The U. S .Founders and China 美国开国元勋与中国

249. John Adams and Confucius

2012-01-28T11:03:00.002-05:00

Some US founding fathers drew on the wisdom of Confucius, who yearned to see people, especially political leaders, adopt better morals and more compassion. For him, virtue was not only the basis and foundation of an empire, but also the source from whence flowed whatever might render it flourishing. During the formative age of the United States, American founder John Adams (1735-1826) laboured to make a plan for the new government. He realized the importance of virtue in a good government. I have been surprised by his plan; especially, his following statement, which has definitely opened my eyes. I believe that you will open your eyes to the fullest scale when you read it. After thorough thinking, Adams came to the following conclusion, "All sober inquirers after truth, ancient and modern, pagan and Christian, have declared that the happiness of man, as well as his dignity, consists in virtue. Confucius, Zoroaster, Socrates, Mahomet, not to mention authorities really sacred, have agreed in this".
The above statement conveys two important mesages, including the significance of virtue for a good government and the influence of Confucius's moral philosophy on John Adams. Clearly, Confucius has occupied the most outstanding place in John Adams mind in terms of good virtue that a good American government must possess.

248. HEH Welcomes Dr. Dave Wang to its Board of Directors

2012-01-07T12:01:00.001-05:00

History Education Hawaii, Inc., the independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit corporation serving the history learning community of the state of Hawaii, proclaimed that Dr. Dave Wang was selected as one of its Board of Diretors. In its announcement of the news, Jeffrey Bingham Mead, Jeffrey Bingham Mead, NCHE Hawaii liaison, co-founder and president of History Education Hawaii explained why Dr. Wang was selected by the following statement: Dr. Wang’s research and scholarship has added a new and exciting illuminations into the founding of the United States of America, the influence of China’s civilization and traditions on the founders. This is something that should be taught in our Amen rican and Chinese history courses.” Congratulations!

247. Dr. Wang's Works Should be Taught in Both US and Chinese History Courses

2011-12-29T17:27:00.000-05:00

2012 is coming. It is the perfect time to show my readers Dr. Dave Wang's achievements in his study of the influence of traditional Chinese civilization on the early United States. Many scholars, such as Jeffrey Bingham Mead, have expressed their support to his study. On December 25, 2011, Mr. Mead, a well-known historian and the founder and president of the History Education Hawaii, told his readers and friends over the world:
"Re-reading Dave Wang's article 'The US Founders and China: The Origins of Chinese Cultural Influence on the United States.' From the Fall 2011 edition of Education About Asia. This should be taught in our American and Chinese history courses." This is really great endorsement to Dr. Wang's hard work.

246. Historical Story or Historical Tradition?

2011-12-17T11:06:00.000-05:00

To borrow from Chinese culture is not a historical story, but a historical tradition started by the founders of the United States. Former President Bill Clinton has tirelessly and earnestly exhorted Americans that “success in the twenty-first century world requires Americans to be curious enough to learn from other countries.” Clinton’s admonition is of particular significance now that the United States is once again facing tremendous, unprecedented challenges both domestically and abroad. It has been a great tradition of the United States to learn from other countries. I want to show readers how political and military leaders, including the founding fathers of the United States, have used Chinese wisdoms to overcome obstacles on their roads to victories. In fact, some eminent leaders of the North American colonies paid attention to Chinese culture long before this country was founded. Traditional Chinese civilization has served as a priceless treasure from which the American leaders constantly draw wisdom. Numerous American political leaders, from the US founders to contemporary presidents, have sought enlightenment from traditional Chinese culture.

245. Benjamin Rush and China

2011-12-03T10:08:00.000-05:00

Benjamin Rush (1745-1813) was among the first group of colonists who wanted to build a porcelain factory in North America. For Dr. Rush, colonies’ production of porcelain ware was one of the means to overcome the colonies’ dependence on Great Britain for goods and trade. The endeavor of building such a factory was far beyond the porcelain only. It demonstrated the colonists’ determination to be independent from their motherland.

"Go on in encouraging American manufactures. I have many schemes in view with regard to these things. I have made those mechanical arts which are connected with chemistry the particular objects of my study and not without hopes of seeing a china manufactory established in Philadelphia in the course of a few years. Yes, we will be revenged by the mother country. For my part, I am resolved to devote my head, my heart, and my pen entirely to the service of America, and promise myself much assistance from you in everything of this kind that I shall attempt through life."
More information on Chinese cultural influence on the founding fathers is available through reading this article.

244. Whose Military Strategies Should the US in Afghanistan follow: Sun Tzu or Clausewitz?

2011-11-19T11:12:00.005-05:00

You should be able to find some information on traditional Chinese civilization’s influence on the development of the United States since the founding era of the country through reading this weblog. However, we still feel the effects of the influence of Chinese culture on the United States today. Like the founders of this country, Americans still draw wisdom from Chinese writings. Some presidents, including Ronald Reagan and Barrack Obama, have quoted teachings from the Chinese classics in their speeches. Indeed,some elements of the Chinese culture are very popular in the United States today. Though it may be surprising, the ancient Chinese text, Sun Tzu’s Art of War , has been used as teaching material in all American military academies. In designing counterinsurgency strategies, American strategists have considered that Sun Tzu’s strategies would guide American military to victory, but not that of the more contemporary Carl Von Clausewitz, the 19th century German military strategist. Major Ben Zweibelson, an active duty Infantry Officer, wrote an excellent article, The US in Afghanistan: Follow Sun Tzu rather than Clausewitz to Victory, published in Smallwarjournal.com on December 11, 2010. Major Zweibelson told his readers that the United States has relied on Clausewitzian military “tenets with a faulty emphasis on superior western technology, doctrine fixated on lethal operations, and a western skewed perspective on jus ad bellum (just cause for war).” After careful examination of the warfare in Afghanistan, Major Zweibelson has come to the conclusion, "To turn this operational failure around, the U.S. military instrument of power should replace the teachings of 19th century German military strategist Carl Von Clausewitz with Ancient Chinese strategist Sun Tzu.”

243. Laozi Philosophy Still Valuable to the Americans

2011-11-17T19:41:00.001-05:00

In his article, The myth of America's decline, carried in CNN Los Angeles, Mr. Rob Asghar pointed out that the United States told his readers, “Lao Tzu's "Tao Te Ching," still proudly full of wisdom today, stands as a reminder that disruption, individualism and innovation are inherently heretical in many traditional societies.”

This idea is hardly new. Readers of this weblog are sure to remember Item 176. Ronald Reagan and Laozi Philosophy. I will quote him in the following

"And as an ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao-tzu, said: 'Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish; do not overdo it.' Well, these ideas were part of a larger notion, a vision, if you will, of America herself--an America not only rich in opportunity for the individual but an America, too, of strong families and vibrant neighborhoods; an America whose divergent but harmonizing communities were a reflection of a deeper community of values: the value of work, of family, of religion, and of the love of freedom that God places in each of us and whose defense He has entrusted in a special way to this nation."

What I want to point is that the above quotes can serve as an indicator showing that the excellent tradition of drawing positive elements from Chinese civilization started by the founders of this nation has been well maintained by the Americans from its leaders and an ordinary citizen.

242. Tiger Mother, Eagle Father or Turkey Grand Grand... Father

2011-11-12T11:05:00.003-05:00

How do we educate younger generation? Currently, there are at least three ways for us to follow, including the ways of The Tiger Mother, The Eagle Father and The Turkey Grand Grand… Father. First, we have to know who they are before we look into their ways to educate our children. By now, everyone should know who the Tiger Mother is. I heard the news that Tiger Mother's daughter was admitted by Yale University this summer. It seems that Tiger Mother's educational goal was to push her children to the Ivy League Schools. But how about the Eagle Father? The Eagle Father is the husband of my friend. He is European American and works at a University in New York City. His educational philosophy is to give his children a generous environment and let them to decide what school they want to attend. The Eagle Father never pushes his children to study harder than others. You might feel surprised to find that who The Turkey Grand Grand... Father is. He is none others but Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), one of the great founding fathers of this country. Franklin paid much attention to educate the youth. He donated his time and energy on bringing up useful young people for the world. As a senior, he wrote his autobiography in order to set an example for coming generations. Franklin’s main philosophy on education was that the educational system must produce useful people.

I agree with Franklin’s principle that our purpose of education must focus on usefulness. You might wonder why I call Benjamin Franklin the "Turkey Grand Grand...Father." This is because that Franklin liked Turkey very much. For him, the turkey was a bird with good morality. In his letter to his daughter Sally (Mrs. Sarah Bache), which he wrote in France on January 26, 1784, Franklin pointed out that turkey is "a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on".

241. Why Americans Don't Seek Aristocratic Titles and Honors

2011-10-30T19:42:00.001-04:00

In his essay, titled “Optimistic or Pessimistic About America” Professor Joseph Nye pointed out correctly that “some observers worry that America will become sclerotic like Britain, at the peak of its power a century ago. But American culture is far more entrepreneurial and decentralized than was that of Britain, where the sons of industrial entrepreneurs sought aristocratic titles and honors in London.” It is true that American youths today don’t regard the aristocratic titles as worthwhile to pursue. What I want to add to the point is that this great tradition was started by the founders of this country, such as Benjamin Franklin. Some Americans wanted to continue the British tradition. However, it was the founders’ wisdom of drawing nourishments from Chinese civilization that guided the United States to the road away from the British tradition. After the American victory, some veterans wanted permanent recognition for their triumph through formation of an order of hereditary knights. Franklin raised objection to this idea by using Confucius’s principle of social promotion:
Thus among the Chinese, the most antient, and, from long Experience, the wisest of Nations, Honour does not descend but ascends. If a Man from his Learning, his Wisdom or his Valour, is promoted by the Emperor to the Rank of Mandarin, his Parents are immediately intitled to all the same Ceremonies of Respect from the People, that are establish’d as due to the Mandarin himself; on this Supposition, that it must have been owing to the Education, Instruction, and good Example afforded him by his Parents that he was rendered capable of Serving the Publick. This ascending Honour is therefore useful to the State as it encourages Parents to give their Children a good and virtuous Education. But the descending Honour, to Posterity who could have had no Share in obtaining it, is not only groundless and absurd, but often hurtful to that Posterity, since it is apt to make them proud, disdaining to be employed in useful Arts, and thence falling into Poverty and all the Meannesses, Servility and Wretchedness attending it; which is the present case with much of what is called the Noblesse in Europe. " The above quotation is available online from the Papers of Benjamin Franklin.

240. Chinese Technologies Helped Franklin's Efforts

2011-10-29T10:50:00.000-04:00

In Colonial North America, colonists usually built a fire place in their houses in the cold winter. This practice was neither safe nor efficient. Benjamin Franklin wanted to change that. He worked hard to find a more efficient way to make homes warmer and safer in the 1740s. From his own record we find that he was enlightened by the Chinese heating technology.

In Notes for the Letter on Chimneys (unpublished) in 1758, Franklin revealed his study of the Chinese heating technology. He wrote in the note, “ IT is said the northern Chinese have a method of warming their ground floors, which is ingenious. Those floors are made of tile a foot square and two inches thick, their corners being supported by bricks set on end, that are a foot long and four inches square, the tiles, too, join into each other, by ridges and hollows along their sides. This forms a hollow under the whole floor, which on one side of the house has an opening into the air, where a fire is made, and it has a funnel rising from the other side to carry off the smoke. The fuel is a sulphurous pitcoal, the smell of which in the room is thus avoided, while the floor and of course the room is well warmed.” Franklin, based on the Chinese principles, invented the Pennsylvania Fire Place. Better heating technology made the cold winter less harsh and induced more colonists to move to the North, which later contributed greatly to its development as a manufacturing center.

239 Thomas Jefferson and Confucius

2011-10-22T10:06:00.002-04:00

The late Professor Herrlee. G. Creel (1905-1994) was the famous specialist in Confucius and his influence on United States founding fathers. In his well-known work, Confucius: The Man and the Myth, he compared the thought of Thomas Jefferson with that of Confucius. According to Dr. Creel, Confucius and Thomas Jefferson "were alike in their impatience with metaphysics, in their concern for the poor as against the rich, in their insistence on basic human equality, in their belief in the essential decency of all men (including savages), and in their appeal not to authority by to 'the head and heart of every honest man." Professor Creel pointed out that, "Jefferson's statement that 'the whole art of government consists in the art of being honest' is amazingly similar to Analects 12.17, and other such examples could be cited."

238. TRADITIONAL CHINESE CULTURE AND THE UNITED STATES

2011-10-13T14:52:00.001-04:00

中国文化影响美国王小良研究受主流关注

2011-09-28 05:55:18 来源: 《美国侨报》作者: 管黎明【大中小】浏览:612次评论:1条 copied from 纽约在线http://www.123nynews.com/bencandy.php?fid=4&id=33126

无论是美国的华人移民还是土生土长的美国人，可能很少有人知道美国最高法院东门顶端的雕像群里，中间的三人之一便是孔子。在皇后区Laurelton图书馆馆长王小良博士(Dave Wang)的眼中，这便是中国文明对美国建国之父影响至深的明证之一。而由田纳西大学出版的针对美国中学和大学老师的教学指导性刊物《亚洲研究》(Education About Asia)，也在最新一期里刊出了王小良博士的长篇学术专著——《美国开国元勋与中国：中华文明对美国影响的缘起》(The US Founders And China: The Origins of Chinese Cultural Influence on the United States)。这是继早前《弗吉尼亚亚洲研究》等学术期刊登载王小良的学术论著之后，又一本美国学术期刊介绍他的成果。
由田纳西大学出版的《亚洲研究》是一本针对美国中小学和大学老师有关亚洲文化教育的指导性刊物，在教育界有着广泛的影响。据王小良表示，他的文章是经过许多位资深学者的大力推荐而被上述杂志选为2011年秋季版的卷首文章。侨报周末版曾在两年前刊登介绍王小良博士研究成果的长篇特写，文章在社区引起巨大反响，数百名读者在网上留言，称赞这一研究成果彻底推翻了很多西方文学对于19世纪的中国人只知道吸鸦片的污蔑性描述。
在《亚洲研究》刊载的文章中，王小良详细分析了中国文化对于华盛顿、富兰克林、杰斐逊，以及被誉为是美国革命资助人的罗伯特•莫里斯(Robert Morris)的深远影响，这些影响涉及哲学、法律、农业、技术、航海和贸易等方方面面，远非今天的中国人和美国人所能想象。
王小良得出的结论虽然让很多人感觉有些匪夷所思，但他在研究中所列举的证据确是实实在在，让读者无法否认。早在美国建国之前，富兰克林便在费城创办的刊物中大力宣扬孔子的为人处世和法治与人道并重的思想。事实上，出于对当时以英国为代表的欧洲思想和文化体系的戒备，美国的建国之父们都将中国流传几千年的文化精髓作为创办新国家的重要参考，这也是为什么美国最高法院的大楼上将孔子与摩西(Moses)、梭伦(Solon)并列在最中间的原因。
美国革命的传奇人物罗伯斯•莫里斯早在1784年便资助了首航中国的船只“中国皇后号”(Empress of China)，正是这次首航的成功才有了之后的中美贸易。对于当时的美国建国者来说，要想在政治上摆脱欧洲的殖民统治却又不得不在贸易上依赖他们，无异于与虎谋皮，因此打通和中国的贸易成为新美国能够生存下去的关键要素之一。
此外，王小良的研究还揭示了很多鲜为人知的史实。在1754年的法国和印第安人的战斗中，为了保障新殖民地的安全，富兰克林力主模仿中国的万里长城，在宾州修建一段城墙作为自保的手段，这段城墙至今还在。富兰克林甚至还通过流传至欧洲的传教士资料对中国北方的室内取暖方式作了细致的研究，最终设计出了著名的“富兰克林火炉”。
纽约的伊利运河（Erie Canal）也是受启发于中国的大运河而建造。杰斐逊对于中国的园林设计和花草植物情有独钟，这不单可以从他的庄园设计里得到明证，甚至美国很多农作物和花草也是经过他的努力从中国经由欧洲转运到北美新大陆。而中国的陶瓷、丝织和造船工艺也都是美国的建国之父们大力研究和推广的技术。
来自中国东北的王小良80年代末在西雅图的华盛顿大学作访问学者，后来在亚利桑纳大学先后获得硕士和博士学位。他目前是纽约皇后区图书馆Laurelton分馆的馆长，之前担任赫利斯（Hollis）分馆馆长。他的研究成果曾获得《纽约时报》“新思想”栏目的特别推荐。

237. The US Founders and China

2011-09-24T20:40:00.002-04:00

Dr. Dave Wang has reached another milestone in his study of the historical connections between the US founders and Chinese culture. In its current issue, The Education about Asia (fall 2011), the internationally authoritative teaching resource "for secondary school, college, and university instructors, as well as an invaluable source of information for students, scholars, libraries, and those who have an interest in Asia", published his article, The US Founders and China: The Origins of Chinese Cultural Influences on the United States. In the following I give you the contact information for your convenience to obtain this very interesting article:
Education About Asia
Editorial Office
302 Pfeiffer Stagmaier Hall
Dept. #2222
615 McCallie Avenue
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN 37403
Phone: (423) 425-2118
Fax: (423) 425-5441
You also can send email to either Editor: Dr. Lucien Ellington,
Lucien-Ellington@utc.edu or the Managing Editor: Ms. Peggy Creswell, edast@utc.edu

236. Chinese Civiliation and the United States

2011-08-12T11:41:00.002-04:00

Virginia Review of Asian Studies, one of the best academic journals in the field of Asian studies in the world, published in its 2011 issue, Dr. Dave Wang's long article, Chinese Civilization and the United States: Tea, Ginseng, Porcelain Ware and Silk in Colonial America. I will quote in the following the opening paragraph of his article.

The connection between China and North America can be traced the inception of the American colonies in May of 1609. British colonists, sent by the Virginia Company landed on the north bank of a river they named James Fort (later to be renamed Jamestown), for they believed the river’s headwaters to be “the shortcut to China.” The choosing of Jamestown as the landing spot was not a chance decision, but was made in accordance with instruction given by the Virginia Company. Even the “decisive and stern leadership” of John Smith (1580-1631) was not given “the authority to override” the instruction from the Company, which believed that the James River could lead the colonists to “a shortcut to China.”

235. William Temple Franklin and Confucius

2011-07-10T21:00:00.000-04:00

Having read the previous post, “Confucius, Benjamin Franklin and his Friends,” you will know that Franklin’s friends knew very well of his life-long project of using Confucian moral philosophy to purify his virtue. What about his family members? Did they know anything about Confucius? After careful examination of Franklin’s papers, I can state with certitude that at least one of the family members, William Temple Franklin (1760-1823), Franklin’s grandson, was familiar with Confucius. How do I know? From the letter that Louis-Felix Guinement, chevalier de Kéralio (1731-1790), sent to Temple on September 17, 1783, we can find the prove that Confucius was well-known by Temple and the French writer. He encouraged Temple to pursue knowledge by using Confucian teachings: “Confucius said that it is necessary always to learn, as if one knows nothing.”
The original letter was written in French, therefore, I give out the original version, "Confucius a dit qu’il falloit toujours apprendre, comme si on ne savoit rien."

234. Confucius, Benjamin Franklin and His Friends

2011-07-04T14:10:00.000-04:00

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) had many skills. The fact that he could retire at the age of 42 demonstrates that he was very good at making money and knew how to make good use of his talents. However, Franklin's real attention was given to the purification of his virtue. He worked hard to arrive at "moral perfection". On June 11, 1760, he told Mary Stevenson (1739-1795): "The Knowledge of Nature may be ornamental, and it may be useful, but if to attain an Eminence in that, we neglect the Knowledge and Practice of essential Duties, we deserve Reprehension."
Dr. Dave Wang has done some research on Franklin’s efforts to improve her virtue through following Confucius’s moral teachings. One question came to my mind is: did Franklin’s friends know about his efforts to live such a moral life?
I don’t have to give you numerous examples on how Franklin followed Confucius moral teachings to pursue a more virtuous life. That knowledge you can glean from Dr. Wang’s essay, Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral philosophy, or even his paper, Benjamin Franklin and China. Judging by the correspondences between Franklin and his friends, it is fair to say that Franklin’s use of Confucian ideals to enhance his morality was well-known among his friends. For example, on February 26, 1766 Ezra Stiles (1727-1795)told Franklin:
“I have somtimes wished, after you had digested such of your Letters and other Writings as you would desire to accompany your Name through all American Ages, that I might be charged with the publication of them, prefixing them with the history of your Life. But this is an honor, to which among your numerous friends I can have no pretension. Confucius and his Posterity have been honored in China for Twenty Ages—the Electrical Philosopher, the American Inventor of the pointed Rods will live for Ages to come to live with him would please no one more than, my Dear Maecenas Your affectionate Friend and obedient Servant.”

233. Alexander Hamilton Loved Franklin's Fire Place

2011-07-03T21:44:00.002-04:00

On the basis of assimilating Chinese heating technology, Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)who was always "interested in the problem of heating and ventilation," invented a fire place, which was called the Pennsylvania Fire Place. Soon, the fire place was spread from Pennsylvania to Northeast colonies, including New York and Massachusetts. Alexander Hamilton (1755/57-1804)was very happy to find Franklin's invention. He testified that Franklin's new stove chimneys were much improved in New York. He also reserved one for Cadwallader Colden (1688-1776). In 1744, The American Magazine and Historical Chronicle introduced the new invented Pennsylvania Fire Place. In Boston, where Franklin was born, Benjamin Mecom (1748-1765) also obtained one for his printing office. For more information, please read Michael Kraus, Intercolonial Aspects of American Culture on the Eve of the Revolution, with Special Reference to the Northern Towns , New York, Octogaon Books, Inc, 1964.

232. Benjamin Franklin's Art of Virtue

2011-07-03T13:54:00.001-04:00

The late Professor Alfred Owen Aldridgeidentified that Benjamin Franklin's Art of Virtue was copied from Confucius. Thanks to the Google, his book The Dragon and the Eagle: The Presence of China in the American Enlightenment is available online. Because of the publication of Dr. Dave Wang's essay, Benjamin Franklin and China, it has become known that Franklin received positive influences from Chinese civilization. However, I personally think that the word “copy” is a little bit too strong. Franklin indeed published word by word in his widely circulated Pennsylvania Gazette --The New York Times of the 18th Century--some chapters of Confucius Moral philosophy adopted from the book, Morals of Confucius, published in 1691 in London and republished in 1708 and 1714 respectively. However, Franklin didn't take all of the teachings as a whole from Confucius, but instead took what he considered would benefit the colonists in North America. In this sense, I agree with Dr. Wang's opinion that Franklin drew nourishments from the positive elements of Chinese civilization.

231. Philadelphia in the China Trade

2011-06-24T08:08:00.000-04:00

To study United State trade with China around the founding era of the country, Philadelphia is the place should be examined very carefully. It was one of the centers of the trade. Actually, the Empress of China, the first United States commercial ship that reached Chinese shore in August 1784 would start from Philadelphia if the Delaware River wasn’t frozen in the spring. Robert Morris (1734-1806), the main financial sponsor, was a Philadelphian. It was Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), also a Philadelphian, who reported the availability of Ginseng, the main cargo on the Empress of China, in the North American colonies. There is a book by Jonathan Goldstein, called "Philadelphia and the China Trade 1682–1846: commercial, cultural, and attitudinal effects". Finally, you want to read this article, "With China We Trade" to get a whole picture of the trade.

230. Sun Zhongshan: George Washington of China

2011-06-22T21:28:00.002-04:00

This year marks the centenary of the 1911 Revolution China. This is the epoch-making event that changed the history of the world. The leader of the Revolution, Sun Zhongshan, also Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925)is called the "George Washington of China." Both Sun Yat-sen and Washington were anti-monarchical figures: each had the chance to enthrone himself as an emperor. For Dr. Sun,it seemed natural to continue the political tradition of imperial rule; however, he overthrew the imperial system and changed the direction of Chinese political history. Because of him, China turned from an empire to a republic. Similarly, George Washington, together with other founding fouders of the United States, created a new country in North America that was different from the traditional monarchial systems in Europe.

229. Canton in Baltimore, Maryland

2011-06-16T22:15:00.001-04:00

Canton is the old name of Guangzhou, a city in southern China by the Pearl River. You may find out if you read this weblog carefully that I have a post introducing Cantons in the United States. Indeed, there are some Cantons in the United states. With this post I will introduce you Canton, Baltimore. It is located along Baltimore's outer harbor in the southeastern section of the city.

There is Canton Square, where stands the statue of Captain John O’Donnell, the founding father of Canton in Baltimore. Immediately return of the Empress of China with widely welcomed Chinese products, such as tea and porcellain ware. Captain O’Donnell started his commercial adventure by sending his own ship to Canton, China. With the profit earned from his trade with China, John purchased a large piece of waterfront land east of Fells Point. He named his land after Canton.

228. US-China Trade in Yarmouth, Mass

2011-06-15T15:28:00.001-04:00

In previous posts, I have told my readers the fact that New England can serve as a valuable historical museum for those who are interested in US-China relations in economic perspective in the early history of the United Sate. Even on Cape Cod you can find a living musem reflecting the splendid history of American traders' efforts to engage the trade with China. There is a musem, called Captain Banges Hallet House. The historical house provides you an intimate glance into how Chinese products influenced 19th century family life. It is hardly imagine that it would take 16 to 18 monthes for American traders to bring back Chinese products to the American shore. This museum exhibits various Chinese products the captain bought in China from the 18th century, such as silk fabric, toys, porcelain, lacquered pieces and, of course, tea. In order to give you a vivid picture of the captain's China trip, the house parlors "are arranged as if the captain was just returning from his voyage to China". In the meantime, you also can find a general discription of the China trade in this area through reading this brief history of American trade with China.

227. Ginseng Becomes Important Again in US-China Trade

2011-06-12T14:05:00.004-04:00

From this weblog, I guess that you have learned some knowlege on how important the Man Roots was for the founding fathers' efforts to establish direct economic relations with China during the founding era of the United States.

Over two hundred years have passed. The United States has grown from an agricultural country into the most developed country in the world. With so many high tech products envied by people from other countries, including the Chinese, Ginseng's role and its contribution to the United States in US-China trade are forgoten by Americans. However, history could repeat itself in certain times. Ginseng comes back again. The herb has become significant once again in the critical time when the United States is battling to recover from this economic recess. I have come across a paper, telling the true story from which you can find that Ginsing has become important again in American trade with China. You will find that at a time when the Chinese are getting rich exporting to Americans, some Americans become countertrender who get rich through exporting Ginseng to the Chinese. Please enjoy this fabulous story with this link.

226. The Connecticut River Valley and the China Trade

2011-06-11T21:01:00.004-04:00

The economic relationship between China and the United States has had a long history. How long has it been? The relationship started as soon as the United States was established.

With this post I will introduce you the impact of China trade on Connecticut.
Middletown,located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River became a center of the China trade in Connecticut. In 1787, two years after the Empress of China reached Canton, China. The news that China’s love of American Ginseng spread to the Connecticut River Valley. Jeremiah Wadsworth contracted with William Moore of Greenfield, Massachusetts for 800 pounds of Ginseng. Numerous business persons and residents engaged trade with China during the early period of the United States. In an exhibit not long ago, over 120 China trade goods originally owned by Connecticut River Valley residents were displayed. You can obtain more information concerning the entrepreneurs’ enthusiastic pursuit of the trade with China from this paper, Canton and Connecticut. I also find an excellent paper, discussing, The Connecticut Rive Valley and the China Trade. You also don't want to miss this introductory paper, The Connecticut River Valley and the China Trade by Amanda Lange.

225. The First American Millionaire and China

2011-05-30T21:40:00.003-04:00

Before Bill Gates (born 1955 , Donald Trump (born in 1946), the Rockefellers , Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) and Henry Ford (1863-1947)there was a gentleman, John Jacob Astor (1763-1848). Astor was the first American millionaire. I write this essay because he made himself the first millionaire based on the profits he earned from the China Trade initiated by the founders of the United States. John came into the United States in 1784, the year when the founders of this country sent the first American trade ship, the Empress of China to Canton, China. Sixteen years later, the history saw Astor sent his first ship to China. He loaded his ship with 30,573 sealskins, and other animal skins, and North American ginseng. From 1800 on, Astor expanded his trade with China greatly. Three years later, he focused his attention on the fur trade in the Pacific Northwest. He established the American Fur Company. His fleet of ships would collect the furs and sell them in China. By 1820, he became a leader of American trade with China.
How much money he made from the China trade, we don't know. However, we know that he owned one-fifteenth of all personal wealth of the entire United States. Between 1803 and 1806, he invested $300,000 of his profits from China in Manhattan real estate. The land he bought would "pour millions into the coffers his descendants." In addition, he also exerted great influence on the relations between China and the United States. President Thomas Jefferson even gave green lights for Astor to send the latter’s commercial ship to China in a time when no ships were allowed to leave the American coast.

224. The First Five Presidents and China

2011-05-20T16:46:00.001-04:00

As a reader of Dr, Wang's papers in the field of US founders and China I have found the very interesting historical fact between the United States and China. The first five presidents of the United States from George Washington (1789-1797) to John Adams (1797-1801), Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809), James Madison (1809-1817) and James Monroe (1817-1825) were all interested in building relations with China. From Dr. Wang's paper,"With China We Trade," we have learned that George Washington strongly supported the fledgling United States to establish direct economic relationship with China. Dr. Wang's paper, "All Posterity Would Remember My Legacy: Thomas Jefferson and a Legendary Chinese Prince" tells its readers that Thomas Jefferson, who enormously concerned about his reputation and honor, regarded the well-loved and respected Chinese Prince WE, featured in the Great Learning, one of the cantons of Confucianismas an exemplary role model for other leaders. James Madison, the father of the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights, hung a portrait of Confucius at his home. James Monroe became the first president that started the direct communication between a president of the United States and a Chinese emperor. In 1822 he wrote a letter to Chinese emperor. Interestingly enough, Monroe’s 179 year old letter was bought by an absentee bidder at a New York Auction in 2001. The bidder paid about $20,000. It will be great if the bidder can release the content of the letter to researchers, students and general readers. This letter will no doubt deepen our knowledge on the founders who were interested in building relations with China.

223. Marco Polo was the Man

2011-05-15T20:03:00.000-04:00

Marco Polo (1254-1324)was not the only European who lived and worked in China. However, he was the first one that published a book based on his personal experiences. His book, The Description of the World or the Travels of Marco Polo, presented a detailed narrative about China. Marco Polo was very impressed by China’s prosperity. In Polo’s eyes, Chinese Emperor concerned his people’s well-being. Hangzhou (Kinsai) was “without doubt the finest and most splendid city in the world.” Polo found that coal had been used in China. In history, coal wasn’t used in his hometown at the time. Interestingly enough, he showed his admiration for Buddhists. He marveled at the ‘huge monasteries and abbeys.” One has to be careful when reading Polo’s book. In addition to be a traveler, a merchant, Polo was the servant of the Mongol government. Therefore, one should read his description on the relationship between the ruler and the ruled critically.

222. Did the Founders Believe U.S. Will Decline?

2011-05-07T22:45:00.006-04:00

In the posting, "American Power after bin Laden," at CNN on May 6, 2011 you will find the following statement from Dr. Joseph S. Nye , "The Founding Fathers worried about comparisons to the decline of the Roman republic." I think that Professor Nye stretched a little bit too much in order to find foundation for supporting his cultural pessimism. Actually, the founders were very confident when they made the new nation. Do you believe that the founders wanted to build a nation where they were unsure of its stability?

On September 1787 at the signing of the United States Constitution, looking towards George Washington’s chair, at the back of which a rising sun happened to be painted, Benjamin Franklin made the following speech, “I have often and often in the course of the Session, and the vicissitudes of my hopes and fears as to its issue, looked at that behind the President without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting: But now at length I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting Sun.” Journal of the Constitutional Convention (17 September 1787) Franklin's above statement demonstrates that the founding fathers' confidence for the future of the United States.

The task the founders faced was not easy. The British Empire used all its ingenuity to nip at the fledgling republic. However, the economic disorder created by the British blockades didn’t stop the founders’ determination to build the new nation into a beacon for the rest of the world. The founders decided to open trade with China as soon as the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783. President Ronald Reagan expressed his apreciation on April 27, 1984, for China's help to bring US to world commerce. He told his audience, "Back in 1784, when the first American trading ship, the Empress of China, entered your waters, my country was unknown to you. We were a new republic, eager to win a place in international commerce." (Ronald Reagan, Remarks to Chinese Community Leaders in Beijing, China, April 27, 1984). Reagan demonstrated that he was great president by showing his appreciation to the friend who helped the US in its most difficult time. The trade with China helped the United States overcome the economic difficult during its formative age.

221. The Hip of US-China Relations

2011-04-28T14:21:00.003-04:00

In USA Today, January 19, 2011, Lewis M. Simons, published his article, U.S.-China relations: a newfound maturity. According to him, the United States and China will be "likely to pay mutual respect to each others' countries while acknowledging a reality at times irritating to both: that the United States and China — even though they are destined to bicker and disagree — are joined at the hip." I totally agree with him upon this point. What I want to add humbly to his strong argument is that we need to find the origin of the hip of the relations between the two nations, that will decide what kind of world we and coming generations are going to live in this and coming centuries. If you read this blog and Dr. Dave Wang's publications on United States founders and China, you won't have any difficulties to understand the meaning and the intention when the founders worked hard to borrow positive elements from China and worked hard to establish direct relations with the Empire. The hip was made right there in North America during the formative age of the United States.

220. Reaching out to China in the Era of the Mongol Empire

2011-04-24T21:08:00.001-04:00

The Europeans started to reach out to China during the Mongol Empire, called Yuan Dynasty from 1271 to 1368 in China, John of Plano Carpini(ca 1182-1252) was sent to convert the Mongols to Christianity by the Pope in 1245. He returned to Europe in 1247. He talked something about China. However, he did not reach China. What he described about China was based on what he heard. He told that China “very rich in corn, in wine, gold, silver, silk and in every kind of produce that tends to the support of mankind.” (Henry Yule and Henri Cordier, Cathy and the Way Thither, Being a Collection of Medieval Notices of China, pp.157-8.) William of Rubruquis (c 1220-c1293), also did not step on the soil of China. However he met some Chinese at Karakorum, the Capital of the Mongol Empire. He told his personal impression on the Chinese: “They are first-rate artists in every kind of craft, and their physicians have a thorough knowledge of the virtues of herbs, and an admirable skill in diagnosis by the pulse.” (Ibid. pp.159.)

219. Chinese Influence on Modern American Culture

2011-04-19T14:40:00.003-04:00

I have found an online essay discussing Chinese cultural influence on modern American culture. The author identified Chinese influence in some areas, such as cuisine, remedies, spirituality, aesthetics and language. According to the author, Chinese immigrants have brought “unique food tradition” to the United States since 1820. Traditional Chinese medicine is getting more popular in the United States. As a result, nowadays, many insurance plans cover acupuncture. More modern American designers and architects have embraced feng shui--a popular system of Chinese aesthetics on improving your living and working environment. More is available from this link.

218. From Benjamin Franklin to President Obama

2011-04-18T19:32:00.000-04:00

It seems too far jumping from Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), the great founder of this great nation, to President Obama, elected in 2008. However, the tradition started by Franklin has been well preserved and continuted by our president who has a great vision as great as the founder's.

I have been impressed by the news that First Lady Michelle Obama promoted recently at Howard University President Barack Obama's One-Hundred-Thousand Strong initiative, a national effort to increase dramatically the number and diversify the composition of American students studying in China.

We know that Franklin at his senior age once told one of his friends that he would go to China if he were young. Clearly, Franklin would be extremely happy if he had known that thousands of young Americans will study in China.

"That’s why it is so important for more of our young people to live and study in each other’s countries," Mrs. Obama said. "That’s how, student by student, we develop that habit of cooperation, by immersing yourself in someone else’s culture, by sharing your stories and letting them share theirs, by taking the time to get past the stereotypes and misperceptions that too often divide us. More available from this link.

217. Before Marco Polo

2011-04-16T17:11:00.001-04:00

What did West know about China before Marco Polo?
China was called Serica by the ancient Romans.Pliny the Elder (AD 23-79)mentioned the silk production. It is believed that Theophylactus Simocatta was the first author on China. China was described as a "large, powerful, and rich country with a thriving commerce." The emperor's (Tang Emperor Taizong, reigned 626-649), women "go forth in chariots made of gold, with one ox to draw them, while the women of the chief nobles use silver chariots." (Henry Yule and Henri Cordier, Cathay and the Way Thither, Being a Collection of Medieval Notices of China, London, 1913-16)Generally speaking, the idea, China as a rich country, dominated Western images of China for many centuries.

216. Chinese Infuence in the West

2011-04-09T20:36:00.000-04:00

The late Professor Derk Bodde designed a teaching workbook for the Committee on Asian Studies in American Education. He outlined the Chinese cultural influence on the Western ideas. In July 1948, Professor Howard E. Wilson, Chairman, Committee on Asiatic Studies in American Education recommended the teaching workbook in the following, "It is more important today than ever before that men of all cultures understand themselves, understand other cultures, and understand the interchange and expansion of ideas which have created a common denominator of all civilization. Unless that understanding can be gained and used as a basis for wise action, the nations of the modern world may destroy themselves and civilization as we know it." Then he suggested everyone to benefit from “the gifted pen of Derk Bodde.” He stated that Professor Bodde's opinion is addressed "to all who are interested in where our ideas came from and in the contributions of China to our civilization. The article will be useful for classes in literature, in science, in history, and in civics, and for the general reader." Please learn from Professor Bodde's Chinese Ideas in the West.

215. Chinese Influence on American Culture

2011-03-29T14:31:00.002-04:00

The author of the site, Chinese Influence on American Culture stated, "Chinese culture has influenced modern American culture." With this site the author shows the impact of Chinese cuisine, Chinese herbal medicine, Buddism and Feng Shui on American life. In a public park in any major metropolis one can see Americans of all colors practicing tai chi, the ancient Chinese exercise. The popularity of acupuncture is another indicator showing that Chinese culture is gaining momentum at the United States.

214. Chinese Influence on Western Medicine

2011-03-25T15:04:00.000-04:00

I have found a site discussing Chinese influence on western medicine. You might interest in it. In the following I introduce you the site. According to the site, the Western medicine took over some drugs from China, including rhubarb (If you read Dr. Dave Wang’ paper, Benjamin Franklin and China, you will know that Benjamin Franklin promoted to transplant it to North America), iron (for anemia), castor oil, kaolin, aconite, camphor, and Cannabis sativa (Indian hemp). The Chinese used Chaulmoogra oil for leprosy from at least the 14th century. The herb mahuang (Ephedra vulgaris) has been used in China for at least 4,000 years, and the isolation of the alkaloid ephedrine from it has greatly improved the Western treatment of asthma and similar conditions. However, the most famous and expensive of Chinese remedies is ginseng. Western analysis has shown that it has diuretic and other properties but is of doubtful value. In recent years RESERPINE, the active principle of the Chinese plant Rauwolfia, has been isolated; it is now effectively used in the treatment of high blood pressure and some emotional and mental conditions. More information concerning Chinese Influence on Western medicine is available from this link.

213. What Makes the United States Exceptional?

2011-03-19T21:37:00.001-04:00

Recently, Fareed Zakaria, the well-known writer of politics, told his readers that he decided to be an American, not by accident of birth but by choice. He wanted to be an American because he believed that the United States was "exceptional." There's no doubt that the United States is an exceptional nation in the world. However, I have to make it clear that I have no inclination to strengthen the theory of American exceptionalism. My understanding is that the United States was grown out of European cultural tradition; it is hard to cut the cultural tie. However, it is culturally incorrect to say that the United States is a simple extension of Europe, or another European country. Dr. Dave Wang's efforts to examine Chinese cultural influence on the colonial and republic era of the United States might help us understand what has made the United States exceptional. The founding fathers' wisdom, vison and efforts to draw nourishments from foreign cultures, including Chinese culture, and determination to build a new nation are among the elements that contributed to the exceptional character of the United States.

212. For Ben Franklin, Confucius Moral is Universal

2011-03-14T08:04:00.004-04:00

Benjamin Franklin understood well that not everything in one place can be accepted by other people. He gave several examples, such as Chinese music in North America, Japanese food and Arabic perfumes in some countries. However, is there anything that universally accepted in the world? Yes. Franklin regarded Confucius moral philosophy is the universal principle, which should be practiced anywhere in ther world. In April 1749, when he re-edited his well-known Poor Richard's Almonac, Franklin pointed out, "But the benevolent mind of a virtuous man (Confucius--this author), is pleas'd, when it is inform'd of good and generous actions, in what part of the world soever they are done." Amazed by Confucius, Franklin designed a plan for an international party of virtue. He also planned to write a book on the art of virture, which would be "a kind of manifesto for an international movement" (in Edmund Morgan's words). In July 1749 Franklin told George Whitefield that "Confucius, the famous eastern reformer, proceeded. When he saw his country sunk in vice, and wickedness of all kinds triumphant, he applied himself first to the grandees; and having by his doctrine won them to the cause of virtue, the commons followed in multitudes." (Franklin's Letter is available from this link)

211. What Would the Founding Fathers Think of the Phenominen?

2011-03-07T16:38:00.002-05:00

According to Clayton Dube, associate director of the US-China Institute at the University of Southern California, China's influence on the United States is rising. He reasoned that China had made efforts in recent years to improve its image abroad, and those efforts had been productive. He said, "The Chinese economy is thriving. Its influence is enormous. (That) China's economy was the second in the world attracted a lot of headlines in 2010." I want you to remember that China was number one of the world in terms of economy during the fouding fathers era. You can read more of his comments on China's influence on the United States from this link.

210. Restore Washington's Chinese Flower Garden

2011-02-21T15:53:00.002-05:00

February 22 is George Washington's birthday. From reading Dr. Wang's Paper, George Washington and Chinese flowers I have learned that Washington worked to build a Chinese garden in Mount Vernon, his bucolic estate in Northern Virginia. After reading his paper, I feel that we should reconstruct Washington's Chinese Garden in order to realize Washington's dream to let Chinese flowers beautify the lands of the United States of America. From his diary we know that on July 8, 1785 Washington chose a good place next to the garden wall in his “well cultivated and neatly kept” botanical garden and sowed “one half the Chinese Seed given by Mr. Porter and Doctor. James Craik. Washington, for the purpose of making sure the Chinese flowers blossom, took very detailed notes, including the procedure how he planted the seeds of the flowers. For more information concerning how Washington planted the flowers, please reader Dr. Dave Wang's Paper, George Washington and Chinese Flowers

209. Benjamin Franklin and China Gets Momentum

2011-02-19T21:25:00.001-05:00

We know that the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary published Dr. Wang’s paper Benjamin Franklin and China, in 2005. I have monitored the impact of this paper since then because I thought that his paper would be forgotten or ignored quickly in the era of the information explosion. To my surprise, I have in this windy and interesting February of 2011 found that Benjamin Franklin and China gets momentum. Over 20 well-known websides have joined the Tercentenary to promote his paper, Benjamin Franklin and China. In the following I introduce you the sites. We have reason to believe that the influence of Benjamin Franklin and China will continue.

01. The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
http://www.benfranklin300.org/_etc_pdf/franklinchina.pdf

02. New York Times, January 29, 2009
http://ideas.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/franklin-and-china/

03. Doxtop: Get Published
http://www.doxtop.com/browse/5c144b18/benjamin-franklin-and-china.aspx

04. Pdffinder.com
http://www.pdf-finder.com/Benjamin-Franklin-and-China.html

05. Pdfsource.com
http://www.pdfsource.com/biographies-files/19978/benjamin-franklin-and-china.html

06. Pdfchaser.com
http://www.pdfchaser.com/Benjamin-Franklin-and-China.html

07. Look PDF
http://www.lookpdf.com/17145-benjamin-franklin-and-china-pdf.html

08. DailyBust: Your PDF Search
http://www.dailybust.com/Benjamin-Franklin-and-China.html

09. Mild PDF: Browse and download for Free
http://mildpdf.com/result-benjamin-franklin-at-300.html

10. Source Ebook PDF Free Read and Search here…
http://www.surfingworld.co.tv/download/benjamin-franklin

11. 100inida.com
http://pdfsearch.100india.com/benjamin-franklin-and-china-pdf.html

12. Life123.com
http://www.life123.com/question/Names-of-Benjamin-Franklin's-Siblings

13. PDF Searching Engine
http://www.pdf.kq5.org/doc/benjamin-franklin

14. Leer Online Benjamin Franklin and China
http://www.dasumo.com/libros/benjamin-franklin-pdf-2.html

15. PDE Ebooks downloads
http://www.pdfebooksdownloads.com/Benjamin-Franklin-An-American-Life.html

16. Niamwebs.com
http://www.niamwebs.com/sdb/benjamin-franklin.html

17. PDF Cari
http://www.pdfcari.com/pdf/Franklin.html
http://www.pdfcari.com/pdf/civilization-china-trade.html
http://www.pdfcari.com/pdf/culture-civilization-china.html

18. Rapid PDF The Place where PDFs live
http://www.rapidpdfs.com/tag/Benjamin%20Franklin

19. PDF Dowload Free
http://www.pdfdownloadfree.com/benjamin_franklin_pictures.html

20. PDF Engine
http://www.pdf-engine.net/Brinker-JA-AND-1738-8.html

208. The Founding Fathers and Confucius

2011-02-02T09:50:00.002-05:00

Around the founding period of the United States there was a fever for Confucius, as shown by a collective fondness of Confucius ideals by the founding fathers. In reality, five founding fathers expressed their reverence of Confucius. This phenomenon led one scholar to make the claim that Confucius “dominated early American perspectives Chinese worship." The word “dominated” might be too strong in describing the milieu; however, an undeniable fact is that the founding fathers emphasized Confucius and his philosophy in various publications, which were published throughout colonial North America. The founding fathers, such as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, Benjamin Rush and James Madison expressed their high regard of Confucius and his moral philosophy.
Why Confucius became so attractive? You can find more from reading his paper from this link.

207. Chinese Cultural Influence on Colonial North America

2011-01-28T14:24:00.002-05:00

The Wellknown Huaren Magazine, based in Australia published in its September 2010 Isuue, Dr. Dave Wang's Paper, "From Confucius to the Great Wall of China: Chinese Cultural Influence on Colonial North America." In the following please enjoy a paragraph of his paper:
The Americans wanted to diminish their reliance on taxed imports and ultimately their need for other goods controlled by England. Their pursuing self supply of Chinese porcelain ware became a powerful call for the patriotic support of American economical independence. Some colonists started attempts to establish a porcelain manufactory company in Philadelphia in 1769. They established the factory on Prime Street “near the present day navy yard, intended to make china at a savings of 15,000 £. “ Benjamin Franklin, who was in London at the time, showed his happiness seeing the achievement made by his countrymen. He said, “I am pleased to find so good progress made in the China Manufactory. I wish it Success most heartily.”

206. We Should Go Back To Franklin's Principle

2011-01-22T14:00:00.008-05:00

Ms. Amy Chua, her book titled, “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” was opposed by David Brooks, whose article titled, “Amy Chua is a Wimp.” With this post by no means do I intend to disglory either the Tiger Mother or her opposer, David Brooks. In terms of educating younger generation, I like neither Ms. Chua nor Mr. David Brooks. I go for Benjamin Franklin's educational thinking. As co-president of the Chinese American Parents Association of Hunter College High School, arguably one of the top high schools in the world, I have something to say regarding this topic: I think that I can not fabricate anything better than Franklin's educational principle.
Franklin viewed virtue as a path to personal happiness and social utility. For Franklin, to be a virtuous person was so important that it decided what kind of life one wanted to live. In 1780, he told his grandson that there were only two kinds of people in the world: the people with virtue and the people without. He said that the people with virtue “are well dress’d and live comfortably in good houses,” and the people without virtue “are poor and dirty” He emphasized, “nothing so likely to make a man’s fortune as virtue.” The message Franklin wanted to convey to his grandson was that his grandpa had good virtue and therefore could be rich and accumulated fortune, which allowed him to retire at the age of 42. By combining virtue with one’s future, Franklin told his grandson that if he wanted to “not live in miserable cabins” in his later life he need to start to cultivate his virtue at a young age. Franklin not only told his grandson to train his “good morals” himself but asked him to “recommend” the good morals to his friends when his grandson returned to the United States after his study in Swissland.
We can tell from the above that Franklin maintained that happiness and social utility should be goal of education. To reach this goal, one must cultivate one's virtue. Compared with Franklin's principle, we will find what's wrong with either Chua or Brooks. Chua could raise young people as successful individuals; however, they would have difficulties serving community. On the other side, Brooks could produce someone who wants to serve community but doesn't possess necessary knowledge on how to do so. No doubt, we should go back to Franklin's principle.

205. How Many Founding Fathers Knew of China?

2011-01-15T11:13:00.004-05:00

January 2011 is very unique. It has five Mondays, five Saturdays and five Sundays. It is impossible for current people to meet a January like this one again because it will take 9841 years to have the same January. It is the perfect time for my giving the answer to this question. Since the first day I read Dr. Dave Wang's blog, The U.S. Founding Fathers and China I have asked myself the question: How many founding fathers heard of China during the founding era of the United States? I read all his publications and found that only about handful of them.
To be honest, I almost fell out of chair when I heard Dr. Dave Wang's answer to the question. “Over a dozen.” “Wait a minute. Say it again. Over a dozen of United States founding fathers made their efforts to borrow positive elements from China. Could you tell me who they are?” I was totally blown off in this particular January. Dr. Dave Wang then told me the names of the founding fathers. In the following please find the founding fathers who had demonstrated their efforts to use Chinese civilization as a resource to build the colonies into a new nation in North America. They are John Adams,Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton,Thomas Jefferson,Rufs King,Richard Henry Lee, James Madison,James Monroe,Gouverneur Morris, Robert Morris,Thomas Paine,Benjamin Rush and George Washington. I hope that Dr. Dave Wang can further enlighten us about what positive elements they used from Chinese culture to develop the United States.

204. Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Gong

2010-12-10T11:34:00.005-05:00

Any information concerning the U.S. founding fathers and China can bring up curiosity. I put the words, "Jefferson and Chinese" in Google. Two of Dr. Dave Wang's papers, Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Architecture and Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Classics come out. You can also find Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Flowers, which is an item of this blog. However, I surprisingly find Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Gong. I know that this Chinese Gong was a gift from Benjamin Franklin. However, as of today, I can not find where Franklin obtained this Chinese Gong. If you know, please let me know, then I will publish here, allowing all that who are interested in this matter know. I remember that even one of Franklin's descendants asked me about it last year.

203. Should I Agree totally with Professor Niall Ferguson?

2010-11-28T21:21:00.002-05:00

Niall Ferguson, the Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History at Harvard University and the William Ziegler Professor at Harvard Business School, was nominated by Time Magazine in 2004 as "one of the world's hundred most influential people.” He made a speech titled “Power, Money and American National Security, Today and Tomorrow” in Philadelphia where he was awarded the sixth annual Benjamin Franklin Public Service Award by the Foreign Policy Research Institute of Philadelphia. He remarked in his speech that the West ascended through technological and science innovation. For him, this is the only factor that made the West more powerful. I don’t totally agree upon his opinion; based on my examination of United States founding fathers’ efforts to draw nourishments from Chinese civilization to build a new nation in North America, I have come to the conclusion that one of the reasons why the United States jumped from a tiny nation to a world superpower is that the founding fathers opened the door for Americans to adopt positive elements from other cultures, including those of Chinese civilization.

202. From Confucius to the Great Wall

2010-11-20T17:57:00.003-05:00

The well-known online magazine, Huaren, published in its September issue, Dr. Wang's paper.
From Confucius to the Great Wall: Chinese Cultural Influence on Colonial North America

The spread of Chinese cultures into North America started with the efforts of the eminent colonists, such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, who were mainly responsible for broadening of Chinese civilization in North America. They used positive elements from the civilization to answer the economical, social and political issues in North America. Their efforts actually created a special pattern for integration of elements from other cultures into the main culture. By incorporating elements from Chinese culture into the European culture they carried over the Atlantic Ocean, the colonists took significant steps toward the creation of a civilization of their own. The remarkable story of the efforts to draw nourishments from Chinese culture has served as an excellent case study of the creation of a new civilization by adopting selected positive elements from other cultures and assimilating the elements into the main culture. The colonists’ efforts have provided us with an ideal way of dealing with other civilizations.

You can read the whole paper from this link.

201. Canton and Chinese Influence on the Early United States

2010-11-15T13:33:00.007-05:00

Some cities in the United States named their cities Canton. You maybe not aware of it. However, anyone who is familiar with China knows that Canton is the American name of a Chinese city. How come Americans named their cities following the name of the Chinese city? Little surprise will arise for the fact that Americans named their cities after British cities because of the obvious reason. To be honest, I don't have an answer to this question. I will give you the two possible answers in the following. According to what I heard, the cities were named by the Chinese. In the 18th century many Chinese coolies who came to the United States by assuming manual labors in various places did not intend to stay in the United States, but want home with dollars. However, by no means, they could control their own destines in this land far away from home. They found that they, by no means, could cross the Pacific Ocean with the money in hands. As a result they named the places where they had to stay Canton-their home town. This is only a legend. I can't prove it. I have my own academic guess. I don't think that those Chinese coolies could gave names to their adopted cities at their will. Probably, Canton was chosen by powerful American merchants who made huge profits from the China Trade directly or indirectly. It is a well-known fact that the first millionaire of the United States was made by the trade between China and the United States. If you want to know more about how the first generation of the citizens of this country made their huge fortune out of the China Trade, please make a trip to Northeast United Stats or New England. I have found that it is a must for a person who is interested in learning the early trade relations between the United States and China to visit this area-a living museum on the relations between the two countries in the 18th century. I have to stop here, otherwise, some will assume that I collect commissions from the area. To be honest, I don't collect a single penny from New England. Please find more information on Canton of the United States and American founders from this link.

200. Dr. Wang's Published Works on the Founding Fathers and China

2010-10-16T11:09:00.006-04:00

I have beaten up my brain to think about what I should put out with this post, a big milestone of this blog, aiming to introduce Dr. Wang's study of the founding fathers' efforts to borrow from Chinese civilization in their efforts to establish a new society and nation in North America. A good idea came from a friend, which is to introduce you the list of Dr. Wang's publications. In the following please enjoy the list:

24. Chinese Civilization and the Early Development of the United States, The Historical Review: A Biannual Journal of History and Archaeology, Vol. Indian Institute of Oriental Studies and Research, Kolkata, India. 2010
23. George Washington and the China Trade, Huaren E-Magazine (Australia) May, 2010,
22. Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy, Huaren E-Magazine (Australia) January 2010,
21. How China Helped Shape American Culture: The Founding Fathers and Chinese Civilization, Virginia Review of Asian Studies 2010 pp.
20. Asian Dry Rice and Slaves’ Living Environment: Thomas Jefferson’s Efforts to Transplant the Rice to the United States, Huaren E-Magazine (Australia), September 2009.
19. Dance Duet and American Western Folk Song, in City Culture Magazine, August 2009
18. Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Civilization, Virginia Review of Asian Studies 2009.
17. Presenting Benjamin Franklin and the Great Wall of China, CALA (Chinese American Librarians Association) Newsletter, Spring 2009.
16. George Washington and Chinese Flowers, Huaren E-Magazine (Australia) May 2009
15. With China We Trade, Asia Times (Hong Kong), March 11, 2009
14. Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Architecture, Huaren E-Magazine (Australia), January 2009, Chinese New Year Edition
13. All Posterity Will Remember My Legacy: Thomas Jefferson and a Legendary Chinese Prince, Huaren E-Magazine (Australia), September, 2008.
12. Benjamin Franklin’s Efforts to Promote Sericulture in North America, Franklin Gazette, Volume 18, No. 2, Summer 2008
11. The Founding Fathers of the United States and Chinese Porcelain Ware, Huaren E-Magazine (Australia), January, 2008.
10. Benjamin Franklin and the Great Wall of China, Franklin Gazette, Volume 18, Number 1, Spring 2008
09. The God-given Opportunity for Beijing, Reset Dialogue on Civilizations, Well-known European Website (Italy), October, 2007
08. The Founding Fathers of the United States and Chinese Civilization, in Trans/American, Trans/Oceanic, Trans/latioin, The 3rd International American Study Association (IASA) World Congress Proceedings, September, 2007.
07. Benjamin Franklin and Chinese Civilization, Reset Dialogue on Civilizations, Well-known European Website (Italy).
06. Tea, the Leaves that Triggered the American War for Independence, Huaren E-Magazine (Australia), September 2007
05. Ginseng, the Herb that Helped the United States to Enter International Commerce, Huren E-Magazine (Australia), May 2007
04. Exploring Benjamin Franklin’s Moral Life, Franklin Gazette, Volume. 17, No. 1, Spring 2007
03. Benjamin Franklin and Chinese Civilization, U.S –China Relation Series, No. 2, New York, Outer Sky Press, August 2006
02. Benjamin Franklin’s Attitude toward Chinese Civilization, Social Science Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology (China) , Issue 4, 2006
01. Benjamin Franklin and China: A Survey of Benjamin Franklin’s Efforts at Drawing Positive Elements from Chinese Civilization during the Formative Age of the United States, The Historical Review: A Biannual Journal of History and Archaeology, Vol. XIII, 2005, pp. 1-22, Indian Institute of Oriental Studies and Research, Kolkata, India.
The paper was elected by the National Commission for Benjamin Franklin’s Tercentenary Commission and published in its Official Website since 2005 (The commission is headed by Former President George W. Bush 2000-2008). It is available on line at http://www.benfranklin300.org/etc_essays.htm

199. Obama and the Founding Fathers

2010-09-23T13:23:00.004-04:00

As a history lover, usually, I don't focus my radar on current development of the relations between China and the United States. However, President Obama's comments on the relations stimulated my curiosities on the connection between history and nowadays. President Barack Obama said Thursday, September 23, 2010 that U.S.-China cooperation has helped ease global financial turmoil. He also pointed out that US-China cooperation is "a critical ingredient in a whole range of security issues around the world."

No doubt, China is important to the United States again. The fact that I used the word "again" reveals the historical fact that China was very critical to the founding of the United States. Spending 10 minutes on reading my article, With China We Trade, which published by Asian Times on line, on March 11, 2009, is worthwhile. You will learn how China's economic power, whose GDP accounted for 33% of the whole world, played a critical role for the new born United States' overcoming the financial and economic crises created by the Great Britain in its hope of forcing the newly independent former colonies to return one by one to be under the British rule.

198. Franklin had a fairly good grounding in Confucius moral philosophy

2010-09-20T19:20:00.004-04:00

Benjamin Franklin had a fairly good grounding in Confucius moral philosophy. Mr.jimmiraybob derived at this conclusion after he read Dr. Dave Wang's works on the founding fathers and Chinese civilization. Mr. jimmiraybod wrote the following in the Well-known Blog, American Creation:

"Whatever the founding father’s depth of understanding regarding other religions and philosophies, it appears that Franklin had a fairly good grounding in Confucius moral philosophy. Much of Franklin’s own lifelong pursuit of virtue (see the 13 virtues/Autobiography) appear to have been modeled, at least in large part, by Confucian teaching. Prompted by the earlier post I did some Googling and came across a couple of things written by Professor Dave Wang (cited by Spirits)": More is available from this link.

197. Dr Wang's Research in Japanese Eventually

2010-08-15T14:53:00.006-04:00

I have found that Dr. Wang's research published in Italin and Chinese. Thanks to Japanese scholars, now it is availalbe in Japanese.

独立前の北米への中国文化の伝播は、顕著な直接関係のない海外の土地への中国文化の拡大の最も重要な一例である。中国文化から活力を引き出そうとした建国の父達の努力は、彼らが中国文化の前向きな要素と調和しながらアメリカ文化をどのようにして発展させたかを示している。
中国文化から活力を引き出そうとした彼らの努力の素晴らしい物語は、他の文化から建設的な要素を選別して採用することや、その要素を新しい文化に溶け込ませて新しい文化を創り出してきた事の、興味をそそるケーススタディの役割を果たしてきた。彼らの顕著な努力は、他の文化から活力を引き出す事が文化の発展のための最良な方法の一つであることを示すとの見方を我々に与えてくれた。

The transmission of Chinese culture to colonial North America provides one of the most significant examples of the spread of Chinese civilization from its center to overseas, where no significant direct contact existed. The founding fathers' efforts to draw nourishments from the culture demonstrates that how they developed the American culture by their incorporating the positive elements from Chinese culture.
The remarkable story of their efforts to draw nourishments from Chinese culture has served as an intriguing case study of the creation of a new civilization by adopting selected positive elements from other cultures and assimilating the elements into the new one. The eminent colonists' efforts have provided us with an insight of how drawing nourishments from other cultures has proven to be one of the best means of the development of civilization.

196. Begining of United States Trade with China

2010-08-15T12:22:00.004-04:00

With China We trade is an article written by Dr. Dave Wang in March 2009. It is a very interesting piece. Mr. Jeffrey Mead, the President of Historical Council of Hawaii introduces this article in his well-known blog. He told his readers,

"Dave has spent a considerable amount of time and effort to uncover Early
America's ties to China and the China trade, asserting that Chinese
culture and civilization influenced the Founding Fathers of the
American Republic in 1776. Presently he is in London lecturing on this
topic as part of a global lecture series. We're looking forward to
having him come to Hawaii."

In this article, Dr. Dave Wang pointes out, "President Barack Obama told the American people in his inauguration address on January 20 that the United States was experiencing one of the worst economic recessions in history. "That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our economy is badly weakened ... Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered." To encourage the nation to fight against the recession, Obama turned to draw wisdom from the founding fathers, who led the fledgling US to rise above its first economic.' Dr. Dave Wang's whole article is availabe from this link.

The famous International economics also collected Dr. Dave Wang's article. Below is the the quote from the site.

"With China We Trade
Dave Wang (AT) Mar 11, 2009
President Barack Obama, in making Beijing a priority destination for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, was following advice and interest dating back to George Washington and the Founding Fathers. Even in its earliest and most fragile days as a nation, the United States turned to China as a lifeline of trade." You can access the site from this link.

195. Influences from the East

2010-08-08T15:16:00.005-04:00

Dr. Dave Wang made his presentation in the topic of Influences from the East: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Civilization at the 21st Conference of the International Association of Historians of Asia, 22-25 June 2010 in Singapore. You can find the photo on line taken by the conference reporter.

According to Dr. Wang, during the formative era of American culture, the founding fathers of the United States, including Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, borrowed with the wisdom of learning from foreign cultures, positive elements from Chinese civilization. Franklin regarded Confucius moral philosophy as his guideline in his efforts to cultivate his virtue. Jefferson borrowed certain Chinese architectural designs, such as the railings below the dome and surrounding the walkways. The virtual consensus among the founding generation of American statesmen was to "pursue a political destiny separate from Europe." Jefferson, who believed a building was not merely a walled structure, but a metaphor for American ideology, and the process of construction was equal to the task of building a nation, incorporated Chinese architectural style in his creation of a new style-Jeffersonian Style, which is still popular today. The founding fathers' endeavor attested the American desire to build a new culture.

194. History Education Council of Hawaii

2010-08-04T15:13:00.000-04:00

History Education Council of Hawaii, one of the best institutions in national history education, promotes Dr. Wang's research on the influences from the East: The Founding Fathers and Chinese Culture. The council introduces Dr. Wang's paper, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Civilization. You can find more information on the council's efforts from this link.

193. HOW CHINA HELPED TO SHAPE AMERICAN CULTURE

2010-07-23T15:44:00.003-04:00

The well-known academic journal in the field of Asian Studies, Virginia Review of Asian Studies carries Dr. Dave Wang's article in its 2010 issue.

HOW CHINA HELPED TO SHAPE AMERICAN CULTURE: THE FOUNDING FATHERS AND CHINESE CIVILIZATION

The transmission of Chinese culture to colonial North America, later to be the United States, is one of the most significant examples of the spread of Chinese civilization overseas where no significant direct contact existed. In the meantime, the efforts from the eminent colonists and the founding fathers of the United States to draw nourishment from the culture provide an excellent example of how American culture was influenced by Chinese culture.
The impact of Chinese culture on cultural, economical and political development of North America was evident. For instance, Confucius, who has been regarded as the very emblem of Chinese civilization, was very influential in colonial North America. Some eminent colonists, including Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), Thomas Paine (1737-1809), John Bartram (1699-1777), and Jedidiah Morse (1761-1826), the pioneer of American geography, expressed their respecting for Confucius and his moral philosophy.
more is available from this link.

192. The Institute Hosts East-West Connections Forum

2010-07-23T11:17:00.003-04:00

Dr. Dave Wang, a renowned scholar of China's influence on America's founding fathers, will speak about his personal experiences with East-West connections.

According to the director, the university would"hope to bring more depth of understanding to the kinds of cultural exchanges that happen in our societies, and also build a better understanding of the relationship that currently exists between the United States and China."

More information concerning this forum held by Valparaiso University is available from this link.

191. Feedback on Dr. Wang's Speech in Japan

2010-07-22T18:51:00.004-04:00

Dr. Wang delivered his Speech in Japan. In the following you can find the announcement on his talk in Japan:

2010年6月19日（土）AJフォーラム19 "From Confucius to the Great Wall: Chinese Cultural Influence on Colonial North America"「孔子から長城まで：独立前の北米への中国文化の影響」を行いました。
日時：2010年6月19日(土）　15:00～17:00
講師：Dr. Dave Wang (Manager, Queens Library at Hollis, Adjunct Professor, St. Johns University, Guest Professor, Jilin Normal University)

当日は教員、学生など約20名の方にご参加いただきました。
どうもありがとうございました。

How is his speech viewed by Japanese professors? The following quote is from Professor Tokubumi Shibata, Kokushikan University:

I, my colleagues and students have learned from you very much.
Your lecture was not only interesting but stimulating and meaningful.
It is I who should express gratefulness. I am looking for another chance to see and talk with you. July 16, 2010

You also can enjoy the photos taken when Dr. Wang made his speech through this link.

190. George Washington and American Trade with China

2010-07-22T17:32:00.000-04:00

In its May 2010 Issue, the well-known E-Magazine edited by the World Federation of Huaren, published Dr. Wang's paper, George Washington and the China Trade. You can read the opening paragraph of his paper below:

The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial Relations.----George Washington

Embodied Americans’ hope to “break through” the British blockage and revitalize “the depressed postwar economy,” the Empress of China, the first American commercial ship after its independence, left New York for Canton on February 22, 1784.

Not long before the departure of the Empress of China Washington discussed China trade and its impact on the United Stats with Ezra Stiles, the President of Yale College. During the discussion he conveyed the following ideas with Washington, “Navigation will carry the American flag around the globe itself, and display the thirteen stripes and new constellation, at Bengal and Canton, on the Indus and Ganges, on the Whang-ho and the Yang-ti-king, and with commerce will import the wisdom and literature of the East.” About a month after the Empress of China sailed to China, George Washington told Thomas Jefferson that “from trade our citizen will not be restrained.”

You can read the whole article through this link.

189. Benjamin Franklin and China

2010-07-22T15:00:00.004-04:00

As an indicator of increasing popularity of Dr. Wang's study of United States founding fathers' efforts to draw nourishment from Chinese civilization, recently, the popular site Desktop has included Dr. Wang's well-known paper, Benjamin Franklin and China in its website. You can access the paper through this link.

188. From Confucius to the Great Wall of China

2010-06-24T11:33:00.005-04:00

On June 19, 2010, Dr. Dave Wang, invited by Kokushikan University delivered his speech, From Confucius to the Great Wall: Chinese Cultural Influence on Colonial North America. You can find the information on his speechfrom this link. The University published his speech on its website. You can access it from this link.

187. Still Available in Northeast Times

2010-06-05T13:43:00.004-04:00

I have found that the information on the exhibition that Dr. Dave Wang created to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin's birth in 2006 is still available in Northeast Times in the Internet World. It tells its readers that
The Hollis branch of Queens Borough Public Library, in Hollis, N.Y., will present a Benjamin Franklin and China exhibit through June. There you can discover how Franklin used Confucius’ moral philosophy and borrowed from Chinese technologies.

186. Hot News Website Recommends This Weglog

2010-05-30T17:33:00.004-04:00

Hot news, article and information that many Internet users read around the world. This has been served as an indicator that the Founding Fathers and China is getting more and more popular.

185. New Knowledge Promotes This Weblog

2010-05-30T17:25:00.002-04:00

A friend of mine recently sent me the followiing link, showing that the well-know webiste, True Knowledge has added my weblog, the Founding Fathers and China to its widely used website.

184. From Europe to Asia

2010-04-23T14:34:00.003-04:00

Time flies. It is almost the end of April. There are some reasons why I didn't put any new information concerning my study of the founding fathers and Chinese Culture in March. The first is that I have been focused on fabricating a Legendary of a Gentleman in Northeast China. He successfully made fortune out of a folktale in Northeast China. The second is that I have been busy with making the schedule for my Asian tour in June and July. Under the invitation from some academic institutes from China, Japan and Singapore I will deliver some lectures on the founding fathers’ efforts to draw positive elements from Chinese civilization. I am delighted to see that my lectures are going to reach Asia.

183. United States Presidents and China

2010-02-25T17:42:00.006-05:00

In the following I will introduce you some interesting facts related to United States Presidents and China:

01. The first US president who supported US China Trade, George Washington (1732-1799)
02. The first US President who studied Chinese Classics,--Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
03. The first US President who visited China, Ulysses Grant (1822-1885). He met Li Hongzhang (1823-1901), at Tianjin in 1879.
04. The first US president who spoke Chinese, Herbert Hoover (1874-1964). There are many stories about Hoover in China. Here is one of them.
05. The first US president who fought side by side with China, Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945)
06. The first US president who fought against China, Harry Truman (1884-1972)
07. The first US sitting president who visited China, Richard Nixon (1913-1994)

182. Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy

2010-02-17T16:12:00.008-05:00

In its famous E-Magazine, the World Huran Federation based in Australia published in February 2010 Dr. Wang's Article, Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy. In the following please enjoy his article:

Since January 2006, Benjamin Franklin’s 300th anniversary, Dr. Dave Wang has been moving around to various places from North America, Europe to Asia to talk about Benjamin Franklin’s efforts to use the positive elements from Chinese civilization in his effort to help build a new society in North America during the formative age of the United States. In October 2006 he talked about Benjamin Franklin’s using Confucius moral philosophy to cultivate his virtue in Rome, Italy. Dr. Wang wrote a summary of his talk and had it published in the title of “Exploring Benjamin Franklin’s Moral Life” in Franklin Gazette (Volume 17, Number 1, Spring 2007). Not long ago Ms. Carol Smith, his editor, transferred the letter from Dr. Mark Skousen, the author of recently published The Completed Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin and the eighth generation of Benjamin Franklin’s descendants. In the letter Dr. Skousen raised a question to Dr. Wang. Since his question might reflect other audience’s or readers’ thinking of my argument of Franklin’s using Confucius moral philosophy to cultivate his virtue, I will quote it in the following:

Dear Editor,

RE: Dave Wang's article on Franklin and his moral philosopher raises an interesting question: If indeed Franklin was so deeply influenced by Confucius, as Dr. Wang suggests, why then did he leave out any mention of Confucius in his Autobiography, especially in his list of virtues? Virtue #13 states, "Imitate Jesus and Socrates." Confucius is left out.

Thanks, AEIOU,

Mark Skousen

Please read Dr. Wang's article, Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy through this link.

181. Two Schools on the Relatioins Between the United States and China

2010-02-14T10:46:00.003-05:00

Current development of the U.S.-China relations is not in my radar. However, sometimes I feel it is interesting to introduce my readers main academic trends discussed among the experts specializing in the relations.

There are basically two schools represented by Harvard Professor Niall Ferguson, the creator of the word Chimerica. He predicts that the Chimerica is headed for Divorce. According to him, "the frictions are building and will lead to divorce, conflict and potential catastrophe. (David Brooks, New York Times July 3, 2009)

In the eyes of James Fallows of The Atlantic , Ferguson's analysis is "airy-fairy academic theorizing." He agrees that China and the U.S. will dominate the 21st century, but he sees the picture of a more benign cooperation.

180. The Tradition, Reagan and Obama

2010-02-08T07:46:00.007-05:00

In Time Magazine, February 8, 2010, I have found this article titled "Learn from the Gipper: To Get back on track, Barack Obama should borrow from the playbook of Ronald Regan by Mark Halperin.

The author pointed out correctly, "Like Reagan, Obama has a respect for the broad sweep of American history." This is particularly true. Both presidents valued and inherited the good tradition of drawing nourishment from Chinese civilization started by the founding fathers of this great nation. Ronald Reagan in his 1988 State of the Union Address, quoted Laozi’s advice. In his speech on July 29, 2009 President Barack Obama cited Mencius, one of the main contributors to Confucianism.
I should add something here, otherwise, some might think that I am making a mountain out a molehill. What does it mean for us? It tells us at least the following two things; first of all,Chinese Civilization, like West Civilization, as recorded human experience, belongs to the whole world. Secondly, to learn from Chinese civilization won't belittle a person who grows up in West Civilization, but enlarge him and glorify him. They haven't turned into Chinese yet. They remain Americans, however, they are not narrow-minded ones but the ones with wisdom of learning from others and the ones who have inherited the tradition of the founding fathers. In this point, we have enough reason to believe that the United States will continue to be a great power in the world and continue to be a lantern on the hill, showing a justified direction that other countries should follow. We know this from the presidents' respect for the tradition of the founding fathers.

179. American and Chinese Leaders on the Empress of China

2010-02-01T12:50:00.004-05:00

President Barack Obama stated, "It was just a year after the end of our Revolution, when our nation was not much more than a set of ports and cities along the Atlantic, that an American ship named the Empress of China first sailed into Canton, looking to begin the first direct trade with China."

President Ronald Reagan pointed out, "Back in 1784, when the first American trading ship, the Empress of China, entered your waters, my country was unknown to you. We were a new republic eager to win a place in international commerce."

Chinese President Hu Jintao stated that "The Chinese people have always cherished goodwill towards the American people. In 1784, US merchant ship "Empress of China" sailed to China, opening the friendly exchanges between our two peoples."

I have found that this speech made by American Counsel-General in Mauca is interesting, therefore I present it to you below:

"Just a few months after the Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolution in 1784, a three-masted, American sailing ship, newly named the Empress of China, with a crew of 34, set out from New York for Macau. The expedition was financed by a well-known American patriot, Robert Morris, a signer of both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Morris's objective was to directly purchase Chinese tea, much in demand in our young nation. The Empress arrived at Macau in August 1784 with a cargo of 30 tons of wild New England ginseng root which it traded at Chinese ports for tea, cotton cloth, silk, tableware and spice. The venture was a success, and soon led to a flourishing trade after the Empress returned to New York in May 1785." You can enjoy the story how the ginseng root helped the opening of the relations between China and the Uniated States through my paper, Gingseng, the herb that Helped the United States to Enter International Commerce.

Finally, you could enjoy my paper, With China We Trade, and learn how George Washington promoted the Empress of China.

178. Why Does Dr. Wang Study the Founding Fathers and China

2010-01-30T15:12:00.005-05:00

I started this blog on March 16, 2007. It is almost three years. I think that it is the time for me to answer the question, "Why do you study the topic, the founding fathers and China? "

The purpose of my study of the topic is not that I want to demonstrate that Chinese culture is superior to western culture. I don't believe that one civilization is superior to others. It may be true in certain period of time, such as China's strong dynasties and Europe during its age of the industrial revolution. I want to find out the reasons why the United States has developed into a superpower from the thirteen small colonies in such a short period of time in world history.

If we dig deep in our history we will find the significant role played by the founding father's great wisdom of drawing nourishment from Chinese civilization. I firmly believe that the tradition of drawing nourishment from other cultures, including Chinese culture, laid by the founding fathers with the wisdom and the foresight of learning from valuable recorded human experiences, contributed greatly to this. It is my purpose to study the topic. I maintain that the founding fathers wisdom still a valuable legacy which all peoples in the world today should carry down.

177. President Obama Cites Mencius

2010-01-28T14:32:00.004-05:00

In his speech on July 29, 2009 President Barack Obama cited Mencius, one of the main contributors to Confucianism. Please enjoy the paragraph from his speech in the following;

"Thousands of years ago, the great philosopher Mencius said: "A trail through the mountains, if used, becomes a path in a short time, but, if unused, becomes blocked by grass in an equally short time." Our task is to forge a path to the future that we seek for our children -- to prevent mistrust or the inevitable differences of the moment from allowing that trail to be blocked by grass; to always be mindful of the journey that we are undertaking together."

176. Ronald Reagan and Laozi Philosophy

2010-01-28T14:00:00.006-05:00

I have found that the presidents, from Richard Nixon, who normalized the relationship between China and the United States in 1972, to current President Barrack Obama, have paid attention to draw positive elements from traditional Chinese civilization. They quoted the Chinese sages in their speeches. For example,
his 1988 State of the Union Address, Ronald Reagan quoted Laozi’s advice. In the following please read the paragraph from his speech on January 25, 1988:

"And as an ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao-tzu, said: 'Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish; do not overdo it.'Well, these ideas were part of a larger notion, a vision, if you will, of America herself--an America not only rich in opportunity for the individual but an America, too, of strong families and vibrant neighborhoods; an America whose divergent but harmonizing communities were a reflection of a deeper community of values: the value of work, of family, of religion, and of the love of freedom that God places in each of us and whose defense He has entrusted in a special way to this nation."

175. Early American Borderlands

2010-01-28T13:45:00.002-05:00

It is my great pleasure to tell you that Dr. Wang is going to talk about the Influences from the East at the conference "Early American Borderlands," which will take place in St. Augustine, FL, 12-15 May 2010. In the following please find the main content of his speech.

During formative era of American culture, founding fathers of United States, including Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, borrowed with the wisdom of learning from foreign cultures, positive elements from Chinese civilization. Franklin regarded Confucius moral philosophy as his guideline in his efforts to cultivate his virtue. Jefferson borrowed certain Chinese architectural designs, such as the railings below the dome and surrounding the walkways. The virtual consensus among the founding generation of American statesmen was to "pursue a political destiny separate from Europe." Jefferson, who believed a building was not merely a walled structure, but a metaphor for American ideology, and the process of construction was equal to the task of building a nation, incorporated Chinese architectural style in his creation of a new style-Jeffersonian Style, which is still popular today. The founding fathers' endeavor attested the American desire to build a new culture.

174. Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy

2010-01-09T16:14:00.006-05:00

New Year has started. It is to my delight that I have found my study of the U.S. Founding Fathers and China is gaining momentum. I often receive emails from unknown people, asking how they can get my papers. Interestingly enough, my study of Benjamin Franklin and China has become so popular that a professor has used the phrase as his talking title somewhere. However, I think that his talking should be titled differently, for I have found the content of his talk is about how Benjamin Franklin was treated in China. It sounds better, if called Benjamin Franklin in China. It seems that Benjamin Franklin and China has become a phrase as popular as the United States and China. It serves as an indicator that my study is getting more and more popular.

Today I browsed on the web and found the poster of my Rome Presentation. It is very funny that I couldn't find it when I posted my talk, Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy. Here it is. You can enjoy it in Italian style. Thank the Italian National Center for American Studies at Rome, and several other professors from various Italian prestigious universities, who sponsored my talk there.

173. Cultural Clash in Romantic Relationships - Chinese vs US Culture

2009-12-26T16:13:00.003-05:00

It is not unusual seeing an interracial marriage between Chinese and Americans nowadays in either China or the United States. Frequently I come across a Chinese lady walking with an American guy. It is commonly conceived that a person from the United States, an individualistic societies, is more accepting of romantic love as compared to collectivistic societies, such as China. Wait a minute, What? You mean that a Chinese or Japanese can’t enjoy a romantic relationship with someone she/he loves? I personally don't believe so. However, the author of this article has some interesting arguments. If you want to find out more, please read the very interesting article through this link.

172. A Current Cultural Mutual Influence between the United States and China

2009-12-26T15:50:00.004-05:00

With the economical integration and cooperation between the United States and China, more Americans go to China to take jobs and in the meantime more Chinese come to work in the United States. Therefore, Americans and Chinese are working side by side. These cross-cultural partnerships, while beneficial in many ways, are also highlighting tensions that expose differences in work experience, pay levels and communication. New York Times Business Section reported the stories on December 23, 2009. You can enjoy this excellent report from this link.

171. Benjamin Franklin and China in Google.com

2009-12-20T13:31:00.005-05:00

Time flies. It is going to be the 4th year soon that I started this weblog to introduce you Dr. Dave Wang's study of the U.S. Founding Fathers and China. I have found that his publications and speeches on the founding fathers' efforts to draw nourishment from Chinese culture to build a new nation are getting more and more popular. For instance, you just type "Benjamin Franklin and China" in google, you can find following 21 listings, either promoting or introducing his research on Benjamin Franklin's attitudes towards Chinese civilization.

Before you enjoy the listings, I want to tell you a story. Not long ago, a friend of mine, told me, "Brother, I have indeed learned a lot from your very forceful and enlightening weblog about the founding fathers' efforts to use Chinese culture to build a new nation in North America. How about Chinese political system?" This is a very interesting question. I told him, "The founding fathers would learn anything valuable to their efforts. in that part, they didn't have ideology in their mind. However, they didn't want to pick up something that not useful for their purpose of building a strong society in the New World. " I don't know if my answer to his question is enough. If anyone has a better answer, please don't hesitate to let me know. To help others is our pleasure.

1. [PDF]
Benjamin Franklin and ChinaFile Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
11 Benjamin Franklin, “A Letter from China,” in John Biglow ed., ...... 74 Benjamin Franklin, “Notes on Reading an Account of Travel in China,” in Leonard ...
www.benfranklin300.org/_etc_pdf/franklinchina.pdf

2. Essays, Articles & Miscellany - The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Director of Public Programming, Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary. Benjamin Franklin and China - A Survey of Benjamin Franklin's Efforts at Drawing Positive ...
www.benfranklin300.org/etc_essays.htm - Cached - Similar

3. Franklin and China - Idea of the Day Blog - NYTimes.com
Jan 29, 2009 ... This is to report that Dr. Wang's study of Benjamin Franklin and China has reached India. The Indian Institute of Oriental Studies and ...
ideas.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/franklin-and-china/ - Cached - Similar

4. Reset - Dialogues on Civilizations | History
Scholarship on the study of Benjamin Franklin for the past two centuries shows ..... The industrial technologies Franklin borrowed from China have promoted ...
www.resetdoc.org › History - Cached - Similar

5. Benjamin Franklin and China - LooKPDF.com - Search and Download ...
Benjamin Franklin “has a special place in the hearts and minds of .... 9 James Campbell, Recovering Benjamin Franklin—An Explanation of a Life of Science .
www.lookpdf.com/17145-benjamin-franklin-and-china-pdf.html - Cached

6. [PDF] franklin porcelain ro-ro
Google file about Benjamin Franklin and China • Benjamin Franklin and China 77 Franklin tried to develop porcelain production in North America. ...
www.pdf-seek-engine.com/lan_100/franklin-porcelain-pdf-L.html - Cached

7. [PDF] franklin porcelain ro-ro
Benjamin Franklin and China 77 Franklin tried to develop porcelain production in North America. In England, he examined porcelain factories and bought ...
www.pdf-seek-engine.com/lan.../franklin%20porcelain-pdf-1-L.html - Cached

8. The U. S .Founding Fathers and China 美国开国元勋与中国: 141 ...
Since 2005 when Dr. Wang's paper, Benjamin Franklin and China was published by the Official Website of Benjamin Franklin's 300th Anniversary, ...
foundingfathersandchina.blogspot.com/.../141-benjamin-franklin-and-china.html - Cached

9. The U. S .Founding Fathers and China 美国开国元勋与中国: 168. More ...
The following site give you access to Benjamin Franklin and China. ... With this site you can download his paper, Benjamin Franklin and China. ...
foundingfathersandchina.blogspot.com/.../168-more-websites-promote-benjamin.html - Cached

10. Franklin and China - Related links | Siamzone.net
For example promote Chinese product and service to place out China. Traveling Exhibit, Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better ...
siamzone.net/node/2195/related_links - Cached

11. Result for benjamin franklin and china - Page 1 LooKPDF.com ...
PDF: Benjamin Franklin and China Benjamin Franklin and China Benjamin Franklin “has a special place in the hearts and minds of . ...
www.lookpdf.com/result-benjamin+franklin+and+china-page-1.html - Cached

12. Benjamin Franklin House - News
Jun 22, 2009 ... Benjamin Franklin and the Great Wall of China Thursday 9 April, 5.30pm. The Great Wall of China was built 2000 years ago by the Qing dynasty ...

13. Benjamin Franklin and the Great Wall of China
Benjamin Franklin and the Great Wall of China. Doctor Dave Wang from St John's University will talk discuss how Benjamin Franklin became connected with what ...

14. benjamin franklin eBook Downloads
Get books about benjamin franklin for free from Usenet • Benjamin Franklin and China • BENJAMIN FRANKLIN • Benjamin Franklin and Lightning Rods ...
www.pdfgeni.com/book/benjamin-franklin-pdf.html - Cached

15. Academic Lecture Series Spring 2007 - "Benjamin Franklin and ...
Apr 20, 2007 ... This presentation examines how Benjamin Franklin used Confucius moral ... Dr. Wang mainly studies cultural exchange between China and North

16. The Seattle Times: Travel: For Franklin's 300th, fetes fit for a ...
Jan 6, 2006 ... "Benjamin Franklin and China: An Exhibition of Franklin's Efforts at Drawing Positive Elements from Chinese Civilization during the ...
seattletimes.nwsource.com/.../2002722466_benfranklin08.html - Cached - Similar

17. The Founding Fathers of the United States and Chinese Porcelain Ware
From Benjamin Franklin's “beautiful simile of the 'fine and noble China Vase the British Empire'” we can tell its importance in colonial Americans' mind[1]. ...

18. Interview with Ben Franklin: Part 2
I also wanted to follow up with Ben Franklin's positive views on China. Alex Green and I are heading up a financial investigation to China and Hong Kong on ...
www.investmentu.com/interviews/benfranklininterview2.html -

19. [PDF]
Expand Your World
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
May 24, 2009 ... “Benjamin Franklin and the Great Wall of China,” Franklin. Gazette, Volume 18, Number 1, Spring 2008; “Benjamin. Franklin and Chinese ...
www.nyla.org/content/user.../ESRT%20Spring%202009%20Newsletter.pdf

20 JNU Alumni @ North America 吉林师大校友在北美: 0005. ESRT of NYLA ...
I will quote it in the following:ESRT Member Speaks about Benjamin Franklin and the China Connection in London ESRT member Dr. Dave Wang of Queens Library ...

20. benjamin franklin ebook Download
Benjamin Franklin and China • Download • View. Peter Baida, Poor Richard's Legacy—American Business Values From Benjamin. Franklin to Donald Trump,

21. Dave Wang
Abstract: So far some papers in the project have been published at home and abroad, including “Benjamin Franklin and the Great Wall of China,” “Benjamin ...
www.stjohns.edu › ... › Faculty Research Forums - Cached

...
www.toodoc.com/benjamin-franklin-ebook.html - Cached

22. List Benjamin Franklin's siblings - True Knowledge Benjamin Franklin and China ... devotion to parents and older siblings as the most basic form of ... following I just list some main authors' names and ...
www.trueknowledge.com/q/list_benjamin_franklin's_siblings - Cached -

170. Dr. Wang's Studies Introduced by Some Chinese Newspapers and Websites

2009-12-20T12:38:00.009-05:00

If You search the phrase, The U.S. Founding Fathers and China in Chinese, such as 美国开国元勋与中国 in Google, you will find the following information concerning Dr. Dave Wang’s research of the U.S. Founding Fathers and China;

1. 王小良和“美国开国元勋与中国”研究

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过去的一百年是中国向西方学习的一百年，但在20世纪之前，中国在农业、水利、建筑、陶瓷、纺织等各方面所取得的成就却被多国效彷。在美国，独立战争前后， ...
w.sinovision.net/index.php?module=newspaper&act...id... - Cached

2. The U. S .Founding Fathers and China 美国开国元勋与中国
C. 中国国家汉办The Executive office of the Chinese Language Council International 国家汉办指出，王博士是研究中国文化对美国开国元勋的影响的专家，著作颇丰。 ...
foundingfathersandchina.blogspot.com/ - Cached - Similar

3. The U. S .Founding Fathers and China 美国开国元勋与中国: December 2009
- [ Translate this page ]
2009年12月1日 ... C. 中国国家汉办The Executive office of the Chinese Language Council International 国家汉办指出，王博士是研究中国文化对美国开国元勋的影响的 ...
foundingfathersandchina.blogspot.com/2009_12_01_archive.html - Cached

Show more results from foundingfathersandchina.blogspot.com

4. 美国瓦尔普莱索大学孔子学院成功举办 - 国家汉办
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王博士是研究中国文化对美国开国元勋的影响的专家，著作颇丰。 ... 用王博士的话来说：“美国开国元勋们努力借鉴或学习中国哲学思想，这对于后来的美国政治家们影响很 ...
www.hanban.edu.cn/content.php?id=6394 - Cached

5. 王小良谈中国文明对美国影响
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2009年10月27日 ... 他在演讲中以“中华文明与美国文化的形成”为主题，详细介绍了美国开国元勋富兰克林等人如何在当年的书信中透露了他们对于中国文化的思考和借鉴，以及 ...
www.usqiaobao.com:81/qiaobao/html/2009.../content_229187.

6. 美国开国元勋与中华文明_小浪博客_新浪博客
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中国货是到了欧洲之后，才运到美洲的。所以，凡是同中国沾边的东西都比较贵。不是一般殖民者可以负担得起的。美国开国元勋，本杰明弗兰克林讲了一个发生在自己身上的 ...
blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_626fb9d90100f2js.html - Cached

7. 小浪博客_新浪博客
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小浪的博客,小浪博客,王小良和“美国开国元勋与中国”研究,从掠76元获判76年看美国的仇恨罪,用风筝捕捉天空中的闪电,华人学者以新视角阐述富兰克林与中国文化的渊源, ...

8. 瓦尔普莱索大学孔子学院举办东西方关系论坛 - 浙江工业大学新闻发布平台
- [ Translate this page ]
2009年11月11日 ... 王博士是研究中国文化对美国开国元勋的影响的专家，著作颇丰。 ... 用王博士的话来说：“美国开国元勋们努力借鉴或学习中国哲学思想，这对于后来的美国 ...
www.zjut.edu.cn/zjut/xyw/news/news_show.jsp?newsid=3947 –

9. 王小良談中國文明對美國文化的影響
- [ 转为简体网页 - Translate this page ]
2009年10月27日 ... 他在演講中以“中華文明與美國文化的形成”為主題，詳細介紹了美國開國元勳富蘭克林等人如何在當年的書信中透露了他們對於中國文化的思考和借鑒，以及 ...
174.120.145.162:82/gate/big5/www...net/index.php?... - Cached

10. 中華文明與美國文化的形成 - Lectures
- [ 转为简体网页 - Translate this page ]
2009年10月24日 ... 對美國的發展具有遠見卓識的開國元勳們在美國文化形成時期努力將中

11. 华人学者以新视角阐述富兰克林与中国文化的渊源- [ Translate this page ]
2009年5月16日 ... 王小良日前接受采访表示，富兰克林是美国开国元勋之一，向来被认为是把 ... 却发现，富兰克林其实在美国建国时期从中国文明中汲取了不少文化元素，他 ...

12. 中華文明與美國文化的形成- 明镜网
- [ 转为简体网页 - Translate this page ]
华美协进社是美國第一個以美國大眾為對象﹐致力于傳播中國文化的機構。 ... 2007年應世界美國

13.E-Magazine - [ Translate this page ]王小良和“美国开国元勋与中国”研究. (声明:刊用本报图文务经书面授权，注明 ... 在书13.

14. 王小良谈中国文明对美国文化的影响- 故乡的云- 海华网会员中心|[美国福 ... - [ Translate this page ]... 所有后代都会铭记我的遗产》，《汤姆斯杰裴逊和传说中的中国王子》；《本杰明富兰克林在北美推动中国丝绸文化》；《美国开国元勋与中国陶瓷》；《本杰明富兰克林与 ...
fujianese.com/viewthread.php?tid=65158&extra=&ordertype... - Cached -

15. Lectures - [ 转为简体网页 - Translate this page ]2009年10月24日 ... 在北美推動中國絲綢文化》；《美國開國元勳與中國陶瓷》；《本傑明富蘭克林與中國長城》；《本傑明富蘭克林與中華文明》；《探討本傑明富蘭克林的 ...
chineselectures.org/102409.html - Cached -

16. 驻芝加哥总领事黄屏出席瓦尔普莱索大学“东西方文化对话会”并发表演讲 - [ Translate this page ]2009年11月6日，黄屏总领事应邀赴印第安纳州瓦尔普莱索大学出席“东西方文化对话会”。圣约翰大学教授王小良、瓦尔普莱索大学艺术与科学学院副主任约翰·鲁夫、孔子学院中方院长刘建纲、历史学 ... 黄屏随后还就中国的发展、中美关系前景等问题回答了与会者的提问。 ... 驻芝加哥总领事黄屏为青年学生举办中美建交30周年图片展 (2009-11-17) ...
www.fmprc.gov.cn/chn/gxh/tyb/zwbd/t626186.htm - Cached -

17. 王小良谈中国文明对美国文化的影响- 故乡的云- 海华网会员中心|[美国福 ... - [ Translate this page ]海华网会员中心|[美国福建人在线] 【侨报纽约讯】华美人文学会日前特邀皇后区图书馆赫利斯分馆馆长王小良博士（见图）到华美协进社演讲，介绍中国文明在美国文化的形成 ...
fujianese.com/viewthread.php?tid=65158&extra=&ordertype... - Cached -

18. 王小良谈中国文明对美国影响 - [ Translate this page ]2009年10月27日 ... 【侨报纽约讯】华美人文学会日前特邀皇后区图书馆赫利斯分馆馆长王小良博士（见右图）到华美协进社演讲，介绍中国文明在美国文化的形成和发展过程中的 ...
www.usqiaobao.com:81/qiaobao/html/2009.../content_229187.htm - Cached -

169. The Forgotten Historical Chapter: Dr. Dave Wang and His Study of the U.S. Founding Fathers and China

2009-12-17T15:13:00.020-05:00

China Press Weekly, one of the most popular Chinese newspapers in the United States, carries The Forgotten Historical Chapter: Dr. Dave Wang and His Study of the U.S. Founding Fathers and China (被遗漏的历史篇章：王小良和“美國開國元勳與中國”研究) on December 12, 2009. This feature article was written by Mr. Liming Guan, a famous reporter. In his article, Mr. Guan introduces Dr. Wang's research and the impact of the latter's original research on the academic circles and the general readers at large in the world. www.sinovision.net the well-known website, put the main content of Mr. Guan's feature article on its website. Its version in simplified Chinese is available through this link. World Huaren Federation, the famous website based in Australia, also promotes Mr. Guan's article. You can access it through this link. I wish I had time to make it possible for English readers to enjoy this excellent article. If anyone wants to translate it into English, please feel free to contact me.

王小良和“美國開國元勳與中國”研究

(聲明:刊用本報圖文務經書面授權，註明摘自《僑報週刊》及作者。)

作者:管黎明時間:2009-12-14 14:22:07 點擊:110次

過去的一百年是中國向西方學習的一百年，但在20世紀之前，中國在農業、水利、建築、陶瓷、紡織等各方面所取得的成就卻被多國效彷。在美國，獨立戰爭前後，富蘭克林、傑斐遜、華盛頓等開國元勳就曾吸收和借鑒了中國文化，用以指導新大陸的建設。這一過程長期以來並沒有引起歷史學家們的注意。

直到十多年前，在亞利桑納大學攻讀博士學位的王小良在搜尋資料時，注意到富蘭克林在書信中屢屢提及中國，隨後的調查開啟了他歷時十多年的“美國開國元勳與中國”的研究。他的研究日益受到美國眾多研究機構、政界人士及學者的關注。甚至連作過前總統肯尼迪和現任總統奧巴馬顧問的前參議員Harris Wofford在兩年前訪問中國時，還特地帶上了王小良的著作。

本期“紐約故事”，讓我們走近王小良，走近他的“美國開國元勳與中國”的研究。

北美殖民地和中國風
中國文化在18世紀北美殖民地的流行可能是今天的人們所無法想像的。王小良在他的研究中引述了前總統克林頓的一番話表示，中國作為“一個有著很強創造力、知識和財富的國家”，其對美國的影響早在美國誕生之前便已開始了。從印刷到詩歌，從醫藥到數學，再到指南針以及人道主義的哲學，中國對世界文明的許多最早的貢獻直到今天還在豐富著我們的生活。

在美國建國之前，殖民地時期的居民們早已熟悉中國和中國的許多產品，這些產品通常被作為“新鮮事物”來對待。對於那些過著清教徒生活的早期居民來說，遙遠的中華帝國是他們所珍視的茶和絲綢的來源。到18世紀中期，殖民地的商人們從中國運來了大量的中國傢具、墻紙、絲綢和瓷器，這些商品不但成為上層人物的奢侈品，也逐漸在社會的中低層散播開來。

王小良在查閱和研究了當時的大量書信、個人日記等文獻後認為，當時美國社會的許多領袖人物，包括富蘭克林、傑斐遜和華盛頓，都對中國的文化有著強烈的興趣。他們不單是對中國的商品感興趣，更希望學習中國社會是如何製造這些商品，同時又是如何通過製造這些商品來發展自己的經濟的。

富蘭克林一度非常努力地在殖民地提倡發展養蠶業，認為絲綢不但讓中國人有衣可穿，而且還可以用來出口，繁榮自己國家的經濟。當他遠在歐洲的時候，通過女兒來信得知北美許多人開始嘗試製作絲綢，他感到由衷的高興。

傑斐遜在得知中國的某些旱稻品種在歐洲生長得非常不錯時，竭力從歐洲的朋友那裏獲取這些旱稻的種子，他希望將這些旱稻移植到南卡羅來納的種植園裏，這樣可以解決水稻帶來的許多問題。其中的一個問題關於種植水稻的奴隸，他們由於長期浸泡水中，得了很多疾病。通過引進中國品種，這些奴隸可以不再受各種疾病的困擾。

喬治·華盛頓一度非常努力地在自己的花園裏種植來自中國的花草，希望他們能夠在北美的土壤中繁衍開來。而紐約等地的商人效彷中國的運河系統在紐約和奧本尼之間建立了自己的運河，直到今天這條運河對紐約經濟的影響仍清晰可見。

值得一提的是，富蘭克林等當時北美社會的菁英大多從歐洲出版的傳教士撰寫的圖書和從事遠東貿易的商人那裏獲得有關中國的各種知識和商品，許多到達美洲的商品，如茶葉，也都是從歐洲轉運而來，早期的中美直接貿易直到18中期才真正開始。

華盛頓和早期中美貿易

說到中國對早期美國的影響，貿易自然是不能忽略的一個方面。王小良在他的“與中國通商”（With China We Trade）一文中提到了華盛頓當年對開發中美貿易的關注。

獨立戰爭後的美國，雖然擺脫了殖民地地位，但得面對大英帝國在歐洲市場上對美國的全面封鎖。如果不能重振戰後的美國經濟，那麼政治上的獨立肯定無法長久。在這種時刻，與遠在東方的中國進行貿易對新生的美國至關重要。

1784年2月，第一艘駛往中國的美國船隻——“中國皇后號”（Empress of China），在紐約碼頭啟程，駛往中國的廣東。華盛頓本人親自簽署了“船書”（Sea letter，國際航海中表明船隻身份的文書）。這無疑顯示了美國的開國總統對與中國進行貿易往來的重視，他希望“中國皇后號”能為新生的國家打開新的航路，新的市場和建立新的貿易夥伴。

“中國皇后號”攜帶了北美為數不多的可能引起中國商人興趣的商品——阿帕拉契亞山脈的人參和美州特產的紅酒和白酒，以及一些動物皮毛，其中人參佔了主要的比例。一年後“皇后號”返回，帶回了大量的茶葉和茶具，茶葉主要是產自福建的武夷茶（在北美和歐洲被稱為Bohea），這些商品令資助“皇后號”的商人們獲得了數倍于當初投資的利潤。

“中國皇后號”的成功激發了紐約、費城以及奧本尼等地的大批商人的興趣，他們紛紛資助和修建船隻，擴展與中國的貿易。而中國的廣東對於當時的美國來說，無疑是全世界不多的貿易中心之一。

一個有趣的細節是，前往廣東的商人們不久便發現當地的人們對產自北美的酒類很快便失去了興趣。

富蘭克林的中國緣
本傑明·富蘭克林是美國歷史上人盡皆知的人物，他的《窮理察年書》暢銷至今。然而，鮮有人知道富蘭克林曾對孔子思想有所研究，他還曾企圖傚法中國的長城來抵禦法國殖民者和北美印第安人侵襲。

王小良在他的“本傑明·富蘭克林、喬治·華盛頓、托馬斯·傑斐遜和中國文明”一文中表示，美國文明並非只是歐洲文明的一個延伸，在美國文明形成的過程中，開國元勳們從中國文明中吸取了許多積極有用的元素，用他們來指導新國家的建設。這其中最有代表性的便是富蘭克林深入研究，並在美國推行孔子個人修養理念的歷史。

富蘭克林最早接觸到孔子的學說是在歐洲，而不是在美國。早在1724年，富蘭克林借錢前往倫敦，目的是去購買一台印刷設備。他利用在倫敦的時間拼命研讀各種書籍，其中一本便是1691年倫敦出版的《孔子道德學說》（The Morals of Confucius），其中有關君子如何修養自己的身心，然後向子民傳播，以及“修身、齊家、養性”等理念給年輕的富蘭克林留下了深刻的印象，以至於他將其中一段話特地印在了1737年3月出版的《賓州紀事報》（Pennsylvania Gazette）上，與殖民地的讀者分享。

王小良引用作者Edmund Morgan在《本傑明·富蘭克林》一書中的話表示，在富蘭克林最終決定了自己的行為準則和信仰後，他並不挂在嘴上，而是在行動中處處以這些思想為指導，來決定自己的作人和處世方式。

在22歲那年，富蘭克林列出了他所認為的最重要的13條作人的“美德”或準則，來完善自己的人格。王小良在將這些準則進行研究之後認為，毫無疑問它們是受到了孔子思想的啟發。他並將這十三條準則同孔子的學說一一對比，說明瞭它們的相似性。

在1737－1738年間，富蘭克林在他的《賓州紀事報》上刊登了一系列介紹孔子思想的文章，標題為《孔子道德摘選》（From the Morals of Confucius）。他在文中認為，孔子的思想解決了三個方面的問題：人們應當如何來培養自己的情操，規範自己的行為；用什麼樣的方法來指導別人；人們應當如何尊重和致力於社會公益。

除了孔子思想外，富蘭克林對中國的長城也深有研究。在1754至1763年殖民地對抗北美印第安人和他們的法國盟友的戰爭中，身處賓州的富蘭克林力主修建一座類似于中國的長城的城墻，來保護殖民地的居民。

王小良在研究中發現，富蘭克林是在1756年修建了他的“北美版”的長城，當時他率領500名殖民地士兵負責保衛賓夕法尼亞，以確保當地的居民不受法國人和印第安人的侵襲。在給好友Samuel Rhodes的一封信中，富蘭克林明確表示，單單修建碉堡並不能保證我們的安全，必須修建一座象中國那樣的城墻，把殖民地的兩端都連起來，這樣才能起到保護的作用。雖然這座“長城”沒有被保存下來，但根據富蘭克林的兒子後來的作證，那座城墻對法國人和印第安人構成了巨大的障礙，令他們無法進入殖民地核心區域。

此外，富蘭克林也積極在北美殖民地推動絲綢業的發展，希望借絲綢來推動殖民地的經濟。富蘭克林一度對他的同事宣稱，如果人們覺得種小麥沒有意思，那麼他們應當考慮養蠶和製作絲綢，生產麻布和絲綢對於美國內陸來說再合適不過。他並引用中國為例表示，中國的絲綢業的發達使得這個國家人人都可以用絲綢來做衣服穿，同時他們還可以把多餘的絲綢用來出口，而後來這些絲綢便傳遍了印度和歐洲等地。

富蘭克林對中國的陶瓷製品也非常看重，甚至將美國比作一個“尊貴的中國花瓶”。在獨立戰爭勝利後，他一度表示，現在在美國“人們終於可以來看護自己的中國花瓶”了。

傑斐遜和中國建築
自18世紀初開始，中國的建築和傢具風格在北美逐漸流行開來，人們視這些來自遙遠的中華帝國的設計為流行時尚。當時的傢具如座椅和櫥櫃等流行一種“Chinese Chippendale”的風格，其典型特點便是在頂部擁有像寶塔一樣的曲線，刻上龍的圖案，以及兩邊的“耳朵”往上翹起。

上述的設計風格不單被用在傢具中，在建築上也經常被採用。根據王小良博士的研究，美國的另一位開國元勳傑斐遜，便是最早推崇中國設計風格的人之一。

傑斐遜本人對於花園非常鍾愛，認為對於一位紳士來說，花園是建築必不可少的一部分。而美國的寬廣和肥沃的土地讓人們可以不需花費便可以造出絕美的花園。傑斐遜在考慮修建自己的花園時，對採用中國的園林設計風格表現出了非常大的興趣。他最終在朋友的幫助下，在花園的屋頂、門廊和過道的欄杆中採用了許多中國的元素。

傑斐遜在弗吉尼亞州的莊園 Monticello 至今被視為美國最珍貴的建築遺產之一。而傑斐遜本人也將其視為自己的建築理念和各種建築嘗試的體現。這是一座義大利文藝復興風格的建築，但在其中的墻壁裝飾和護欄上採用了許多中國雕花格子的設計，這一設計也被他用在了位於Farmington和Barboursville的兩處住所內。

根據王小良的研究，傑斐遜在晚年曾一度考慮修建一座有中國式屋頂的建築，以及幾座中國式的亭子。他在1771年的筆記中明確表示，他希望修建一座方形的“中國廟宇”（a square　“Chinese Temple”）。據記載，建築兩層高，其中一邊要有四根柱子。傑斐遜寫道，“和普通的（義大利式）Tuscan風格相比，我更傾向於這些中國的廟宇設計。”

王小良認為，傑斐遜的莊園建築在他生前和去世後，都被來自世界各地的人瞻仰，因此，人們有理由相信，他的設計風格和理念影響了各地的人，其中的中國元素無疑也會被無數的人注意到。王小良引述一名研究者Kiersten Larsen Davis在評價殖民地時期美國對中國裝飾藝術的追隨時表示，“在他的私人居所裏包含的中國元素，使得傑斐遜的Monticello莊園成為了傑斐遜本人對中國文化的推崇的公共展示。”、

·王小良簡介·

來自中國東北的王小良早在80年代末便在西雅圖的華盛頓大學作訪問學者，後來于1993到2000年在亞利桑納大學先後獲得碩士和博士學位。他現在是紐約皇后區圖書館赫利斯（Hollis）分館的館長，同時也是聖約翰大學的兼職教授。

近年來，王小良先後在中國、美國、義大利、澳大利亞、印度等地的媒體和雜誌發表二十余篇論文，其中包括《亞洲旱稻與奴隸的生活環境：托馬斯，傑弗遜將亞洲旱稻移植到美國的努力》；《本傑明弗蘭克林，喬治華盛頓，托馬斯傑弗遜與中華文明》；《我們（美國）同中國貿易》；《托馬斯傑裴遜與中國建築：中華文明與美國建國前的北美洲》；《所有後代都會銘記我的遺產》，《湯姆斯傑裴遜和傳說中的中國王子》；《本傑明富蘭克林在北美推動中國絲綢文化》；《美國開國元勳與中國陶瓷》；《本傑明富蘭克林與中國長城》；《本傑明富蘭克林與中華文明》；《探討本傑明富蘭克林的道德生活》；以及《本傑明富蘭克林與中國文化》等。

王小良的研究在幾個月前獲得《紐約時報》『新思想』欄目的特別推薦。而他本人過去幾年裏也先後應邀到倫敦的富蘭克林故居、義大利國家美國研究中心、美國克利弗蘭圖書館、弗吉尼亞州的傑裴遜國際研究中心和費城等地發表演講，贏得了眾多學者和公共人士的讚賞和支援。目前他正計劃將自己的許多英文著作翻成中文結集出版。

168. More Websites Promote Benjamin Franklin and China

2009-12-05T08:48:00.008-05:00

Dr. Wang's study of the founding fathers and Chinese civilization has attracted more and more attention world wide. Recently I have found that some well-known websites promote Dr. Wang's paper, Benjamin Franklin and China. ---A Survey of Benjamin Franklin's Efforts at Drawing. Positive Elements from Chinese Civilization during the Formative Age. The site, lookpdf allows you download his paper. In the site Siamzone.net you find the short introductory essay from the New York Times This site tells you that Dr.Wang's paper explains the reason why Franklin did not mention Confucius name in his widely read autobiography and demonstrates Franklin had a very deep interest in the Chinese governmental system, economic theory and industrial technologies. This site also promotes Benjamin Franklin and China. The website www.osun.org provides Benjamin Franklin to its readers. The following site give you access to Benjamin Franklin and China. The well known www.liberty-watch.com organized by Dr. Mark Skousen, the eighth generation of Benjamin Franklin introduces briefly Dr. Wang's research. You can also find Dr. Wang's paper in this site. With this site you can download his paper, Benjamin Franklin and China. This is another site that you can download his paper.

167. Dr. Wang’s Study of the Founding Fathers and China Has Reached Chinese Media

2009-12-02T14:18:00.005-05:00

I have found that some media in Chinese have promoted Dr. Wang’s study of traditional Chinese culture and the early development of the United States. In the following I will introduce you some of them:

A. 美国中文网 SINOVISION.NET
B. 侨报 CHINA PRESS : The widely read Chinese newspaper
《侨报》介绍了王博士的关于美国开国元从中华文明中汲取营养，从而在美洲建设一个新的国家的研究。
C. 中国国家汉办 The Executive office of the Chinese Language Council International 国家汉办指出，王博士是研究中国文化对美国开国元勋的影响的专家，著作颇丰。王博士指出，美国开国元勋们在建国之初吸取了中国文明中很多积极的成分。比如，本杰明•富兰克林提倡用儒家思想培养个人修养和品行，乔治•华盛顿试着在自己的花园里种植中国花卉，托马斯•杰佛逊曾把中国的建筑设计同欧洲的建筑设计方式结合起来，从而创造出新的建筑模式。用王博士的话来说：“美国开国元勋们努力借鉴或学习中国哲学思想，这对于后来的美国政治家们影响很大，成了这个国家一笔宝贵的遗产。
Hanban is the executive body of the Chinese Language Council International, a non-governmental and non-profit organization affiliated to the Ministry of Education of China. Hanban is committed to making the Chinese language and culture teaching resources and services available to the world, to meeting the demands of overseas Chinese learners to the utmost, to contributing to the formation of a world of cultural diversity and harmony
D. 美国网络电视www.uswtv.com致力于建设最好的海外华人交流平台，
海外电视,美国电视,北美电视,华人电视。美国网络电视的宗旨是：利用网络平台传播中华文化，促进中美两国人民友谊，增进中国与世界各国人民之间的了解，支持祖国统一大业，为中华民族繁荣、美国网络电视以独家制作高端的时事专题节目和优秀的文化艺术专题节目来扩展全球华人在网络世界的影响力。为传播王博士的讲演，该网络电视向全球直播，王博士的讲演，中国文化与美国文化的形成海华论坛| 美国福建人在线Fujianese.com, 香港明净出版社, 华美协社CHINA INSTITUTE, 浙江工业大也加入到推动王博士的研究的队伍。Zhejiang university of technology

166. Dr. Wang Talks about the Cultural Exchanges betweem the U.S. and China

2009-11-29T21:17:00.006-05:00

NWI.com, the Largest and most trusted media company in Northwest Indiana promotes Dr. Wang's speech to its readers. In the introductory article, titled " VU (Valparaiso University) forum will examine the cultural exchanges between the U.S., China, it introduces main content of Dr. Wang's talk. The article says, Dr. Wang, Manager of Queens Library at Hollis, and an adjunct professor at St. John's University in New York, has written on the cultural ties between China and the U.S., including: "How China Helped Shape American Culture: The Founding Fathers and Chinese Civilization," "Asian Dry Rice and Slaves' Living Environment: Thomas Jefferson's Efforts to Transplant the Rice to the United States" and "Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Civilization." More is available through this link. The Hanban also published on its official site some summary of Dr. Wang's speech.

165. Honoring the 2,560th anniversary of the birth of Confucius

2009-11-21T15:38:00.003-05:00

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 29, 2009
Mr. AL GREEN of Texas (for himself, Mr. CAO, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. HONDA, Ms. CHU, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. WATSON, Mr. ELLISON, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Ms. FUDGE, Ms. KILROY, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. BECERRA, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. NADLER of New York, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Ms. CLARKE, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. CLAY, Ms. WATERS, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. MILLER of North Carolina, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. SHERMAN, and Mr. FILNER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

RESOLUTION

Honoring the 2,560th anniversary of the birth of Confucius and recognizing his invaluable contributions to philosophy and social and political thought. Whereas September 28, 551 B.C., is recognized as the date on which Confucius was born in the town of Qufu, in what is now the Shandong Province of China;
Whereas Confucius, who is one of the greatest thinkers, teachers, and social philosophers in history, developed a philosophy that has deeply influenced, and continues to influence, the social and political thought of countries around the world, including China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam;
Whereas Confucius counseled introspection, self-cultivation, sincerity, and the observance of respect within social relationships as a means of achieving justice and attaining morality in personal and public life, reflecting a moral fiber of the highest degree;
Whereas the teaching of Confucius that `what one does not wish for oneself, one ought not to do to anyone else; what one recognizes as desirable for oneself, one ought to be willing to grant to others' is a model for ethical behavior and for the promotion of harmony among us;
Whereas Confucius taught that an ideal government is founded upon loyalty, respect for elders, and recognition of the importance of family; and
Whereas Confucius taught that politicians must be models of truthfulness and morality, which serves as a reminder to all of our duty to serve with the utmost honor and respect: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors the 2,560th anniversary of the birth of Confucius and recognizes his invaluable contributions to philosophy and social and political thought.
END
More information is available through this link. You also can find information regarding Benjamin Franklin and Confucian moral philosophy in the previous posts, such as Item 142.

164. Dr. Dave Wang's Comment on the Founding Fathers

2009-11-21T15:21:00.003-05:00

Mr. Lee A. Daniels issued his paper The Intolerable Barack Obama

In the following you can find Dr. Wang's comment: Mr. Wesley Pruden should know also that our founding fathers of this great nation made great efforts to draw nourishment from traditional Chinese culture to build a new society in North America. Should we label them “Panda Huggers”? I don’t believe that the founding fathers were godlike persons without any flaws. I do believe that the founding fathers were the figures with great wisdom. To understand them comprehensively need more than one quote. It is not even “politically correct” if one just put out one sentence from the founding fathers’ numerous sentences, regardless of the environment that they made the sentence , in order to prove one’s subjective judgement.

163. A Big Dose of the Chinese Ethos May Well Be Returning To America

2009-11-20T10:36:00.009-05:00

I just read the following article carried in November 23, 2009 issue TIME
Magazine, "Five Things We Can Learn from China," by Bill Powell. Mr.
Powell is a senior writer for TIME in Shanghai. Prior to current his
post, he was Chief International correspondent for Fortune based in
Beijing and then New York. He also served as Newsweek bureau chief in
Moscow, Berlin and Tokyo. In this article Mr. Powell points out five things that the United States, one of the youngest nations, should learn from China, one of the oldest nations, including ambitious goal, focus on eduction, take care the elders, save more and look over the horizon.

Dr. Dave Wang's research reveals that to learn from China is not strange to the Americans. It started as early as the colonial era in North America. During the early period of the founding of the United States, some eminent colonists, including the founding fathers found that China, the far away ancient empire, was a place where they could borrow useful ideas and technologies which could help with their efforts to build a new nation there. As a result, we saw one of the largest cultural borrowing movements in American history during the formative age of the United States. Chinese plants, such as rice, soybeans, peaches, oranges, mulberries, all kinds of flowers were transplanted into the colonies, Chinese technologies, such as architectural design, silk production, central heating and canal construction, were introduced; Chinese philosophies, especially Confucianism, were also brought over.

Interestingly enough, you will find that the main contents that Mr.Powell called for his fellow Americans to learn from China were what the founding fathers, such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, worked hard to borrow from traditional Chinese culture. We should admire the wisdom of the founding fathers. History can provide a lot of good lessons for us today. The examination of their efforts to draw nourishment from traditional Chinese culture will continue to provide valuable lessons for our efforts to overcome the difficulties caused by current economic recess worldwide.

162. Dr. Wang Made his Speech at Valparaiso University

2009-11-10T13:20:00.005-05:00

On November 6, 2009, Dr. Wang delivered his speech at Valparaiso University. In his speech Dr. Wang answered the question,what made it possible for the founding fathers’ borrowing from the Chinese culture? He gave out three reasons; first of all, the founding fathers were free. They didn't have ideology or politically correct in their mind. They did not worry about that someone would label them Socialists, or even Communists. There was no Red Scare. The Senator from Wisconsin, Joseph McCarthy (1908-1957), wasn't born yet. The second one was that they could find what they wanted from Chinese culture. The third reason was that Chinese culture was available in North America. Americans could learn all manner of subjects from agriculture, science, philosophy, art and technology from books on China produced in Europe.

161. Dr. Wang Gave Speech at the China Institute

2009-11-09T11:28:00.003-05:00

Founded in 1926 by a group of American and Chinese educators, including John Dewey and Hu Shih, China Institute in America is the oldest educational and cultural organization in the United States focused on advancing a deeper understanding of China through programs in education, culture, business and art in the belief that cross-cultural understanding strengthens our global community. The Institute offers innovative, high quality programs, activities, courses and seminars that are open to – and designed for – people of all ages and backgrounds.
On October 24, 2009, The Renwen Society at China Institute invited Dr. Wang, Manager of Queens Library at Hollis and Adjunct Professor of St. Johns University, delivered his speech on the topic, China in the shaping of American culture. In this lecture, Dr. Wang discussed the founding fathers' efforts to draw nourishment from Chinese culture. His lecture revealed the historical facts that during the formative era of American culture, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, borrowed with wisdom of learning from foreign cultures positive elements from Chinese civilization.

One of the most popular Chinese newspapers in the United States, China Press reported his speech.

You also can listen to Dr. Wang's speech on line thanks to the kindness of the USWTV. COM a well known news media company based in New York. In the following you can read the above introduction to his speech in Chinese.

中華文明自從產生之日起，就以它特有的感染力傳播四方，對世界文化的發展做出了巨大的貢獻。中國文化對亞洲文明，尤其是東亞文明的形成的作用是無可替代的。然而，我們對中華文明對東亞文化之外的影響知之不多，認識不足。有鑑於此，華美人文學會特邀王小良博士於10月24日（星期六）下午两点至四点做《中華文明與美國文化的形成》的講演，介紹中華文明是如何對美國文化的形成和發展產生影響的。

美國文化不是歐洲文化的簡單延伸。美國文化在其形成的歷史過程中從中華文明中汲取了積極因素。對美國的發展具有遠見卓識的開國元勳們在美國文化形成時期努力將中華文明的積極元素引入到美洲。他們不斷地用中華文明中的積極因素來回答和解決他們在北美建立一個新國家的過程中所遇到的問題。從而，使中華文明對美國文化的形成產生了不可忽略的作用。

王小良博士現為紐約皇后圖書館和赫利斯分館館長，聖約翰大學兼職教授，國際亞洲文明與美州研究會會長。近年來，王小良博士致力於對亞洲文明對美國影響的研究。成果頗豐，現已在中國，美國，意大利，澳大利亞，印度，以及香港的媒體和雜誌發表二十餘篇論文，其中包括《亞洲旱稻與奴隸的生活環境：托馬斯，杰弗遜將亞洲旱稻移植到美國的努力》；《本傑明弗蘭克林，喬治華盛頓，托馬斯杰弗遜與中華文明》；《我們［美國）同中國貿易》；《托馬斯傑裴遜與中國建築：中華文明與美國建國前的北美洲》；《所有後代都會銘記我的遺產》，《湯姆斯傑裴遜和傳說中的中國王子》；《本傑明富蘭克林在北美推動中國絲綢文化》；《美國開國元勳與中國陶瓷》；《本傑明富蘭克林與中國長城》；《本傑明富蘭克林與中華文明》；《探討本傑明富蘭克林的道德生活》；以及《本傑明富蘭克林與中國文化》。

王小良博士的中華文明與美國的早期發展研究已經引起國際社會的廣泛關注。並且已經走入美國歷史課堂。美國國家歷史教育協會夏威夷分會會長米德先生在近期撰文，要求夏威夷州的所有學校要在其歷史課中講授小良博士的論文。《紐約時報》在其周末專欄介紹了他的研究。近期，美國主要華文報紙《僑報》也報導了他的開拓性研究。

王小良博士的論文《本傑明富蘭克林與中國，考察本傑明富蘭克林在美國形成時期對中華文明積極因素的汲取》被以美國總統前總統布什為名譽主席，由美國政要和學界知名人士組成的紀念富蘭克林誕辰300週年委員會選中，刊登在該委員會的官方網頁上。同時，印度國家東方研究院的院刊，《歷史評論》刊載了此文。

近年來，王小良博士應邀相繼在歐洲和美國發表講演。在2006年應意大利國家美國研究中心邀請，王小良博士在羅馬講演，富蘭克林與孔子的道德哲學。2007年應世界美國研究大會邀請演講，在里斯本講美國開國元勳與中華文明，2008年應世界著名的克利弗蘭圖書館邀請在克里夫蘭講演中華文明與美國的早期發展。 2009年4月應英國富蘭克林博物館邀請，在倫敦講演本傑明富蘭克林與中國長城。2009年6月，應世界史研究會的邀請在波士頓講演托馬斯傑裴遜與中國建築和喬治華盛頓與美國中國貿易。

160. Thomas Jefferson and Asian Dry Rice

2009-10-23T14:24:00.006-04:00

Dr. Dave Wang surprised us with another good research paper on the influence of Chinese civilization on the life of Americans and their Presidents.

Thomas Jefferson pointed out, "The Greatest service which can be rendered any country is, to add a useful plant to its [Agri]culture, especially a bread grain."

While summarizing what he considered to be his greatest contribution to the world, Jefferson ranked his effort to introduce dry rice from East Asia into South Carolina in as high regard as his drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Why did he regard his effort to transplant the dry rice to the United State so high? You can find the answer from Dr. Wang's paper, Asian Dry Rice and the Slaves’ Living Environment: Thomas Jefferson’s Effort to Transplant the Rice to the United States His paper is available from this link.

159. Zoominfor Introduces Dr. Wang's Papers

2009-09-03T13:12:00.004-04:00

I browse the web and find that Dr. Dave Wang's two publications, on U.S. China Trade and Chinese Cutlural Influence on the founding fathers, are available through this site

158. Asia-Studies Full Text

2009-08-05T11:32:00.006-04:00

Asia-Studies Full-text Online, the premier database for the study of modern Asia-Pacific and the relations between Asian civilization and North America. As the exclusive licensee for the region’s most prestigious research institutions, Asia-Studies.com brings together thousands of full-text reports covering 55 countries* on a multitude of business, government, economic, and social issues. You can access Dr. Wang's paper, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Civilization from this site and through this link.

157. Presidents Obama, Clinton and Reagan on China and the United States

2009-08-04T09:46:00.006-04:00

President Barack Obama stated, "Americans know the richness of China's history because it helped to shape the world and it helped to shape America. We know the talent of the Chinese people because they have helped to create this great country." His remarks at U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue on July 27, 2009 is available through this link.

President Bill Clinton pointed in 1997 that China has played an important role in our history. "In 1784, shortly after America's independence, the first American merchant ship landed in China. The Chinese officials knew we were not European, so they simply called us the 'new people.' And though we were unfamiliar, the Chinese allowed us to trade freely with them. So one of the oldest societies on Earth, China, extended the hand of friendship to the world's youngest nation." You can access his whole speech through this link.

Ronald Reagan pointed out in 1984 that "back in 1784, when the first American trading ship, the Empress of China, entered your waters, my country was unknown to you. We were a new republic, eager to win a place in international commerce." His whole speech is available throught this link.

Do I need to say anything? The above remarks from the three great presidents of the United States tell us two things at least. The first is that American people never forget the great help from China and the influence of Chinese culture on the development of the United States. In the meantime, they also demonstrate United States leaders inherit and carry down the great tradition established by the founding fathers with open mind to learn from other cultures. I remain that to draw nourishment from other cultures is one of the main reasons responsible for making the United States a great power in the world in such short period of time.

Welcome to further explore this weblog, in which you will find out how Chinese culture helped to shape the United States from its inception. I hope that you can give us your input on Dr. Wang's examination of the impact of the traditional Chinese culture on the United States.

156. Hawaii Historical Education Council Promotes Dr. Wang's Paper

2009-07-23T18:09:00.002-04:00

History Education Council of Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii, United States The History Education Council of Hawaii, Inc., is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit 501(C) 3 corporation serving the history learning community of the state of Hawaii. HECH promotes study, research, effective learning theories and innovative history teaching practices.

Word has reached us that Dr. Dave Wang of St. Johns University in New York had a paper, "Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Civilization" published in the online publication of the 2009 issue of the Virginia Review of Asian Studies. You can access the introduction to Dr. Wang's paper from this link.

155. Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Civilization

2009-07-06T18:28:00.007-04:00

I am pleased to tell you that Dr. Wang's paper, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Civilization has been published in the online publication of the 2009 issue of the Virginia Review of Asian Studies. (This issue will appear on 2-3 further sites in due course and a small hardcopy version, primarily for libraries, will follow in the fall). You may access this article from this link.

According to Dr. Wang, the U.S. founding fathers with a great vision for this nation worked hard to draw positive elements from Chinese civilization during the formative age of the United States. Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson made their efforts to use the positive elements from Chinese civilization to build a new nation in North America. Benjamin Franklin promoted Confucian moral philosophy to North America in his effort to enhance his own and others’ virtue in North America. George Washington tried to grow Chinese flowers in his garden. Thomas Jefferson attempted to combine Chinese architectural style with the European style. The founding fathers’ efforts have produced great influence on the United States and become a valuable legacy.

VRAS (Virginia Review of Asian Studies) is the official journal of the Virginia Consortium for Asian Studies. As you probably know that VRAS is indexed in the annual bibliography of the Association for Asian Studies and www.asia-studies.com .

154. Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Architecture

2009-07-01T16:05:00.003-04:00

At the 18th World History Assocation annual conference in Salem State College, Dr. Wang presented the topic, Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Architecture on June 28, 2009. In the following you will find the main content of his presentation. Jeffersonian Style has become a classical building style in the architectural history of the world. Today the Jeffersonian Style is still used and loved by architects. Since Thomas Jefferson created his Jeffersonian Style by incorporating Chinese architectural designs such as the railing below the dome and surrounding walkways, it has become popular throughout the history and the world. However, it was not primarily out of architectural reasons that Jefferson made this style. His building style was a symbolic of a newly formed society/nation trying to break free of its past. The virtual consensus among the founding generation of American statesmen was to “pursue a political destiny separate from Europe.” Jefferson, who believed that a building was not merely a walled structure, but a metaphor for American ideology, and the process of construction was equal to the task of building a nation, used his style as an effort to form the identity of North America. Jeffersonian Style expressed the American desire to break cultural and political ties to Europe.

153. "George Washington and the China Trade" in Salem

2009-07-01T15:55:00.004-04:00

On June 26 2009 in the world famous Peabody Essex Museum Dr. Wang gave the presentation on how George Washington supported the United States trade with China in its inception in 1784, when he recommended the competent business manager for the Empress of China, the first American commercial ship owned and outfitted by the revolutionary veterans in an attempt to bring the fledgling United States to enter international commerce. When the trade started, Washington monitored its development carefully, paying attention to the Ginseng trade in Virginia and visiting the business leaders engaging the China Trade. He also invited Peter Perkins, an important businessman who was head of the China Trade, to spend a night at Mountain Vernon. In 1789, Washington stated the significance of the trade. He told Marquis de Lafayette, one of his French generals from the Revolutionary War, that "our revenues have been considerably more productive than it was imagined they would be.” Washington, in his farewell address, told his fellow American citizens that “the great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations.”

152. Presenting Benjamin Franklin’s Great Wall in Franklin House

2009-06-30T20:45:00.003-04:00

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) has been regarded as the sage transmitter of the Western European tradition to the early American way of life. He has been a great icon of American culture, embodying American ideals and dreams. My research on Benjamin Franklin and China, which as examined Franklin’s endured efforts to draw nourishment from Chinese civilization during the formative age of the United States, has attracted the attention from all over the world. Recently, the New York Times Week in Review featured my studies of Benjamin Franklin, as can be seen through this link.

What was really inspiring was the invitation from the Benjamin Franklin House in London to do a presentation concerning how Franklin incorporated Chinese culture into early Colonial society in America. The said presentation can be seen through this link. Franklin lived in this house for nearly sixteen years between 1757 and 1775, and it now serves as a historical relic of the scientist, diplomat, philosopher, inventor, and Founding Father of the United States.

I was honored to be able to present my work in a place where Benjamin Franklin had once lived and worked. I tried to
express to my audience my belief of how Benjamin Franklin was arguably the greatest American lover of the Great
Wall of China. In 1756, Franklin built his own great wall in order to defend the Pennsylvania colonies in the French and Indian War (1754-1763). Later in 1760, Franklin recommended a great wall resembling that of China’s to safeguard the British Colonies in North America against possible outside attacks. Even later in 1776, Franklin counseled the French engineer responsible for the fortifications of George Washington’s revolutionary army
to build a wall for shelter during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) against the English empire. To further illustrate my point, I made this model of the great wall that Franklin built between the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers, seen below.

I was impressed by so many fascinating questions from the floor. There are three questions that came to most audience mind: Did Franklin really build his great wall? Why did he build his wall? Did Franklin’s great wall really work?

Franklin’s great wall was built in 1756 when he was commander of the defensive force of 500 colonists in Pennsylvania. Franklin had them build a wall, a basic means of protection against the Indians and their French allies. In his letter to Samuel Rhodes, an old friend, in 1756, Franklin described his great wall in detail. I relayed two basic reasons for Franklin’s wall: First, Franklin was concerned with the safety of the colonists. In his pamphlet,
The Interest of Great Britain Considered published in 1760, Franklin had stated: “the security of our planters from the inroads of savages, and the murders committed by them—will not be obtained by such forts, unless they were connected by a wall like that of China, from one end of our settlements to the other.” The second reason was to have fewer people on either sides of his wall being killed. Not only did Franklin want to save the lives on his side of the wall, he wished to end the bloodshed entirely. He wanted to use his wall as a tool of intimidation against the
French and the Indians in the hope that they would end the violence. It was against his nature for Franklin to tolerate violence. He needed a plan that would be accepted by his fellow Quakers but which would also reduce the brutality. Franklin knew very well the situation he faced "Most of the members of the Assembly were Quakers. I had many opportunities to observe them. I saw how uncomfortable they were made by their principle against war…I had cause to believe that our plan to defend the country was agreeable to the Quakers—provided they were not required to take part. I found that a great number of them were clearly in favor of fighting to defend something, though they were against starting a war." (From The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin).

But the big question is: did Franklin’s wall really work? The fact that Franklin recommended construction of the great wall twice—once in the French Indian War and another time in the Revolutionary War—suggested to us that his vision of a great wall was functional. In fact, his defensive wall of 1756 formed a huge obstacle for the Indians and their French allies. Based on testimony given by Williams Franklin (1731-1813), son of Benjamin Franklin, the Pennsylvanians were protected well by the wall. According to William Franklin, “the Enemy is not, nor ever was, in the Heart of the Country, having only molested the Frontier Settlements by their Parties.” Under the protection of Franklin’s wall, “the Inhabitants, who at first abandoned their Frontier Settlements, returned generally to their Habitations, and many yet continue, though not without some Danger, to cultivate their
Lands…” (William Franklin to the Printer of The Citizen, 1757)

My answers to the three questions were welcomed by thunderous applause. My audience felt my presentation should be longer. They not only came from local area. A gentleman even told me that he had come all the way from Germany to listen to my lecture in London. I feel that my presentations on Benjamin Franklin and the Great Wall of China have opened new windows for people to view the history and culture he helped to create.

The above essay is adopted from CALA Newsletter, NO. 100, Spring 2009. Thank CALA's generosity.

151. CALA Introduces Dr. Wang's Research

2009-06-30T19:51:00.004-04:00

CALA Newsletter
Chinese American Librarians
Association Newsletter
N O . 1 0 0 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9

CALA Newsletter (ISSN:0736-8887) is the official publication of the Chinese American Librarians Association. The CALA Newsletter is published twice a year in Spring and Fall. URL:http://www.cala-web.org/publications/newsletter. In the recent issue, The Issue 100, Spring 2009, the Newsletter introduces Dr. Wang's achievements in his study of the founding fathers and traditional Chinese civilization:

Dave Wang’s findings in the subject of the United States founding fathers and Chinese Civilization have attracted tremendous attention in the academic world. He has been invited to present his papers at international forums and conferences at New York, USA, Rome, Italy, and Lisbon, Portugal and some Universities in China. His publications on traditional Chinese civilization and the United States have been recommended by the History Education Counsel of Hawaii State to be used as teaching texts in American History classrooms. This significant and clear endorsement
indicates that his research has contributed to the education of younger generation in their studies of American history.

In the following, you will find the statement from Mr. Jeffrey Mead, the President of History Education Counsel of Hawaii, allied with the National History Education Counsel: "Dr. Wang's research and publications are recommended for Hawaii's history classrooms and for historians and history buffs in general. His insights on Chinese influences on the Founding Fathers of the United States should spark curiosity and discussion. We look forward to having Dr. Wang to speak in Hawaii." You could read more about his work through the following links:
Honolulu Advertiser:
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090311/GETPUBLISHED/903110400/-1
Hawaii Reporter.com:
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?e23ab9c5-d264-4dfd-9fc4-9e9bbcb2ba3d
His research was also reported by New York Times. On January 29, 2009, New York Times introduced his research on Benjamin Franklin and China. You could find it through the following link
http://ideas.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/franklin-and-china/. The editors believe that his research is" the most interesting writing we've come across lately on the Web".

Dr. Wang’s lecture schedule for 2009 is as below. He will make the presentation on Benjamin Franklin and the Great Wall of China in London in April 2009; more information on the lecture can be found from the following link, http://www.lecturelist.org/content/view_lecture/6359
Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Architecture in Monticello in early June; George Washington and the
China Trade in Salem in the late June; Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Classics in Las Vegas in July and the U.S. founding fathers and Chinese Culture in Beijing in September.
The influence of Dr. Wang’s study of Chinese civilization and the development of the United States also reached China in this Internet world. Following is the email from a Chinese University Professor;

王老师您好:

您在欧美学术界取得了这样惊人的,可喜的,巨大的成绩和影响力, 我为您高兴, 很荣幸能分享到您的成功地喜悦. 更为我们中国人骄傲! 正是由于您的研究和努力, 我们中华民族的悠久文明得以在欧美传播, 多的人士才了解到我们祖辈的优秀文化对美国产生了如此深远的影响! 我做为中国人感谢您的研究和对我们我们自己的文化的传播! 我为您骄傲! 我下午有大三的美国文学课,我将把您的研究成果和您的学术成果,相关网站及您的影响
力介绍给我的学生们. 让他们不仅学到知识,也为中国人而骄傲! 再次恭贺您!

150. George Washington and China

2009-06-20T18:32:00.005-04:00

So far, Dr. Wang has published three papers on the historical connection between China and George Washington. Thanks to his research, we know that George Washington supported the United States' trade with China. We also learned that Washington wanted to introduce Chinese flowers to the United States. His love of Chinese porcelain ware helped popularize the ware in colonial period and the early periods of the United States.

A. George Washington and the China Trade

Even before the departure of the Empress of China, Washington had discussed the possibilities of this engagement with people like Ezra Stiles, the president of Yale College. Washington had realized that the American merchants "will carry the American flag around the globe itself, and display the thirteen stripes and new constellation, at Bengal and Canton, on the Indus and Ganges, on the Whang-ho [the Yellow River] and the Yang-ti-king [Yangtze River], and with commerce will import the wisdom and literature of the East." While the Empress of China was still on her way to China, Washington told Thomas Jefferson that "from trade our citizen will not be restrained". More on how George Washington supported the China Trade can be found throuth this link.

B. George Washington and Chinese flowers

You can read Dr. Wang's paper, George Washington and Chinese Flowers and found how the founding father worked hard to plant Chinese flowers in his garden at Mount Vernon.

C. George Washington and Chinese Porcelain Wares

Like other founding fathers, such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, George Washington loved Chinese Porcelain. I have found that among Chinese porcelain ware, Washington had a special fondness for blue-and-white porcelain. I have found at least nine recorded references to his purchase of blue-and-white Chinese porcelain in Washington's Papers. Dr. Wang's paper, The Founding Fathers of the United States and Chinese Porcelain Ware, revealed Washington's life long pursuit of Chinese porcelain wares.