074. Chinese Feng Shui in American Society

3000 years ago the Ancient Chinese discovered Feng Shui and the importance of incorporating Feng Shui principles into their lives. For them Feng Shui was a matter of survival for their culture and civilization. Today, in the United States and anywhere else the people still have threats, including outside militants, the fast paced lives and various pollutions, such as noise pollution and sound pollution. Do we still need Feng Shui in our modern society? The answer is yes. It is widely belived that "By incorporating the use of positive energy based on Feng Shui principles in your life, you literally can improve certain aspects of your life in the areas of health, prosperity, wealth, safety and relationships." According to Pat Heydlauff, a famous expert in Feng Shui, Feng Shui will be a Way of Life for the 21st Century.

073. Benjamin Franklin Would Be Very Happy

Benjamin Franklin tried hard to draw positive elements from Confucius educational philosophy in his effort to build a modern American educational system. You might have learned some of it from my paper Benjamin Franklin and Chinese Civilization (See Item 068 below). Mr. David Becking, the Principal of The Franklin D. Roosevelt School, has put one of the main theories from Confucius educational philosophy in his letter to all staff and students. Please enjoy it and find the content of the prinple Message from Principal .

072. One Reason Why Confucius Popular in the United States

This article gives some explanation about why Confucius becomes popular in America. According to the article, the Academic Trend in the U.S. away from Euro-centrism has been a reason that Confucius becomes popular in the United States.

071. American Students Line up for Confucius

Benjamin Franklin, who regarded Confcius as his example and used his moral philosophy to cultivate his own virtue and promotd others to enhance their virtures accoring to the philosophy, would be very pleased seeing that so many students in Harvard University wanted to study the philosophy.

070. Confucius in Modern American Society

Twenty years ago Dr. Sam Crane finished his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and sallied forth into his first academic job at Georgetown, teaching Chinese politics and international relations. He moved to Williams College and teaches there. His first child, Aidan, was born profoundly disabled, and that has fundamentally transformed his world view.Aidan's experience has brought Chinese philosophy into his life. Please find Dr. Crane's experience in his exploraration how Confucius influence on modern American life.

069. Bejing, Washington and Myanmar

Recently demonstrations participated by the Buddhist monks and lay people in Myanmar attracted the attention of the world. Dr. Wang analyzes the interaction between China and the United States and its influence on the Myanmar's future.

068. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND CHINESE CIVILIZATION

The famous Huaren E Magazine , September, 2007, carries Dr. Wang's paper, Benjamin Franklin and Chinese Civilization. For your convenience, the paper is in pp.21-26.

067. TEA AND THE U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS

The well know Huaren E Magazine published Dr. Wang's Paper, Tea; the Leaves that Triggered the American War for Independence. It is the second in the series of the United States and Chinese Civilization. The paper is in pp.17-20. The first one in the series is Ginseng: the Herb that Helped the United States to Entere International Commerce. It is in pp.8-11.

066. Martha Washington's Chinese Porcelain Wares

In this website you can find the information on the Chinese porcelain wares that George Washington and Martha Washington collected during their long life.

065. The Founding Fathers' Religious Belief

The following website provides you with some thoughts on the founding fathers' thoughts in religion.

064. Benjamin Franklin: American Confucius

I came across a blog, which is disucussing the values, represeted by Franklin. Please find more information through this blog, Benjamin Franklin: American Confucius

063. The Exhibitioin: Benjamin Frankin and China

Dr. Dave Wang created the Exhibition: Benjamin Franklin and China in 2006 for the celebration of Ben's 300th Anniversary. About 400 people enjoyed this great exhibition. Seattle Times, one of the main newspapers of the nation introduces this exhibition to its readers.

062. Benjamin Franklin and American Spirit

This free program is provided to public by Queens Library at Hollis, New York. You will find detailed information by the beautiful poster. Just click the red X on your left.

061. Ronald Reagan on the Founding Fathers and China

In Front of Great Hall of People in Beijing, former President Ronald Reagan addressed to the community leaders of Beijing on April 24, 1984. He discussed the connections between Chinese civilization and the first three presidents of the United States, who were interested in Chinese porcelain ware.

060. Benjamin Franklin and Chinese Civilization

Reset Dialogue on Civilization, a well-known international website, has published Dr. Dave Wang's paper Benjamin Franklin and Chinese Civilization. Mr. Daniele Castellani Perelli, the editor has translated it from English to Italian. We are happy to see that Dr. Wang's papers on U.S. founding fathers have been available in three languages, Chinese, English and Italian. His research works certainly can reach more readers worldwide.

059. The Founding Fathers of the United States

With this website you can learn who the founding fathers of the United States are.

