UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND
Asian Studies
Fall 2011
Pacific Rim/Asia Study Travel Program Jumps into Mongolia
After a brief stay in South Korea, PacRim 2011-12 arrived in
Mongolia where the PacRimmers studied Buddhism with
Professor Benard at Lamrim Monastery. Outside of the
“classroom,” the sojourning scholars had opportunities to
visit historical sites, such as Sukhbaatar Square, and explore the black market for camel-hair clothing for the cold
Gobi nights. Pac Rimmer, Grace Heerman, shares below
her insights on Mongolian life. You can read more accounts
of Korea, Mongolia, China, Malaysia and Vietnam on the
PacRim blog at www.upspacrim.org/.blog.
I haven’t decided if it was the shock of acclimating to our first Asian home, or if it was truly the craziness of the Mongolian
way of life that created such an intimidating first impression. As I ventured into the street during those initial days, it was
like aliens were attacking and the entire city had gone into primal instinct mode: every man for himself. There were no rules.
There were crosswalks, but crossing them was like a game of Frogger. While navigating through oncoming traffic, stopping
on the yellow line in the middle of the road was no longer dangerous, but necessary. We quickly learned to follow the
crowd. And personal space doesn’t hold nearly as much significance as it does in the States; people aren’t fazed by brushing up against each other on the street.
Vehicle transportation was just as unnerving, as lane divisions mean very little to people. Two lane roads often become
three lanes out of nowhere, and speed limits hold little significance, if there are any at all. In a way however, things seem to
move more slowly here than in many U.S. cities—not in a leisurely way, but in an almost careless way. Time commitments
don’t mean much. Food makes it to the table when it makes it to the table.
This was only my very first impression and experience with culture shock. I actually had a blast in Mongolia; it was the time
of my life. But UB is only half of the story. We [made] excursions to significant Buddhist sites outside the city [where not]
only did we learn about the roots of Mongolian Buddhist culture, but we were given a chance to see first-hand the ways in
which the culture has made, and is still making, the transition from a pastoral to an urban lifestyle. As soon as we made it
out of the city limits, the origin of the distinctive “UB vibe” started to make sense. The desolate, expansive geography and
harsh climate have promoted solitude since the beginning of Mongolian history, and ruggedness is a way of life for these
people. They have been conditioned to be aggressive, resourceful and tolerant of what comes their way. I can only imagine
how difficult it must be to survive a harsh, unforgiving Mongolian winter. (cont. on page 3)
Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China
By Harvard sociologist Ezra Vogel
Tuesday, Nov 1, Trimble Forum, 4-5 pm
Distinguished Asia scholar Ezra Vogel will lecture on his recently released definitive biography
of Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, the pragmatic revolutionary responsible for the country’s
dramatic modernization drive in the late twentieth century. Deng lifted hundreds of millions of
his countrymen out of poverty. Yet his fist struck like steel when he was faced with the young
dissidents who gathered in Tiananmen Square in April 1989. In his book Vogel observes the
culture of corruption that flourished within Chinese society under Deng. The private and serious
authoritarian also fostered meritocratic leadership and created an economy that has grown for
three decades at a stunning 10 percent per year.
Dr. Vogel, professor emeritus at Harvard University, is a well-travelled researcher of Japan, Korea, and China, and has written many books tracing the political and social transformations in
East Asia over more than five decades. The last time he came to campus was in the fall of 1982. That fall the entire freshman class read his top selling Japan as Number One: Lessons for America (1979) as part of their orientation experience.
ASIAN STUDIES
Page 2
F A L L 20 1 1
Updates from Hwa Nan Instructor Marjie Lodwick
Marjie will be continuing her
Trimble English Instructorship
at Hwa Nan Women’s College
in Fuzhou, China for another
year. Here are her thoughts on
teaching and living in China.
(Left: With students in costumes for
an English skit competition; Right:
Trip to the beach at Dong Shan with
a student and her family)
If you had asked me last fall how long I planned to stay in China teaching English, my reply would have certainly
been “Oh, just a year.” The prospects of the future (the Peace Corps among other plans) beckoned, and I was pretty
sure that no matter how amazing living in China felt at first, by the end of ten months I would be more than ready to
try a new country. The months fell away quickly though, and I found I was no longer so sure. I had heard that a second year of teaching in China was the real payoff for all the struggles, challenges, and hard work of the first. The
first year was mostly spent getting your bearings, both as a teacher and as a foreigner living in Fuzhou, while the second allowed you to spread your roots. So after a lot of consideration I signed on for a second year, hoping that their
advice proved to be true. Its truth far surpassed my expectations.
