THE DRAGON’S EYE

Official Publication of US-China Peoples Friendship Association, Chicago Chapter, www.uscpfa.org/chicago

Roger Noback, Chapter President and Editor, 630/762-8225 FEBRUARY 18, 2007

“The only way to have a friend is to be one.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

The scheduled venue, time, topic, and activity for the USCPFA February 18 meeting are

2-4 p.m. @ The Phoenix Inn, 608 Davis St., EVANSTON 60201 (Davis St. & Chicago Av.)

(847/475-7782), a short walk from the Davis St. “EL” stop in Evanston

Suzhou's Architectural Treasures and their Historic Preservation

By Peter Carroll, Prof., Northwestern University

The City of Suzhou, a leading site of Foreign Direct Investment in China, is considered by many to be the richest repository of architectural glories from China’s storied past, including prominent temples as well as the incomparable Ming water-garden palaces. This talk will present pictures of many, if not most, of such Suzhou architectural treasures, with present-day images juxtaposed or shared with images from the early 1900’s of Republican-era China.

While such pictures are worth seeing as a mini-travelogue in their own right, the principal purpose in showing them is to provide the content to permit discussion of the shifts and continuities in China’s concern about preserving its past and its ideas toward city development. The goal of historic preservation in any country, including China, is particularly complicated in cities, where preservationist impulses frequently clash with attempts to build new infrastructure for development, whether today or a century ago.

The historic preservation core of this talk focuses on the following two confrontations between the urban preservation and economic development impulses in the city of Suzhou over the past century and more:

1) A Century Ago. The brouhaha surrounding Republican era attempts to develop modern markets adjoining the city center at the sites of architectural treasures, including the Daoist temple.

2) Today. The 2004 cause celebre squabble regarding the construction of I.M. Pei’s new Suzhou Museum building. (I believe the family of this renowned international architect originally hailed from Suzhou, and possibly owned one of the water garden palaces, but our speaker can clarify that.)

BIO. Peter Carroll received his Ph.D. at Yale University and teaches modern Chinese history at Northwestern University. He recently published Between Heaven and Modernity: Reconstructing Suzhou, 1895-1937 (Stanford University Press, 2006). In 2006, he spent several months conducting research in Shanghai and Taibei for a book on suicide and ideas of modern society in China during the first half of the 20th century. At the USCPFA-Chi. Chapter’s Annual China Symposium 2005, Peter delivered a most enlightening presentation on another main focus of his, Chinese Village Democracy.

FOR COURTESY AND INFORMATION, PLEASE ATTEND!

Other Monthly Meetings: Sun. 3/18 Regular Monthly Talk, CHINESE CURRENCY: INFO & ISSUES, in Chinatown, 2-4pm

1/28 talk on CHINDIA: Over 40 patrons were rewarded by Prof. Tan’s insights in his 1/28 tour-de-force remarks on this topic. The April 15 meeting is in Evanston.

ATTEND THE FOLLOWING OTHER FEBRUARY USCPFA EVENTS (See enclosed and chapter website):

**Sat. 2/17 CAAGC CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION (Announcement Enclosed): Make Your Reservations Now (while still avail.) for this Feb. 17, 2007 Gala Event through the auspices of the USCPFA-Chicago Chapter by contacting Chapter member Helen Mui, 847.848.0083 (cell), helen_m_mui@yahoo.com, 209 Mystic Place, Vernon Hills, IL 60061 and sending her a check for $40 made out to the “USCPFA-Chicago Chapter.” This is the best and biggest Chinese New Year Celebration in Chicagoland, with typically 1000 or so patrons and outstanding Entertainment Direct from China.

**VISIT BEIJING ART EXHIBIT, Feb. 1-28, at College of DuPage Library, Glen Ellyn: 10 Ink Paintings exhibit on the motif, FISH and Ordinary Beijinger’s Life exhibit of 40+ photos. Directions at www.cod.edu/Maps_Loc.htm or Chapter Website; Hours? See www.cod.edu/library/ or call 630.942.2350. (Announcement Enclosed)

Event Volunteers? If you wish to join those helping to greet and orient dignitaries, guests and attendees, and staff Membership Tables, at USCPFA events, including the above events, please let us know.

The regular monthly Chapter meeting includes a delicious traditional Chinese multi-course meal, which begins at 2 pm; the hour long luncheon talk (with Q&A) begins at 3 pm; and all this is only $15. Please reserve in advance at rogernoback@msn.com or call 630.762.8225 (pre-registrants have priority seating).

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