2013 – 2014 Season
The Fragrance of Discovery
Carving Authority and Creating History
Dan Lucas
September 14, 2013
For over 3,000 years in China, chops and seals have been used in lieu of signatures on personal and official documents, contracts, and art for acknowledgement or authorship. Seals are carved from various materials and used with red cinnabar paste. The carving and collecting of chops was a part of the Chinese literati milieu. Today, this ancient art is kept alive mostly by calligraphers and artists. Dan Lucas provides a brief history of the art, how seals are made and used, and various examples.
Dan Lucas
September 14, 2013
For over 3,000 years in China, chops and seals have been used in lieu of signatures on personal and official documents, contracts, and art for acknowledgement or authorship. Seals are carved from various materials and used with red cinnabar paste. The carving and collecting of chops was a part of the Chinese literati milieu. Today, this ancient art is kept alive mostly by calligraphers and artists. Dan Lucas provides a brief history of the art, how seals are made and used, and various examples.
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Zhu Zaiyu: A Ming Music Sage and Artist Genius Dan Huynh October 5, 2013 Learn why music is a science and a universal language. Celebrating PSU’s new School of Music, Dan Huynh, longtime Garden docent, introduces a Ming prince, Zhu Zaiyu, a humanist dedicated to science and the art of music. He developed the Theory of Equal Temperament in 1581, which influenced music worldwide and became the modern, universal standard tuning system for all instruments. |
The Art of Chinese Floral Arrangements:
History and Heritage
Mark Vossbrink
November 2, 2013
A skillfully executed Chinese floral arrangement is the equivalent of a painting that is not only pleasing to the eye, but also balanced in its composition, harmonious with nature, integrated into everyday surroundings, and not an aloof, dominant force. Historically, this art form was stimulated by artistic pottery and porcelain advances in China. Mark Vossbrink offers both an overview of this ancient Chinese art and a wealth of practical ideas for applying traditional methods within a contemporary setting. With a nod to Suzhou, traditionally a center for gardening and floral arts in China, explore flower symbolism and the selection of blossoms for their nobility, charm, and distinct beauty.
History and Heritage
Mark Vossbrink
November 2, 2013
A skillfully executed Chinese floral arrangement is the equivalent of a painting that is not only pleasing to the eye, but also balanced in its composition, harmonious with nature, integrated into everyday surroundings, and not an aloof, dominant force. Historically, this art form was stimulated by artistic pottery and porcelain advances in China. Mark Vossbrink offers both an overview of this ancient Chinese art and a wealth of practical ideas for applying traditional methods within a contemporary setting. With a nod to Suzhou, traditionally a center for gardening and floral arts in China, explore flower symbolism and the selection of blossoms for their nobility, charm, and distinct beauty.
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Clay Vessel-Flute (Xun):
An Ancient Dragon Egg-like Instrument Juwen Zhang December 7, 2013 This presentation will focus on the xun, a wind instrument of China with a very ancient heritage going back to the legendary Bao Xin Gong or Fuxi, the first male ancestor in Chinese mythology. Several of these baked clay instruments were found in the unearthing of the terra cotta soldiers at Xian. Dr. Juwen Zhang details the making and playing of this popular folk instrument as well as its cultural symbolism. |
Chinese New Year Brunch:
Welcoming the Year of the Horse 馬 , 4712
First Saturday PDX Planning Committee
January 18, 2014
Welcoming the Year of the Horse 馬 , 4712
First Saturday PDX Planning Committee
January 18, 2014
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Yuanmingyuan, Garden of Perfect Brightness
Lillian Li February 1, 2014 Learn about Yuanmingyuan, the Garden of Perfect Brightness, an imperial palace paradise for the Qing court. The historical importance lies in how Anglo-French troops pillaged, looted, and destroyed the garden in 1860 following the Second Opium War. It has become a symbol of China’s subjugation to foreign powers in the 19th century, and hence, a focal point of modern Chinese nationalism. Enjoy a fascinating visual account of the history, environmental aesthetics, art, politics, and symbolism of a unique and lost national cultural treasure. |
Lamas, Khans and Emperors: Masterworks of Tibetan Buddhist Art
and Architecture from China, Mongolia and Tibet
Kevin Greenwood
March 1, 2014
The relationship between China and Tibet has a long, complex, and interconnected history. Dr. Kevin Greenwood highlights those connections as exemplified in great masterworks of Tibetan Buddhist art and architecture that were made for and sometimes by the most important religious and political figures of their eras: reincarnate lams, great khans, and emperors.
