China

My partner, Maggie, is from China. Through the cultural exchange project, I was able to learn a lot about China's present culture as well as China's long and rich history. Based on the symbols, proverbs, and novel that Maggie has shared with me to represent her country, I have written a cultural exchange paper and a book paper that are posted towards the end of my blog. Please enjoy!

My Partner, Maggie

I was lucky to have Maggie as a partner. Her Chinese name is 黄宣弘, or Huang Xuanhong. Like me, she is 18 and is a senior in college. She lives in Beijing, and her English is very good!

She actually came to study at Punahou's Pan Pacific Program this past summer (2008). She also likes playing badminton and volleyball, and she also likes to listen to American pop music!

Although she is still young, like me, she was able to teach me an enormous amount of Chinese history and also about the character of Chinese people. She has allowed me to respect the Chinese nation in a whole new way. I hope that through this blog, you will also be able to experience the determination, dedication, pride, and power that Maggie has shown me through her choices for symbols and proverbs that represent China to her.

Cultural Exchange: Proverb #1

The first proverb that Maggie chose to share with me to represent China is

"Do nothing by halves."

凡事不可半途而废

A similar proverb in the English language may be "If you're going to do something, do it well."

This quote is extremely reflective of China's past, and how the Chinese people were able to develop such a prosperous culture for their nation. It is true that in their long history, the Chinese people have had to suffer through natural disasters, economic depression, and enemy attack. And although these events have all incurred great shock and damage to the state of China at the time, the Chinese people have repeatedly used their utmost efforts to rebuild their self-confidence and to regain, even surpass their nation's splendor.

Maggie's personal take on this proverb is this: "It can not be a smooth road to success, but the only thing to do is to continue and to strive for a better future."

This was my response to this Chinese proverb: "I think that the history of China clearly shows tha tthis proverb is a very valuable and wise proverb to follow. I thought that what you said about continuing to strive for a better future in times of difficulty was very courageous and strong! I hope that all people will remember this proverb when they need to press through difficult times."

My paper, "Resilience", located near the end of this blog, is based upon this proverb.

Cultural Exchange: Symbol #1

The first symbol that Maggie selected to represent China is the famous Great Wall of China, known around the world.

This wall in Northern China extends for over 6,000 kilometers. Maggie eloquently described the Chinese perception of the Great Wall in this way: "It rises and falls like a magical dragon keeping the spiritual lifeline of our nation."

This spiritual lifeline that Maggie spoke of refers to the long history of the construction of this wall that spanned numerous ancient dynasties, taking just about 1000 years to build! In 770 BC, Emperor Qin ordered the linking of walls of principalities in order to create one, extremely long wall. He had intended to create the wall in order to defend their agricultural civilization of fields and cities from the nomadic civilizations outside. Later, during the Han Dynasty, the wall guarded the trade of the Silk Road, and during the Ming Dynasty, the Great Wall went under a large-scale transformation. Hundreds of thousands of Chinese people throughout the nation's history have sacrificed blood and sweat for this great world masterpiece. At first, the wall was built for defense. Then, to Emperor Qian Long (of the Qing Dynasty)'s surprise, the Great Wall had become an opportunity for the ethnic groups on the inside and the outside of the wall to become one "cozy and warm family". Now, the Great Wall of China stands as a symbol of pride and beauty, encouraging the current Chinese generations, as well as tourists from other countries, to remember the many hardships and turmoil that the ancestors of the Chinese have had to suffer in the past, and to respect their unmatchable, unconquerable courage and perseverance that have helped bring the Chinese nation to its current grandeur and strength.

Maggie used this quote to describe the emotions she experienced as she stood upon the Great Wall: "The sky is high and the fleecy clouds are bright. We watch the southbound wild geese out of sight."



"The Great Wall is encouraging the Chinese nation to march on forever", says Maggie.

Here are some excerpts from my e-mailed response to Maggie:

"Yes, I definitely would like to visit the Great Wall in my lifetime...I think it would be very interesting to stand on a wall that people from over four dynasties have worked so hard on."

"Looking at the pictures, I thought that the wall looks like a dragon, because it goes up and down, and side to side. Do Chinese people view it this way? The wall definitely holds a very strong and powerful image in my mind, from looking at those pictures, and also the wall seems to possess an attractive force that brings many people, including Chinese people and tourists, to it. Amidst the vast mountains and valleys, the wall seems to invite people, like a symbol of harmony and coming together."