One of my greatest surprises upon returning to the college at the beginning of this fall was the strong feeling of returning home. There was my bus (the 89), my mountains (big hills by Pacific Northwest standards), and most of all
my apartment! It was such a joy to see the familiar faces of old students and other teachers, and even the gatemen
of the previous year. The brand new buildings and re-routed roads (China continues to grow at unimaginable rates,
and even six summer weeks can make a significant difference) [were] new, [but] within the context of my recognizable city and neighborhood—not the overwhelming unfamiliarity of the previous year.
Another surprising pleasure has been helping the new teachers at my college learn the ropes. Giving tips on city
navigation, not to mention trying to explain some of the intricacies of a different culture, has shown me more than anything else how much I’ve learned and adapted to life here since the beginning of last year. There is an easy sense
of comfort surroundings that is often a struggle to find when starting life in a new place.
The most rewarding part of my return has certainly been the deepening of relationships that I started to build last
year. From sharing meals, to being invited along on outings, and even a three day family car trip and vacation to the
seaside, I feel like I’ve gotten to see deeper into the everyday lives and relationships of ordinary Chinese people. It is
these interactions and more importantly the conversations they initiate that have truly shown a light on Chinese culture for me, and I look forward to the coming relationships that this year holds.
My hopes for the coming year are great. There are still places in China I wish to visit (the winter ice festival in Harbin
and the luscious scenery of Yunan province). There is always more language to learn. My Chinese skills are plodding along as slowly as ever, but as many of my students like to say “come on, you can do it!” [And] there are more
friends to make, both Chinese, and fellow Americans. This fall Hwa Nan will be hosting the Puget Sound’s Pac Rim
students and professors for four weeks. I’ve already ordered the eight turkeys we will need for a truly memorable
Chinese Thanksgiving celebration, and I can’t wait to see the interactions between the Hwa Nan and Puget Sound
students.
More than all of these other hopes, the new opportunities for challenging and inspiring my Chinese students are foremost in my mind. From developing new activities and projects within the classroom, to organizing an English Club
outside of the classroom, my main goal for this year is to continue to search for ways to make learning English an
active and applicable part of my students lives.
Applications for the 2012-13 Hwa Nan Instructorship position are due April 1st, 2012. For additional information, please go to the “Links” page of the Asian Studies website: http://www.pugetsound.edu/
academics/departments-and-programs/undergraduate/asian-studies/asian-studies-links/
ASIAN STUDIES
F A L L 20 1 1
Page 3
Campus Events
From Farewell to Rehearsal: Critical Thinking from a Chinese
Curator of Contemporary Art
By Guest Lecture Gao Shiming
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Wyatt 101 at 4 pm
Dr. Gao Shiming, a fellow at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, will bring to
Puget Sound campus his critical observations on the 2008 Third Guangzhou Triennial
and the 2010 Eighth Shanghai Biennale. As a curator for both art exhibitions, he will
be examining theoretical issues of contemporary Chinese art in the context of globalization.
Professor Gao is currently working on a research project title Rehearsal, or, Art without Artwork, which examines the complex relationships between acting and action,
participation and performativity, labor and work, authorship and ownership, and creation and innovation. His research subject area is visual culture research, contemporary art studies and curatorial study.
The lecture is co-sponsored by the Art Department and the Asian Studies Program.
Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China
By Harvard Professor Ezra Vogel
Tuesday, Nov 1, Trimble Forum, 4-5 pm (story on page 1)
H
iding Documentary Screening on October 15, Asian Studies hosted a screening of
Hiding, a recently-released documentary that follows the journeys of five North Korean refugees
escaping to freedom through China. The film highlights what life in hiding is really like and the
risks that must be taken to escape.
The documentary is by Liberty in North Korea, a non-profit, non-partisan organization that aids and
protects North Korean refugees in the underground.