058. The Achievements and Failure of the Founding Fathers

You will learn the founding fathers' great achievements and their failures by reading the article discussing the founding fathers of the United states. You also could find Dr. Wang's comments on the article and some readers'comments to my blog.

057. Dr. Wang Will Give a Talk on The Founding Fathers in Lisbon

Dr. Wang will present his research on the founding fathers of the United States and Chinese Civilization in Lisbon in September 2007.

056. American China Traders

In this website one can find the information The House of Perkins 1 : J & T.H. Perkins, The House of Perkins 2 and the Cushing and Sturgis branches. Those were wealthy Americans who accumulated their fortune from China Trade

The success of the Empress of China stimulated a group of New York and Albany businessmen to consider their own venture to Canton, employing an 85-ton sloop appropriately named the Experiment.

055. The East Asia and the United States

I have found a website specializing in East Asia
The United State and Northeast Asia

054. Websites on Some Issues in Chinese History

01.I have found a website contains some good information on the history of China.
02. The original journal by John Ledyard, the first American who visited China with his naked eyes.
03. Yalta Conference and its Influence on China

053. Dr. Wang's Published Papers on Benjamin Franklin

01.Exploring Benjamin Franklin's Moral Life, published in Franklin Gazette, Volume 17, No. 1, Spring 2007

02.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, published in the official website for 300th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin

052. Ginseng and U.S. China Relations

Huaren E-Magazine carries Dr. Wang's Article, Chinese Civilization and its Influence in the West-Part 1: Ginseng Opened the Door of China. This is the first paper of Dr. Wang's series of the United States and Chinese Civilization. The paper discussing how Ginseng helped the United States with its effort to enter the international trade. (Huaren E-Magazine From the Chinese Community For the Global Chinese and Non-Chinese Communities, May 2007 Issue)

051. Some Useful Websites for China Studies

In order to save your time I put some good websites for you. UCLA East Asian Library
The History of China from The World-Wide Web Virtual Library. Internet East Asian Resources
History of China: General Sources
Those websites will provide you various materials and researching results.

050. The Founding Father's Thoughts on Free Trade

I came across a paper in Chinese, which examines the trade thinking of the founding fathers. Anyone who can read Chinese may be interested in it. The reader also finds other topics related to the United States during or after its formative age.

049.The Influence of Chinese Civilization on West

I came across a good artilce which examinese the facts that the West has benefited from Chinese cilization.

048.The Poster of Dr. Wang's Speech on Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy

On April 20 2007, Dr. Wang delievered the lecture, Benjamin Franklin's Effort to Cultivate His Virtue according to Confucius Moral Philosophy. It is one the Academic lecture Series of St. Johns University. You could find the content of the lecture through the poster
Here is the linking of the schedule.

047.Franklin and Chinese Technology for Shipping Building

We know that Benjamin Franklin was very interested in Chinese ship-building technology. I was wondering how Franklin got to know Chinese ship technology since he himself never stepped on Chinese soil. I think that he might obtain the knowledge from what he had read. From this picture I have had my answer to the above question. This picture is adopted from the Chinese book that Franklin read when he was in Paris. I think that you will get your answer, too.

046. Chinese Influence on the Colonial America

This year is 400th anniversary of James Town. I visited Colonial Williamsburg in April 2007. I found the Chinese elements in the colonial life. In other words, Chinese civilization had an influence on the colonial people. Please see the photo taken by me in the museum of the colonial Williamsburg. You will find out that the colonial residents used Chinese porcelain ware in their daily life.

045.Benjamin Franklin invented the Lightning Rod

Franklin had many inventions. One of them was the Lightning Rod. Any of you know when the invention was spread to China?

044.Benjamin Franklin Friends Association

The wellknown International organization of Benjamin Franklin Friends Association has included this Blog The U.S. Founding Fathers and China in its widely welcomed and very informative website.

043.A Very Insteresting Opinion on Why the Founding Fathers Still Influential

I found the following paragraph from a paper "One of the most powerful reasons for the continuing influence of the founding fathers is that they take on roles in the nation's cultural life played by ancestors in such cultures as Confucian China or Republican or Imperial Rome. Unlike so many nations, whose origins are lost somewhere in the misty past, the United States began as a political entity in a specific time and place, as the handiwork of specific individuals." What do you think of it?

042.Trust Watch Carried the Information on Dr. Wang's Speech on Benjamin Franklin

TrustWatch carries the information of Dr. Wang's speech on Benjamin Franklin's efforts to use Confucius moral philosophy to purify his own virtue.

041.DaVinci Society published the Information on Dr. Wang's Speech

DaVinci: Socity carried the News that Dr. Wang's academic speech on Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy.

