HINA NSIGHT C Fostering business and culturalI harmony between China and the U.S. VOL. 14 NO. 3 March 2015 Historic exhibit,‘Jewish Refugees in Shanghai,’ tells story of survival By Greg Hugh Today, few would guess that Shanghai once played host to a bustling community of 18,000 – 20,000 Jews -- the focus of History, pp.4-5 the exhibit “Jewish Refugees in Shanghai (1932-1941).” For Jews desperate to flee the Nazi regime but barred from entry al- most everywhere, Shanghai was the “Last Place on Earth” and a rescuing Noah’s Ark. The exhibit runs March 19 – May 7, 2015, at the Sabes Jewish Community Center, 4330 S. Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park. A grand opening reception will take place on Thursday, March 19, at 5 p.m. Business in China, p.1, 7 and is free and open to the public. As part of the grand opening reception, a question and answer panel will be held with a few of the Minnesota Shanghailanders that have agreed to attend. continued on page 4 Doing business with China and the Chinese people: a conversation on cultural challenges, part 3 Arts & Culture, p.8, 10 By Chang Wang and Joe Pearman, contributors Editor’s note: This is the continuation of the multipart conversation series on doing business with mainland China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) and the Han Chinese living within mainland China. It describes some of the ins and outs of interacting with Chinese individuals or firms in the contexts of cross-border communications and negotiations. Through this con- versation, the authors hope to help the business community become aware of the miscommunication that stems from the “parallel universes” the American and the Chinese inhabit, to expose the hidden rationales underscoring the official narratives of Chinese history, and to reveal cultural and linguistic misunderstandings that frequently occur during the process of finding “common ground.” Food, p. 12, 16 In last month’s “They eat puppies, don’t they?” the authors discussed how both Americans and Chinese could misjudge and misread situations based on their own innate cultural biases. This month’s conversation, Hidden Rules, will illustrate the work- ings of a “shadow code.” Watch for the continuation of the series in the next few issues where the authors will discuss guanxi, ti-yong, and additional resources to gain a greater understanding of China and the Chinese way. “Hidden Rules” them, would just encourage people to do how things work in their society. More of- Wang: In cross-border communica- whatever they could to avoid punishment. ten than not, of course, they’re quite wrong. tion, you have to guard against not only According to Confucius, it was better to For starters, Confucius was not a pas- mistranslation, but also misinterpretation. craft a code and keep it secret from ordi- sive individual. He was a firm believer For instance, if you go to the Supreme nary citizens. Doing so would allow those in exercise and fitness; maintaining good Inventions, p. 15 Court of Minnesota, you will see a mural who enforced the code to use some moral physical health was one of the marks of of Confucius and his disciples titled “The judgment and discretion in applying it. But a “true gentleman.” And he didn’t wait In This Issue Recording of the Precedents.” In it, they why then should the Westerners believe around for students to come to him; he are making records of past legal proceed- Confucius was a great lawgiver and even publicized his ideals vigorously and was ings to guide future rulings. If you go to recorded precedents? a great orator. So in the end, he typified Arts & Culture 8,10 the United States Supreme Court, you also Pearman: I think it has to do with the someone who taught by example and Business 1, 7 will find Confucius on the top of the “East- popular image and perception of Confucius. personal inspiration - which is how he felt Community 9 Westerners imagine Confucius as a with- society should be led. ern Pediment,” sharing space with Moses Education 6 and Solon, who are chosen to represent ered wise man with a long beard, handing Confucianism is not the only part of Food 12, 16 the lawgivers of three great civilizations: out sage advice to his disciples. And in the China that’s misunderstood by many Amer- Judea, China and Athens. But Confucius West, the idea of “lawgiver” is a natural icans. Indeed, I think a lot of people who Government 14 was adamantly against the public procla- outgrowth from the idea of “teacher.” A come to China have the mindset that China History 4-5 mations of the laws, he did not like laws. teacher