Alice Poon's Blog, page 4
December 16, 2018
Qing Empresses Exhibition Named Best Show 2018
Trying to pique Westerners' interest in Chinese history through historical fiction is hard, as the genre is just way too Eurocentric. It's a good thing that this exhibition of Qing Empresses has caught some eyeballs. I hope this will help spread the word about early Qing history, and about Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang as a key (but probably forgotten) female leader, whose influence was inexorably tied to the successful rise of the Qing Dynasty.
The Boston Globe named the Qing Empresses Exhibition at Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts as "Best Thematic/Historical Show of 2018".
— Alice Poon (@alicepoon1) December 16, 2018
https://t.co/E5hQ2RUb65 #china #salem #art #ChineseHistory #QingEmpresses #museums https://t.co/ImkfkMzhGW
October 22, 2018
My Choice of Two Poems to Illuminate Characters in "The Green Phoenix"
For readers who have read The Green Phoenix: A Novel of the Woman Who Re-Made Asia, Empress Xiaozhuang, they will have noticed that I had incorporated in it two famous Chinese lyric poems (“ci” 詞, i.e. lyrics that are set to tunes): “Reminiscing Red Cliffs” 念奴嬌之赤壁懷古 by Song dynasty poet Su Shi 蘇軾 (1037 – 1101) and “The Immortals by the River” 臨江仙 by Ming poet Yang Shen 楊慎 (1488 – 1559). I would just like to say a few words as to why I had chosen them.
In the opening chapters, the first poem appears in a scene where the young Bumbutai performs a recital of it to entertain her two Jurchen (Manchu) royal guests in her Mongolian home estate. This poem is about the poet's nostalgic memory of the ancient hero Zhou Yu from the Three Kingdoms era, and it was chosen to reflect Bumbutai’s love of Chinese culture and history, and, in a premonitory way, her sense of humility in face of history as the big picture and her belief that chance or fate works on the individual and collective levels to make history happen.
Near the end of Part Two, the second poem is presented during a second meeting between the young Shunzhi Emperor and the beautiful but already married Lady Bombogor, who is to become his favorite Consort Donggo. By brushing the poem on a painting that Shunzhi just finished working on, she shows her intelligent understanding of his thwarted dream to live a commoner’s simple and peaceful life. The poem laments the futility and emptiness of worldly pursuits and the transience of life itself, with an implied Buddhist mantra of letting go (放下). It mirrors Shunzhi’s escapist mentality and presages his later decision to become a monk.
念奴嬌之赤壁懷古 -蘇軾
大江東去，浪淘盡，千古風流人物。
故壘西邊，人道是，三國周郎赤壁。
亂石崩雲，驚濤拍岸，捲起千堆雪。
江山如畫，一時多少豪傑。
遙想公瑾當年，小喬初嫁了，雄姿英發。
羽扇綸巾，談笑間，强虜灰飛煙滅。
故國神遊，多情應笑我，早生華髮。
人生如夢，一樽還酹江月。
My Translation: Reminiscing Red Cliffs – Su Shi:
The Great Yangtze scurries forever east, many an ancient hero buried in its sweep.
West of the old forts, they say, was fought Zhou Yu’s Battle of Red Cliffs.
Rampant cliffs that pierced clouds, angry waves that ripped shores, churning up snowy foam;
Such a picturesque country, so full of gallant men in times of old.
Thinking of Zhou Yu in that distant past, he must’ve looked valiant with Xiaoqiao his new bride.
Feather fan in hand, hair tied in silk, his enemies crushed to dust as he joked.
Such was my dreamy tour; mock me as maudlin, but I’m just a young white-haired bloke.
Life is but a dream; let me offer wine to the river moon.
臨江仙 -楊慎
滾滾長江東逝水，
浪花淘盡英雄。
是非成敗轉頭空。
青山依舊在，幾度夕陽紅。
白髮漁樵江渚上，
慣看秋月春風。
一壺濁酒喜相逢。
古今多少事，都付笑談中。
My Translation: The Immortals by the River – Yang Shen
On and on to the east rolls the Great Yangtze,
Burying in its current hordes of gallant men.
