Official
Publication of US-China Peoples Friendship Association, Chicago Chapter, www.uscpfa.org/chicago
Roger Noback, Chapter President and Editor,
630/762-8225, rogernoback@msn.com Sept.
23, 2007 [4th Sun.]
“The only way to have
a friend is to be one.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Scheduled venue, time, topic, and activity for the USCPFA Sept.
23, 2007 meeting [4TH SUN.}
are 2-4 p.m. @ House of
Fortune Restaurant, 2407 S.
Wentworth Ave., Chinatown, Chicago
THE HAN
CHINESE AND CHINA’S
MINORITY PEOPLES
by Jane Wu, Professor, College of DuPage
Professor
Wu’s 2007 Summer China Trip Class at COD returned from Yunnan
and surrounding provinces in SW China, and she will share with us her
reflections and observations on this very important topic in China today, an
importance this subject has held for hundreds of years. Yunan
Province, home to more than 20 ethnic
groups, has the greatest diversity of ethnic groups in China, and
hence is the perfect stimulant for a talk on the titled topic. Jane’s observations and perspectives are
always treasured occasions for our Chapter; treat yourself to her remarks and
attend.
China is a united
multi-ethnic nation of 56 ethnic groups,
with the relatively homogeneous Han Chinese accounting for approximately 90% of
the population and the other 55 ethnic groups, customarily referred to as the
national minorities, constituting the balance.
Eighteen (18) of these ethnic groups each have a population over 1
million. The Han people can be found
throughout China while the
national minorities can be found in approximately 2/3 of China,
primarily in the Northwest and Southwest, with the Manchu people in the
NE. China’s constitution and the 1984
Law of on Regional Ethnic Autonomy helps protect these minorities. Among other things, apart from China’s 5
autonomous regions (similar to a province), China currently has approximately
30 autonomous prefectures, 120 autonomous counties, and more than 1300
autonomous townships, illustrating China’s policy of allowing the minorities to
be masters in their own areas who administer their own internal affairs.
This talk loosely falls
jointly within two of our continuing Series, How
China Governs Itself, a series which has included the following
talks: China’s National People’s Congress (by a member of the NPC), the Chinese
People’s Political Consultative Conference (also by Prof. Wu) and Observations of a Chinese Judge on The New Chinese
Legal System
by Youyou Shi, a Chinese judge, and the Chinese Cities and Provinces
Series, which Jane initiates with this talk.
BIO (condensed): Jane
has been a regular commentator on China on the PBS show, Chicago Tonight
with John Calloway; heads the Asian Forum at COD; has won outstanding teaching
awards at Michigan State University, COD and, in 2007, for the State of
Illinois; was born and raised in China with a BA in English language and
Literature from Fudan University in Shanghai; in 1981 she enrolled at Michigan
State University, with the help of the Ford Foundation, and there got her MA in
History. She won first in the New York
Times “Celebration of New York City, 100 Years” essay contest for her essay
entitled, “The City of Lights.” Ask Jane about participating in her COD
China Trip Class in the Summer of 2009.
The
August 25 Autumn Moon Festival evening event at Ping Tom Park
in Chinatown was thoroughly enjoyed by the
nucleus of patrons who attended. The
moon silouetted against the Chinese pavilion and landscaping formed an
enchanting background at the riverbank park for the ballroom dancing, tai chi
performance, and spontaneous readings of Chinese poetry which filled the
nighttime air. The events were so
captivating we forgot to sing the American harvest moon song handouts, to join
the American with the Chinese motifs for this celebration of the ambience of
harvest moon traditions of both countries, Chinese poetry (so central to the
Chinese culture and psyche), and the free spirit activity experienced at parks
in China (e.g., tai chi). Mark your
calendars for Sat. night, August 16, 2008 for the China
Moon/Park Celebration (re-characterized in 2008 so as not to
confuse it with the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival).
Our
Tai Chi Master performer was Waiyu Kuan, 312.328.9735 (tel); 312.371.0448 (cell). You are welcome to call for lessons for this
art form, which is also preventive medicine (exercise) and therapy.
The Overseas Chinese is the
talk by Dr. Richard Li at our 10/21 meeting which reports on a Sept. conference
at Peking University on that topic, which Richard
is attending and speaking at. To avoid
conflict with a 3:15 pm Bears football game that day, such meeting is scheduled
to start at 12:30 pm and end at 2:30 pm.
A 9/5-12 Exhibit on Chinese Calligraphy and
Brush Painting at the Chinatown branch of the Chicago Public
Library is organized by the CASL (Chinese American Service League) (except
9/9), info @ 312.791.0418 Ext.2224.
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. CfaDE92307FINALema