Chinese Measure Word Dictionary: A Chinese-English English-Chinese Usage Guide by Jiqing Fang and Michael Connelly (Boston: Cheng & Tsui, 2008) Review by Craig Dietrich CAFAM’s own Mike Connelly is co-author of a unique and just-published learning tool and reference guide for Chinese language learners. It has to do with “measure words.” Measure words are foundContinue reading “Review: Chinese Measure Word Dictionary”
Category Archives: Insights
The China Trade at the Penobscot Marine Museum
The beautiful Penobscot Bay town of Searsport boasts many old homes dating from the great seafaring era. Here one can find the Penobscot Marine Museum. Its principal exhibits illuminate the industry of Penobscot Bay in the 19th century and illustrate life on one of the great square-rigged ships, and what it was like to visitContinue reading “The China Trade at the Penobscot Marine Museum”
The Empire Dine and Dance
By Craig Dietrich CAFAM members will recall that, among the materials collected by Gary Libby about Chinese in Maine, is the story of the Empire Dine and Dance restaurant on the corner of Congress and Forest. An effort has been underway to install markers on certain Portland buildings such as this one, to commemorate theseContinue reading “The Empire Dine and Dance”
In China, you are “old”
By Craig Dietrich In modern times as Chinese came into increasing contact with the outside world, they used several terms to refer to foreigners. These words reflect core cultural ideas, political climate, and degrees of familiarity. One cardinal Chinese cultural distinction is nei-wai (inner-outer) or zhong-wai (central-peripheral). Nei-wai, for example, is used to talk aboutContinue reading “In China, you are “old””
Review: Journey to Xiamacun
By Mason Philip Smith (Provincial Press 2008) Review by Craig Dietrich Early in 2008 I received an email from my friend Ma Tongchun inviting me for lunch at his ancestral farm northwest of Kunming, Yunnan. So in May I returned to China, accompanied by Brian Dorsk a friend from Cape Elizabeth. Before proceeding to Xiamacun,Continue reading “Review: Journey to Xiamacun”
New Year in Beijing
By Patrick Murphy We call it Chinese New Year, but they call it Spring Festival. I’ve argued with many Chinese over the years about this misnaming. I think it should be called Winter Festival, because the weather is always cold. “No, no,” they tell me. “Now it is Spring and it will soon be warm!”Continue reading “New Year in Beijing”
A Chinese-American Tragedy (1979-91)
By Gary Libby from the May 2008 CAFAM Newsletter Portland area old timers will recall that, in 1979, a new kind of Chinese restaurant opened on Congress Street. It was called Hu Shang, and it offered a different menu from the familiar Cantonese-American fare, including Sichuan dishes that would set your mouth on fire. ItContinue reading “A Chinese-American Tragedy (1979-91)”
Review: Authenticating Tibet
Edited by Anne-Marie Blondeau and Katia Buffetrille (Univ. of Ca. Press 2008) Review by Craig Dietrich from May 2008 CAFAM Newsletter For people outside China, the Tibetan situation typically appears black and white. Probably most non-Asian Americans sympathize with the Dalai Lama and the exile Tibetans. Mostly it is a question of human rights andContinue reading “Review: Authenticating Tibet”
The Pekin Restaurant, Bangor, and Raymond Huang
By Gary Libby Wong Jack June opened the Pekin Restaurant in Bangor, Maine in the 1920s. He and his wife, Chin Ngan Kee, had one daughter and five sons. One of those sons, Raymond Li Min Huang, is the subject of this article. Raymond’s parents gave all of their children Chinese names. Their “American” namesContinue reading “The Pekin Restaurant, Bangor, and Raymond Huang”
Early Chinese Christians in Maine (1870-1918)
By Gary Libby from the March 2008 CAFAM Newsletter The earliest known reference to a Chinese person’s membership in a Maine church appeared in the Portland Press on December 26, 1870. It reported that Ar Tee Lam had joined the Congress Square Sunday School on Christmas Day and promised “to become a learner and goodContinue reading “Early Chinese Christians in Maine (1870-1918)”