Right or wrong, shame or glory, all comes to naught.
Only the green hills linger, after many a glowing sunset.
White-haired men by the river, mind the seasons not;
All they care is in the bottle, and meeting with old friends.
Stories new and old, come alive in their witty repartee.
In the opening chapters, the first poem appears in a scene where the young Bumbutai performs a recital of it to entertain her two Jurchen (Manchu) royal guests in her Mongolian home estate. This poem is about the poet's nostalgic memory of the ancient hero Zhou Yu from the Three Kingdoms era, and it was chosen to reflect Bumbutai’s love of Chinese culture and history, and, in a premonitory way, her sense of humility in face of history as the big picture and her belief that chance or fate works on the individual and collective levels to make history happen.
Near the end of Part Two, the second poem is presented during a second meeting between the young Shunzhi Emperor and the beautiful but already married Lady Bombogor, who is to become his favorite Consort Donggo. By brushing the poem on a painting that Shunzhi just finished working on, she shows her intelligent understanding of his thwarted dream to live a commoner’s simple and peaceful life. The poem laments the futility and emptiness of worldly pursuits and the transience of life itself, with an implied Buddhist mantra of letting go (放下). It mirrors Shunzhi’s escapist mentality and presages his later decision to become a monk.
念奴嬌之赤壁懷古 -蘇軾
大江東去，浪淘盡，千古風流人物。
故壘西邊，人道是，三國周郎赤壁。
亂石崩雲，驚濤拍岸，捲起千堆雪。
江山如畫，一時多少豪傑。
遙想公瑾當年，小喬初嫁了，雄姿英發。
羽扇綸巾，談笑間，强虜灰飛煙滅。
故國神遊，多情應笑我，早生華髮。
人生如夢，一樽還酹江月。
My Translation: Reminiscing Red Cliffs – Su Shi:
The Great Yangtze scurries forever east, many an ancient hero buried in its sweep.
West of the old forts, they say, was fought Zhou Yu’s Battle of Red Cliffs.
Rampant cliffs that pierced clouds, angry waves that ripped shores, churning up snowy foam;
Such a picturesque country, so full of gallant men in times of old.
Thinking of Zhou Yu in that distant past, he must’ve looked valiant with Xiaoqiao his new bride.
Feather fan in hand, hair tied in silk, his enemies crushed to dust as he joked.
Such was my dreamy tour; mock me as maudlin, but I’m just a young white-haired bloke.
Life is but a dream; let me offer wine to the river moon.
臨江仙 -楊慎
滾滾長江東逝水，
浪花淘盡英雄。
是非成敗轉頭空。
青山依舊在，幾度夕陽紅。
白髮漁樵江渚上，
慣看秋月春風。
一壺濁酒喜相逢。
古今多少事，都付笑談中。
My Translation: The Immortals by the River – Yang Shen
On and on to the east rolls the Great Yangtze,
Burying in its current hordes of gallant men.
Right or wrong, shame or glory, all comes to naught.
Only the green hills linger, after many a glowing sunset.
White-haired men by the river, mind the seasons not;
All they care is in the bottle, and meeting with old friends.
Stories new and old, come alive in their witty repartee.
September 27, 2018
Reading from The Green Phoenix at my LiterASIAN Festival Workshop
I so appreciate the support (and kind words) of Todd Wong, President of the Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop, and of Allan Cho, Festival Director of the 2018 LiterASIAN Festival, who invited me to participate. They both are passionate and dedicated promoters of Asian Canadian writers. I admire their energy!
I really enjoyed Alice Poon’s “Green Phoenix” - I first came across Alice’s new novel in Ricepaper @ricepapermag & have been a huge fan ever since. Alice is such an elegant speaker and so intellectually gifted https://t.co/wcBFClXgG4 #literasian #literasian2018 #AsianCanadian pic.twitter.com/C8ZDsnhOMU
— Gung Haggis (@gunghaggis) September 27, 2018
September 25, 2018
A Memorable 2018 LiterASIAN Festival!
