Lijia Zhang's Blog, page 18
September 14, 2023
my oped about wrong clothing that may hurt the feelings of the Chinese people
Be careful of your clothing. If you put on the wrong clothes that might the feelings of the Chinese people, you may have to pay a fine or end up in jail. Here’s why！
August 22, 2023
the German edition of my memoir
Exciting news! The German edition of my memoir about my decade-long experience of working at a rocket factory in Nanjing in the 80s "Socialism is Great!" is coming out in Germany in early autumn and I have been invited to attend Frankfurt Book Fair in October. My publisher, an independent one, is launching a fund-raising. Here’s the link. Please share with people who might be interested. My heart-thanks in advance.
August 20, 2023
the passing of Isabel Crook
Isabel Crook
Isabel Crook, a Canadian educator and a great friend of China, has died aged at 107. The unbelievable thing was that this morning, for some random reason, I mentioned her to a friend as we walked on Hampstead Heath. I couldn’t remember if she was still alive or not. My friend googled her and said: “Wow, she is 107 and obviously still alive!”
In the afternoon, he messaged me, saying she has died: when he wanted to read Isabel’s Wikipedia entry properly, he found the information has changed – she has passed away.
That was a piece of very sad news. Fortunately, Isabel lived a long and inspiring life. I interviewed her several times. I first interviewed her back in the early 90s when I presented a TV documentary for Beijing TV about foreigners’ Views on Chairman Mao. Then I just kept in touch. In the late 90s, I also interviewed her for the oral history of China, co-authored with my ex-husband. The last time I saw her – perhaps a dozen years ago – she was working on her PhD! She obviously stayed active right to the end, even attending an event two days before her death! What a remarkable life!
Here’s how China Daily reported her death. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202308/20/WS64e212b0a31035260b81d25e.html
Anyone interested in reading her chapter in China Remembers, feel free to get in touch.
August 13, 2023
TV Drama is causing controversy in China
Sexual harassment in the workplace is prevalent in China. A TV Drama delving into the topic titled Imperfect Victim is attracting plenty of attention and causing controversy. Here’s why.
https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3230657/rape-victims-imperfect-or-not-are-not-blame
August 1, 2023
Chinese women football
The Chinese women’s team was beaten by the English team – 1/6 in the World Cup. The ‘Steel Roses’ had enjoyed glory in the past but is now in decline. Here’s why
July 12, 2023
June 27, 2023
The Camino
The Camino de Santiago
The Camino de Santiago, known in English as the Way of St. James, is a network of Christian pilgrims’ ways. There are different routes, notably the Spanish Way, The French Way and the Portugal Way, all leading to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in the northwest of Spain. The legend has it that the remains of St. James the Great, one of the twelve Apostles, are buried there.
It has medieval routs. Ever since the Middle Ages, people have undertaken the pilgrimage. Since the 90s, the Spanish government has promoted the Camino and others followed suit. The 2010 American-Spanish film “The Way” about a father, starring Martin Sheen, walking the Camino following his son’s death on the route, saw the jump its popularity. Today, some 350,000 people from all over the world walk the Camino. In this modern era, I imagine that the religious and spiritual elements of the Way have diminished, though some do regard it as a walking meditation. Mostly it is just an interesting walking/hiking route.
Back in the summer of 2014, shortly after I turned 50, I walked from Leon in Spain to Santiago de Compostela in 13 days, covering a distance of 244 km. I thought it would be a memorable way to celebrate the occasion and reflect on my life. I loved it. I always enjoy walking. The scenery along the way was lovely, well, mostly. It was a very sociable endeavor where you inevitably meet people – you always bump into the same walkers. I set off on my own and ended up walking with a group of friends, led by a wonderful German lady Patrizia, who is still a friend to this day.
This time, I went for the Portugal Way, starting from Porto in northern Portugal. A short one but super sweet. The landscape is even more beautiful compared to the Spanish Way as one can walk on the seafront. Besides, there are many cafes dotted around where I would stop for freshly squeezed orange juice, custard tarts and cod fritters. Heavenly! Already I am hugely looking forward to returning and finishing the remaining trail to Santiago.
The symbol of the Camino is a scallop shell, which also functions as a signpost. There are everywhere. You just follow it when you walk.
Back in 2014, after walking the Camino, I advised a journalist friend to write a piece about the Camino and its commercialization. Here’s his piece.
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/01/world/europe/lifting-the-soul-and-the-spanish-economy-too.html
June 6, 2023
June 4 Anniversary
On the 34th Anniversary of ‘June 4’
At the darkest hour 34 years ago, something unthinkable happened. The Chinese government opened fire at the peaceful protestors at Tiananmen Square.
It was a no-event day in China. In HK, the police detained dozens who attempted to commemorate the anniversary. It is an occasion that deserves to be remembered as the monumental event has shaped China’s political landscape.
Here’s my piece published in NYT back in 2009. I believe the point I made then is still valid.
May 24, 2023
May 22, 2023
China exhibition
Last week, I attended the opening reception of the major exhibition – China’s Hidden Century – at the British Museum. I got the invitation because I helped them with the section on Qiu Jin, China’s first feminist and revolutionary. I am just finishing a historical novel inspired by Qiu Jin. In fact, I was quoted there. Besides, on the right hand side of Qiu Jin screen, there’s a bar code. If you scan it, you can also hear her fascinating life story. I did the voice over.
The Qing Dynasty, especially its tail end, was a particularly violent and turbulent time, caused by the aggression by the Western powers, notable the British. It was also a time of intellectual fermentation. Ever since the Opium Wars smashed open China’s doors, all sorts of ideas flooded in. All of these are reflected in the exhibition, even though it is mostly apolitical.
Anyway, I had a great time at the reception. I met old friends as well as all sorts of interesting people, including a former British diplomat who donated a piece of calligraphy by Kang Youwei, a highly accomplished calligrapher as well as a prominent political thinker who launched the Hundred Days Reform, a modernization drive.
The organizers claim that the exhibition will “open a new page in public understanding of late imperial China.” It is really well-done. Go to see it when you can.
