China’s Neighbourhood:

July 5th, 2017  |  Published in CCFSO by admin


Beijing’s Relations with Other Asian Countries

Senator Yuen Pau Woo

 

Senator Yuen Pau Woo has three decades’ experience in strategy and policy for business, government and not-for-profit organizations.   Widely recognized as a leading thinker on international economic issues and Canada-Asia relations, he was appointed to the Senate of Canada in November 2016, and sits as an independent representing British Columbia.  He is a member of several Senate committees, namely, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, National Finance, and Agriculture and Forestry.  He is also a Vice-Chair of the Canada-US Inter-Parliamentary Group.

Poster   Order ticket on eventbrite

 

Prior to joining the Senate, he was President of HQ Vancouver, a public-private partnership that promotes British Columbia as a location for head offices of international companies.  From 2005-2014, he was President and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, where he continues to serve as Distinguished East Asia Fellow.  He is also Senior Resident Fellow at the Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University; Senior Fellow in Public Policy at the Institute of Asian Research, University of British Columbia; as well as co-founder and President of China Global: The Vancouver Society for Promotion of Chinese Art and Culture.  He is chair of the board of the Vancouver Academy of Music, and a member of the Global Council of the Asia Society, as well as on the Advisory Boards of the Mosaic Institute and the Canadian Ditchley Foundation.  

From 2002-2012, he was Canada’s representative on the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council and served as the founding chair of PECC’s flagship State of the Region report. Mr Woo has previously worked for the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation; and he has been an advisor/consultant to the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, APEC, and the OECD. He has published widely on international economic issues and contemporary Asian affairs. His previous board appointments include the Public Policy Forum, the Ontario Brain Institute, the Standards Council of Canada, and the Greater Vancouver Advisory Council for the Salvation Army.  In 2012, he was honoured with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award for his contributions to Canada-Asia relations

October 25, 2017,  7:30 pm

Christ Church Cathedral
414 Sparks St., Ottawa
(between Bay St. and Bronson Ave)
Free parking on site off Sparks St., accessible access

All welcome. Entry is free for CCFS members and $10 for non-CCFS members.

 

March 26th, 2017  |  Published in CCFSO by admin


Over the last decade relations between the United States and China have deteriorated to their lowest point since the establishment of diplomatic relations in the 1970s. Professor Ross will outline the policies that led to this situation looking at both American and Chinese foreign policy.  He will also consider the impact of the 2016 election on the prospects for Sino-American relations.

Professor Robert S. Ross Boston College and Fairbank Centre for Chinese Studies, Harvard University

 

 Professor Ross is author of many books and articles on China- United States relations. He has testified before various Congressional committees and advised US government agencies. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the National Committee for US-China Relations. He has taught previously at Columbia University and at the University of Washington. He was a Guest Scholar at the Brookings Institute and a Fulbright Professor at the Chinese Foreign Affairs College. He was a Visiting Senior Fellow at the Institute of International Strategic Studies, Qinghua University, at Peking University, at the Royal Danish Defence College and the Norwegian Defence University College.

Print poster

Tuesday June 06, 2017 – 7:30 p.m.

Christ Church Cathedral
414 Sparks St., Ottawa
(between Bay St. and Bronson Ave)
Free parking on site off Sparks St., handicapped access

All welcome. No pre-registration required. Entry is free for CCFS members and $10 for non-CCFS members. Tickets and membership are available at the door.

 

Click here to view in pdf

For more information please visit www.ccfso.org or email contact@ccfso.org.

Note:  Professor Ross will also be speaking at the University of Ottawa

Tuesday June 6, 12 noon to 1:30 pm
Rm 4004
Social Science Building
120 University Avenue, Ottawa

June 7th, 2016  |  Published in CCFSO by admin


After writing the blog post for Arbor Day, my imagination soared and I was reminded of another traditional festival related to trees and spring — Qingming (“Pure Brightness” in English) Festival. During Qingming, Chinese people will visit the cemetery to pay respects. Qingming Festival usually falls either on the 4th or 5th day in April, or right after Hanshi Festival (which means “cold food”). As you may also remember, out of the 24 solar terms, the second spring solar term is also called Qingming.