Pac Rim Continued from page 1. But on the flip side, the separation and tough living have created an undeniable camaraderie
amongst the pastoral people; they are neighbors, no matter their proximity to one another. They seemed to me to have a much
more delightful spirit about them than the city-dwellers, as was evidenced by their willingness to invite us into their gers (the Mongolian word for yurt) and offer us endless bowls of airag (fermented mare’s milk), along with homemade sweets and unidentifiable
boiled animal parts. And the children we interacted with were carefree, delightful and gregarious, if not a little rowdy.
Suddenly, the seemingly unforgiving nature of the UB residents started to make sense. The city is still quite young and in the process of figuring out how to take advantage of their newfound independence while keeping up with the pace of the modern world.
Their culture and identity is, and always will be, intimately connected to their unique environment and the lifestyle it promotes.
Thus, attitudes that at first seemed severe, soon became recognizable as a form of vigilance. These people aren’t insensitive, but
merely robust and resilient.
Now that our time in Mongolia is done, I am more disappointed than I thought I would be. I find myself missing parts of the city that
I never thought I would: adrenaline-pumping walks around town, my ability to assert my newly realized self-confidence, and the
sense of community that our close quarters fostered. But that is the nature of this trip after all. As we continue on our journey, every day we are learning to recognize the gifts each place brings, and appreciate them while we participate.
ASIAN STUDIES
F A L L 20 1 1
Page 4
Xinjiang Travels
Asian Studies alumni and longtime China
resident, Paul Strickland (‘98), at our request, chronicled his just completed 4,500
km road trip through China’s northwest
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region with
his parents. Over the course of two
weeks, Paul and his parents in their Chinese rental car dodged camels on the road
to Kazhakstan, fled the “parking lot mafia”
in the city of Hotan, crossed the famed
Taklaman desert and strolled under the
grape trellises in the ancient oasis city of
Turpan. We include an excerpt of his account below.
Day 3: Drive from Urumqi to Yining- North Side of Tianshan mountain range, lakes and mountains, China’s
far west frontier (20 miles from Kazakhstan), via G 312 (696 km):
We got an early start for our first day on the road and missed the horrid traffic of Urumqi. Blasting north out of
town and pitching west, the scent of the Silk Road was in the air as the previous night’s heavy rainfall made
for bluebird skies and an unforgettable sunrise in the rearview mirror. Just as my mom asked me when we will
see camels, we pass three in the early dawn on the side of highway G312. Our destinations for the day include Sailimu Lake, the Kazakhstan frontier, and Yining. The drive west to Kazakhstan is stunning. The rugged semiarid landscape with the Gurbantungut desert to our left and the snowcapped Tianshan mountains to
the right with a fresh snow from the night before on our left, the views are breathtaking and we spot a couple
of golden eagles perched spotting for prey.
The highway climbs in elevation transitioning from the semiarid desert in to a forested alpine ecosystem as
the highway snakes through a mountain pass. The pass opens up to us and revealed a gorgeous azure blue
lake protected on all sides by high mountains partially shielded by clouds skirting across the sky. The air was
cold and the wind was whipping off the lake making our stop brief but memorable. At this point we had
climbed so high that the snowline almost met the lake.
Leaving the lake stop we made our way along the shore as the gas in the tank was hitting empty. We stopped
at a tiny settlement on the southern end of the lake and bought 10 liters of fuel, just enough to get us to the
next proper service station. Just beyond the settlement was a traffic jam at the mouth of a 3000 meter long
tunnel. Popping out of this tunnel we made a big curve around a bend and saw views of the most breathtaking bridge spanning deep gorge with snowcapped peaks on all sides. We drove down and across the suspension bridge, then winding down further, around, and eventually underneath the very bridge we crossed, offering up even more dramatic views. We all shared our opinions on what this scenery reminded us of- Switzerland, North Idaho, Wyoming? With one eye on the scenery
and one eye on the road we carefully made our way down
from the mountains, dodging road workers and vehicles coming up the wrong way on the highway in characteristically Chinese guess-as-you-go traffic revisions. Coming out of the
mountains and hitting the valley we head towards the Kazakhstan border and the wild western frontier of China….
