Resource
Materials
2013-2014
Getting the most out of your visit!
578 Carrall Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 5K2
Phone: 604-662-3207
Fax: 604-682-4008
education@vancouverchinesegarden.com
www.vancouverchinesegarden.com
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Table of Contents
Letter from the Garden
Letter from the Garden…………………………………………….Page 3
Dear educator,
Whether you are coming for an interactive tour or one of
Preparing for your visit………………………………..….………..Page 4
our dynamic educational programs, the Garden has something for you! This resource manual is designed to help
Recommended Resources ………………………………………..Page 5
your group get the most out of their visit.
The following pages have some great multimedia re-
Art and Architecture…..………………………………..Page 6
sources for you and your students. Let us know what cur-
Family and Community …………………………………Page 8
riculum content or materials you’ve been using in class (e.g.
The Ming Dynasty ………………………….………….Page 10
novel study book) and we’ll do our best to work them into
your program; after all, new information is often easier to
Chinese-Canadian History …..………….………….Page 12
learn when it’s rooted in something we already know.
Legends and Celebrations ……………….………….Page 18
I look forward to working with you and your students!
Contact Information………………………………………………Page 20
One of the Garden moongates
Susan Ma
Head of Education
Come join us in this unique classroom!
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Preparing for your visit
To make your visit to the Garden as
enriching as possible you can do a few
simple things in the classroom
before coming.
Pick your program. See: School Brochure
Refer to our Resource List. Choose from
the list to complement your program.
Let the Garden know which resources
and themes you’ve explored in class and
come with questions about the Garden.
Come to the Garden with an open mind!
Recommended Resources:
The following list of resources contains
a variety of multimedia materials (books,
films, fact sheets, websites, and articles)
meant to assist instructors in planning
lessons and activities prior to their visit
to the Garden. Some resources, such as
novels, are suitable for students to read
and study in class, while others provide
background information suitable for instructors. These materials are intended
for a variety of levels from Kindergarten
to Grade 12.
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Art and Architecture
The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden is more than just a
pretty picture. The art and architecture of this downtown
landmark is a legacy of Chinese culture. The following
resources give an overview of the philosophy underpinning Chinese art and design and provide examples of it.
Nature Symbolism
 These webpages list common
 Chinese symbols found in nature:



Garden Design and Art
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/
Chinese_Customs/flowers_symbolism.htm
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/
Chinese_Customs/animals_symbolism.htm
 This art history article produced by The Metropolitan
Museum of Art discusses the importance of nature in
Chinese culture.

 This article, “Chinese Gardens and Collectors’ Rocks,”
Yin Yang Balance
discusses the selection and arrangement of rocks in a
classical Chinese garden.

 This children’s encyclopaedia entry
gives a simple introduction to Taoism and the yin yang symbol.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/cgrk/hd_cgrk.htm

 This travel writer recounts her visit to the Suzhou
Gardens in China, the inspiration for our location.

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/cnat/hd_cnat.htm
http://www.vagobond.com/the-magical-gardens-of-suzhouchina/
Chinese Brush Painting: A Hands-On Introduction
to the Traditional Art by Caroline and Susan Self
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/
china/philosophy/taoism.htm
 This webpage offers an explanation of the origins of
the yin yang symbol.

http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/yinyang.htm
The Legend of Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching
by Demi
 After or before your visit to the Garden, you might
feel inspired to plan a lesson on Chinese painting. This
book is an easy to follow-guide showing how to create
beautiful and creative brush paintings, while staying
true to the traditional principles of the art.
 Suggested for Grade 4+
 This illustrated children’s book tells
the legend of Lao Tzu, possible
founder of Taoism.
 Suggested for Grade 4+
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Grandfather Counts by Andrea Cheng
Family and Community
The Garden was designed as a reproduction of a Ming-era
family home, but its location in the heart of Chinatown
also touches upon cross-generational relationships and
life in immigrant communities in the 20th Century. These
materials should assist instructors creating units on family,
community, and identity.
 A girl and her grandfather learn to
overcome the language barrier
between them by learning the
language of the other.
 Other books by Andrea Cheng:
The Key Collection, Goldfish and
Chrysanthemum, etc.
Roses Sing on New Snow
by Paul Yee (dir. Yuan Zhang)
 This animated short film by
produced for the National Film
Board of Canada tells the story of a daughter working
as a cook in her father's restaurant in Chinatown,
based on the book by Paul Yee.
The Chinese Family
 This fact sheet gives a general overview of the

http://www.nfb.ca/film/roses_sing_on_new_snow
Chinese family structure and duties.