Qingming Festival originally commemorates Jie Zitui, a loyal defender of Duke Wen during the Chinese Spring and Autumn Period (approximately 771 to 476 BC). His tragic legend goes as follows: Jie Zitui helped Duke Wen, a prince in exile, regain his kingdom, but refused Duke Wen’s rewards and went into hiding in the mountain with his elderly mother. In the hope of forcing Jie to return to him, Duke Wen ordered his men to set the mountain ablaze. Unfortunately, Jie and his mother never made it out alive, their scorched bodies suggesting that they had been burned alive. Feeling terrible remorse for his deed, Duke Wen offered them a respectful burial and banned the use of fire on that day. Consequently, on Qingming Festival, Chinese people avoid cooking with fire and eat cold food.

Although this last tradition has gradually faded out, tomb sweeping remains an important tradition on that day. On Qingming Festival, Chinese people pay respects to their ancestors, lost friends and loved ones. Qingming Festival thus bears resemblance to All Saints’ Day, or Remembrance Day. However, Qingming Festival is not exactly a “gloomy” holiday since, as it also symbolizes the beginning of a season. Many people also take advantage of Qingming to enjoy the outdoors, catch a sight of spring blossoms and go kite-flying. Nowadays, people even look forward to the festival as the Chinese government has made it a three-day public holiday. Who doesn’t like holidays?

May 22nd, 2016  |  Published in CCFSO by admin


A few weeks ago, I was invited for a walk at the Dominion Arboretum and I was impressed by the large variety of trees along the Rideau Canal. I especially enjoyed the Magnolias trees with their lovely blossoms! Seeing so many kinds of trees reminded me of Arbor Day in China, a day related to trees.

While most festivals on which I have written in my previous posts are related to either rural culture or the lunar calendar, Arbor Day is not. Arbor Day falls on March 12th and marks the death of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, a pioneer of democratic revolution in Chinese history. Apart from his political achievements, Dr. Sun was a proponent of the development of the forestry industry in China. As such, on February 1979, the Chinese State Council decided to commemorate his death with this special day.

The tradition of planting weeping willows goes back to Ancient China. However, awareness of the importance of trees and ecological contribution in China is mainly due to the founding of Arbor Day. Many elementary schools in China host tree-planting events on that day. Students work in pairs to plant trees and learn the importance of protecting forests. More significantly, in 1982, tree planting became a legal obligation for every Chinese citizen. Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping became the first Chinese citizen to perform this obligation.

Finally, while tree planting is the most famous activity taking place on Arbor Day, it is also a great time to enjoy nature and feel its healing powers.

May 22nd, 2016  |  Published in CCFSO by admin


What image comes to your mind when you think of “the first signs of spring”? Daffodils? Tulips? Singing birds?

In Chinese culture, the beginning of spring is represented by the Dragon Head Festival. As the old saying goes, “the dragon rises its head on February 2nd of the lunar calendar”. Chinese people believe that the Dragon Head Festival marks the division between the cold winter and the warm spring. It was said that when the dragon rises its head with spring thunder, more rainfall is to be expected. And that is a good omen for a productive spring!

The dragon symbolizing a positive start to the spring season, spring food and customs often relate to this mythical creature. In some regions, food such as dumplings (dragon’s ears), wontons and rice (dragon’s seed) are named after body parts of the dragon. In other regions, eating noodles on that day is taboo because they resemble a dragon’s whiskers. Some people treat themselves with sweet roasted beans or popcorn, following the legend of Popcorn and Spring Dragon Day. In other regions, people will spray water on their front door, so as to invite dragons to their house and receive the blessing of a prosperous spring.

Sadly, traditions associated to the Dragon Head Festival have been gradually forgotten, since farming practices are decreasingly important to people’s lives. Still, Chinese people of an older generation keep up with celebrating the Festival as a new beginning. My own grandmother, for instance, thinks that the Dragon Head Festival is a great occasion to get a haircut: a fresh start from the”top”!

