This online exhibition presents photographs taken by faculty who traveled to China in March 2016 as part of the Global Humanities Institute’s “Seminars Abroad” program, funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The firsthand experience of a distant culture gained from this travel helped bring authentic content into our courses. A key feature of this travel experience was the formal and informal meetings with colleagues at Montgomery College’s partner institution, Xian University. In addition to selecting photos from their travels to share in this photo-journal, faculty also developed concrete lessons, wrote exploratory articles about connections with higher education in China, and made plans to foster the relationships forged during the visit.
These photographs (from Beijing, Xi’an, Macau, Hong Kong and Shanghai) extend beyond mere images and capture the vivid cultural rhythms of modern China. They include classic genres such as landscapes, portraits and scenes of everyday life yet they present a larger picture of an evolving national culture that resist easy labels and classifications. The photos capture the transformative impact of recent historical events, wars, religious and cultural exchanges can be seen in this collection. The images were selected for their aesthetic power in conveying the changing and varied landscape of this vast nation--capitalism, labor, power and politics, religion and mythology, tradition and innovation. We offer this text to our colleagues everywhere, in the hopes that what we have created will enhance and globalize their teaching across the disciplines, as it does ours.
Rita Kranidis, Director
Top row: Daniel Jenkins, Jaime Gillan, Takiko Mori-Saunders, Patricia Ruppert, Robert Giron, Sharon Fechter, Kenneth Jassie, Eniola Olowofoyeku
Front row: Marlon Vallejo, Vidya Vijayasekharan, Swift Dikison, Rita Kranidis, Joan Naake, Jennifer Haydel and Xi'an University Administrator
Not pictured: Esther Schwartz-McKinzie
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The Global Humanities Institute
MONTGOMERY COLLEGE
March 2016
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Curated by Vidya Vijayasekharan
Technical Support: Gloria Barron
BEIJING
Beijing, the capital of China, with its long and storied history is home to many superlatives; the longest wall, the most expansive palace complex and one of the largest city squares. It is also the civic and cultural center of modern China and was the first stop on this tour.
Thumbs Up
In Beijing we saw the old and the new China, as we took a rickshaw tour through the hutongs, the narrow streets crisscrossing older sections of the city.
Author David Strand points out the contradictory nature of the rickshaw as the representation of technical progress and modernity, yet at the same time “the sight of one human being pulling another also became a symbol of backwardness.”
Copyright 2016 by Eniola Olowofoyeku
Read more:
Strand, David, Rickshaw Beijing; City People and Politics in the 1920s, 1993
Rights of the People
The placard, hanging outside a residential doorway in a hutong, is actually an advertisement for local drink!
Copyright 2016 by Robert L. Giron
Tiananmen Square
Soldiers march in time in Tiananmen Square, located in the center of Beijing, China’s capital. “Tiananmen” means "Gate of Heavenly Peace,” and the Square itself serves as the gateway to the Forbidden City.
Copyright 2016 by Esther Schwartz-McKinzie
Learn more:
“Tiananmen Square Fast https://www.cnn.com/2013/09/15/world/asia/tiananmen-square-fast-facts/index.html
“Tiananmen Square Anniversary: A War of Memory and Oblivion” https://thediplomat.com/2017/06/tiananmen-square-anniversary-a-war-of-memory-and-oblivion/
Hua Biao
Huabiao are ceremonial and commemorative columns usually erected in front of important structures. This one, carved from marble, includes ornate motifs of reverence and power such as dragons, clouds and lotuses. Animal figures, like the dragon atop this column, serve as guardians and are believed to bring good fortune.
Copyright 2016 by Esther Schwartz-McKinzie
Learn more:
http://blog.eteacherchinese.com/china-culture/huabiao-the-symbol-of-china/
MAINTeNANCE
The Forbidden City, one of the most visited sites in China, was the imperial court for 500 years, from the 15th century to 1911. There are always thousands of visitors around this impressive complex and it is so expansive that this solitary worker stood out in stark contrast at one of the many secluded auxiliary buildings.
Copyright 2016 by Vidya Vijayasekharan
Learn more:
http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/sid/47/china/beijing/forbidden-city
Roof Figures
Known as wenshou, these golden yellow, glazed ceramic figures are unique to official, imperial buildings in China, and were believed to protect the inhabitants from fire and other natural disasters. The number of figures vary from three to eleven depending on the importance of the structure. The parade of guardians is anchored by a large dragon at the top of the roof-line (symbolizing imperial authority) and terminates with a human figure riding a phoenix. The cylindrical ceramic tiles of the roof simulate the original bamboo and timber construction of Chinese architecture.
Copyright 2016 by Vidya Vijayasekharan
Learn more:
Zhu, Jian Fei. “A CELESTIAL BATTLEFIELD: THE FORBIDDEN CITY AND BEIJING IN LATE IMPERIAL CHINA.” AA Files, no. 28, 1994, pp. 48–60. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/29543922.