I had a wonderful time on the Opening Night of the 2018 LiterASIAN Festival. The highlight was meeting in person the lovely Madeleine Thien, prize-winning author of Do Not Say We Have Nothing, which I loved and would highly recommend, and chatting with her for a bit. I also found out from Winnipeg author Michael Kaan (author of the new novel The Water Beetles) that his father used to live in Happy Valley, Hong Kong! His novel is based on his father's memoirs about the 1941 Japanese invasion of Hong Kong. And I got him to sign my copy, which I bought from the Festival Bookshop.
At the Sunday Panel, which was near full-house, I enjoyed the stimulating discussion with fellow panelists about our favorite Asian Canadian authors and their works. Later that day, my Workshop ran fairly well with lots of thought-provoking questions from the audience about my novel The Green Phoenix: A Novel of the Woman Who Re-Made Asia, Empress Xiaozhuang and about the craft of writing historical fiction. I was thrilled to find my Goodreads friend Rowena Monde in the audience! It was really wonderful to finally meet her in person. One interesting episode was that one of the attendees happened to be a lady of Manchu ethnicity who adores Empress Xiaozhuang, and she kept asking if there's a Chinese version. But she bought a copy any way from the Festival Bookshop. So sweet of her!
At the Sunday Panel, which was near full-house, I enjoyed the stimulating discussion with fellow panelists about our favorite Asian Canadian authors and their works. Later that day, my Workshop ran fairly well with lots of thought-provoking questions from the audience about my novel The Green Phoenix: A Novel of the Woman Who Re-Made Asia, Empress Xiaozhuang and about the craft of writing historical fiction. I was thrilled to find my Goodreads friend Rowena Monde in the audience! It was really wonderful to finally meet her in person. One interesting episode was that one of the attendees happened to be a lady of Manchu ethnicity who adores Empress Xiaozhuang, and she kept asking if there's a Chinese version. But she bought a copy any way from the Festival Bookshop. So sweet of her!
September 21, 2018
Tonight is the Opening Night!
#LiterASIAN2018 happens Sept 21-23 in #ChinatownYVR, the birthplace of AsianCanadian lit! W/ workshops, exhibit, authors++ & books (oh my!) incl. relaunch of JWC’s Chinatown Ghosts. Full sked https://t.co/3NSpMB6gtC pic.twitter.com/JE6bhbgWOT
— Youth Co for Chinatown (@ycc_yvr) September 21, 2018
September 17, 2018
The Interview with CBC Radio's Sheryl MacKay Starts at Around 01:44:30
The interview with Sheryl MacKay starts at around 01:44:30 (Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018). https://t.co/C4WP5XsLxJ
— Alice Poon (@alicepoon1) September 17, 2018
September 14, 2018
A Pleasurable Chat with Sheryl MacKay on CBC Radio
Yesterday, I went to the CBC Radio studio in downtown Vancouver for the recording of an interview about my novel The Green Phoenix: A Novel of the Woman Who Re-Made Asia, Empress Xiaozhuang with Sheryl MacKay, the amiable and professional host of the North by Northwest Show. The interview is part of the CBC Radio's coverage of the upcoming LiterASIAN Festival.
Speaking in public has always been a bete noire of mine, not to mention this was the first time I had ever been on a radio show. My stomach was all knotted up when I stepped into the building. Then an all-smiling Sheryl came out to greet me at the reception. Her warm and friendly disposition put me at ease immediately. As we walked into the studio, she casually told me that she loved my book (which almost made me swoon), and that she is a fan of historical fiction! A kindred spirit! When I was seated, she kindly offered to bring me a cup of water, as she probably could sense my nervousness. Then she told me that she didn't have a plan and that we would make it up as we went along, her smile never leaving her lovely face. So we started to chat. All through the interview, she and I maintained eye contact (through a glass divider) and she never stopped giving me encouraging signs through timely responses and body language. She just effortlessly showed herself to be one great, appreciative listener.
I've just received a note from Sheryl telling me that the interview will air on Saturday, September 15, 2018 right after the 8:00 a.m. news. Be warned that my performance is still below par, but the fault is all mine.