http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=107
Saltwater City by Paul Yee
 This website, created for a Vancouver Museum exhibi-
tion, tells the story of the family of Chinatown’s most
successful early businessmen, Yip Sang.

http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/205/301/ic/cdc/yipsang/index.html
 This list of Chinese-Canadian biographies and family
histories provides a comprehensive view of the
resources available from the Vancouver Public Library.

www.vpl.ca/ccg/Pioneer_Booklist.html
 174 pages rich with pictures,
descriptive captions and paragraphs that brings to life much
of the history of Vancouver’s
Chinatown and what it means to
be a part of this community.
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The History and Activities of Ancient China
by Jameson Anderson
The Ming Dynasty
 This book, ideal for grades 3-6,
The Ming Dynasty lasted from 1368 to 1644 and was a time
of renewal for Chinese culture. It was an epoch of great
cultural innovation, and saw the rebirth of classical art and
the creation of an effective administration made up of
scholar bureaucrats. These resources can assist an
educator designing a unit on Ancient Chinese civilization.
Historical Background
 This historical fact sheet summarizes the key develop-
ments and figures of the Ming Dynasty.

groups together information on history
and includes activities such as recipes
and crafts to do with students.
 Similar book: Great Ancient China
Projects You Can Build Yourself by
Lance Kramer.
The Lives of Scholars
 This article describes the historical position of the
scholar in Chinese society.
http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=35
 This article, titled “Landscape Painting in Chinese
Art,” gives an overview of the evolution of landscape
painting and the changing role of the artist.

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/schg/hd_schg.htm
 This webpage introduces
Chinese calligraphy and provides samples of it throughout
history.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/clpg/hd_clpg.htm
Peony in Love by Lisa See
 This 273 page novel tells the story
of Peony, a girl living a sheltered
life in 17th century China. This
story is based on actual events
and does a wonderful job of
explaining the difficult times after
the fall of the Ming dynasty.
 Suggested for Grade 10+
 Another book by Lisa See: Snow
Flower and the Secret Fan.

http://www.asia.si.edu/explore/china/
calligraphy/default.asp
The Examination by Malcolm Bosse
 This young adult novel tells the story of
a 15 year-old boy and his older brother’s
journey to becoming members of the
literati, an elite class of educated bureaucrats.
 Suggested for Grade 6+
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Chinese-Canadian History
Although the Garden itself is the product of a collaboration between China and Canada dating from the 1980s,
the history of Chinese settlement in Vancouver dates
back to the early twentieth century. These resources
encompass topics such as immigration, labour, Chinese
participation in WWII, and the development and growth
of Chinatown itself.
Dear Canada: An Ocean Apart by Gillian Chan
 Part of the “Dear Canada” novel
series, this book tells the story of
Chin Mei-ling who must face the consequences of the Head tax on her
family. Separated from her mother
and other siblings still in China, she
and her father must come up with
the money to pay for their entry.
 Suggested for Grade 4+
I Am Canada: Blood and Iron by Paul Yee
 This novel tells the story of a
Chinese teen, Heen, who travels
to Canada to work on the railway
as a means of improving his
family's fortunes. Young readers
are exposed to the harsh working
conditions and unfair treatment
of Chinese railroad workers
through the eyes of Heen.
 Suggested for Grade 4+
Tales from Gold Mountain by Paul Yee
 This collection of tales groups
together eight original folk
stories giving readers a sense of
the hardships faced by Chinese
immigrants to North America.
 Each tale is relatively short, but
each one deals with some very
important themes such as prejudice, racism and dishonesty.
 Suggested for Grade 7+
 Other Children/YA fiction by Paul Yee: The Bone Collector’s Son, Ghost Train, The Curses of Third Uncle.
White Jade Tiger by Julie Lawson
 In this 168 page novel, Jasmine
immigrates to Victoria to live with
her aunt, and goes on a time traveling quest to save her family from a
curse. Locations described in this
book are all real places that can be
visited today.
 Suggested for Grade 4+
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The Jade Peony by Wayson Choy
Canadian Steel Chinese Grit by Julia Ningyu Li
 Set in Vancouver’s Chinatown in
 This album chronicles the
the late 1930s and 1940s, this novel
depicts the life of an immigrant
family during the Depression as
the second generation children
experience cultural divide.
 Suggested for Grade 10+
 Sequel: All That Matters.
efforts and work of 1000s
of Chinese workers who
arrived in Canada between
1881 and 1885 to help build
the CPR.
 This book is written in both
Chinese and English and contains many photographs
and reproductions of archival documents.
The Concubine’s Children by Denise Chong
 This memoir is an account of the
author’s family told from the perspective of her Chinese-Canadian mother.
She vividly portrays the struggles of
immigrant Chinese women in B.C. at
a time when Chinese men greatly
outnumbered women.
 Suggested for Grade 6+
Yi Fao: Speaking Through Memory by Patricia Owen
 This history book provides an
overview of the Chinese community in New Westminster or
Yi Fao meaning “second port.”
 This 144 page book is based on
the reminiscences of four key
families of settlers and contains compelling photographs.
Escape to Gold Mountain by David H. T. Wong
 This graphic history tells the story
of Chinese immigrants to North
America and the struggles they
faced.
 It is told from the point of view of
the author’s family, and is based on
historical documents and interviews with elders.
 Suggested for Grade 6+
Heritage Walks Around Vancouver
by Michael Kluckner & John Atkin
 This 28 page book takes readers on a
1.5 hour walking tour around historic
Strathcona, the neighbourhood
beside Chinatown where many
Chinese people lived.
 To book a walking tour with John
Atkin please contact the Garden.
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“Nitro” - Heritage Minute
 This short video sheds light
In the Shadow of Gold Mountain (dir. Karen Cho)
 This 43 min National Film Board documentary records
director Karen Cho’s travels from Montreal to
Vancouver to find and interview
remaining survivors of the
Chinese Head Tax and
Exclusion Act.
on the dangers Chinese
migrant workers faced building the CPR in their new
country.
 https://www.historica-dominion.ca/content/heritage-minutes/
http://www.nfb.ca/film/
in_the_shadow_of_gold_mountain
“The Chinese Violin”
by Madeleine Thien (dir. Joe Chang)
 This 8 min animated short tells the story of a father
Research Databases
and a daughter moving to Canada from China,
bringing with them their precious violin.
 Based on the illustrated children’s book.
 “The Chinese Experience in British Columbia: 1850-
1950” is a database of digitized primary and secondary
sources pertaining to Chinese-Canadian communities
throughout BC created by UBC Library. It includes
photos, documents, and various ephemera ranging
from anti-Asian brochures to restaurant menus.
http://www.nfb.ca/film/chinese_violin