CelebratIon
The Uyghur People are one of the ethnic minority groups in China. They enjoy displaying their colorful clothing, lively music and dancing in public open spaces. This group was dancing in a park in Beijing, near the Temple of Heaven.
Copyright 2016 by Eniola Olowofoyeku
Learn more:
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Uyghur_people
Bridal Photo-shoot
This photograph was taken at the Temple of Heaven, early in the morning, before the crowds had begun to gather. Despite the cold temperatures there were several bridal photo-shoots taking place at this revered and popular site in Beijing. These elaborate events are now very popular among the younger generation who prefer Westernized attire and eschew the older, traditional arranged marriages. The bride’s dress has auspicious features, including the color red and the dragon motif.
Copyright 2016 by Vidya Vijayasekharan
Resources:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/proof/2017/05/chinese-wedding-studios/
Barbershop with a View
This scene reminded me of the simple things in life done in a historical metropolis such as Beijing. Close to Tiananmen and the Forbidden City people still take their time to decompress and perform everyday tasks which one expects to be done in an enclosed environment. The camaraderie between the two gentlemen, who are probably friends, is part of the street life in China.
Copyright 2016 by Marlon Vallejo
Resources:
Guarding the Sacred Way
An intricately carved stone elephant guards the Changling Sacred Way (or Divine Road) in the Mausoleum Complex at Shendo.
About 30 minutes from Beijing, this partially excavated complex is situated according to the principles of feng shui at the foot of Tianshou Mountain. Slightly curved to fool malevolent spirits, the path is lined on either side with manicured trees and dozens of monumental, stone sculptures, including qilins (composite creatures that are part ox, dragon, covered with fish scales and may have a single horn) lions, camels, warriors--and of course, the striking pachyderm, which symbolized the far-reaching boundaries of the Ming Empire. Construction of the passage began in 1435, the 10th year of the rule of Emperor Xuande’s reign, and it was reconstructed in 1540, the 19th year of the Emperor Jiajing’s reign.
Copyright 2016 by Esther Schwartz-McKinzie
Learn more:
http://www.crystalinks.com/chinatombs.html
Dominoes
Westernization permeates throughout Chinese cities as seen in this Domino’s Pizza shop that sits amid more traditional Chinese eateries.
Copyright 2016 by Eniola Olowofoyeku
LET'S BUILD A WALL
This section of the Great Wall, just outside Beijing is less crowded than the other popular ones. It took over 2000 years to build, extends over 13,000 miles and it now serves as a testament to what can be done for the collective good.
True, the building of a wall is common, and Hadrian’s Wall begun in 122 CE by the Romans, still stands between England and Scotland, but nothing compares to the Great Wall of China; it’s simply: Incredible!
Copyright 2016 by Robert L. Giron
Resources:
XI'AN
The historic city of Xi’an served as the capital to a dozen imperial dynasties though the ages and is the Eastern terminus of the Great Silk Route. The First Emperor of China ruled from this area in Shaanxi province, which was originally known as Chang’an or “Perpetual Peace,” and the Tang Dynasty was centered there as well. The Ming Dynasty revitalized the city in the 14th century by building a fortified city wall and re-naming it Xi’an or “Western Peace”.
The Old Bell Tower
Bell towers such as this were originally used for housing large bronze bells that were rung each morning, to keep time. This ceremonial bell tower was built during the Ming Dynasty, in the late 14th century. Today, it occupies the junction of historic crossroads, in the middle of modern buildings where the old meets the new.
Copyright 2016 by Eniola Olowofoyeku
Learn more:
http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/sid/140/china/xian/bell-tower-of-xian
Pavilion of the Great Mosque
Dou gong (traditional Chinese architectural technique, using wooden brackets) and Islamic calligraphy are common characteristics of the many structures at the Great Mosque in Xi’an.
The mosque was founded in the 8th century during the Tang Dynasty and reflects a fusion of two unique cultures. Unlike usual mosque architecture, this has neither domes nor minarets but uses traditional timber construction techniques along with Arabic calligraphy.
Copyright 2016 by Vidya Vijayasekharan
Learn more:
https://interestingengineering.com/dougong-ancient-chinese-brackets-make-buildings-earthquake-proof
The Qibla Wall of the Great Mosque
This medieval complex reflects the synthesis of Chinese and Islamic architectural elements – seen here is Koranic inscription on the banner, columns as well as on the paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling. While the structure utilizes traditional wood construction, the use of Arabic calligraphy identifies the prayer wall of this mosque. Islam arrived in China during the Tang Dynasty along the Silk Route, and the first mosque was built by the 8th century, after Emperor Gaozhong permitted the practice in the 651CE.
