China Council

#43, July - September, 1991 Who Says China Can't be Democratic?

hina's political problems are so immense that current generation. Such perspective correctly point Cmany observers doubt that its government can to the enormous difficulty of changing feudal ways of ever become democratic. Since 1911 governments in thinking, including paternalism, the lack of individu- China have used the language of democracy to legiti- alism, and powerful group loyalties. mize their power, but China is still not a democratic nation. However, although democratizing China is a However such analyses fail to recognize that West- difficult project, it is not an impossible one, even ern culture once posed similar obstacles, yet they when we review some of the obstacles to Chinese were overcome. Consider the political theories of democracy from the perspective of the West's own John Locke, who wrote in the 17th century after the political history. English Revolution. Locke is known today as a theo- rist of the relationship between individuals and a 1. Many hold that the power of the Chinese state state created by a social contract. Yet in Locke's great and Chinese Communist Party are a fundamental work, The Two Treatises on Government, the world of hindrance. In the West, however, the rise of democ- triumphant individualism did not yet exist. Locke racy paralleled a process of increasing state authority wrote expressly to refute the then-popular work of that confronted critical public problems and Sir Robert Filmer, who argued for absolutism on the removed the anarchy of competing power centers. basis of patriarchal authority. In a formula familiar to Scholars talk about the" pacification" of disorderly any twentieth century Chinese, Filmer argued that societies as a precondition for the emergence of West- the family was the model for the state: follow your ern democracy. The West's strong states were father-king's orders and all will be well with the restricted by civil rights protections for their citizens, world. Locke and other early Western democratic by legal systems, by parliaments, or by written and theorists lived in a time when most people held pro- unwritten constitutions. Simply to weaken political foundly undemocratic beliefs, hostile to individual authority in China is unlikely to bring about a more liberty. China today is no worse than Europe three democratic order. However, strengthening the rights centuries ago. European culture changed; there is no of citizens, while retaining the state's political capac- reason to believe that Chinese culture, a marvelously ity to transform an impoverished nation, is a nar- resilient system of values, will not change as well. rower and more feasible task 3. China's poverty is an obvious disadvantage. 2. Traditional Chinese culture is also frequently Although examples such as Nazi Germany and blamed. Many Chinese intellectuals accept the analy- Kuwait remind us that national prosperity does not sis of the popular television documentary, River guarantee democracy, nonetheless it is extremely dif- Elegy: reformist and revolutionary movements batter ficult to develop democracy where people lack ade- in vain against traditional culture, which repeatedly quate food, shelter and education. For China, the rises from the grave to wreak destruction upon the problem is even more serious, as recent strategies for

1 China Council Quarterly industrialization rest upon participation in an inter- reluctant to play an active role (in the 1989 demon- national economic regime in which China sells prod- strations) because he had been saddened by witness- ucts made by a low-wage, disciplined work force. ing the previous short-lived student movements and This strategy may not be easily compatible with realized that most of them were manipulated by the greater democracy. Pressures to increase wages and factions within the Communist Party for their own workers' rights may well undercut China's competi- ends." The fear of manipulation is reasonable. But tive advantage and be resisted by the government, only by running this risk can activists ever manipu- perhaps forcefully. Certainly the 1989 violence fell late factions within the Party. Real democracy is harder on workers than on students as Beijing's lead- never tidy; Chinese activists who wait for a pure ers demonstrated their intolerance of social disorder. democracy, untarnished by involvement with unsa- vory powerholders, will wait a long time. Although China's outward-looking strategy for over- coming its poverty may make the government less 5. Less often mentioned is a naive veneration of tolerant of democratic demands, this strategy none- American political institutions. American politics theless demands systematic bonds to the outside look pretty good to Chinese democrats, but conversa- world, some of which encourage the flow of new tions in China reveal an impressively starry-eyed ideas and information. The most important of these idealization of our system of government. Many outside ties are to Hong Kong and Taiwan. Despite Americans are aware of our shortcomings in living the Beijing massacre, trends to reunify China con- up to our own democratic ambitions; for example, tinue. Hong Kong's reunion in 1997 is fixed, for bet- fewer than half the eligible voters participated in the ter or worse. Taiwan has intensified its investment in last presidential election, and other elections are the mainland while slackening its resistance to deal- decided by even smaller minorities. Our powerful ing with the Communist government. Taiwan, Hong lobbies and pressure groups are notoriously biased Kong and the People's Republic now have demo- toward the wealthy. The United States is not alone in cratic movements, each developed in response to falling short. No existing democratic government is local conditions. These movements are in a position without serious blemish. But if an unrealistic perfec- to share information and tactics as they strive to tion is demanded, there is little recourse but cyni- democratize a China which is increasingly