2019 - 2020 Schedule
Welcome to the First Saturday PDX current season, our twentieth year of sharing China-related subjects! We have a brand new collection of programs beginning 7 September, 2019 running through 6 June, 2020 - come join us as we explore these varied topics!
The Sleeping Beauty of the Mawangdui Tombs, Learning to be a Foreigner in China, Status and Hierarchy through Architecture in a Confucius Society, Phonetic Rendering Schemes for Chinese Characters, The Influence of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain on Japanese Ceramics, and a walk through the Garden at Elk Rock are all part of this season's schedule.
The Sleeping Beauty of the Mawangdui Tombs, Learning to be a Foreigner in China, Status and Hierarchy through Architecture in a Confucius Society, Phonetic Rendering Schemes for Chinese Characters, The Influence of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain on Japanese Ceramics, and a walk through the Garden at Elk Rock are all part of this season's schedule.
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Mawangdui: The Tomb of China’s Sleeping Beauty
Maihwa Frances Li 7 September, 2019 Carefully sealed and untouched since the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 9 AD), the tomb at Mawangdui held the well-preserved body of Lady Dai, the wife of the Marquis who governed that region. Numerous artifacts accompanied the body, as well as nearby tombs of the Marquis and a possible son. Further information and images: https://www.firstsaturdaypdx.org/mawangdui-the-tomb-of-chinarsquos-sleeping-beauty.html |
Field Notes from Sichuan: Learning To Be a Foreigner
Nancy Dollahite
5 October, 2019
A book talk with slides will take us back to how China was rapidly urbanizing in the 1980s and invites us to examine what it means to be a person living cross-culturally in any place at any one time.
Further information and images:
https://www.firstsaturdaypdx.org/field-notes-from-sichuan-learning-to-be-a-foreigner.html
Nancy Dollahite
5 October, 2019
A book talk with slides will take us back to how China was rapidly urbanizing in the 1980s and invites us to examine what it means to be a person living cross-culturally in any place at any one time.
Further information and images:
https://www.firstsaturdaypdx.org/field-notes-from-sichuan-learning-to-be-a-foreigner.html
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In Search of Korean Liberation in China
Danny Kim 2 November, 2019 An introduction to the historical relationships between Korea and China, which will cover Korean independence and activism in Shanghai and Chongqing - and how these have shaped both Korea and China to this day. Further information and images: https://www.firstsaturdaypdx.org/in-search-of-korean-liberation-in-china.html#
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From an Architect's Perspective: 3, 5, 7, 9 Column Halls: Status and Hierarchy in a Confucius Society
Ken Diener
7 December, 2019
Throughout history, societies have been based on cultural and political hierarchies. Navigating within a culture requires sensitivity and an understanding of available clues. This presentation will examine how classical Chinese architecture was employed for organizing traditional construction as exemplified in the design of Portland’s Lansu Yuan.
Further information and images:
https://www.firstsaturdaypdx.org/from-an-architects-perspective-3-5-7-9-column-halls-status-and-hierarchy-in-a-confucius-society.html
Ken Diener
7 December, 2019
Throughout history, societies have been based on cultural and political hierarchies. Navigating within a culture requires sensitivity and an understanding of available clues. This presentation will examine how classical Chinese architecture was employed for organizing traditional construction as exemplified in the design of Portland’s Lansu Yuan.
Further information and images:
https://www.firstsaturdaypdx.org/from-an-architects-perspective-3-5-7-9-column-halls-status-and-hierarchy-in-a-confucius-society.html
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Preserving Tradition: China Under the Covers - A Bookbinder’s Journey to the Roots of Books Margaret E. Davis 11 January, 2020 The author of this book, who studied bookbinding where it was invented and where the oldest, dated, printed book in the world was discovered, will take us on a journey to learn about this craft along with her adventures of traveling the Middle Kingdom. Further information and images: https://www.firstsaturdaypdx.org/china-under-the-covers-8203a-bookbinderrsquos-journey-to-the-roots-of-books-11-january-2020.html |
Lunar New Year Lunch: Welcoming the Year of the Golden Metal Rat 鼠, 4718
First Saturday PDX Planning Committee
1 February, 2020
We invite you to join First Saturday to welcome in the Lunar New Year 4718 with friends and share a celebratory meal. There will be items to be raffled and a silent auction, taking place at the Happy Dragon Restaurant. Please check here for details.
Further information and images:
https://www.firstsaturdaypdx.org/lunar-new-year-lunch-1-february-2020.html
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Early Phonetic Renderings Schemes for Chinese Characters
Stephen Wadley 7 March, 2020 For ancient Chinese poets and the pious it was important to know how a word was to be read so it could be chanted aloud, either in verse or prayer. How did the Chinese indicate pronunciations of written words before the modern era of romanization and pronunciation guides? We will take a look at some early pronunciation tools employed to read Chinese characters." Further information and images: https://www.firstsaturdaypdx.org/early-phonetic-rendering-schemes-for-chinese-characters.html |
The Garden of Elk Rock at the Bishop’s Close
First Saturday Planning Committee
4 April, 2020 - DEFERRED
As precautions against the spread of COVID-19 are observed, this program will be rescheduled.
This will be an excursion to an exquisite, private garden in Dunthorpe dating back to 1916. Please check here for details:
https://www.firstsaturdaypdx.org/the-garden-of-elk-rock-at-bishops-close-4-april-2020.html
First Saturday Planning Committee
4 April, 2020 - DEFERRED
As precautions against the spread of COVID-19 are observed, this program will be rescheduled.
This will be an excursion to an exquisite, private garden in Dunthorpe dating back to 1916. Please check here for details:
https://www.firstsaturdaypdx.org/the-garden-of-elk-rock-at-bishops-close-4-april-2020.html
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The Influence of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain on Japanese Ceramics Diane Durston 2 May, 2020 - DEFERRED As precautions against the spread of COVID-19 are observed, this program will be rescheduled. |
Down the Cultural Crosswords: The Chinese Dialect of Xining
Keith Dede
6 June, 2020 - DEFERRED
As precautions against the spread of COVID-19 are observed, this program will be rescheduled.
The city of Xining in Qinghai Province is in the high altitude Tibetan Plateau of SW China. Explore an examination of the Chinese Xining dialect to reveal its unique features which are the result of its ethnolinguistic position at the crossroads between the Chinese, Tibetan and Mongolian civilizations.
Our instructive program series has been developed in collaboration with PSU’s Institute for Asian Studies, and is free and open to the public. Our regular monthly location has an elevator and is wheelchair friendly with unrestricted viewing and tables for note taking. 9:30 - 11:00 am (click on address 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
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