040.Dr. Wang's Speech Schedule 王博士演讲时间表

07. August 2008, Jilin Normal University, Siping, China， 2008年8月，中国四平市
06. November 2007, Canada Association for American Studies in Montreal, Canada,you could find his presentation schedule here, 2007 年11月，加拿大蒙特列市
05. September 2007, Third World Congress of American Studies, organized by the International American Studies Association, at the University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal 2007年9月葡萄牙，里斯本市
04. April 2007, 2007 Spring Academic Series, St. Johns University, New York, the United States 2007年4月，圣约翰大学，美国纽约市
03. October 2006, International Conference for Franklin's 300th Anniversary, The Italian National Center for American Studies, Rome, Italy 2006年10月，意大利罗马市
02. September 2006, The US-China Relations Academic Conference, organized by U.S.-China Forum, St. Johns University 2006年9月，美国纽约市
01. September 2006, Franklin Friendship Association Program, New York, the United States 2006年9月，美国纽约市

039.Hybridization-Cultural Influence

According to one research, Cultural interactions are gradually morphing cultures of the past into new cultures, incorporating elements of the original culture with element of the foreign culture. This process is commonly refereed to as Hybridization. This was exactly what happened in the process of the formation of American civilization. American civilization is not simple extension of European civilization. It incorporated other civilizations, including Chinese civilization, in its formative age. Even today, researchers and writers world wide still find the influence of Chinese civilization on American civilization. As for the detail, please read this paper.

038.Benjamin Franklin's Way Respected and Practiced

Franklin made great contribution to the formation of the United States of America. Especially, his effort at cultivating his virtue and promoting others to enhance their morals has left us a permanent legacy, which really reflected in the attitudes of the community of Virginia Tech towards Seung-Hui Cho. I read the report in today's New York Times, the community built a memorial for Seung-Hui Cho, the gunman who killed himself after shooting 32 students and teachers to death. (Christine Hauser, Virginia Tech Sets Out to Preserve Objects of Grief, Love and Forgiveness, New York Times, April 25, 2007, A19) Tolerance and forgiveness were the spirits Franklin constantly worked hard to possess and work hard to promote. Franklin talked about the importance of tolerance in his life. He said when he was in London, he was "among strangers, remote from the eyes of my father" The tolerance had significantly helped him "tho' this dangerous of time." He stated that "I had therefore a tolerable character to begin the world with, I valued it properly , and determined to preserve it."

037.The Founding Fathers of the United States

There is an article discussing the achivements and failures of the founding fathers of the United States. Dr. Wang wrote his comments.

036.Benjamin Franklin Discussed Chinese Paper Making Technology

In one of his correspondences Franklin described Chinese technology in paper making.

035.Schedule of Dr. Dave Wang's Speech on Benjamin Franklin and Chinese Civilization

01. August 2008, Jilin Normal University, Siping China
02 September 2007, Third World Congress of American Studies, organized by the International American Studies Association, at the University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
03 April 2007, 2007 Spring Academic Series, St. Johns University, New York, the United States
04 October 2006, International Conference for Franklin's 300th Anniversary, The Italian National Center for American Studies, Rome, Italy
05 September 2006, The US-China Relations Academic Conference, organized by U.S.-China Forum, St. Johns University
06 September 2006, Franklin Friendship Association Program, New York, the United States

034.Why Did Benjamin Franklin State that He Regarded Confucius as His Example

Benjamin Franklin stated in his letter to George Whitefield in 1749 that he regarded Confucius as his example. Franklin's statement raised two quesionts for us. The first one is that why did he regard Confucius as his example and the second why did he not state in his widely read autobiography that he would imitate Confucius (he did state that he would imitate Jesus and Socrates). This seemed a contradiction. Who could provide us with satisfied answers to the above two quesions?

033.St Johns University Welcomes Ben and Confucius Moral Philosophy

The Academic lecture on Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy was a great success on April 20, 2007. Dr. Dave Wang prepared 25 handouts for the lecture. However, more than 50 people showed up. The classroom was full and some of the audience had to stand around the entrance. Dr. Wang was surprised at seeing such a big crowd.

032.A Paper of Exploring Ben's Moral

Some author studies Ben's moral. You may find it interesting. To be honest, I haven't read it yet. Any of you have read, please tell us what do you think about it.

031.St Johns University Spring Academic Lecture Series

Dr. Dave Wang gave a lecture about Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy at St Johns University. More information could be obtained through this link.

030.Dr. Wang will give a speech on Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy in China

Dr. Dave Wang will deliver his speech on Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy in Jilin Normal University in Siping, China in August, 2008.

029.Dr. Dave Wang Will Talk about the Founding Fathers and China in Europe

In September 2007 Dr. Wang will deliver his speech on The Founding Fathers of the Uniated States and Chinese Civilization in Lisbon, Portugal.