Cultural Exchange: Proverb #2

The second proverb that Maggie shared with me is:

"A single flower does not make a spring."
一花独放不是春，百花齐放春满园

China is a nation of people who belong to many different ethnic groups. For example, Maggie belongs to the 汉族, or Han people, which represents the majority of Chinese people. Despite the fact that although her people may be the majority, Maggie chose a proverb that represents the essential diversity of her country, which shows just how much she and the Chinese people value and celebrate their ethnic diversity. In fact, Maggie told me about a famous Chinese song that echoes the sentiments of this proverb: "56 ethnic groups, 56 flowers, 56 brothers and sisters unite to be a big family."Here are some pictures that Maggie shared with me, showing the traditional clothing of different ethnic groups.

白族 (Bai)

(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKaCk1KOmVb4vfQX-AqwvNtzR-CTsizFLRWOf5hd2Zlu5UvTtDwzAJXqNsVStbXl0nzQnFSlFdp6EnrgEQP8zKelE9uTux2vBLvHHbUGBXCXcPga8DL2AStYv4Ghn0heUaW7E1hZ0jhPM/s1600-h/bai)

傣族 (Dai)

(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFccn57bHD3srq9ppZtOJqHSOOrgz5Ed4UT5gPUBfQ9cE7oP1-QcB5bGGdQQwY-lqs0g1XMEv7zkuYCQBmJtulPtxe9DgSichGVCuH50rOXtJJrawIO_U4dV_Bh3fjA8TNR8twV3SiNE4/s1600-h/dai1%E5%82%A3%E6%97%8F.bmp)

土家族 (Tujia)

(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCE2X5sFRxEAWj_kOgI6xyozAmiJswV96s_As_MVb6SjjchHfVbEPihoIiq7tu6juZZ9Ekr8mBuWEYsfyq9f5bAgiCcoclgj9yIuw2KmPyRkMPnCqr11UygHVp6nnpgQFyqeQaWowVPqbt/s1600-h/tujia2.jpg)

藏族 (Zang)

(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosu8HnVnn9p45OThIyKnZ6odVqjm4NyKuicjcHZAR1Ymt98Yc5CIVGF4jrFj3yzrbA80LoMNsllyLZsP6qZZdW8BuOgEXtNaJVJDz634s6PiyP3V7zmPIfOMqnyu_ZUmlz5VWmaglu8_S/s1600-h/zang1%E8%97%8F%E6%97%8F.bmp)

This is what I said to Maggie regarding this proverb:"To me, this proverb also means that we must remember to work together. If we try to be the only culture on this earth, we will never be able to enjoy the lovely springtime which is filled with many different kinds of beautiful flowers. I believe that the world needs diversity to look exciting, refreshing, happy, and beautiful. And just because one culture is very good, it doesn't mean that they are the only good culture. The cultures or countries next to our own maybe very healthy and beautiful, in their own ways. I think that we should not try to dominate one another, but be strong in our own ways, and create a beautiful world that is composed of many different and unique individual countries."

Here is a bonus picture! This is Maggie elegantly posing in the costume of 满族 (Man).

Cultural Exchange: Symbol #2

The second symbol of China that Maggie gave me is the painting of Eight Horses, or Galloping Horses, by Xu Beihong.

These horses are no ordinary horses that feed on grasslands - these horses are unique and each of them has a strong identity of their own. Each of the horses seem to come from a geographical area of China. Each horse also has its own name that describes its special characteristics. This is how Maggie described the eight horses to me:

1. 蒙古马（menggu ma), horse of Mongolia.

Called 绝地（juedi), run fast, without your feet touching the ground.

2. 哈萨克马（hasake ma), horse of Kazakhstan.

Called 翻羽（fanyu), run faster than bird.

3. 河曲马（hequ ma), horse of Hequ (a city in Shanxi, China).

Called 奔菁（benjing), run for a long time without rest.

4. 云南马（yunnan ma), horse of Yunnan (a province in southwestern China).

Called 超影（chaoying), can chase the sun.

5. 三河马（sanhe ma), horse of Sannan (a province in China).