unified cism and passivity when the governments of economically even as it remains separated politically. Denmark, Kerala or Wisconsin turn out to practice an imperfect democracy. Democracy is more usefully 4. Many believe that social and economic turmoil regarded not as an end, but as a process. Democracy accompanying rapid change is harmful to demo- may be seen to be under constant challenge in all cratic development. In the West, democracy devel- nations. To insist on a rigid dichotomy between dem- oped over long periods of intense social conflict. ocratic and undemocratic nations encourages smug- When political elites were divided, one faction often ness by citizens of the former and despair by those triumphed temporarily by making concessions to of the latter. previously disenfranchised classes of citizens. China's continuing conflict may provide ordinary cit- I do not want to be a Pollyanna: China's problems izens opportunities to force greater democracy upon are grave, and democratization is a difficult job, their elites in the course of political struggles. achievable only after many years of struggle. Yet it is feasible. Nothing about China, its culture, or its citi- Some of China's democratic activists want to imple- zens makes democracy a hopelessly ambitious goal. ment democracy as a complete and perfect system, avoiding involvement in less pure politics altogether. Richard Kraus This is understandable but somewhat unrealistic. For instance, Hou Xiaotian, wife of jailed dissident Wang Juntao, recently wrote that her husband "was _SP_E_C_IA_L_E_V_E_N_T_S __ ~

China Council Quarterly Get Back Into Chinese: 5 Week Summer Published by the Northwest Regional China Council. Review P.O. Box 751 Portland, Oregon 97207 (503) 725-4567 Class will be repeated in four sessions: Acting Editor: Lois Baker Janzer. Wednesday mornings, July lO-August 7,9-11 AM Published quarterly. Thursday evenings, July ll-August 14(exceptfor August 1), 7-9 PM

2 China Council Quarterly Wednesday mornings, August 28-September 25, 9- government policy, and, if so, should it use MFN or 11 AM some other means? How will ending MFN for China Thurp~ evenings, August 29-September 26, 7-9 affect Oregon and the US? PSU, Smith Center, room 28 Giving brief presentations of their views will be a Cost is $50, members; $75, non-members diverse group of speakers, including Nike,Inc. Presi- dent Richard Donahue, who will have just returned his five week review of Chinese through the from China; Consul Li Wenqun of the Commercial Tintermediate level (roughly equivalent to two section of the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco; a years of college level Chinese) is designed for those representative of the Hong Kong Government; Gao who need a quick review to get them back into Hong, Northwest representative of the Independent speaking or reading/ writing Chinese. Meant for Chinese Students and Scholars Fede ation;Richard those who will be reviewing through this level Suttmeier, political scientist, University of Oregon; rather than learning the material for the first time, and Marc Thomas, Amnesty International, who has sessions will be kept small, from 4----8 students. No worked with several Chinese seeking political asy- English will be used in class. lum because of their activities during the 1989 Yang Feng, an enthusiastic and experienced teacher democracy movement. from Wuhan who has won several awards in China We are also inviting the Oregon Congressional dele- for developing innovative teaching methods, will gation, and representatives of the B sh Administra- teach the class. Jonathan Pease, head of the Chinese tion and Hong Kong Government. Mark Sidel of department at PSU, will consult. Lewis & Clark Law School will moderate. The Material from A Guide to Proper Usage of Spoken Chi- forum is co-sponsored with the International Trade nese (Chinese University Press) and Everyday Chinese Institute. (New World Press) will be used, and can be obtained by calling the China Council office (725-4567). Par- Indelible Images: China's New Cinema ticipants will be given assignments to work on throughout the week so that class time can be u~i- A Film Festival and Brunch/Symposium lized to practice material studied, answer questions Saturday and Sunday, August 10 and 11 . and introduce new material. Northwest Film and Video Center, Oregon Art Institute Sign up for the review soon by calling the China 1219 SWPark (films at OAI auditorium, symposium in Sculpture Court) Council office, 725-4567. Films show on Saturday, 7 and 9 PM; Sunday, 1:30,5, and 7 PM; Brunch/Symposium, 10:30 AM-1 PM (see calendar of events for details) CHINArl Films: $4, members; $5, public. Brunch, Symposium 19905 a~ and 1:30 PM showing of Iu Dou: $12, members; $15, public. Forum on China's Most-Favored-N ation Status he China Council, The Asia Society and the TNorthwest Film and Video Center are presenting four innovative Chinese films by a bold new genera- Wednesday, July 17 tion of Chinese filmmakers.With the appearance of 8:30 AM-Noon Two World Trade Center, Auditorium, 25 SW Salmon, Yellow Earth in 1984, a number of films from this Bridge Level .. group received critical international acclaim and No admission charge; call 725-4567 for iniormation won major prizes at film festivals from Tokyo to Ber- lin. In 1988, Zhang Yimou's Red Sorghum was the centerpiece of the New York Film Festival. This year, he China Council has organized this forum so [u Dou was an Academy Award nominee for Best that Oregonians can examine all sides of one of T Foreign Film in spite of the fact that the Chinese gov- the most controversial foreign policy debates to hit ernment had banned its showing in China and the US Congress in several years.· Should we pre- attempted to withdraw the film from consideration serve economic ties with China in an attempt to for an Oscar. encourage reform, or instead respond forcefully to China's human rights and other abuses by withdraw- On Saturday and Sunday, the four films (t~e three. ing trade privileges? Should the US gove~ent mentioned above and The Black Cannon Incidents WIll attempt, through legislation, to influence Chmese be shown and on Sunday, a dim sum brunch/ sympo-