Speaking in public has always been a bete noire of mine, not to mention this was the first time I had ever been on a radio show. My stomach was all knotted up when I stepped into the building. Then an all-smiling Sheryl came out to greet me at the reception. Her warm and friendly disposition put me at ease immediately. As we walked into the studio, she casually told me that she loved my book (which almost made me swoon), and that she is a fan of historical fiction! A kindred spirit! When I was seated, she kindly offered to bring me a cup of water, as she probably could sense my nervousness. Then she told me that she didn't have a plan and that we would make it up as we went along, her smile never leaving her lovely face. So we started to chat. All through the interview, she and I maintained eye contact (through a glass divider) and she never stopped giving me encouraging signs through timely responses and body language. She just effortlessly showed herself to be one great, appreciative listener.
I've just received a note from Sheryl telling me that the interview will air on Saturday, September 15, 2018 right after the 8:00 a.m. news. Be warned that my performance is still below par, but the fault is all mine.
My pleasurable chat with Sheryl MacKay about The Green Phoenix on her iconic CBC North by Northwest radio show will air on Saturday, September 15, 2018 right after the 8:00 am news! Tune in live or catch it on the show's... https://t.co/C4WP5XsLxJ
— Alice Poon (@alicepoon1) September 14, 2018
September 3, 2018
Beijing Expatriates Have Picked The Green Phoenix for their September Group Read
Delighted to learn that the Beijing Book Reading Group of InterNations (an expatriate organization) has selected The Green Phoenix: A Novel of the Woman Who Re-Made Asia, Empress Xiaozhuang as their September Group Read. Expatriates from six countries have registered to join the reading and discussion on September 9, 2018.
Delighted to learn that expatriates from 6 countries in Beijing (Beijing Book Reading Group of InterNations) will be reading and discussing The Green Phoenix on September 9! https://t.co/fT3ltqmZXR https://t.co/fT3ltqmZXR
— Alice Poon (@alicepoon1) September 3, 2018
August 15, 2018
2018 LiterASIAN Festival at Vancouver, September 21-23, 2018
If you're ever on the corner of Granville & Robson, look up! You may see some familiar faces on the advertisement screen. We've partnered with the City of Vancouver to promote our fast approaching LiterASIAN Festival through their Vancouver Live! Video Screen Advertising Program. pic.twitter.com/XL04Ey9qC0
— ACWW (@acww) August 13, 2018
Events Schedule:
https://literasian.com/events-schedule/
I'll be speaking at the September 23 (Sunday) Workshop: "Turning to History for Inspiration: Writing the Historical Novel":
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/literasia...
If you happen to be in Vancouver on September 21, 22 or 23, 2018, do come and join us at this great literary event!
July 22, 2018
An Upcoming Showcase of Qing Empresses
A friend of mine has sent me this WSJ article which announces an upcoming exhibition, opening Aug. 18, 2018, centered on prominent Qing Empresses at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass., and another one opening in March in Washington DC.
The exhibition will showcase close to 200 items of sumptuous costumes, portraits, furnishings and other objects from the Beijing Palace Museum.
Included among the showcased Empresses is Empress Xiaozhuang (the heroine of The Green Phoenix), who is described in the article as one who "used her skills as a political strategist to protect the reigns of her son and grandson, both of whom assumed the throne as small children".
I'd say that's not an inaccurate description of my heroine. But I would also say that her most important contribution to history is her tireless championing for peace and humanity and advising her son and grandson to do the same, which sets her apart from other Empresses of the Qing dynasty.
Here's the article link:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/at-museu...
The exhibition will showcase close to 200 items of sumptuous costumes, portraits, furnishings and other objects from the Beijing Palace Museum.
Included among the showcased Empresses is Empress Xiaozhuang (the heroine of The Green Phoenix), who is described in the article as one who "used her skills as a political strategist to protect the reigns of her son and grandson, both of whom assumed the throne as small children".
I'd say that's not an inaccurate description of my heroine. But I would also say that her most important contribution to history is her tireless championing for peace and humanity and advising her son and grandson to do the same, which sets her apart from other Empresses of the Qing dynasty.
Here's the article link:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/at-museu...