Called 逾辉（yuhui), hair is bright and splendid

6. 伊犁马（yili ma), horse of Ili (a river basin in Xinjiang).

Called 超光（chaoguang), 10 shades of light.

7. 千里马 （qianli ma), horse of a thousand miles.

Called 滕雾（tenwu), can run by the clouds.

8. 汗血宝马（hanxuebao ma), hose of Hanxuebao.

Called 挟翼（xieyi), wings that help it to fly like an eagle.

Maggie told me that these eight horses can be regarded as symbols

for the great spirit of Chinese people, including the fact that they are being strong-minded and well-trained. Also, Maggie told me that these horses represent the Chinese nation because Chinese people each have their own individual features which can be then untied and developed into an infinite power contributing to their country and the whole world as well.

Here is my response to Maggie on the eight horses as symbols of China:

"I think the paintings alone are very beautiful, inspiring, and encouraging. But reading the specific characteristics of each of the horses was even greater. I think that the reason why Chinese people are so hardworking and successful is because all of the horses that represent the spirit of the Chinese people are very ambitious and dedicated. The most impacting horses for me were benjin (run for a long time with out rest) and chaoying (can chase the sun). These horses especially made me think, 'Wow, those characteristics are really great characteristics that require a lot of dedication and effort.' I believe that people around the world should all try to respect and strive to behold the characteristics of these eight horses because they are so great in strength and honor.

I noticed that you said that these horses represent how Chinese people have their own individual features, yet still can be united to become an infinite power for their nation as well as the world. I admire the Chinese people for being so thoughtful of the people around them, like their families, their communities, their country, and the world. I think that the balance between individuality and working for the community is very hard to achieve. My personal opinion is that here in America, we do not work together enough, especially because immigrants from many different continents have arrived over the centuries, and consequently, political tensions often occur among the races in the present day.

One thing I noticed after reading about the eight horses that stand as symbols for good characteristic for the Chinese people is that these types of role models exist in almost all cultures. For example, in America, many people are religious and strive to be pious and good, like the characters in the Bible. Another example would be the seven deities of Japan (七福神). Also, the Pandava brothers in the Mahabharata hold very admirable qualities that readers of the epic narrative are able to respect and strive towards. I think this says something about the need for mankind to have examples in their lives to try to live up to. I think it would be interesting to compare the different deities and role models of different cultures!"

Here is what Maggie said when I asked her if she had a favorite of the eight horses:

"Honestly, I admire all these eight horses, but if I have to choose, I would like to say that chaoying (can chase the sun) and xieyi (has wings that can assist it to fly like an eagle) are my favorites.

Paper: Cultural Exchange

Resilience

China’s history, unfortunately, has been one of many downfalls. However, the Chinese people have persevered despite hardships and natural disasters to survive, progress, and eventually emerge as one of the current world powers. Through a cultural exchange with Huang Xuanhong, or Maggie, an 18 year old girl from Beijing, it has become clear to me that the Chinese people were able to persevere and exceed in history because they are very hard-working people. Maggie’s proverb, “Do nothing by halves”, and her symbol, the Great Wall of China, show how the Chinese people are constantly reminded in their daily lives to push through the hard times, in hopes of a greater future.

China, in her 4-millenia history, has suffered some of the most tragic events in history. One of the first humiliating losses in China’s modern history was being defeated in the Opium Wars (1839-1841 and 1856-1860), and consequently having to sign the Unequal Treaties in which China had to open additional ports to foreign trade, agree to fixed tariffs, and hand over Hong Kong for annexation by Britain, among other things. Then came the devastating loss in the First Sino-Japanese War, which concluded by the Treaty of Shimonoseki, signed in April 1895. By agreeing to this treaty, China had to recognize Korea’s total independence, cede Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Japan, and pay a large reparation sum. Yet another traumatic event of China’s past is the Nanking Massacre, or the Rape of Nanking (1937-1938), when the Japanese military committed a genocidal war crime that caused the death of between 200,000 and 300,000 Chinese civilians. While every country has experienced its share of disasters and catastrophes, China’s history has an exceptionally devastating past.