3 China Council Quarterly sium will feature four prominent China scholars teers helped with two events, a bookwarrning for who will share insights on the culture and cinema of The Fourth Question and Chinese American Fact and Fic- China. The program is made possible by the tion: Shirley Cheung, Paul Cheung, Aaron Rasmus- National Endowment for the Humanities. sen, Michelle Frazier, Victor Leo, Pam and Neil Linegar, Carol Vreeland, Ian Brandon, Christine Rich- Paul Clark, film scholar from the East West Center's ardson, D. Roberts, Nancy Dollahite, Agnes Kwan, Institute of Culture and Communication, will dis- cuss the state of Chinese film during the Cultural Maxine Clostennann, Gao Hong and Robert Leong. Handing out China Council information at the Revolution and how Chen Kaige's Yellow Earth trans- accompanying Chinese American film programs formed Chinese film, moving from" socialist real- were Gao Hong, Ian Brandon, Peter Wonacott, Liu ism" to a more naturalistic and humanistic approach Meiru and Kelly Lundquist. Our May 22 World to filmmaking. Trade Week seminar involved Shelly Pittman and Stephanie Hoare, film scholar from Colgate Univer- Tim Cushing. sity, discusses Zhang Yimou's Red Sorghum, which parallels the life of an intrepid young woman with Grateful Thanks to Spring Contributors the history of China in the turbulent 1930s and '40s, and tells why it created a sensation in the People's ,-wo foundation grants for the China 1990s project Republic and abroad. I were received this spring: $1,000 from the Clark Paul Pickowicz, film scholar from the University of Foundation and $5,000 from The Collins Founda- California, San Diego, focuses on The Black Cannon tion, a substantial boost to the coffers for such activi- Incident, which chronicles the frustration of a dedi- ties as the China Information Bulletin and events like cated engineer i the face of senseless bureaucratism the July meeting on China's Most Favored Nation in his job, and looks at the human tragedy facing Chi- status. nese intellectuals. Schwabe, Williamson and Wyatt has renewed as Charles Qianzhi Wu, professor of Chinese language Founder for the third year; First Interstate Bank has and literature at Reed College, compares the film]u renewed as a Patron. Other renewing corporate Dou with the novella from which it came, Fuxi, Fuxi, members this quarter have been the University of examining the social and political implications of Oregon's Center for Asian and Pacific Studies, this drama of adulterous passion and the film's new Accents Oriental, Perkins Coie, Linfield College, level of sophistication compared to its predecessors. Blackwell North America, Pacific Development, Willamette University, and Key Bank of Oregon. Pacific Development is also the corporate sponsor CHINA COUNCIL NEWS ¥ of an upcoming China Council exhibition of scrolls painted by children in our sister province, Fujian, Much Appreciation to China Council which is being organized by member Ed Murray. Volunteers Among non-corporate members, special thanks go to Major Donors Matthew and Xiaomei Rouse (who send greetings from Hong Kong) and Sponsors Ger- e are constantly calling for help with events ald Robinson, Ralph Gilbert, Norman Locke, Joyce and office work. Among those who have W Crane, Daniel and Rusty Goldy, C.H. and Pauline responded generously have been: Lois Lieber, a reg- Wright, and Joan Frances and John Sinclair. Other ular office volunteer; Rose Stephenson, Gretchen contributors were Don and Joan Whitehead. Ross, Bruce MacGibbon, Ann Zoll, Rachel Ransom, Wang Xiaoyang, Shirley Cheung, and Ken Hanawa who have helped assemble bulk mailings; and Jean Quarterly and Bulletin Editors Resign Qiu Winters, Christine Pham, Ma Yidong, Marilyn Cobo, and Ellie Pine. iane Fox, who edited this Quarterly for a year, Dhas been spending 1991 in Hanoi, Vietnam Ian Brandon, Shelly Pittman,Michelle Frazier, Chuck teaching English under the Volunteers in Asia pro- Woods and Tim Cushing worked at the April 20 pol- gram. Acting in her place for the last issue was icy meeting on our Chinese sister relationships, and China Council staff member Gaelle Snell and for this Chuck and Shelly helped again at the Soaring Crane issue writer Lois Janzer, who teaches English at Port- Qigong event on April 30. On May 11 many volun- land Community College and has just returned her-

4 China Council Quarterly self from a teaching assignment in Suzhou. Unfortu- 4. Tickets to sports or recreational events. nately, the China Council and Portland will be losing 5. Personal services: messages, public relations or Fox to Palo Alto, where she will move upon her advertising, house-cleaning, estate planning. return from Hanoi, to become co-ordinator of Volun- teers in Asia's Vietnam and China projects. We 6. Trips: vacation packages, condo or cabin space, thank her for continuing to improve the Quarterly's airline tickets. style and coverage and wish her well in this exciting 7. Celebrity events: golf, dinner or trips with a celeb- new job, an ideal r China-related" career. We are rity. seeking a new editor, someone who has the time and flexibilty to volunteer at least ten hours once a quar- Please contact the office at 725-4567 as soon as possi- ter to writing and editing articles, has extensive ble if you can provide any of the above, or if you knowledge of China affairs and is an excellent have ideas for other contributions. We really need writer / editor. your support. Nancy Dollahite, our China Information Bulletin edi- tor is also leaving us for an English teaching job abroad, spending a year teaching and training _C_H_IN_A_R_E_S_O_U_R_C_E_S __ ~ English teachers in Universidad de Celaya in central Mexico. This position (small honorarium paid for State Library; Receives Books From each issue produced, under the China 1990s grant) Fujian Province requires experience in editing and writing (prefera- bly as a professional), up-to-date knowledge on cur- he