028.An Article Carried in the World Journal: The largest Chinese Newspaper in North America

王曉浪生長於中國東北，畢業自長春的東北師範大學，之後他在吉林社會科學院做中美關係研究。在訪問約翰霍普金斯大學（Johns Hopkins University）及華盛頓大學(University ofWashington)後，他決定留美求學，自亞利桑納大學（University of Arizona）取得圖書館碩士及歷史學博士學位。
2000年博士畢業後，王曉浪來到紐約市並受雇於皇后區公共圖書館。目前他擔任荷里斯（Hollis）分館館長，並在皇后區聖若望大學(St. Johns University)執教。
王曉浪最初在溫莎公園分館(Windsor Park)做圖書館員，不到一年升為副館長，後被調到南荷里斯分館(South Hollis)，不久被提升為館長。他自2005年擔任荷里斯分館館長。
雖然從事圖書管理工作已有七年，王曉浪對學術仍情有獨鍾。熱中於中美關係研究的他，目前正在研究的題目是中華文明對美國政治文化影響。
他表示，荷里斯分館附近有不少從南亞如孟加拉、巴基斯坦等地來的新移民，也有華人和猶太人。圖書館收藏的書籍考慮到移民結構，故有多種語言，包括中文、西語、海地語、烏爾都語、法語等。該館由他接管後，才增添了些中文書籍，數量還不多，也還沒有中文電影等影音資料。
王曉浪表示，該分館經常舉辦文藝表演、藝術欣賞的節目，如現代音樂、爵士音樂、繪畫欣賞等。
身為生長在中國的館長，王曉浪表示，與圖書館員工協調不是一件簡單的事，尤其是該館的員工來自世界各地，文化不同，待人處事風格不同，所以身為館長，他特別注意英語措詞不傷人，做好團隊工作。
他也特別體會到，美國圖書館機制與社區的緊密聯繫。他說，應居民要求及為有助於各族裔間理解與交流，該館計畫增加兩個中心，即伊斯蘭中心和希伯來中心，主要介紹兩方的歷史文化和文學藝術，並舉辦活動。

027.The Official Website for Benjamin Franklin's 300th Anniversaty Carries the Paper Benjamin Franklin and China

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

Dave Wang Ph.D
Manager of Hollis Library
Adjunct Professor of St. Johns University

Benjamin Franklin “has a special place in the hearts and minds of
Americans.”1 How special it is? His story has been regarded as “the story of the birth of America - an America this man discovered in himself, then helped create in the world at large.”2 He certainly was “the most eminent mind that has ever existed in America.”3 Americans show respect to him because he was “generous, openminded, learned, tolerant” in the formative period of the United States – a special period in American history, a “period eminent for narrowness, superstition, and
bleak beliefs.”4 He had a clear vision of the road America should take and he spent time in helping to make sure that it would be achieved.5 His ideas and visions helped to lay the foundation for the United States of America, as we know it today.

1 Gordon S. Wood, The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin, New York: Penguin
Press, 2004, p.1
2 Alan Taylor, For the Benefit of Mr. Kite, in New Republic, March 19, 2001, vol. 224
issue 12, p.39.
3 Carl Van Doren, “Meet Doctor Franklin,” in Charles L. Sanford ed., Benjamin Franklin
and the American Character, D. C. Heath and Company, 1961. Boston, p.27.
4 Phillips Russell, Benjamin Franklin: The First Civilized American, Blue Ribbon Books,
New York, 1926, 126, p.1.
5 Benjamin Franklin: Glimpses of the Man,
http://www.benfranklin300.org/_etc_pdf/franklinchina.pdf

2
Franklin is a figure we want to understand if we want to understand the
American character.6 We owe much to him for the formation of the civilization we call American civilization today. No other figure has had such a clear vision concerning the future of American civilization and how American civilization could grow out of European civilization. Scholarship on the study of Franklin’s image for the past two centuries shows that Franklin’s “legacy had a distinctive place in American culture. Few national heroes have played a more significant posthumous
role in shaping the American way of life than Franklin.”7

Franklin “knew that the breaking of the old world was a long process, in the depths of his own under-consciousness he hated England, hated Europe, and hated the whole corpus of the European being. He wanted to be American.” 8 How to be an American? Or put it in another way, how to build an American civilization? In this paper, I will survey Franklin’s hard work in drawing valuable elements from Chinese civilization, in hit efforts to build an American civilization.

I believe that Franklin’s attempt to draw positive elements from Chinese
civilization in order to build an American civilization carried much weight in Franklin’s contribution to the formation of American civilization. With the great

6 Peter Baida, Poor Richard’s Legacy—American Business Values From Benjamin
Franklin to Donald Trump, William Morrow and Company, Inc, New York, 1990, pp.39-
40.
7 Nian-sheng Huang, Benjamin Franklin in American Thought and Culture, 1790-1990,
Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1994, p.240.
8 D. H. Lawrence, “Benjamin Franklin,” in Studies in Classic American Literature,
Copyright 1961 by the Estate of the late Mrs. Frieda Lawrence. Reprinted by permission
of the Viking Press and Laurence Pollinger Limited, see Brian M. Barbour ed. Benjamin
Franklin: A Collection of Critical Essays, Prentice-Hall Inc, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
1979.p.73.3

vision in the “narrow eighteenth-century ideas about other cultures,”9 Franklin “kept his eyes open to a “world that went far beyond the wharves jutting out into Boston Harbor and far beyond the canons of Puritanism.” 10 Franklin “was very fond of reading about China.”11 His correspondence and miscellaneous papers throughout his life indicate that Franklin was familiar with Chinese culture. It is not beyond the fact to say that Franklin was “the first and foremost American Sinophile” in the United States.12 Franklin was an expert on China, even according to today’s academic standard. His understanding of Chinese
civilization was better and deeper than many of today’s scholars. Franklin explored almost every aspect of Chinese civilization, from spiritual to material. His interest in China included Confucius moral philosophy, industrial product, industrial technologies and agricultural plants. He endeavored to use Confucius moral philosophy to improve his own virtue. Through his autobiography, he tried to pass
on his these personal experiences to the younger generation.
Franklin’s Early Contact with Chinese Civilization During the formative age of the United States, China was not a stranger to the
inhabitants of Britain's north colonies. The information about China "was almost as
9 James Campbell, Recovering Benjamin Franklin—An Explanation of a Life of Science
and Service, Open Court, Chicago and La Salle, Illinois; 1999, p.236.
10 Arthur Bernon Tourtellot, Benjamin Franklin—The Shaping of Genius: The Boston
Years, Doubleday & Company, Inc. Garden City, New York, 1977, pp.177-178.
11 Benjamin Franklin, “A Letter from China,” in John Biglow ed., The Complete Works of
Benjamin Franklin, Vol. VIII, New York and London: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1888, p.474.
12 A. Owen Aldridge, The Dragon and the Eagle: The Presence of China in the American
Enlightenment, Wayne State University Press, Detroit, 1993, p.25.4

widespread and as readily available in America as in Europe."13 By the end of the eighteenth century, every major European work about China "could be found in American libraries and bookstores." 14
Chinese civilization enriched "American life in many, many ways."15 Before American independence, the colonialists had been well aware of China and its products. During the early colonial period Chinese cultural influence in North America was characterized as “novelty".16 For those Americans who lived a Puritan life, China was a source of tea and silk.17 During the mid-eighteenth century, the colonists bought a huge amount of "Chinese Chippendale" furniture, Chinese wallpaper, silk, and porcelain. Some Chinese products, such as chinaware
and less expensive handicrafts "had spread among less affluent sectors of
American society."18 Chinese tea had become a popular drink for the majority of colonists. Significantly, the American Revolution had relations with China. On a famous night in December 1773, the patriots dumped into the Boston harbor the tea from Xiamen (Amoy) in Fujian Province of China, protesting Britain’s control of American trade with China.
13 Ibid., p.264.
14 Ibid.
15 C. Martin Wilbur, "Modern America's Cultural Debts to China," in Issues & Studies: A
Journal of China Studies and International Affairs, vol. 22, No.1, January 1986, p.127.
16 William J. Brinker, Commerce, Culture, and Horticulture: The Beginnings of Sino-
American Cultural Relations,” in Thomas H. Etzold, ed., Aspects of Sino-American
Relations Since 1784, New York and London: New Viewpoints, A Division of Franklin
Watt, 1978, p.11.
17 Tea had become part of daily fare in New England as early as the 1720s, and by the
early 1780s most Americans had acquired the tea-drinking habit. See Michael H. Hunt,
The Making of a Special Relationship: The United States and China to 1914, New York:
Columbia University Press, 1983, p.7.
18 Warren I. Cohen, America's Response to China: A History of Sino-American Relations,
(4th edition), New York: Columbia University Press, 2000, p.2.5

In 1723, at the age of seventeen, Franklin moved from Boston to Philadelphia.This was an important move that changed his life forever. Philadelphia had become an “exceptional cosmopolitan center” within the later part of the colonial period.19 It was known as “a town of remarkable intellectual activity.”20 Within the British
Empire, Philadelphia was “the third only to London and Edinburgh in intellectual activity.” 21

It was in Philadelphia where Franklin had the opportunity to access his
knowledge of Chinese civilization. Philadelphia was the center of Chinese culture in North America. In the 18th century, “things Chinese, or in the Chinese style, then began a steady infiltration of the homes of the American city-dwelling merchant.” 22 The Philadelphian inhabitants “had access to more reliable knowledge concerning this aspect of Chinese life than readers anywhere else in the West”.23 It was popular
for the residents of Philadelphia to use Chinese wall paper to decorate their homes. Powel Room, located at 244 South Third Street in Philadelphia, was decorated with beautiful Chinese wall paper.24 Chinese products, including teas, silk, porcelain, and cloth “became part of the social milieu of colonial and post-Revolutionary Philadelphia.”25

19 Jean Gordon Lee, Philadelphians and the China Trade, 1784-1844, Philadelphia
Museum of Art, 1984, p.23.
20 Carl Van Doren, “Meet Doctor Franklin”, in Charles L. Sanford ed., Benjamin
Franklin and the American Character, Boston: D. C. Heath and Company, 1955, p.29.
21 Alan Taylor, “Poor Richard, Rich Ben,” in New Republic, January 13, 2003, vol. 228,
p.31.
22 Jean Gordon Lee, p.23
23 A Owen Aldridge, p.83.
24 The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City duplicated the room. The original
owner of the House was Charles Stedman (1765-1769) and Samuel Powel (1769-1793).
The room exhibited in the Museum and was located on the second floor of the building.
25 Jean Gordon Lee, p.23.
6

Powel Room, located at 244 South Third Street in Philadelphia, was decorated with beautiful Chinese wall paper. The Picture was taken by this author in Metropolitan museum of Art in New York City.
It is a well-known fact that the Empress of China, the first American ship to sail to China from the new nation, started its long journey from New York instead of Philadelphia largely because the Delaware River in Philadelphia was frozen in February 1784.26 Actually, we could say that American trade with China was started by the Philadelphians.27 The China trade fever, started by the Empress of China,

26 Ibid, p.11.
27 The sailing of the Empress of China was initiated by John Ledyard (1751-1789), a
famous traveler. Ledyard was believed to be the first United States citizen to see China
with his naked eyes. Impressed by the richness of China and the tremendous profits from
trade with China, Ledyard developed a plan to organize trade between the United States
and China. In early 1783, he came to New York City, to convince the merchants to take
the adventure. Although he failed, Ledyard was not discouraged, and he turned his eyes

7

was so high in Philadelphia that almost all of the ‘old families’ of the city gained interest in China.28

It was in Philadelphia that Franklin accessed books about China. In 1738,
Franklin studied Description of the Empire of China, published in Paris in 1735 by Du Halde, in which Du Halde collected many kinds of texts about Chinese culture written by Jesuits who had been to China.29
Franklin was deeply impressed by China. Due to the limited communication between China and the United States, Franklin was forced to use extra efforts to collect information on China. Unsatisfied with the books he read, he tried to contact people who had been to China. In order to obtain information on Chinese life and customs, he contacted the “sailors on the Packet who had previously made the trip
to the China seas.”30 Franklin obtained “his knowledge of Chinese navigation from Captain Truxtun who in the following year himself made the voyage to China.” 31 He even tried to visit China personally, and told his friend, “If he were a young man e should like to go to China.” 32


to Philadelphia. With his “revolutionary new plan for China trade,” Ledyard contacted
Robert Morris (1734-1806), the “Financier of the American Revolution,” and currently
Superintendent of Finance of the United States.” Morris accepted the plan. Under
Morris’ support, the Empress of China sailed to China on February 22, 1784.
28 Jean Gordon Lee, p.11.
29 A. Owen Aldridge, p.18.
30 Ibid. p.84.
31 Ibid., p.89.
32 Benjamin Franklin, “A Letter from China,” in John Bigelow ed., The Complete Works
of Benjamin Franklin, Vol. VIII, New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1888, p.474.
Read more about Benjamin Franklin and China through the following link:
http://www.benfranklin300.org/_etc_pdf/franklinchina.pdf

026.Franklin brought the Soybeans to Pennsylvania

Benjamin Franklin encouraged the colonists to plant Chinese Soy Beans in Penn State. You could find more information on how Chinese soy beans were introduced into North America through the following link.

025.Exploring Benjamin Franklin's Moral Life

Dr. Dave Wang has his essay, Exploring Benjamin Franklin's Moral Life, published in Franklin Gazette, Volume 17, Number 1, Spring 2007. In his essay Dr. Wang traces the path that Franklin, following Confucius moral precepts, went through in his effort to culitvate his own virtue and promote others to improve their virtue. If you want to get a copy of the paper, please contact Coral Smith, the editor of the gazette, at cwsmith@verizon.net or Kathy Deluca, the Excutive Director of Benjamin Franklin Association, at kathydeluca@friendsoffranklin.org

024.Dr. Dave Wang will give a speech on Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy

On April 20th, 2007 St. Johns University in New York City will hold a presentation given by Dr. Wang. It is about Benjamin Franklin's Moral Life Experience. Please find more information concerning the presenation through the following link:

http://www.stjohns.edu/campus/ev_stl_070420d.sju

023.Benjamin Franklin Studied Chinese silkworm

Benjamin Franklin knew that Chinese silkworms could produce fabric without using many resources.

http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/exp_worldly_china.html

022.Benjamin Franklin studied the Chinese technology in ship building

In the following a person talked about a little bit Franklin's borrowing from China the ship building technologies.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070319183954AAZJ0Cz

021.Franklin created the scene of US-China Trade

The following original document will introduce you to Franklin's vision on the trade between the United States and China. Compared Franklin's vision with today's huge volume of the trade between the two countries, you will be impressed great by Franklin's great vision.http://www.historycarper.com/resources/twobf3/whale.htm

020.Benjamin Franklin talked about Chinese Paper

Benjamin Franklin thought of the ideas to make large paper in the Chinese manner. Please find more information from the following original document.


http://205.247.101.31:2005/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/SLP2005001&CISOPTR=921&REC=15

019.Benjamin Franklin Reported the Discovery of the Famous Chinese Ginseng

In 1744 Franklin sent twice some specemen of the famous Chinese Ginseng to his friends in Boston. Having heard nothing back, he sent a letter to his parents on September 6, 1744. The fact tells, Franklin had by then learned that Ginseng was an important commercial product highly demanded in China.

We know that Gensing played a significant role in the start of the trade between the fledgling United States and China. The Empress of China, supported, organized and opperated by the American fighters in the Revolutionary War sailed from New York to Canton on Februay 22, 1784 with a load of Gensing. The sail opened the relations between the two nations.

The following is the quote from Benjamin Franklin letter to Abiah Franklin, 6 September 1744;

"He would be glad of a Correspondence with some Gentlemen of the same Taste with you; and has twice thro’ my Hands sent Specimens of the famous Chinese Ginseng, found here, to Persons who desired it in Boston neither of whom have had the Civility to write him a Word in Answer, even to acknowledge the Receipt of it; of which please to give a Hint to Br. John."

Franklin also pointed out that the American Ginseng could be used to develop the trade between China and North American colonies.

018.Benjamin Franklin and Chinese Kite

Everyone of us knows a little bit about the story that Franklin used the Kite to induce electricity. The following link will give you more information about the kite;

http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2002/04/040802_kites.jhtml

017.St Johsn University's Conference on US-China Relations

Dr. Dave Wang talked about Benjamin Franklin's efforts at promoting people in North America to improve their virtures through learning Confucius Moral philosophy. Please find the information through the following link:

http://www.stjohns.edu/faculty/pr_uni_060914b.sju

016.Benjamin Franklin was fascinated by the Chinese

Franklin never visisted China, who stated that if he were young he would visit China. He was fascinated with Chinese civilization. Find more through the followin link:

http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/exp_worldly_china.html

015.The information on the Exhibitioin: Benjamin Franklin and China

This is the introduction to the exhibtion, Benjamin Franklin and China. Alghough the exhibtion is over, one still can learn the basic content of the it through this link.

014.Dr. Wang's Paper Benjamin Franklin and China

The following link will take you to read the paper published on the official website, The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary.


http://www.benfranklin300.com/_etc_pdf/franklinchina.pdf

013. Benjamin Franklin Regarded Confucius Highly

I have to agree with Dr. Dave Wang's solid judgment that Benjamin Franklin loved Confucius moral philosophy. With this post, I would like to show you a quote from Benjamin Franklin. In 1749 Franklin wrote an very important letter to George Whitefield (1714-1770) , a leader of the American Great Wakening, declaring that he regarded Confucius moral philosophy is universal. The philosophy belongs to not only China, but the whole world also. The entire human beings can benefit from Confucius's teaching.

012.Benjamin Franklin is loved in China

I have found that Benjamin Franklin is very popular in China nowadays. Even Amazon.com sells Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography's Chinese version. Actually, in any large bookstore in Chinese cities, one can find several versions of Ben's book on display. You also can find several Ben’s biographies by Chinese authors. This is an indicator that Chinese love Ben.

011.Dr. Skousen Talks about Benjamin Franklin's Attitude toward China

Dr. Mark Skousen, a well-known economist and writer, and also the eighth generation of Benjamin Franklin's descendents, has pointed out in his widely read blog that Benjamin Franklin "had a very positive attitudes towards Chinese Civilization." You can read his "Interview with Franklin" through this link.

010. China's interest in Benjamin Franklin

Under the request of the staff from Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary, I have bought over ten copies of books on Benjamin Franklin published in Chinese. In this acquisition process I have surprisingly learned that Benjamin Franklin has become very popular in China. Walking through a bookstore in Beijing, China, one will find several copies of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Ben’s book has been translated into Chinese long time ago. You can tell that Chinese readers still want to draw positive lessons from Benjamin Franklin.

009.Benjamin Franklin and Chinese Plants

From Dr. Dave Wang's paper, Benjamin Franklin and China we have learned that Franklin worked hard to transplant Chinese plants to North America in order to facilitate the agricultural development. With this post I introduce you some information on Franklin's efforts to transplant Soybeans to North America. In 1770, Franklin sent seeds from London to the botanist John Bartram (1699-1777). Bartram planted them in his garden which was situated on the west bank of the Schuykill River below Philadelphia. More information is available from this link.

008. The US Founders and China

At a meeting organized by the Committee of 100, Bill Moyers addressed the History of Chinese in America. In his speech, he told his audience that James Madison (1751-1836) wanted to learn Chinese agricultural techniques. James Monroe (1758-11831)and Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)“admired China's political disengagement as a mark of superiority and independence.” The colonists, including George Washington (1732-1799), in North America, “prized Chinese wallpaper, silk canopies, vases, and lacquered screens.” Washington bought many porcelain dinner wares from China traders in his life. You can access his speech from this link.

007.Benjamin Franklin on China

Benjamin Franklin marveled at China’s capability to cloth “its inhabitants with silk.” He told in 1769 Cadwalader Evans (1716-1773), "Hence it is that the most populous of all Countries, China, clothes its Inhabitants with Silk, while it feeds them plentifully and has besides a vast Quantity both of raw and manufactured to spare for Exportation."
With the more posts of Dr. Wang's research of Ben Franklin, you will find out that Franklin even upheld the Chinese civilization as a model for the new country. He told his fellow colonists, "Could we be so fortunate as to introduce the industry of the Chinese, their arts of living and improvements in husbandry, America might become in time as populous as China."

006. Benjamin Franklin and China: Northeast Times

Dr. Wang's exhibition, Benjamin Franklin and China has attracted attention from national and local newspapers. The local Newspaper, Northeast Times also promoted his Exhibition. Please find its introduction to the exhibition through this link.

005. Benjamin Franklin and China: The Exhibition

Dr. Dave Wang, Manager of Queens Library at Hollis, created the exhibition on Benjamin Franklin and China. The exhibition will be open to the public from January 1, 2006 to June 30, 2006. Seattle Times, one of the nation's main newspapers introduces the exhibition to its readers. You can find the introduction to this excellent display of Benjamin Franklin's connection to China and his efforts to draw nourishments from Chinese culture through this link.

004. Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy

In October 2006, invited by the Italian National Center for American Studies at Rome and several other main Italian Universities, Dr. Dave Wang presented Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy. The center designed a very beatiful poster for the event.

003.Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy

According to Dr. Dave Wang, Benjamin Franklin loved Confucius moral philosophy and worked to use it to correct some wrong doings in the colonies. Franklin also used the philosophy as guidance to his own moral purification drive.

Dr. Dave Wang delivered a lecture on Benjamin Franklin and Confucius moral philosophy at St. Johns University. You can find basic introduction to his lecture through this link.

002.Benjamin Franklin and China

2006 marks the 300th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). In order to order to celebrate this great event, the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission was established by an Act of Congress in 2002 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin’s birth in 2006. George W. Bush, the President of the United States, served as Honorary Chairman and made six appointments to the Commission. Leaders of Congress appointed another eight of the fifteen members.

Thanks to the official website of the commission, we can enjoy 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 of the United States" (PDF)

001.The Founding Fathers and Chinese Civilization

Everything has a beginning. Dr. Dave Wang's study of the topic started 10 years ago when he was working on his dissertation. One day in the main library he opened the Papers of Benjamin Franklin and found surprisingly Franklin's interests in China. He almost couldn't believe his eyes. Taking off his eye-glasses, he read it over again. It was unbelievable that Franklin told his friend that he would go to China if he were young.

With this weblog I would like to introduce you Dr. Dave Wang's examination of efforts of the founders of the United States, including Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. With h great vision of building a new nation in North America they made their efforts to draw nourishments from traditional Chinese civilization. I will show you Dr. Dave Wang's papers, speeches and some other information related to the topic.