Read the entire story at
http://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/departments-andprograms/undergraduate/asian-studies/asian-studieslinks/
ASIAN STUDIES
F A L L 20 1 1
Page 5
New Spring 2012 Asian Studies Courses
CSOC 225 Asian Medical Systems
By Professor Denise Glover
TTh, 2-3:20 pm
A basic introduction to three traditional medical systems of Asia: Ayurveda, Chinese
medicine, and Tibetan medicine. The course examines theoretical underpinnings,
trainings of practitioners, materials and techniques utilized in treatment, and important
historical developments in each system. Additionally, the course explores issues of the
interface between biomedicine and these systems, and larger issues of globalization in
the practice and consumption of traditional medicines. Taking an anthropological approach, the course aims to understand each system from within itself while also paying
close attention to the social and cultural conditions under which each system has
thrived and has also faced challenges. The course examines how systems of healing
are both biologically and culturally based, and considers how these medical systems
relate to issues of national identity and global politics.
ASIA 399 Southeast Asia in Cultural, Economic, and Political Context
By Professors Nick Kontogeorgopolous and Gareth Barkin
Wed, 5-8 pm
An overview of diversity and change in Southeast Asia, with a focus on,
and field component in, Indonesia and Thailand. Students will examine
the origins and development of complex state societies from an in-depth,
ethnographic perspective. Students will explore issues of religious syncretism, gender, agriculture, the cultural impact of European colonialism,
and the post-colonial period of nation building in Southeast Asia. Students will also delve into geographically focused case studies, which
look at the cultural component of many important issues facing the region, including environmental decline and deforestation, the impact of
globalization, the problems of ethnic and religious minorities, and other socio-cultural issues. The second half
of the course will examine economic and political processes shaping the region. The international portion of
the course lasts approximately two weeks, and features an immersive stay at local universities in Indonesia
and Thailand. The field component is required, and includes guest lectures by local scholars, trips to cultural
and historic sites, ethnographic projects, and potential trips to neighboring areas.
CHINESE 309 Phoenix Claws and Lion’s Head: Food in Chinese Culture
By Professor Lo Sun Perry
MWF, 11:00-12:00
This course will explore Chinese culture through food. Food is only one aspect of cultural traditions, yet it could be unexpectedly revealing. No other culture is as foodoriented and food-crazed as that of the Chinese. There are more than 30 words in
Chinese used to describe cooking methods alone. Food preparation for Chinese involves not only culinary precision, but also understanding of the seasonal changes,
medicinal quality of ingredients, and nutritional needs of the eater. Beverage consumption, in tea and wine, are also an important component of the food culture. In
China, past and present, special occasions are never passed without a celebratory
meal, thus etiquettes and tributes for attending banquets have always been necessary training for an educated person. Much of this is rooted in tradition, and differs
from region to region.
We will examine the eight major regional cuisines (八大菜系) in China, read selected menus from restaurants in different cities, and learn the recipe of a common home-style dish. We will study the medicinal
principles that common Chinese households observe and explore the cosmological notion of Yin-Yang (陰陽)
and the Five Phrases (五行). We will draw on history, art and literature, and online blogs to see how food
preparation and eating habits have transformed over time.
ASIAN STUDIES
F A L L 20 1 1
Page 6
About the Asian Studies Program
The Asian Studies Program provides a broad range of courses on Asian cultures, civilizations,
and societies as electives for all students. The program also offers a curricular concentration on
Asia as a designation on the transcript upon graduation for students who choose this concentration.
This designation of Interdisciplinary Emphasis in Asian Studies (IEAS) reflects the program’s
multidisciplinary content and interdisciplinary effect. The designation is not a major or a minor, but
functions as an enhancement of, or a complement to, any major of a student’s choice. Fundamental
to the program is its invitation to a student who chooses the designation to cultivate her or his intellectual autonomy by exercising flexible choice of courses and participating in co-curricular events.
Students who demonstrate academic excellence and complete a one-semester senior thesis will
achieve the added designation Robert Trimble Distinguished Asia Scholar.
The Interdisciplinary Emphasis in Asian Studies designation is included on the transcript, indicating
the student’s proficiency in Asian Studies. It is a one-click option on your Cascade profile and it will
open a world of opportunities to you (including eligibility for scholarships, research grants, study
abroad financial assistance, and much more). If you have questions about the Asian Studies interdisciplinary designation, any of our courses, or opportunities to study abroad or intern in Asia, see
Program Director Karl Fields (kfields@pugetsound.edu).
