Royal Asiatic Society China in Shanghai

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RAS China in Shanghai - Newsletter Vol 1 No 5 – May 2010 2 PRESIDENT’S NOTE THANKS for your support over the last month - one that I particularly enjoyed. Eric Politzer, Huang Yuanqing and William Lindesay all made wonderful presentations for the Society and I would also like to thank Michelle Blumenthal for all her hard work and dedication in making these, and our other events, such a success. I am pleased to say that one of the highlights of my tenure as President took place last month. Michael Wilson contacted the RAS last year to enquire if we knew anything about his grandfather, of whom he had little knowledge. It just so happened that his grandfather was none other than George Leopold Wilson, the great architect and key RAS Council member who was responsible for the fundraising and design of the former RAS Building. Back in 2007, I named our RAS lion logo (taken from a sculpture on the building) ‘Tug’, as Wilson was familiarly known, in memory of his contribution to the Society and to Shanghai. I had the pleasure of hosting Michael and his daughter Nina, with their respective partners Paula and Les, on April 28, showing them Tug’s masterpieces on the Bund and around town - and of course the old RAS Building itself. It was a very joyful day and I am so proud to think that it was all made possible because of the reemergence of our Society. Peter Hibbard
RAS EVENTS – Michelle Blumental Eric Politzer (right) shared with us his enthusiasm and in depth knowledge of old Hongkou through his incredible collection of Japanese hand coloured postcards used to illustrate some of the early renditions of the key buildings, when photography was in its infancy. Eric refined the visuals with his own up to the minute photographs of other buildings in the process of change. A note for Eric – and it has changed again since you left Shanghai two weeks ago. Huang Yuanqing (below left) broadened the audience’s understanding and visualisation of Chinese Calligraphy in the late Ming Dynasty through images, descriptions and comparisons of a multitude of both western and Chinese art forms of the period. It was an enlightening and dimensional experience for the attendees of both Chinese and Western origins. Xu Liyi did a sterling job of translating this lecture, a difficult subject to express well in English. William Lindesay OBE (right) shared his passion, hobby and professional expertise on the Great Wall of China, leading us through his journey of discovering the wall. Some members will continue this experience over the forthcoming holiday weekend, with a physical journey to William Lindesay’s WildWall as part of the RAS Weekender programme. We look forward to sharing this with you in photographs from the participants in the next issue. Thanks to our wonderful lecturers and a special mention to our honorary member and translator, Xu Liyi. POSSIBLE HANGZHOU TRIP VOLUNTEER HELP NEEDED There is an opportunity for an RAS Weekender in Hangzhou, covering some of the well-known sites as well as some special visits including a follow up to the lecture presented by Helga Ellemeet with a visit to the Liangzhu Culture Museum. Much of the research has been done already, but it now requires someone to pull it all together and arrange the weekend. We are now looking for a volunteer to co-ordinate this trip and would be delighted to hear from any member who feels able to assist. If you would like to help and want to find out more, please let me know and we can discuss the matter further. michelle.blumenthal@royalasiaticsociety.org.cn This month we start with our first joint event; the re-launch of our RAS Journal Volume No. 74, the first after an absence of 62 years, together with Prof Wang Yi’s presentation on the History of the RAS, on Tuesday 11 th May. Tuesday the 18 th will see us following on the subject of Ming Dynasty aesthetics; Eric Wear will take us through a different window in his presentation Ethical appearances – literati strategies in art and living. Prof Louis Greenspan will share with us his knowledge of Bertrand Russell’s visit and ideas on China on Tuesday 25 th May. Shortly after the holidays we will be updating you on the status of the first gathering of the RAS China Reading Book Club. We plan to go ahead with this new group and will be emailing you with full details and a call for potential members. Michelle 3 3
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Royal Asiatic Society China in Shanghai

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