explains the ways to live and con- is simply an undeveloped United States Inventions 15 He believed that if a society’s rulers were duct oneself properly; a lawgiver codifies with no minimum wage. What I mean by News 2-3 these teachings into rules for a civilization. that is that they’re unprepared for many of virtuous and moral; their subjects would People 11, 13 emulate them, obviating the need for laws. Wang: Exactly. People start with a the things they will face in doing business. The practice of creating and publishing popular image (which is erroneous, by the For instance, it is commonly accepted laws, then punishing people for violating way), and then extrapolate from it based on Continued on page 7 PAGE 2 / March 2015 news chinainsight.info CHINAINSIGHT This bleating confusing Publisher: Gregory J. Hugh Lunar New Year! [email protected] Production Editor: By Elaine Dunn Teresa Khamlusa [email protected] Manager of Operations/ can quite agree.” as little more than a mindless drone, Circulation: Google actually kept not leadership material. The goat? It’s Richard He track of how the Lunar New sometimes associated with old age, [email protected] Year was being searched: defeat, blame or overall ineptitude. the Philippines had the high- The ram is sometimes used to convey Staff Writers: Greg Hugh est search levels for “year masculinity. But … [email protected] of the sheep, followed by A Han dynasty scholar, Dong Zhong- Canada, Australia, U.S. and shu, once said that people “should be Elaine Dunn United Kingdom. “Year of more like goats because: goats don’t [email protected] the ram” is used most com- hurt people with their horns and goats monly in India, followed by never cry or howl.” Contributors: Canada and the U.S. But The head of the department of Chi- Madeline Christensen from Jan. 19 to Feb. 14, "as nese language and literature at Hong [email protected] anticipation for the holiday Kong’s Chinese University, professor grew, searches for 'year of Raymond Lum Ho Chewah also thinks it’s most likely [email protected] the sheep' and 'year of the a bearded goat! According to him, goats goat' have been neck and had positive associations, and in ancient Chang Wang neck,” said a Google Asia China, were eaten by the rich. Ho thinks [email protected] Pacific communications the Chinese character “羊” resembles person. Patrick Welsh an animal with two horns and a pointy The animal in the Chi- [email protected] face – a goat! nese zodiac is often referred A Chinese lecturer of linguistics to as a sheep. Los Angeles’ Webmaster: and translation studies at an Australian Disneyland celebrated “Year Will Ahern university said the confusion stems from of the Sheep.” HK Tourism [email protected] the fact that Chinese uses one generic This Lunar New Year had many Board welcomed the Year of the Sheep term for a certain family of animals Honorary: people, linguists included, puzzled. with a blue and pink sheep in its parade. while English is more specific in terms Jennifer Nordin, Editor Emertus And the media had a field day with (However, since the pink-colored one [email protected] of gender and age. But she also pointed clever headlines such as “The big ‘yang’ was decked out in heels and dress, would that make it the Year of the Ewe??) out that Year of the Rat / Mouse never theory,” “Sod off sheep! It’s the Year of drew as much consternation. For her, the Goat” “Whatever floats your goat,” London’s branch of the Hong Kong Eco- nomic and Trade Office held Year of the whether it’s sheep, ram or goat, it does About CHINAINSIGHT “Sheep, goat or ram debate shepherds C HINA INSIGHT is a monthly English Ram parties. They’re in the same camp not matter “as long as the animal has response,” etc. language newspaper fostering business as the Hong Kong Postal Service, which curly horns, it fits the bill.” What’s the hoopla all about? In and cultural harmony between China and issued a series of colorful ram stamps for A Beijing-based Chinese folklorist the U.S. Chinese, it’s the Year of the Yang (羊), the occasion. Vietnamese and Cambo- said, “This is ridiculous. Goat and sheep which can be translated into sheep, ram C HINA INSIGHT is a Member of The dians celebrated the Year of the Goat as are different in French and English, but or goat in English. So … in English, Minnesota Chapter of the Asian American sheep do not survive in their hot weather. what’s that got to do with Chinese tra- Journalists Association (AAJA). this Lunar New Year had been called The Canadians seem to have settled on ditional culture?” Year of the Sheep / Ram / Goat. Which Year of the Goat as well.