and Architecture from China, Mongolia and Tibet
Kevin Greenwood
March 1, 2014
The relationship between China and Tibet has a long, complex, and interconnected history. Dr. Kevin Greenwood highlights those connections as exemplified in great masterworks of Tibetan Buddhist art and architecture that were made for and sometimes by the most important religious and political figures of their eras: reincarnate lams, great khans, and emperors.
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Hell Scrolls:
Death, Redemption, and Remembrance Illustrated Kenneth Brashier April 5, 2014 From a collection of 10 hell scrolls spanning the past three centuries, we take a journey to gain an understanding of the Chinese notions of hell, its underworld courts, and gruesome retributions. Dr. Kenneth Brashier guides us through the historical, artistic, and literary forces that gave hell its shape in China. |
Portland’s Other Chinese Gardens:
Organic Vegetable Farmers
Tracy J. Prince
May 3, 2014
During her research of Goose Hollow and Slabtown, Dr. Tracy Prince discovered an intriguing chapter of the city’s history about the Chinese community, and their gardening and farming activities, which impacted the development of the city a century ago. Through many never before seen photographs, learn about these “other” Chinese gardens in some of our oldest neighborhoods.
Organic Vegetable Farmers
Tracy J. Prince
May 3, 2014
During her research of Goose Hollow and Slabtown, Dr. Tracy Prince discovered an intriguing chapter of the city’s history about the Chinese community, and their gardening and farming activities, which impacted the development of the city a century ago. Through many never before seen photographs, learn about these “other” Chinese gardens in some of our oldest neighborhoods.
Nurture and Healing:
Chinese Medicine for Summer
Elise Wong
June 14, 2014
Traditional Chinese medicine practices, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, exercise, and dietary therapy, share common concepts developed in China and based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years. Dr. Elise Wong explains the philosophy of treating the individual rather than the disease through insight and nurturing, and how practices, while carried forward, have evolved between the pre- and current Communist eras. Dr. Wong focuses on Chinese medicine for summer with a topical account of nurturing and healing.
Chinese Medicine for Summer
Elise Wong
June 14, 2014
Traditional Chinese medicine practices, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, exercise, and dietary therapy, share common concepts developed in China and based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years. Dr. Elise Wong explains the philosophy of treating the individual rather than the disease through insight and nurturing, and how practices, while carried forward, have evolved between the pre- and current Communist eras. Dr. Wong focuses on Chinese medicine for summer with a topical account of nurturing and healing.
Our educational program series has been developed in collaboration with PSU’s Institute for Asian Studies, and is free of charge and open to the public.
View our regular monthly location by clicking on the address below for directions:
Portland State University, Academic & Student Recreation Ctr (ASRC), Room 230
1800 SW 6th Ave, Portland OR 97201
Excellent MAX and bus transportation is right by the venue; plan your Trimet trip HERE. There is also a nearby parking structure at SW 6th and Harrison with an entrance on 6th Avenue is also available.
View PSU Parking info:
https://www.pdx.edu/transportation/hourly-visitor-parking
View our regular monthly location by clicking on the address below for directions:
Portland State University, Academic & Student Recreation Ctr (ASRC), Room 230
1800 SW 6th Ave, Portland OR 97201
Excellent MAX and bus transportation is right by the venue; plan your Trimet trip HERE. There is also a nearby parking structure at SW 6th and Harrison with an entrance on 6th Avenue is also available.
View PSU Parking info:
https://www.pdx.edu/transportation/hourly-visitor-parking