Where did the Chinese people gather the strength to persevere and overcome when they were surrounded by nothing but devastation and despair? Maggie’s proverb, “Do nothing by halves”, or don’t do anything halfway, gave me a clue. According to Maggie and most other Chinese people, the continued existence of China, despite her devastating past, is due to the fact that the people of China never quit “by halves”, in contrast to other ancient civilizations, such as ancient India and ancient Egypt. Maggie’s translation holds some ambiguity. Does she mean that Chinese people never quit halfway on their effort to re-build and re-strengthen their country? Or does Maggie mean that the Chinese people don’t cop out by only exerting half of their full-force on their road to success? The interesting part of the mistranslation is that perhaps both of these interpretations work, and at the very least, they are both beautiful ideas.

To me, Maggie’s proverb shows that the Chinese people are always strong in spirit, even when the circumstances they face are very bleak and miserable. As Americans, sometimes we may suffer in performance due to lack of self-confidence. For example, when the economy crashed recently, in September of 2008, the American people lost faith in their own economy and contributed to the problem by spending as little money as possible and stifling the economy even further. Once we, the American people realized that we had lost control of the world’s economy, we automatically lost confidence in ourselves, and many Americans remain anxious about whether or not we will ever be able to pull ourselves out of this financial crisis. However, if a similar event occurred in China, I believe that the Chinese people would have responded very differently. Just as they persevered after natural disaster and enemy attack, they would probably continue to try to boost the economy the very next day after it crashed. When shocking misfortunes occur to the Chinese, they never sit back and allow the shock to sink in. Instead, they appear to recover instinctively, and immediately put forth efforts to counterbalance and overcome the misfortunes that have come their way.

The proverb demonstrates a fierce determination in the Chinese people to be the best in everything and anything that they do. Some people may find this characteristic as very obnoxious and pretentious. However, I believe that the Chinese people try to do their best not for boasting rights or to be better than the rest of the world. Instead, I view the Chinese people as a culture of people who respect themselves very much and wouldn’t settle for anything less than the best.

Another essential aspect of success of the Chinese people is their optimism and their trust in fate. My Chinese teacher, Mrs. Feng Ye, once told me that the Chinese character for ‘tomorrow’ is composed of the Sun and the Moon. “This,” she explained, “is because even though times are hard for the Chinese people, they always think that tomorrow is going to be so bright, like the Sun and the Moon came together, and then they are not so sad.” Once I learned that Chinese people are so optimistic about their future, it became easy for me to see why Chinese people dedicated all of their efforts into making the most of their future.

Maggie’s symbol, the Great Wall of China, is a very accurate representation of the unrelenting spirit of the Chinese people and their long history of overcoming. For one thing, the Great Wall took almost1000 years to complete! That is the ultimate proof of one country’s unity in will, power, and dedication. The Great Wall is also significant because it is so dynamic – over 6000 km! – that it is the only manmade object to be visible from outer space. I imagine that when the Chinese nation finally completed this wall, there was a great sense of satisfaction in completing the ‘ultimate project’ that connects the people of modern China to their ancestors way back in the Han dynasty. Originally, the wall was built to defend the agricultural civilization from the nomadic peoples outside of the wall. Ironically, by the Qing Dynasty, the Great Wall had actually brought the different cultures to come together to form a new, convergent culture. Now, just as the Great Wall stands strongly and proudly across 6,700 kilometers of China, the 56 different ethnic groups that comprise the massive population of China stand together in strong unity to face the world. Maggie wrote to me, “The Great Wall is encouraging the Chinese nation to march on forever.” Upon reading these words, I began to respect the Great Wall of China in a whole new way. For to Chinese people, the Great Wall undoubtedly serves as a physical reminder of all of the blood, sweat, and tears that the their ancestors shed in completing this wall. But the symbolism of the Great Wall extends further to represent all the wars, economic strife, and political turmoil that China has overcome to face the world so proudly, confidently, and fiercely in the 21^st century. The up-and-down and side-to-side curves of the Great Wall further emphasize the dramatic highs-and-lows of China’s long, eventful history.

My partner, Maggie, has put China’s history and fighting spirit into a whole new perspective for me. One day, I hope to stand upon the Great Wall of China and to absorb the enormity of the realization that millions of Chinese laborers diligently crafted the bridge stone by stone, all the while telling themselves to never do anything by halves. After putting all that China has overcome in her long history into perspective, and after learning just how resilient the Chinese people are, I am confident that the Chinese people will accomplish many great things in the near future.