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The field of Chinese history is twice saddened this month; another great has gone from us. K.C. Liu, distinguished professor of Qing history, passed away at his home in Davis, CA yesterday. I had the pleasure of meeting Professor Liu and his wife several times. When I first started here, I would often be out jogging and see the professor and his wife taking their walks together. When we graduate students would meet him, whether in the hallways of the department or at the annual K.C. Liu lecture and dinner, he was always a wonderful listener and a source of inspiration for all of us. I suppose lay people might not understand, but for a history geek like me, talking Chinese history with K.C. was like a 3rd stringer on the high school team getting to play a casual game of catch with Tom Brady. I consider it a great honor to have met and discussed history with such a giant in the field. He will be greatly missed by all of us here.
One of K.C.’s former students, Richard Smith, wrote this moving remembrance for H-Asia. I write to report with great sadness the passing of my good friend
According to tradition (and the tourist office in Qufu, Shandong) today is Confucius’ 2557th birthday. The big guy has taken a few knocks in the last 150 years or so, but his staying power is just impressive. Just this past month, Confucius has been a symbol of cross-straits unity, a means of promoting a harmonious and obedient PRC society, used to bolster the morale of teachers, and even as an odd symbol of girl-power.
As a scholar, Confucius described himself as somebody who, “in the pursuit of knowledge forgot about food, in the joy of learning forgot his sorrows, and who was unaware that old age would soon be upon him.” In his own autobiography, the briefest memoir in world history, he says:
“At 15, I set my heart on learning. At 30, I stood firm. At 40, I had no doubts. At 50, I could hear the will of Heaven. At 60, I was ready to listen. At 70, I could follow my heart’s desires without transgressing that which is right.”
It’s tough to know what Confucius might have thought of life in 2006. During his own time, he played a role not unknown in modern society–underemployed political
There is a funny post over at Danwei (thanks to TPD for the link) on the perils of apartment hunting in the capital city that made me nostalgic for my past real estate exploits and a bit nervous of future ones. The last time I went apartment shopping in Beijing was in the summer of SARS. That June, with many foreigners back in their home countries and landlords a bit desperate, I managed to score a nice new apartment in a very old Hutong. It was in a funky old alley between the Drum Tower and Hou Hai, where, according to my neighbors, Kang Sheng had lived and done his business back in the bad old days. The offered rent (including furniture and electronics) was so low that I felt compelled to ask the landlady if the apartment was free because the last tenant had suffered from a severe case of ‘deadness.’
“No,” she said slowly.
I loved the place and I figured that if SARS was going to get me it would have done so by now. I accepted her answer and moved in the next day. Over time, I learned that I was the only foreigner in the
It’s fair to say that when the Pats play the Seahawks next year in Beijing, there won’t be any Chinese playing on either side. Korea has claimed (finally accepted?) Hines Ward but so far no NFL equivalent of Yao Ming, Sun Jihai, or even a Wang Chien-ming has emerged on the gridiron. But that doesn’t mean China has not made contributions to NFL football. Consider the career of Walter “The Sneeze” Achiu. The first, and so far only, player of Chinese descent to suit up for an NFL regular season game.
I recently did a post on the only major league baseball player to have been born on mainland China, Harry Lees Kingman. There’s far less biographical data on Achiu, but I’ve found a few items of interest.
His full name was Walter Tin Kit Achiu and he was born on the island of Oahu in the town of Waialua. His father was a Chinese immigrant and his mother was Hawaiian and it was in Hawaii that the younger Achiu went to high school and began playing football. Achiu played his college ball at the University of Dayton and then, for two seasons 1927-1928, Walter roamed the field for the
Confirmation this week that the New England Patriots (English–Chinese) will play the Seattle Seahawks on August 8, 2007 at Workers Stadium in Beijing.
Also beginning today, the NFL will broadcast the Sunday Night Football game live on CCTV (showing at the oh, so convenient time of 8:30 am on Monday mornings).
Plans are being made. I’m from New England and I have been a Patriots fan all my life. When they sucked, and they did really suck, for a very, very long time, we still loved ‘em. Now if they’re playing in Beijing, while I’m living in Beijing, I’m going to that game. I have no idea what tailgating might look like in China. I’m thinking yang rou chuan’r and Yanjing pijiu out the back of a Xiali–but whatever it is, I’m doing it, whatever it takes, we’re throwing down.
Who will be there? Well, me (of course), and YJ (probably under duress). Brett will be there but I’m sure he’s got the sweet Vic’s luxury box hook-up, so we won’t see him. And, of course, The Mighty Ho. Born in Columbus, TMH grew up a Buckeyes fan, ended up going to Ohio State, and now works in Shanghai. He
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