May 18th, 2016  |  Published in CCFSO by admin


Xi’an is the one the most ancient cities in Chinese history, located in the central region of China. Xi’an is the oldest of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, having held the position under several of the most important dynasties in Chinese history, including Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang. If you are interested in Chinese history and civilization, Xi’an is the top recommended place to visit, as it is where you can unveil the mysteries of Ancient China better than in any other city. I will list the top destinations to visit in Xi’an so you can have a unique overview of each of China’s dynasties.

Xi’an, the Bell Tower

The_bell_tower

April 30th, 2016  |  Published in CCFSO by admin


Wuzhen is one of China’s most beautiful ancient water towns. This place is magical. You’ll feel like you have been teleported back to Ancient China. Locals offer rooms inside their residence for overnight stays. For a truly memorable experience, stay in a residence instead of a hotel. Canals, arched bridges and stoned pathways are lined by low buildings with Chinese style roofs. During the day, stroll around the town or take a relaxing boat ride to enjoy the ambiance. There are many things you can do there. The Ancient Bed Museum showcases elaborate carved wood beds. The water market has merchants selling vegetables and souvenirs on boats. If you’re interested in silk production, visit the Yida Silk Workshop. In this workshop, you’ll find out how silk is grown from planting the mulberry, harvesting the cocoons, and all the way to weaving silk. For more attractions, visit http://www.wuzhen.com.cn/english/index.asp

Wuzhen

wuzhen

April 25th, 2016  |  Published in CCFSO by admin


When I was in China, we just couldn’t stop counting down the days until Spring. Even now in Ottawa, I continue to count down in my heart. The rain and snow of Ottawa reminds me so much of Spring—it’s right here!

In Chinese culture, people use Solar Terms as milestones for each different periods of the season. There are a total of six Solar Terms for Spring: Li Chun (“Start of Spring”), Yu Shui (“Rain Water”), Jing Zhe (“Waking of Insects”), Chun Fen (“the Spring Equinox”), Qing Ming (“Clear and Bright”), and Gu Yu (“Grain Rain”). Qing Ming is also celebrated as a festival.

The start of Spring, which is the start of Li Chun, is usually in February. (Personally, this always reminds me of the so-called “Spring Break”, which I enjoyed when studying at the University of Ottawa. Despite the name, it doesn’t really feel like Spring.) This year, Li Chun fell on February 4th. Following Li Chun is the Solar Term Yu Shui, which took place on February 19th. People believe that Yu Shui marks the beginning of rain, and a good rain in the beginning of Spring is a good omen. The third term, Jing Zhe, which fell on March 5th, is in theory the day when animals come out of their Winter dens. For me, Jing Zhe is the day when I can see ants peeping out of their holes, feeling the air with their antennas for signs of blossoms. The date of the fourth Solar Term, Chun Fen, was March the 21st. Chun Fen usually overlaps with Nowruz, the Iranian celebration for Spring. In Chinese culture, Chun Fen is a milestone for longer daylights and shorter nights. The Solar Term after Chun Fen is Qing Ming, which was on April 4th this year and is a sign of warmer weather. The last Solar Term is Gu Yu. Gu Yu fell on April 19th and indicates that the rainfall around that time will be beneficial for grains and crops.

Besides the Solar Terms, Chinese people have other traditions to await the coming of Spring during cold Winter nights. I still remember a folk song passed on to me by my grandmother, a song called Shu Jiu (“Counting down every nine days”). In the folk song, the weather gets better every nine days after Chinese New Year. Each 9-day period means a new sign of warmer weather: the ice will melt, the swallows will arrive, willow branches will sprout, and finally, voila, Spring has arrived!

April 19th, 2016  |  Published in CCFSO by admin


ian FergOn June 22 2016 Ian Ferguson gave a presentation on Shanghai’s Amazing Art Deco Architecture.   For a copy of the presentation check Past Events …