Copyright 2016 by Robert L. Giron
Learn more:
http://asiasociety.org/china-learning-initiatives/exploring-islam-china
Age of Autumn Amidst Spring Flowers
An older denizen of the mosque, sitting in the courtyard, on a warm Spring day. Arab traders arrived in China as early as the 7th century but it was during the reign of Kublai Khan, in the 13th century that many Muslims settled in Xi’an. Today, they form a distinct minority known as the “Hui people.”
Copyright 2016 by Vidya Vijayasekharan
Learn more:
http://time.com/3099950/china-muslim-hui-xinjiang-uighur-islam/
Jia, Pingao, Old Xi'an: Evening Glow an Imperial City, Beijing 2001
Street Food
The bustling area of the Muslim Quarter , next to the Old Drum Tower, comes alive as the sun sets in the evening, with street vendors lining the paved stone street. It is a sensory overload with light and smoke, scents and sounds. The unique food items seen here are quite unlike what one is used to seeing at traditional Chinese restaurants – the most popular ones are the skewered meats and hand-pulled noodles. Most of the stores are operated by ethnic Hui (who are distinct from the Uighurs and the Kazakhs, the other Muslim ethnic groups in China)
Copyright 2016 by Vidya Vijayasekharan
Learn more:
http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/08/what-to-eat-xian-muslim-quarter-china.html
Protecting the Warriors
Conservators and archaeologists, at work, inside of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum in Xi’an. This site is regarded as an “Eighth Wonder of the World” and is among the top archaeological excavations of the 20th century. Only eight molds were used to shape the heads of the tomb’s 6000 warriors; distinctive facial features, added with clay after the warriors were put together in assembly-line fashion, give surprisingly unique appearances to individuals.
The original terra-cotta warriors are life-size statues dating to the 3rd century BC. but large scale replicas, made of local clay were on display everywhere, on the streets of the city. Xi’an, once named Chang’an, is the capital of Shaanxi Province in central China.
Copyright 2016 by Esther Schwartz-McKinzie, Marlon Vallejo and Vidya Vijayasekharan
Learn more:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/archaeology-and-history/archaeology/emperor-qin/
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/10/china-first-emperor-terra-cotta-warriors-tomb/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/terra-cotta-soldiers-on-the-march-30942673/
Great Wild Goose Pagoda
The Great Wild Goose Pagoda is a brick and clay tower from the 7th century, commemorating the contact between Buddhist monasteries in India and the imperial Tang Dynasty. It was built to celebrate the return of Xuanzang, a Buddhist scholar and monk, who had spent 16 years in India, traveling West along the Silk Route.
Kite-flying has been a recorded Springtime activity for over 2000 years but became especially popular during the prosperous Tang Dynasty. There were several impressive and colorful displays during our visit to the Great Wild Goose Pagoda. A large ceremonial, bronze bell stands in the courtyard of the Great Wild Goose Pagoda.
Copyright 2016 by Robert Giron and Vidya Vijayasekharan
Learn more:
http://education.asianart.org/explore-resources/background-information/great-wild-goose-pagoda
Campus Life
Workers transporting furniture on campus, at Xi’an University. While many sectors have become automated, China’s labor costs are still relatively cheaper than other developed countries, and the urbanization of rural agricultural areas has caused a recent influx of migrant workers in the cities.
Copyright 2016 by Vidya Vijayasekharan
MACAU
Macau's evolution from a small Chinese fishing village to an important Portuguese colony and now as a glittering gambling destination, is reflected in its language, architecture and food.
A Baroque Facade
The original church of St Paul’s was commissioned by Portuguese, Jesuit missionaries in the 17th century and built by Japanese laborers, on the Chinese peninsula.
The ruined façade is all that remains of the Jesuit complex built between 1602 and 1640. It originally included St. Paul’s College and "Mater Dei,” a Catholic church that helped to establish Macau as among the most important centers of Christianity in Asia until it was destroyed by fire in 1835.
Copyright 2016 by Vidya Vijayasekharan
Learn more:
http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/sid/100/china/macau/st-pauls-cathedral-ruins
Na Tcha Shrine
This photograph shows incense burning before the entrance porch of the single-room building, constructed in traditional Yingshan style.
Built in 1888, the Na Tcha Temple is dedicated to a Chinese folk deity who was a protector against the plague. The diminutive structure is only a few feet away from the ruins of St Paul’s, a testament to the resilience of folk life and culture in Macau.
Copyright 2016 by Esther Schwartz-McKinzie
Learn more:
Votives
Red paper prayers/votives hang from wooden screens, at A-Ma Temple in Macau. Dedicated to Mazu, the patron goddess of sailors and fishermen, this 15th century, Chinese Taoist temple predates the arrival of the Portuguese. Ritual customs at Buddhist temples include the lighting of incense as well as offerings of these red, tasseled votives and bells. Spiral incense coils hanging in the 15th century A-Ma temple complex.
