the Nus is maize and family was traced back through the maternal some 27,200, live mainly in Yunnan Prov- were vestiges of primitive communalism buckwheat. They rarely grow vegetables. line, and children lived with the mother. The ince’s Bijiang, Fugong, Gongshan and Lan- in the Nu communities in Bijiang, Fugong In the past, just before the summer harvest woman was the head of the family, and the ping counties, which comprise the Nujiang and Gongshan, where private ownership and they had to gather wild plants to keep alive. property was passed to the children through Lisu Autonomous Prefecture. Others are class polarization had only just begun. Both men and women drink large quantities the mother, or to the nephews through the found in Weixi County in the Diqing Tibetan Bamboo and wooden farm tools were Autonomous Prefecture. the main implements of production, and Minorities continues on Page 14 PAGE 14 > FEBRUARY 2010 culture www.chinainsight.info

Minorities from Page 13 stages to a socialist society in the years Horses are indispensable to the Oro- high on trees and offerings are made for the of strong liquor. following the founding of the People’s qens on their hunting expeditions. Hunters souls of dead bears. Oroqens do not work The Nus were animists, and objects Republic in 1949. ride on horses, which also carry their fam- out their hunting plans in advance, because of worship included the sun, moon, stars, With no written script of their own, the ily belongings and provisions as well as they believe that the shoulder blades of wild mountains, rivers, trees and rocks. The Oroqens have a spoken language belonging the game they killed over mountains and beasts have the power to see through a plan shamans were often clan or commune to the Tungus branch of the Manchu-Tun- across marshes and rivers. The Oroqen when one is made. chiefs and practiced divination to ensure gusic group of the Altaic language family. horse is a very sturdy breed with extra- Wind burials are practiced by the Oroqens. good harvests. Apart from that, their duties Most of them have learned to read and write large hooves that prevent the animal from When a person dies his corpse is put into a also included primitive medicine and the the language of the Hans, the biggest ethnic sinking into marshland. hollowed-out tree trunk and placed with head handing down of the tribe’s folklore. Any group in China. pointing south on two-meter high supports small mishap was the occasion for holding The Oroqen population, which stood at in the forest. Sometimes the horse of the an elaborate appeasement rite, involving 4,000 in 1917, dropped to 3,700 in 1943. deceased is killed to accompany the depart- huge waste and hardship to the Nu people. A census taken in 1953 showed that their ing soul to netherworld. Only the bodies of In addition, Lamaism and Christianity had number had plummeted to 2,250. The popu- young people who die of contagious diseases made some headway among the Nus before lation has started to grow slowly but steadily are cremated. liberation. since, and the census in 1982 showed that Monogamy is practiced by the Oroqens The Nus practice an extempore type their number has reached 4,100. The 1990 who are only permitted to marry with people of singing accompanied on the lute, flute, national census showed 7,000. outside their own clans. Proposals for mar- mouth organ or reed pipe. Their dances are Most of the Oroqens live in the [22,000 riage as a rule are made by go-betweens, sent bold and energetic -- mainly imitations of square-mile] Oroqen Autonomous Banner to girls’ families by boys’ families. animal movements. in the Greater Hinggan Mountains. Others Oroqen women, who also hunt, show The Oroqens originally peopled the region have their home in several localities in In- marvelous skill in embroidering patterns north of the Heilong River and south of the New Life ner Mongolia and Heilongjiang Province. of deer, bears and horses on pelts and cloth Outer Hinggan Mountains. But aggression China’s national liberation came to the Situated in Inner Mongolia’s Hulunbuir that go into the making of head gears, and pillaging conducted by Tsarist Russia Nu areas in 1950. Local governments gave League, the Oroqen Autonomous Banner gloves, boots and garments. Oroqen wom- after the mid-17th century forced the Oroqens out free food grains, seeds, farm implements is 97 percent forested land. The seat of the en also make basins, bowls, boxes and to migrate to the Greater and Lesser Hing- and articles of daily use to the Nu people autonomous government is Alihe, a rising other objects from birch barks. Engraved gan Mountains. There were then seven tribes to help them tide over their difficulties and town with highways, railways, cinemas, ho- with various designs and dyed in color, living in a clan commune society. Each clan boost production. In 1954 the Nujiang Lisu tels, department stores, restaurants, electric these objects are artistic works that convey commune called “Wulileng” consisted of five Autonomous Prefecture was established, lighting and other modern amenities. the idea of simplicity and beauty. Taught to a dozen families descended from a male an- which had under its jurisdiction the counties by their mothers while still very young to cestor. The commune head was elected. In the of Bijiang, Fugong, Gongshan, Lushui and History rub fur, dry meat and gather fruit in the commune, which was then the basic economic Lanping (this last incorporated in 1957). On forest, Oroqen girls start to do household unit of the Oroqens, all production tools were October 1, 1956 the Gongshan Drung and work at 13 or 14. Pelts prepared by Oroqen communally owned. The commune members Nu Autonomous County was set up. women are soft, fluffy and light, and they hunted together, and the game bagged was The pace of social reform varied in are used in making garments, hats, gloves, equally distributed to all families. the different Nu areas. For instance, in the socks and blankets as well as tents. The introduction of iron articles and guns more-developed Lanping County, where The Oroqens, who led a primitive life, and the use of horses during the Qing Dynasty feudalism had gained a strong hold, land used to have many taboos. One prohibited (1644-1911) raised the productive forces of reform was carried out, followed by the a woman from giving birth in the home. the Oroqens to a higher level. This gave rise to establishment of cooperatives in 1956. In She had to do that in a little hut built bartering on a bigger scale and the emergence Bijiang, Fugong and Gongshan counties, outside the house in which she would be of private ownership. That brought about pro- where vestiges of primitive communalism confined for a month before she could found social, economic changes. Individual still survived, the government adopted a return home with her newborn. families quit the clan commune and became policy of first developing production and basic economic units. The clan commune had then gradually eliminating exploitation and Customs disintegrated, though members of the same primitive practices. For generations the Oroqens had lived The Oroqens are a race of dancers and clan did live or hunt together in the same area. People from outside were sent in to a life of hunting and fishing in the forests. singers. Men, women and children often Organized under the Qing Dynasty’s “eight promote advanced production techniques, They went on hunting expeditions in groups, gather to sing and dance when the hunt- banner system,” the Oroqens were compelled and start up educational and public health and the game bagged was distributed equally ers return with their game or at festival to enlist in the armed forces and send fur to projects. Special funds were earmarked for not only to those taking part in the hunt, times. the Qing court as tributes. Most soldiers sent irrigation projects, land reclamation, paddy- but also to the aged and infirm. The heads, With a rich and varied repertory of to fight in Xinjiang, Yunnan, Taiwan and other field development and sideline production. entrails and bones of the animals killed were folk songs, the Oroqens sing praises of places lost their lives. Light industries and mining, too, have not distributed but were cooked and eaten nature and love, hunting and struggles in After the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911 gained a foothold among the Nus, and grain by all. Later, deer antlers, which fetched a life in a lively rhythm. Among the most came the rule of warlords who effected some production has increased several times good price, were not distributed but went to popular Oroqen dances are the “Black changes in the administrative setup of the owing to the transformation of poor land the hunters who killed the animals. Bears Fight” and “Wood Cock Dance,” at “eight banner system.” Oroqen youths were into paddy fields. The formerly isolated Nu On the eve of the founding of the PRC which the dancers execute movements like dragged into “forest guerrilla units,” and communities are now linked to each other by in 1949, polarization was quite marked in those of animals and birds. Also popular Oroqen hunters were forced to settle down a network of highways, and some 20 chain some localities where horses, on which is a ritual in which members of a clan to farm. Most of them later fled back to hunt bridges now span the Nujiang, Lancang and Oroqens rode on hunting trips, belonged to gather to perform dances depicting events in the forests. A few whom the warlords had Dulong rivers. individuals. The rich owned a large number in clan history. made officers became landlords who hired At the time of the mid-20th century, only of horses and the poor owned a few. Horses “Pengnuhua” (a kind of harmonica) Oroqen, Han, Manchu and Daur laborers to about 20 people of Nu origin had received were hired out to those hunters who needed and “Wentuwen” (hand drum) are among open up large tracts of land for crops. primary education. Now there are primary them, and payment took the form of game the traditional instruments used. Played The Japanese troops, who occupied schools in all townships and most villages, sent to horse owners. Such a practice gradu- by Oroqen musicians, these instruments northeast China in 1931, pulled down the and a middle school in every county. The ally developed into rent and exploitation of produce tunes that sound like the twitter- cottages and smashed the farm implements majority of Nu children are in school. man by man. ing of birds or the braying of deer. These of the remaining Oroqen farmers and drove Four hospitals and a network of clinics The Oroqens are an honest and friendly instruments are sometimes used to lure them into the forests again. Oroqen youths and community healthcare centers have people who always treat their guests well. wild beasts to within shooting range. were press-ganged into “forest detachments” done much to control dysentery, typhoid, People who lodge in an Oroqen home The Oroqens have many tales, fables, officered by Japanese. The Japanese occupa- cholera and other epidemics. would often hear the housewife say to the legends, proverbs and riddles that have tionists introduced opium smoking to ruin the husband early in the morning: “I’m going been handed down from generation to health of the Oroqen people, some of whom The Oroqen ethnic minority to hunt some breakfast for our guests and generation. were used in bacteria experiments. All this, Population: 7,000 you go to fetch water.” When the guests Being Shamanists or animists, the Oro- coupled with incidence of epidemic diseases, Major areas of Distribution: Inner Mon- have washed, the woman with gun slung qens worship nature and their ancestors, had so decimated the Oroqen population that golia and Heilongjiang over her shoulders would return with a roe and believe in the omnipresence of spirits. only some 1,000 of them remained at the time Language: Oroqen and Han back. The Oroqens are expert hunters. Both Their objects of worship are carefully kept of the Japanese surrender in 1945. People of the Oroqen ethnic minority the males and females are sharp shooters in birch-bark boxes hung high on trees Over a long period of time, the Oroqens group dwell in the forests of the Greater on horseback. Boys usually start to go out behind their tents. had fought alongside other ethnic groups in and Lesser Hinggan Mountains in Northeast on hunting trips with their parents or broth- The Oroqens have a long list of don’ts. China against Tsarist Russian and Japanese China which abound in deer and other wild ers at the age of seven or eight. And they For instance, they never call the tiger by aggression to safeguard national unity. beasts the Oroqens hunt with shot-guns and would be stalking wild beasts in the deep its actual name but just “long tail,” and the New Life After the Founding of PRC dogs. The Oroqens, who lived in a primitive forest all on their own at 17. A good hunter bear “granddad.” Bears killed are gener- communal society four and a half decades is respected by all and young maidens like ally honored with a series of ceremonies; to marry him. their bones are wrapped in straw placed ago, have leap-frogged several historical Minorities continues on Page 15 www.chinainsight.info culture FEBRUARY 2010 > PAGE 15

Minorities from Page 14 The Oroqen ethnic group was saved Taught by Han and Daur farmers, the from extinction and a new life began to Oroqens began to grow crops in 1956. dawn for this ethnic minority in the years And by 1975, the people in the autono- following the conclusion of the Anti-Jap- mous banner became self-supporting in anese War in 1945. Shot-guns, cartridges food-grain for the first time in Oroqen and supplies of food-grain, clothes, cook- history. ing oil and salt were sent to the Oroqens With no industry whatsoever in the by the government in the early days after past, the autonomous banner has now the establishment of the People’s Republic established 37 factories and workshops of China. People sent by the government turning out farm machinery, electric ap- helped them to raise production as well as pliances, flour, powdered milk, furniture, to set up local government. leather, fur and candies. The banner also Following the inception of the Oroqen has built schools, department stores, hos- Autonomous Banner on October 1, 1951, pitals, banks and cinemas. several autonomous townships were set All school-age children are enrolled in up in places where the Oroqens live in primary and middle schools. Every year a compact communities. By 1981, govern- number of youngsters enter institutions of ment allocation for construction in these higher learning. The Oroqen people also places had already amounted to 46 million have their own song and dance troupes, yuan. Working at leading bodies at various film projection teams, broadcast stations levels are Oroqen functionaries. and clubs. While helping the Oroqens to promote Diseases took a heavy toll in the old hunting, the government made efforts to days and 80 percent of the women suf- help them switch over to a diversified fered from gynecological troubles due economy and to lead a settled life. to the lack of doctors and medicine and The building of permanent housing ignorance. They have been put under for the Oroqens got started in 1952 with control with the help of mobile medical government allocations. A dozen villages teams sent by the government, the launch- were built in the Heihe Area for 300 fami- ing of disease-prevention campaigns and lies that used to lead a wandering life in the popularization of the knowledge of 51 widely-scattered localities. Another hygiene. As a result the Oroqen popula- three villages were built for 150 families tion increased to 4,100 in 1982.  in 1958.

Commentary from Page 10 now consolidated, there is room to switch environment, and capital. It also means the policy focus from short term stimulus to increasing private sector participation and structural reforms to rebalance the pattern of removing entry barriers in several service growth and get more growth out of the do- industries. A stronger real exchange rate Griffin from Page 9 mestic economy. What is the best approach would also help improving the terms of More successful, permanent migration including: to achieve this? trade for services (non tradables) compared calls for further liberalization of the Hukou *2008 – Former China Correspondent In my view, increasing the role of con- to manufacturing (tradables). In the financial system and, relatedly, reform of the inter- and current London Bureau Chief for NPR, sumption should be part of the overall rebal- sector, further reform can improve access governmental fiscal system that give local Rob Gifford, China Road: A Journey into the ancing of the pattern of growth, towards less to finance for small and medium sized en- governments the means and incentives to Future of a Rising Power emphasis on industry and investment and terprises and service sector firms. Further fund the necessary public services. More *2007 – Ambassador Jeffrey Bader, more on services and consumption. Such a SOE dividend reform can help channeling rule-based transfers from richer to poorer John L. Thornton China Center, Brookings shift would result in more labor-intensive corporate earnings more efficiently, to either areas would probably need to be part of Institution, China and the Middle East: From growth, with more urban job creation as well government consumption or investment in a this. But, allowing municipalities to benefit revolution to stability…to challenge? as more upward pressure on wages from growth industry. Removing the cap on de- financially from migration, for instance via *2006 – Pieter Bottelier, economist and the higher demand for labor. By boosting posit rates would support household income property taxes, would also help. Further land professor, India’s Growth from the Perspec- the share of wages and household income and consumption as well as efficiency (by reform would both increase the mobility of tive of China’s Experience in GDP, this would increase the role of raising the cost of capital). migrants and, by facilitating land consolida- *2005 – Dr. Arthur Rolnick, a senior consumption in an economically sustain- The second main area of reforms is tion and mechanization, boost incomes and vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank, able way. By rebalancing the relationship supporting more successful, permanent consumption on the countryside.  Minneapolis: Dollars vs. RMB: What Does between the expansion of production ca- migration to the cities, to foster more Source: World Bank Devaluation of the Chinese Currency Mean pacity and consumption capacity, it would labor-intensive, service sector-oriented, and http://go.worldbank.org/WMR4R5IF00 for the U.S. Economy? also reduce the external imbalance (the consumption-based growth there. China’s *2004 – Panel discussion with Mr. Mi- trade surplus). More labor-intensive urban traditional migration pattern has meant chael Jemal, president of Haier America; Mr. growth would help reducing surplus labor that family members have often stayed in Charles Lee, author of the book, Cowboys in agriculture as well, thus raising rural per the rural areas, with migrants saving most ASIAN and Dragons: Shattering the Cultural Myths capita income and therefore the capacity to of their income and sending it back to the to advance Chinese/American Business; and consume on the countryside. Rebalancing country side. This pattern served well the BLOOD DONORS Counselor Tian Jun of the Economic Affairs would also make growth less intensive in traditional growth pattern centered around Office at the Chinese Embassy, chief nego- energy and resources and be less detrimental export-oriented manufacturing. However, Individuals of multi-ethnic tiator of the China’s Accession to WTO to the environment. a rebalanced pattern of growth requires descent (Asian, Pacific Island- *2003 – Professor Jiang Zhenghua, vice What kind of policies are most suited? adjustment to the migration pattern. If mi- er, Hispanic/Latino, African chairman, Standing Commmitte of the Na- Building on the substantial progress grants are able to take their families with American, Mixed Race) are tional People’s Congress of China: China’s made in recent years, there is further room them to the cities, with their children able to New Leadership: China’s Perspectives on to increase the government’s role in financ- go to normal urban schools, they will start desperately needed to register U.S.-China Relations ing health, education, and social safety. In to spend more of their income in the cities. as potential marrow/stem cell *2002 – Dr. David Aikman, a senior addition, structural reforms in two areas This will set in motion powerful “feedback” donors. fellow at Washington’s Ethics and Public are key. effects boosting urban service sector activ- Policy Center and a former senior corre- One important area of reform is measures ity, employment, and consumption. Much Yo u c o u l d b e t h e o n e spondent of Time Magazine: U.S.-Chinese to ensure that, as China’s growth needs to be of the service sector activity generated this Relations in the Global Context led more by services and less by industry, way will not be high brow. However, given t o s a v e a l i f e b y *2001 – Mr. John Holden, president of new resources are channeled to the growth the still very large gap between urban and r e g i s t e r i n g a s a the National Committee on U.S.-China Re- sectors. This calls for making service sec- rural productivity, such additional urban lations; Professor Qi Xiyu, People’s Univer- tor production more attractive, compared to employment will boost overall growth. By p o t e n t i a l d o n o r . sity, Beijing, China; and Regents Professor industrial production. This means removing improving the quality of education of chil- Leonid Hurwicz, Department of Economics, the subsidies to industry by raising currently dren of migrants, such a migration pattern Call 1-800-59-DONOR toll free University of Minnesota: China’s Western underpriced prices of inputs into industry will also be good for long term productivity Development  such as land, energy, water, electricity, the growth. for more information. PAGE 16 > FEBRUARY 2010 finance www.chinainsight.info