The Asian Languages and Cultures (ALC) Program, a component of the Asian Studies Program, offers majors, minors and courses of interest to all undergraduates at Puget Sound. Grounded in a strong foundation of languages and cultures, the program draws on the broad expertise of
the Asian Studies faculty and complements the Asian Studies Program's Interdisciplinary Emphasis in Asian Studies and Trimble Distinguished Asia Scholar designations in offering students a focused and comprehensive understanding of the languages, cultures, and literatures of East Asia.
The program offers three majors, two minors, courses in the core curriculum, and
Chinese and Japanese language courses that meet the university's foreign language requirement.
Choice of Majors
Students may select from three major areas of study:
1. Chinese
2. Japanese
3. East Asian Languages
ASIAN STUDIES
F A L L 20 1 1
Page 7
Scholarship Opportunities
Financial Support for Studying Abroad in Asia
Grants are available to students for study abroad programs in Asia.
Funds are made possible through the Charles Garnet Trimble Endowment in Chinese Studies. The application deadline is April 1st
for all summer, fall or spring semester and full-year programs.
Junior-Senior Trimble Scholarships
All rising juniors who have declared the IEAS designation or Asian
Languages and Cultures major or minor are automatically eligible for
consideration for the Junior-Senior Trimble Scholarship.
For more information, contact Asian Studies Director Karl Fields
(kfields@pugetsound.edu)
Senior Thesis Trimble Research Grants
Each year the Asian Studies Program funds up to two $3000 research grants for
Asian Studies designates to support thesis research in Asia for students who
will be seniors pursuing the Trimble Distinguished Asia Scholar designation
(whether participating in Asian Studies 489 or an approved seminar within the
student’s major). These funds may also be used for a semester-break research
project between fall and spring semesters. Funds are made available from the
Charles Garnet Trimble Endowment in Chinese Studies. The deadline for the
2012 research awards is April 15, 2012.
Opportunities Abroad in Asia: Teach English
JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) is a Japanese government
program that brings college (university) graduates—mostly native
speakers of English—to Japan as Assistant Language Teachers
(ALTs) and Sports Education Advisors (SEAs) in Japanese elementary, junior high and high schools, or as Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs) in local governments and boards of education. JET Program participants are collectively called JETs. For additional information, contact
Japanese language instructor Mikiko Ludden (mludden@pugetsound.edu).
TaLK (Teach and Learn in Korea) is a teaching program sponsored by the
Korean Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, and invites adventurous global leaders as Government Scholars. Participants will teach after
school English classes in Korean elementary schools in rural areas while enjoying cultural programs. For additional information, contact Professor Karl
Fields (kfields@pugetsound.edu).
ASIAN STUDIES
Page 8
F A L L 20 1 1
Course Offerings for Spring 2012
Check Cascade for details.
ART 278 - Asian Art
Hong (FA)
ART 368 - Japanese Art
Hong
ART 378 - Asian Calligraphy
Hong
ASIA 341 - Asia Pop!
Neighbors (CN)
ASIA 344 - Asia in Motion
Barkin (CN)
ASIA 399 - Southeast Asia in Cultural, Economic, & Political Context
Barkin & Kontogeorgopolous
NEW COURSE!
CHIN102 A/B - Elementary Chinese
Perry (FL)
CHIN 202A - Intermediate Chinese
Perry & Chen (FL)
CHIN 230 - Grammar & Articulation
Chen (FL)
CHIN 301 - Phoenix Claws & Lion's Head: Food & Chinese Culture
Perry (FL)
NEW COURSE!
CSOC 225 - Asian Medical Systems
Glover
NEW COURSE!
Asian Studies Program
University of Puget Sound
1500 North Warner St. #1054
Tacoma, WA 98416-1054
Phone: 253-879-2995
CSOC 380 - Islam and Media
Barkin
HIST 248 - Japan from 1600
Neighbors (HM)
HIST 344 - Resistance, Rebellion, Revolution in China
Neighbors (HM)
JAPN 102 A/B - Elementary Japanese
Ludden & Tyson (FL)
JAPN 202 - Intermediate Japanese
Tyson (FL)
JAPN 302 - Third Year Japanese
Ludden
JAPN 380 - Modern Japanese Prose
Ludden
REL 233 - Japanese Religious Traditions
Stockdale (HM)
REL 336 - Tantra and Alchemy
Smithers
TO: