Jian Ping's column
Heritage
Heritage
Jian Ping is author of “Mulberry Child: A Memoir of
China. “ For more information, visit www.moraquest.
com or www.mulberrychild.com. Jian Ping’s blog,
which she keeps with a couple of other authors, is at
www.smearedtype.com.
China. “ For more information, visit www.moraquest.
com or www.mulberrychild.com. Jian Ping’s blog,
which she keeps with a couple of other authors, is at
www.smearedtype.com.
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Jian Ping
| Jian Ping with daughter Lisa |
- Chinese language;
- family;
- education;
- respect;
- diligence;
- endurance;
- modesty;
- thrift;
- obedience
- drive
I know many of these traits and values are not just in Asian cultures, but shared in many others. At the same time, I also
realize that many of the traditional values are losing ground even in Asia.
Taking China as an example, over the last 20 years, the fast economic development in the country and the implementation of
new policies brought significant changes in the culture. When millions of peasants moved from the countryside to work in
manufacturing jobs in cities or coastal areas, leaving behind elders and small children, the traditional family structure and life
were forever transformed. In metropolitan areas, the implementation of one-child policy, the freedom of mobility, and the
impact of Western culture have transformed the way of family life in the same manner.
Yet far away from our native land, or perhaps because of that, we are keenly aware of the importance of cultural heritage and
want to exert our best effort to preserve it and pass it on to our children. We know the world is a richer and more interesting
place with diversified cultures, and we also know that with the globalization of economy, the globalization of culture is
following suit and the non-dominating cultures are losing ground.
We are fighting an uphill battle, which makes the celebration of heritage, in the month of May, Asian Pacific heritage all the
more important.
Our efforts have and will continue to generate positive results.
- family;
- education;
- respect;
- diligence;
- endurance;
- modesty;
- thrift;
- obedience
- drive
I know many of these traits and values are not just in Asian cultures, but shared in many others. At the same time, I also
realize that many of the traditional values are losing ground even in Asia.
Taking China as an example, over the last 20 years, the fast economic development in the country and the implementation of
new policies brought significant changes in the culture. When millions of peasants moved from the countryside to work in
manufacturing jobs in cities or coastal areas, leaving behind elders and small children, the traditional family structure and life
were forever transformed. In metropolitan areas, the implementation of one-child policy, the freedom of mobility, and the
impact of Western culture have transformed the way of family life in the same manner.
Yet far away from our native land, or perhaps because of that, we are keenly aware of the importance of cultural heritage and
want to exert our best effort to preserve it and pass it on to our children. We know the world is a richer and more interesting
place with diversified cultures, and we also know that with the globalization of economy, the globalization of culture is
following suit and the non-dominating cultures are losing ground.
We are fighting an uphill battle, which makes the celebration of heritage, in the month of May, Asian Pacific heritage all the
more important.
Our efforts have and will continue to generate positive results.
The month of May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in the U.S. As many of us reflect on
the history of Asian immigrants and the contributions they have made to this country we now
call home, I can't help but think of some recurrent questions that the audience of Mulberry Child
movie raised at its recent screenings at film festivals, commercial theaters, and universities.
"Your story is just like mine," a Chinese mother in Kentucky said to me, her voice quivering with
emotion. "My son grew up in the U.S. and I had the same struggle trying to get him interested in
the Chinese language and culture."
"I have three children," a Chinese woman in Chicago voiced her question in front of a sold-out
audience. "They are half Chinese and half American. What advice would you give in teaching
them about Asian culture?"
I'd like to get a DVD of your film when it's released," an American woman held my hand and
said in tears. "I have a 17-year-old Chinese daughter I adopted from China since she was a
the history of Asian immigrants and the contributions they have made to this country we now
call home, I can't help but think of some recurrent questions that the audience of Mulberry Child
movie raised at its recent screenings at film festivals, commercial theaters, and universities.
"Your story is just like mine," a Chinese mother in Kentucky said to me, her voice quivering with
emotion. "My son grew up in the U.S. and I had the same struggle trying to get him interested in
the Chinese language and culture."
"I have three children," a Chinese woman in Chicago voiced her question in front of a sold-out
audience. "They are half Chinese and half American. What advice would you give in teaching
them about Asian culture?"
I'd like to get a DVD of your film when it's released," an American woman held my hand and
said in tears. "I have a 17-year-old Chinese daughter I adopted from China since she was a
baby. I want her to see the journey you and your daughter covered. I'm having a touch time communicating with her."
Incidents and questions like these lingered in my mind long after the discussions were over.
I remember the struggle I had with my daughter Lisa when I tried to send her to a Chinese school so she wouldn't forget her
mother tongue, and along with that, her ability to communicate directly with her extended family members in China and her
identification with her Chinese roots and heritage.
Incidents and questions like these lingered in my mind long after the discussions were over.
I remember the struggle I had with my daughter Lisa when I tried to send her to a Chinese school so she wouldn't forget her
mother tongue, and along with that, her ability to communicate directly with her extended family members in China and her
identification with her Chinese roots and heritage.
I lost the battle when Lisa finally gave up learning Chinese at age 11. In the following ten
years, as she was relieved to live a "normal" life like her American peers and directed
her energy into fitting in and enjoying her "American life," I was frustrated at my failure to
get her interested in anything Chinese, not even a trip to China.
Such disconnections resulted in the conflicts and emotional distance between my
daughter and me, especially during her growing up years. The film uses the tension
between us as its narrative arch and ends with us starting our reconciliation process
together.
What is the Asian heritage, in our case, Chinese heritage, that I, and many parents like
me, want our American grown children to cherish and pass on?
I made a short list:
years, as she was relieved to live a "normal" life like her American peers and directed
her energy into fitting in and enjoying her "American life," I was frustrated at my failure to
get her interested in anything Chinese, not even a trip to China.
Such disconnections resulted in the conflicts and emotional distance between my
daughter and me, especially during her growing up years. The film uses the tension
between us as its narrative arch and ends with us starting our reconciliation process
together.
What is the Asian heritage, in our case, Chinese heritage, that I, and many parents like
me, want our American grown children to cherish and pass on?
I made a short list:
I remember my disappointment when Lisa gave up
learning Chinese. But years later after she
graduated from college and travelled half of the
continents in the world, she took the initiative to
learn Chinese on her own. I hope one day her
Chinese language skill will be good enough for her
to enjoy reading Chinese literature and philosophy
in their original form, and along the way, learn to
appreciate the traditional values.
There is no short cut. We need to create an
environment for the young to be exposed to Asian
cultures, and meanwhile, be patient with their
learning process.
It is a process. It can take years or decades to go
through the journey. But it's all worth it. This month is
a good starting point.
learning Chinese. But years later after she
graduated from college and travelled half of the
continents in the world, she took the initiative to
learn Chinese on her own. I hope one day her
Chinese language skill will be good enough for her
to enjoy reading Chinese literature and philosophy
in their original form, and along the way, learn to
appreciate the traditional values.
There is no short cut. We need to create an
environment for the young to be exposed to Asian
cultures, and meanwhile, be patient with their
learning process.
It is a process. It can take years or decades to go
through the journey. But it's all worth it. This month is
a good starting point.