http://www.library.ubc.ca/chineseinbc/index.html
Unwanted Soldiers (dir. Jari Osborne)
 This 48 min long documentary produced for the
National Film Board of Canada, describes the involvement of the director’s Chinese-Canadian grandfather
in World War II. She also uncovers a legacy of racism
and discrimination against BC’s Chinese-Canadian
community.
http://www.nfb.ca/film/unwanted_soldiers
 “Chinese Canadian Stories” is a web project gathering
the work of local universities and community groups. It
contains games, videos, and other resources intended
specifically for classroom use.

http://ccs.library.ubc.ca/trim/s/en/index.html
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Ten Suns by Eric A. Kimmel
Legends & Celebrations
 This illustrated book is an engaging
retelling of an old Chinese myth of
the god of the eastern sky and his
ten sons or suns.
 Suggested for K to Grade 4
A great way to step into the world of Chinese culture is
through its legends and celebrations. The animals of the
Chinese zodiac and festivals such as Chinese New Year
are engaging topics for students of all ages!
The Chinese Zodiac
Chinese Traditions
 “The Lunar New Year: Rituals and Legends,” produced
by Asia for Educators is an informative webpage
briefly summarizing the festivities surrounding the
Lunar New Year. This resource is more suitable for
instructors preparing a lesson.

http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_general_lunar.htm
Happy, Happy Chinese New Year by Demi
 This book is a collection of
recipes, activities and
traditional tales allowing
readers to recreate the
magic of Chinese holidays at
home or in the classroom.
 This website created for the US National Endowment
for the Humanities introduces readers to the “Animals
of the Chinese New Year,” and also offers lesson plans
based around the zodiac.

http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/animals-chinese-zodiac
The Race for the Chinese Zodiac
by Gabrielle Wang, Sally Rippin and Regine Abos
 This 32 page illustrated book retells the
classic legend of the animals’ race that
led to the creation of the twelve signs
on the Chinese Zodiac.
 Suggested for K to Grade 4
Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats
by Nina Simonds and Leslie Swartz
 This book is a collection of activities
and traditional tales allowing readers
to recreate the magic of Chinese
holidays at home or in the classroom.
 Suggested for Grades 4 to 7
Chinese Zodiac Animals by Sanmu Tang
 This colourful, small format book
teaches readers about the characteristics of their Chinese zodiac signs,
conveyed by fun cartoon illustrations.
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Contact Us
We would love to hear your ideas on how to
expand this list of materials and discuss how we
can improve your visit.
578 Carrall Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 5K2
Phone: 604-662-3207
Fax: 604-682-4008
education@vancouverchinesegarden.com
www.vancouverchinesegarden.com
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