Oregon State Library recently received nearly rent events in the Chinese world, the ability to work T40 books through its sister-library relationship with volunteers, and the time and flexibility to meet with the Fujian Provincial Library. Most include deadlines every two months to produce this eight- English text; some have text in both English and Chi- page subscription periodical. See the article in China nese. Many of them are descriptions of areas in Fuj- Resources for a description of the Bulletin. Dollahite's ian Province that are not commonly known to development of the Bulletin into a lively and useful Westerners. publication has been much praised, with subscribers throughout the country. We hope a new editor can The books include two good general reference be found to maintain the high standards she has works: Atlas of the People's Republic of China and established. If you are interested, call the China China: A Statistical Survey in 1987. Several of the Council before July 15-725-4567. books provide valuable glimpses of China and Chi- nese life. Chinese Recipes for the Home Kitchen has Second Annual Chinese New Year's over 100 pages of quthentic Chinese recipes for a Dinner and Auction variety of dishes. The Great Wall near Beijing includes photographs of narrow, circuitous portions of the he China Council's second annual Chinese New Wall not seen in most travel books. Two books of TYear's dinner and auction has been scheduled particular cultural interest are Chinese Shadow Puppet for February 8, 1992. The first year's event proved to Plays and Folk Customs at Traditional Chinese Festivities. be the most successful fund-raiser we've ever had, All books are available on loan from the State even with only partial support from the board and Library. membership. Because next year's budget requirements will be 1992-93 Fulbright Visiting higher than this year's, we hope everyone will be Scholar-in-residence Program able to contribute items, services or events to the auc- tion. Here are some suggestions: Scolleges and universities, including commu- 1. Dinners: catering in private homes or restaurant Unity colleges, are invited to submit proposals for donations. Fulbright grants to host visiting lecturers from 2. Tickets to theater or museum events. abroad. The purpose of the program is to initiate or develop international programs at colleges and uni- 3. Home or office items: furniture, accessories, art- versities by using a scholar-in-residence to interna- work, antiques. tionalize the curriculum, set up global studies or

5 China Council Quarterly area-specific programs, or otherwise expand con- Economic Review, Xing Tao and the Chinese section of tacts of students and faculty with other cultures. the Foreign Broadcasting Information Services(FBIS). Preference is given to proposals in the humanities or About thirty volunteers read the sources, clip rele- social sciences, although other fields focusing on vant items and, under the direction of Bulletin editor international is ues will be considered. Nancy Dollahite, write concise articles bringing together information on a number of topics=-econ- Deadline is November 1,1991. Application materi- omy, the people of China, politics, dissidence, the als and proposal guidelines may be obtained by con- arts and others. Recent articles included an anno- tacting: Council for International Exchange of tated bibliography of books since Tiananmen. Scholars, 3007 Tilden St., NW, Suite 5M, Box NEWS, Washington DC 20008-3009 (202-686-7866). "The Bulletin is a way of sharing the resources of the China Council," explains the editor. "Some of us Fall Courses on Chinese Culture & read widely in one area; some in another. Through Women in China the Bulletin we can share what we learn. We seek to provide information that is otherwise hard to find." ai Yuyu, visiting scholar from Beijing Normal Under the terms of the Meyer Memorial Trust grant, CUniversity, will teach two classes at Portland the Bulletin is sent free to corporate members of the State University. Introduction to Chinese Culture will China council, to major organizations interested in explore the development of Chinese culture, with China and to certain libraries. It is also available by discussions of Chinese language, philosophy, reli- subscription ($10 members; $20 non-members). The gion, traditional food and tea, art, foreign trade and next issue will be out in early July. the influence of cultural exchange. The course is intended to help travelers to China adapt to the local culture. The two-credit course will be held Tues- _H_V_M_A_N_R_E_S_O_V_R_C_E_S_¥ days, October I-December 10,5:30-7:20 PM. Women in China will provide a general introduction Teacher Needed in Suzhou to the role and status of Chinese women in historical uzhOUInstitute of Urban Construction and Envi- and contemporary society. Material includes the his- ronmental Protection is looking for an experi- torical background of the Chinese women's libera- S enced English teacher for the 1991-2 school year. tion movement, the role of Chinese women in Requirements include a BA in English or TESOL current reforms, the ways in which women have with five years of teaching experience, or MA in been affected by recent economic reform including English or TESOL with three years experience. Send changing concepts of marriage and family life, as resume and letter to Mr. Tang Ronglong, Deputy Sec- well as changes in women's employment patterns, tion Chief, Foreign Affairs Office, Suzhou Municipal education and p litical participation. The two- Government, 115 Shi Quan St, Suzhou, Jiangsu Prov- credit course will be held Mondays, September 30- ince, PRe. December 9, 4--6 PM. For registration information for these classes, contact the School of Extended Studies at Portland State University at 725-4812. _FI_L_M_R_E_V_IE_W ¥ China Information Bulletin Thousand Pieces of Gold 1\ re you looking for a way to keep up on China r\news without spending a lot of time? ne of the most significant books relating to Chi- nese American history and culture has been The China Information Bulletin, an eight-page O Ruthanne Lum McCunn's Thousand Pieces of Gold, bimonthly digest of news about China published by the chronicle of a Chinese woman, Lalu Nathoy, sold the Northwest China Council as part of its China in China into a slavery which eventually brought her 19905 grant from Fred Meyer, may be just what you to work as a saloon bond servant in gold rush Idaho. need. Through her own ability and courage, Lalu freed her- The Bulletin selects and condenses news from some self and became a noted local figure. Now the book thirty newspape s, journals and radio and TV has served as a basis for a film of the same name. sources, including the New York Times, Far Eastern The director, Nancy Kelly, used historic photographs

6 China Council Quarterly as the basis for startlingly accurate sets for many Chung & Co. Museum in John Day and attend the scenes; the gold rush era in San Francisco and in opening of "Gum San: The Land of the Golden Idaho's Salmon River mining camps is pictured with Mountain" at the High Desert Museum in Bend. great fidelity. Unfortunately, the character of Lalu loses much of its depth as the film ultimately We will leave Portland by bus on Friday, September becomes a rather conventional love story, a depar- 20 and visit the John Day Fossil Be s National Monu- ture from the focus of the text. But by cinematic stan- ment on our way to John Day where we will spend dards this is still a good film, and one which should Friday night. In John Day we will visit the Kam Wah be seen by all those with an interest in the nineteenth Chung and Co. Museum and the G ant County His- century American west or Chinese American history torical Society in nearby Canyon City. and culture. From John Day we will travel to Be d to enjoy the Gum San exhibit of artifacts and historic and contem- JeffreyBarlow porary photographs illustrating the role and import- ance of the Chinese in the Intermountain West and Pacific Coast. We will arrive in time for the opening _C_H_IN_A_T_O_U_RS ~ ceremonies, and there will be enough time to visit the Museum's permanent exhibits, including those Tibet Through Tibetan Eyes relating to the Chinese settlers in the area. After a night in Bend we will return to Portland, trip to Tibet in the summer of 1992 is being stopping at Timberline lodge for a specially pre- Aplanned by the Travel Committee. We hope to pared lunch uniting Chinese and Oregon cuisine. have Tibetan guides and a full series of educational programs preceding the trip so that we can see the Jeffrey Barlow and Christine Richardson are ideal country and the culture through the eyes of the guides for this tour. They inventoried the Kam Wah Tibetan people. Chung and Co. Museum and co-a thored China Doc- tor of John Day, a biography of Ing Hay and are pri- Related activities include a possible Portland visit by mary consultants for the High Desert Museum's the Dalai Lama, which is being planned by the China exhibit. Council's Program Committee. The TIbet tour also will follow the Oregon Art Institute's "Art of the In the construction camps of the Transcontinental Himalayas" exhibition which will be at the Portland Railroad across the Sierras and the Nevada desert, as Art Museum from March through May 1992. placer miners and laborers in the mining districts, chuckwagon cooks on high desert ranches, cannery Tentative plans call for about ten days in Tibet, con- workers on the Pacific Coast, and as domestic work- siderably longer than most tours spend there. The ers in settlements and cities, the Chinese were active remaining time will be in Chengdu and Hong Kong but frequently-overlooked participants in the settle- for a total duration of about 18 days. ment and development of the region. We are committed to making the trip affordable, but The Chinese were very important in Eastern Oregon the costs for travel to China have been increasing in the mid-to-late-nineteenth century. The 1870 cen- rapidly and Tibet is particularly expensive. So start sus lists 960 whites and 2,468 Chinese miners in the saving for this exciting trip now! area. The Kam Wah Chung & Co. building, still standing with only minor restoration, was the center Marcia Weinstein of the Chinese community until the early 1940's. Ing Hay and lung On, two young immigrants, pur- Tour to Explore Chinese in Oregon chased the building in 1887 and supplied first min- History ers and then the local community with a variety of domestic and imported goods. These are still pre- he Northwest China Council is sponsoring a trip served in the museum, as well as t e more than 1,000 Tto explore the early history of the Chinese in Ore- herbs used by Ing Hay, the most famous herbal doc- gon. China scholars Jeffrey Barlow and Christine tor between Seattle and San Francisco. Richardson will lead the tour, which lasts from Fri- day, September 20 through Sunday, September 22. "Doc" Hay was also the chief prie t for the Chinese Participants will visit a unique site, the Kam Wah and the building contains one major and several

7 China Council Quarterly minor religious shrines and a wealth of other arti- some of the Old West decor of the previous tenant facts relating to daily life. remains, the food is decidedly Chinese and bears Lou's distinctive style. In addition to the menu items The cost ($235 per person double occupancy for of the previous address such as Lou's General Tso's members and $260 for non-members) includes all chicken and String Beans Sichuan Style, Formosa transportation, admissions, escorts, overnight accom- Harbor has added several new dishes. A unique modation in two-bedded rooms, a hearty morning appetizer demonstrates the Japanese influence in Tai- snack and box I nch on Friday, and lunch at Timber- wan cuisine: Seaweed Shrimp Rolls are created from line Lodge on Sunday and a $25 tax-deductible a family recipe, and consist of savory pieces of donation to the Council. Single room supplement is shrimp rolled in up in a thin, pleasantly-chewy sea- $35. (Dinner Friday and breakfast Saturday in John weed wrapper. Fish Filletwith Spicy Soup is another Day and lunch and dinner Saturday, Breakfast Sun- extraordinary dish presented for the first time. Color- day in Bend are on your own.) A $ deposit is ful and aromatic, the fiery liquid surrounds small required at the time of registration of which $25 is slices of fish, spinach, mushrooms, onion, carrot refundable if the reservation is canceled before slices and pieces of you tiao, the fried bread most August 15; final payment is due a month in advance commonly served with rice porridge. Those who (August 22). graze the city looking for transcendent hot and sour For further information please call the China council soups will appreciate this offering's riot of delightful office at 725-4567. contrasts: the you tiao retains its surface crispness even as the interior softens with broth; the mild flav- Marcia Weinstein ors of fish and spinach contrast with the incendiary soup. Formosa's Shiny Chicken is a variation on dishes of its type: whole or half fowl, sectioned and EATING arranged on a platter, with some form of dipping CHINESE STYLE sauce or seasoning. In this case the crisp-fried chicken is bathed in a piquant soy, garlic, ginger and onion sauce. And as always, Lou's presentation is a Formosa Harbor 915 SW 2nd Avenue, Portland visual delight. His signature flourish is a garnish fashioned from vegetables or turnips, often in the hen a restaurant becomes a favorite, and one shape of a butterfly or flower. Wslips into it comfortably and often, the physical place becomes linked with the pleasures encoun- Clients of the Formosa past and present will note tered there-perhaps that is why many successful another addition to its service, a beer and wine restaurants do not thrive once they've expanded or license, which will allow Lou and Ruby to offer Chi- moved. nese, American and microbrew beers, and a limited selection of wine: Also, the restaurant will soon be For those who remember-and appreciate-For- open seven days a week, 11:30 AM until 10 PM, and mosa Harbor's modest facility on SW 11th, the parking in a nearby lot can be validated. restaurant's new home at 915 SW 2nd Ave may be a disappointment: the cavernous wood and weathered brick facility is somewhat awesome, especially when Even though change is the spice of life and the ingre- contrasted with uby and Lou's humble beginnings. dient which lends adventure to the dining out experi- ence it is often an intrusion on our search for But those most familiar with Tsai Chen-Lu (Lou, as , pleasure; restaurant clientele thrive on consistency he prefers to be called) and his indefatigable partner, once they've found a place and a menu to their lik- Ruby, know that they are capable of surprising the ing. But food enthusiasts and past admirers of For- skeptics: these restaurateurs work tirelessly at their mosa Harbor need not be dismayed by what is business, serve excellent Chinese cuisine with a dis- different about the restaurant. Instead, they can be tinctive Taiwanese style, and, not wanting to meddle pleased with what has remained the same-Ruby's with what has worked in the past, regularly consult unpretentious charm, and Lou's dependable skill in their fengshui master. the kitchen. The new space, occupied several years ago by a res- taurant known as Rodeo, is still fronted by a remark- able door completely sheathed in copper. While John Sinclair

8 China Council Quarterly sive for students and scholars to work successfully CHINAD"J in China. In 1984 Ed Murray of Phoenix High 1990S ff School arranged to hire a teacher fr m Fujian Nor- mal University to teach Chinese at his school and at Our Chinese Sister Southern Oregon State College; Mr. Murray has also organized art exchanges with Fujia children. The Relationships: Where Beaverton Sister Cities Foundation recently sent 31 Are They Going? young violinists to Taiwan, and initial efforts have been made to establish a Suzhou-style garden in Portland. anelists and audience at the April 20 China 19905 Ppolicy meeting at Portland State University reaf- Although the goal of Sister Cities International is to firmed the importance of initiating and sustaining involve ordinary citizens, it is important for govern- sister ties despite differing expectations of the part- ment to playa supporting role, according to John ners, and in the case of China since Tiananmen, Salisbury, State Coordinator. Panelists expressed the diminished levels of public interest and trade. hope that the enthusiasm and energy of individuals such as Dr. E. L. Khoo, Ed Murray,Beaverton Mayor Interest in the culture of one-fifth of the world's pop- Larry Cole and many others may someday be met ulation, the establishment of person-to-person ties with government funding. with Chinese people, and the opening of global con- tacts can be served by sister city relationships, Lois Janzer according to several speakers. Further, world peace may be encouraged through personal ties of people COMMENTS FROM from different cultures. READERS These relationships move slowly; it is important to May 9, 1991 take a long-term view, according to David Wu of the Portland-Suzhou Sister City Association. At pres- Dear Editor; ent, the Chinese see the U.S. as a potential market and source of technology, whereas Americans stress Since the China Council has recently sponsored two cultural understanding. Panelists pointed out that events on qigong exercise and philosophy, I thought while the Chinese come to the U.S. as official repre- that the editors and staff of the China Council Quar- sentatives, sister city activities here are mainly terly would be interested to learn that the qigong planned by citizen groups; we are often unable to movement is now in official disfavor with the gov- reciprocate hospitality at the same level offered in ernment of the People's Republic. According to Fred- China. Our politicians are sometimes criticized for erick Wakeman, Jr., the Haas Professor of Asian travel to sister cities, but Chinese politicians see sis- Studies at the University of California at Berkeley, ter city ties as a unique opportunity to traveL assemblies of qigong students and masters have been prohibited in many parts of the country. Moreover, Deniel Banks, Task Force on the Mayor's Interna- the national qigong association, which had more than tional Affairs Office, stressed that because sister city fifty million members, has been declared a form of association members are perceived as quasi-govern- political party that will not be allowed to continue to mental officials, the Mayor's office must help these exist. groups with protocoL Panelists felt there must be more business involvement in sister city activities, The political predicament of qigong is an indication including that of Oregon businesses operating in of the difficulties faced by your upcoming guest, Liu China and Taiwan. Binyan, and other advocates of democracy in China. The treatment of qigong groups fits into a pattern of Panelists believed educational and cultural official behavior which is all too apparent and exchanges have been more successful than attempts deplorable. In Prof. Wakeman's words, "it (the sup- at economic ties. Chris Sproul, Oregon State System pression of the qigong association) is just one more of Higher Education (OSSHE), stated that once busi- sign that China's present leaders have no tolerance ness interest in China increases, more students are at all for even the faintest specter of an autonomous likely to enroll in OSSHE study programs in Fujian sphere of public life." Information regarding the and Beijing. Richard Kraus, University of Oregon, suppression of qigong should be published in the said that official ties make it easier and less expen- Quarterly as part of the China Council's mission to

9 China Council Quarterly "deepen public understanding ... of contemporary mentioned, while she was still here, closer govern- affairs." The China Council could otherwise inadver- ment surveillance over qigong gatherings after June tently mislead its members or give them a false '89, especially prohibiting loitering after practice, impression of Chinese normality if it simply show- and denunciation of alleged charlatans. Shen has cases qigong as a cultural phenomenon without a dis- also heard of like cases. The May 25 issues of cussion of the politics. China's official Paper People's Daily (Overseas Edi- tion) carries in its "Book of the Week" column a Mark E. Didrickson short review of a new book on qigong entitled Qigong Yishu Zhishi fie Mi (Secrets of Qigong Therapy) by a June 26,1991 Dr. Lu Jinchuan of Sichuan province. The review begins with these remarks: Dear Editor: In the past decade qigong has gone through several heat I read Professor Wakeman's article as soon as I waves across the vast land of China. But as far as the aca- received the May 16 issue of The New York Review of demic study of qigong is concerned, there have been both Books and immediately checked with my friends Pro- fish and dragon, both mud and sand (a Chinese proverb fessor Chen Huixian, who came up to Portland in meaning a mixture of genuine and fake, superior and infe- January and May to teach qigong and is back in rior). China now, and Ms. Shen Ronger, another qigong What is true qigong? What is the truthful body ofknowl- master from China teaching in New York City. Both edge of traditional qigong? These are what qigong lovers of them had been in close contact with top-ranking are anxious to know. (p.S) qigong masters in China, but neither had heard of anything that would suggest that "the national The review then goes on to describe how the new qigong association, which had more than fifty million book answers these pressing questions. Isee the members, has been declared a form of political party publication of this book and its review as part of a that will not be allowed to continue to exist." (p.22) "rectification" process, which includes the licensing Yesterday afternoon Ifinally reached Chen in Beijing of qigong clinics, weeding out of alleged quacks and by phone, and this is what she told me: malpractitioners (some accused of sexual abuse), redefining qigong in ideologically more acceptable "Not only has the national qigong association not terms, as well as the kind of surveillance that Chen been disbanded, but its leadership has been strength- has mentioned. Most of these and other corrective ened. Only the fakes have been banned; the genuine measures (ideologizing and policing excepted) seem ones are doing even better. Things are going really quite unimpeachable at their face value, since rules well with qigong here." on medical practice can be far more stringent in This is indeed straight from the horse's mouth, so to other countries, including the United States, but the speak, and Ihave ample, if less direct, evidence to whole process could very well be politically moti- support her reassurance. Imight also add this for vated, too. Throughout its history, qigong has had to your information: the national qigong organization, deal with the internal enemies of quackery and the Chinese Qig ng Scientific Research Association superstition (the line between true and false can be (Zhongguo Qigong Kexue Yanjiu Hui), with noted very slim), and the external adversaries of high-energy physicist Zhang Zhenhuan as presi- unfriendly ideologies. As it thrives, the odds against dent, is, as its name suggests, a national research it may also increase. So, keep our eyes open, YES, organization and a sort of steering committee that but panic, NO! directs the study and practice of qigong and is not a mass organization with 50 million members even Charles Q. Wu though there may be such an approximate number of practitioners throughout the country. So there is _BO_O_K_S_IN_T_H_E_N_E_W_S_¥ really no association of that kind to disband in the first place. I would therefore rather describe Profes- (This article is reprinted from the April 1991 China Infor- sor Wakeman's comments as casual and speculative mation Bulletin.) than consider them the results of serious investiga- tions. e can't list all of the books published since Beij- However, what he had to say about the Chinese Wing 1989, and we don't all agree on which one leaders' wariness is not altogether groundless. Chen to read. So our list includes works for a general audi-