In addition to these large spiral coils, which can burn for many hours, there are slender incense sticks as well as scented candles that are lit at the many shrines within this multi-level temple built on a hill.
Copyright 2016 by Vidya Vijayasekharan
Learn more:
Candy Store
Visitors and locals alike enjoy buying from the sweet shops that sell the traditional Macanese cookies and others sweets. Sampling is encouraged!
Copyright 2016 by Eniola Olowofoyeku
Macau Taipa Bridge
Our bus crossed in dense fog, which seemed like an apt metaphor for the transformation we were about to experience as we journeyed from an ancient world to the gleaming, frenetic vista of Cotai Strip, with its towering luxury casinos--The Venetian, The Galaxy, The Babylon—all competing to outdo one another in glamour and siren promise.
Easy access to the island of Cotai was essential to Macau's economy, and the Macau-Taipa Bridge, or just Old Bridge, was a deal-changer that ultimately led to urban development in Taipa. This elegant structure, just over one-and-a-half miles long, premiered in 1974 as one of the longest sea-crossing bridges in the world; it was the first to connect the Macao Peninsula with Taipa Island and has since played an important role in the history of the region.
Copyright 2016 by Esther Schwartz-McKinzie
Learn more:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/world/china-watch/technology/worlds-largest-bridge-over-water/
Mandarin's Moon Gate
The circular entrance or “moon gate” is a traditional Chinese feature which is associated with good luck and prosperity.
The Mandarin House, also known as the Casa de Cheang, was built in the mid-19th century for Zheng Guanying, an important official during the Qing Dynasty. He worked as an intermediary or agent (comprador) between the Portuguese and the Chinese; and his house reflects the seamless integration of Western and Chinese architectural elements.
Copyright 2016 by Robert L. Giron
Learn more:
WU, GUO, Zheng Guanying, Merchant Reformer of Late Qing China and his Influence on Economics, Politics, and Society, Cambria Press 2010
Centro Historico de Macau
The historic subdivision of Sao Lourenco reflects the long and complex history of Macau, a former colony of the Portuguese. While the architecture and urban planning were mainly shaped by Chinese and Portuguese models, the food, language and customs of Macau show cross-cultural exchanges with the Indian sub-continent, especially Goa, as well as the Philippines and Indonesia. Walking through the stone-paved neighborhood one is constantly exposed to the contrasts between the old and new, the East and the West.
Copyright 2016 by Marlon Vallejo
Learn more:
https://www.britannica.com/place/Macau-administrative-region-China
Tai-chi in the Garden
On a misty morning in Macau, a lady was practicing tai-chi in the pavilion of the picturesque Lou Lim Ieoc Garden.
The practice of tai-chi dates back many centuries and uses contrasting and complementary movements. It is based on the Taoist philosophy which stresses the natural balance in all things and the need to live in harmony with nature.
The garden was designed by a wealthy merchant in the early 20th century, on the model of the traditional scholar gardens of Suzhou.
Copyright 2016 by Vidya Vijayasekharan
Learn more:
HENDERSON, RON. The Gardens of Suzhou. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2013
HONG KONG
Dragon Gates
This picture, taken at the Victoria Harbor which separates Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. The skyscrapers in the background have large openings known as “dragon gates” designed to optimize the relationship between the structure and its setting, according to the ancient principles of feng shui. According to this ancient Chinese art of geomancy, these holes allow dragons to fly from the mountains to the water each day. It's believed that blocking the dragon's path could bring misfortune.
Copyright 2016 by Marlon Vallejo
Learn More:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb4HLm4GuEg
http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-why-hong-kong-skyscrapers-have-holes-feng-shui-2017-3
SHANGHAI
These images highlight the many faces and moods of Shanghai, as well as China’s traditions and cultures, from the colorful dragons, to tai chi, to life under Communism. These photos are a reminder that China is not a factory - it is a thriving human environment.
The statue stands at the gate of a hutong, a traditional village-like arrangement of houses and small neighborhoods centered on a public square. Seeing the tranquil expression of the statue at the entrance prompts the visitor slow down and enter gently.
The brilliant lanterns were suspended from the incredibly high ceiling of a hotel lobby, as if descending from the skies.
The third photo is of an area of the city that was at one time occupied by Westerners. The architecture here is very unlike other older structures in the city, and certainly not at all like the fantastically ambitious architecture that is so distinctive in Shanghai. The bricks stand out as an oddity, as do the boulevards and squares in this part of the city, and one feels completely transported to some place more European and colonial than Asian. This is one example of the many cross-cultural exchanges that can be seen throughout China’s long and distinguished history.
Copyright 2016 by Rita Kranidis