10 China Council Quarterly ence, grouped by author, and with book review refer- ron in Free China Review (Mar. 91:54-60); by Vera ences where possible. We chose books which Schwarcz in NYT Book Review (5-13-90:1, 32-33). explore the historical, social, political context of cur- Thurston, Anne E, Enemies of the People: The Ordeal of rent events in China, even if published prior to 1989, the Intellectuals in China's Great Cultural Revolution. but not journalistic accounts limited to the Tianan- Alfred A. Knopf. 1987. 326 pp. Interviews with men Incident itself. A descending order is used, intellectuals conducted during 1981 fieldwork. beginning with books in each group deemed most Reviewed by Arif Dirlik in Pacific Affairs (Spring informing: 88:143-144). Chinese Writers Nathan, Andrew J. China's Crisis. Columbia U. Press, Fang Lizhi, Bringing Down the Great Wall: Writings on 1990. Index, notes. 242 pp. Analysis of current state Science, Culture, and Democracy in China. J. H. Wil- of affairs written by a political scientist. liams, ed. Alfred A. Knopf, 1991. 336 pp. By Cheng, Chu-yuan, Behind the Tiananmen Massacre: China's best-known dissident, now residing in the Social, Political and Economic Ferment in China. West. Reviewed by Jonathan Spence in NYT Book Westview Press, 1990. Index. 256 pp. Profiles of fifty Review (4-21-91:1,26-27). major personalities, documents. Liu Binyan, "Tell the World": What Happened in China Gargan, Edward A., China's Fate: A People's Turbulent and Why, with Ruan Ming and Xu Gang. Henry Struggle with Reform and Repression, 1980-1990. Dou- Epstein, trans. Pantheon, 1989. Index. 195 pp. By a bleday, 1990. 340 pp. Journalist's pessimistic view journalist, a former Party leader, and a poet now in of China's future. Reviewed by Dori J. Yang in Busi- exile. Reviewed by Jonathan Mirsky in New York ness Week (4-1-91:14); by Gayle Feldman in NYT Review of Books (26-90:23-25). Book Review (2-3-91:16-17). Liu Binyan, China's Crisis, China's Hope: Essays from Mosher, Steven W., China Misperceived. New Repub- an Intellectual in Exile. Howard Goldblatt, trans. Har- lic,1990. Notes, index. 260 pp. Criticism of Ameri- vard Univ. Press, 1990. 150 pp. By China's foremost can scholars' views of China. Reviewed by Lincoln journalist. Reviewed by Carolyn Wakeman in LA Kaye in FEER (3-7-91:36; by William McGurn in Times Book Review (12-23-90:2). Wall Street journal (11-7-90). Barme, Geremie and John Millford, eds. Seeds of Fire: Chinese involved in Democracy Movement Chinese Verses of Conscience. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1988. Bibliography, English and Chinese Li Lu, Moving the Mountain: My Life in China. Mac- sources. 491 pp. Editors collected original works of Millan,1990. Life history of an exiled student leader. prose, poetry, and visual arts from dissidents inside Reviewed by Dan Southerlin in ASWj (12-24-90). China. Shen Tong, Almost a Revolution. With Marianne Yen. Lord, Bette Bao, Legacies: A Chinese Mosaic. Alfred A. Houghton Mifflin, 1990. 342 pp. St dent leader in Knopf,1990. 245 pp. Bao was born in Shanghai, Tiananmen who escaped to the West. Reviewed by reared in the US, and is the wife of a former US Dan Southerlin in ASWj (12-24-90); by Nancy Ambassador to China. Reviewed by Linda Mathews Langston in FEER (Feb. 1991:16);by Judith Shapiro in NYT Book Review (4-15-90:9); by Mirsky (see Liu in NYT Book Review (11-18-90:14-15). above). Jiang Shifeng, Countdown to Tiananmen: The View at Western Scholars the Top. Hal Ray and Charlton Hu, trans. Democracy Books Inc. /Pacific News Service, 1990. Kane, Anthony, ed. China Briefing 1990. Westview Yi Mu and Mark V.Thompson, Crisis at Tiananmen: Press, 1990. 214 pp. Review of key events in Chi- Reform and Reality in Modern China. China Books, nese affairs in 1989 also takes a forty-year perspec- tive. Political, economic reforms; chronology, 1989. glossary. Available at China Council office. Lee Feigon, China Rising: The Meaning of Tiananmen. Ivan R. Dee, 1990. Spence, Jonathan, The Search for Modern China. Nor- ton, 1990. 876 pp. History of China from 1600 to Children of the Dragon: The Story of the Tiananmen present. Readable, many photos. Beijing 1989 Square. Human Rights in China Inc., 1990. events were included before printing.Reviewed by Peter Fleming in America (9-29-90); by Arthur Wald- Mary Blakely

11 China Council Quarterly CALENDAR JULY 1-31 HOMES ON THE GO: Children's Museum exhibit of homes that move, including an authentic Chinese junk, Mongolian yurt and airstream travel trailer. Carousel Courtyard on NE Holladay between NE 7 and NE 9; Mon-Fri, 1:30-5 PM; Sat and Sun, 10 AM-4 PM. $2.50 children and Museum members; $3 adults. Tours and school field trip groups can be arranged. Information: 823-2227 mornings. 7/10-8/7 * GET BACK INTO CHINESE: 5 WEEK SUMMER REVIEW: Five week review through the intermediate level (roughly equivalent to two years of college level Chinese). (See Spe- cial Events for more information.) PSU, Smith 28; Wednesdays, 9-11 AM; $50, members; $75, non-members. Repeated four times throughout summer(see 7/11,8/28 and 8/29 entries). Information: 725-4567. 7/11-8/15 * GET BACK INTO CHINESE: 5 WEEK SUMMER REVIEW: See 7/10 entry for details. (except 8/1) PSU, Smith 28; Thursdays, 7-9 PM. Information: 725-4567. 13-8/11 WINDOWS INTO CHINA: Traveling exhibit on contemporary life in China, sponsored by Linfield College and Meyer Memorial Trust. Siuslaw Public Library, Florence,Oregon. Information: Rosario Aglialoro, 472-4121x222 17 * FORUM ON CHINA'S MOST FAVORED NATION STATUS: Morning forum includes viewpoints from government officials (US, PRC,Hong Kong and Oregon), human rights activists, consumer and labor groups and Chinese students. Co-sponsored with the Inter- national Trade Institute. World Trade Center Auditorium, 25 SW Salmon, bridge level; 8:30-noon; no admission fee. Information: 725-4567 28 THE FOURTH QUESTION: A CHINESE TALE: Local author Rosalind Wa