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

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.

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

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

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

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
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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

149. Congratulation from CALA

The following congratulation letter sent by CALA (Chinese American Librarians Association). CALA is an very important academic organization, therefore, I quote the letter for you in the following:

Dear CALA Members and Friends,

Dr. Dave Wang's paper "Benjamin Franklin and China" has been published on the official website of the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission 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, serves as Honorary Chairman and made six appointments to the Commission. Leaders of Congress appointed another eight of the fifteen members, whose numbers are completed by the Librarian of Congress, serving ex officio. Dr. Rosalind Remer serves as Executive Director of the Federal Commission,which operates
with the assistance of the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary.

Congratulations to Dr. Dave Wang! And thanks for his efforts to bridge the
Chinese and the American cultures.

148. Dr. Wang's Research on Benjamin Franklin in Expand Your World

Expand Your World: The Newsletter of Ethnic Service Round Table, New York Library Association carries a brief article introduces Dr. Wang's research on Benjamin Franklin and China. 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 at Hollis was recently honored to present his pioneering study on how 18th century Chinese culture influenced Benjamin Franklin’s thinking. The presentation was given in London’s Benjamin Franklin House, where the statesman lived from 1757 to 1775. For more information, see New York Times
and Dave Wang’s blog the Founding Fathers and China.
Further reading:
“Benjamin Franklin’s Efforts to Promote Sericulture in North America,” Franklin Gazette, Volume 18, No. 2, Summer 2008; “Benjamin Franklin and the Great Wall of China,” Franklin Gazette, Volume 18, Number 1, Spring 2008; “Benjamin Franklin and Chinese Civilization,” Reset Dialogue on Civilizations, Well-known European Website. “Exploring Benjamin Franklin’s Moral Life,” Franklin Gazette, Volume. 17, No. 1, Spring 2007; “Benjamin Franklin and Chinese Civilization,” U.S –China Relation Series, No. 2, New York, Outer Sky Press, August 2006; “Benjamin Franklin’s Attitude toward Chinese Civilization,” Social Science Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology, Issue 4, 2006 and “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 Official Website of Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission. The commission is headed by former President George W. Bush.

147. Dr. Wang's Research on Benjamin Franklin Reaches Seven Countries

This is to report that Dr. Wang's study of Benjamin Franklin and China has reached India. The Indian Institute of Oriental Studies and Research has published his paper, Benjamin Franklin and China, in its journal, The Historical Review: A Biannual Journal of History and Archaeology.
So far, there are seven countries that have either published Dr. Wang's papers or invited him to deliver lectures on his research: Australia (published papers), China (published papers and presentation), India (published paper), Italy (published papers in both Italian and English and presentation), Portugal (presentation), the United Kingdom (presentations) and the United States of America (published papers and presentations).

146. Four Influential Newspapers Introduce Dr. Wang's Research

New York Times Weekends in Review Editor Tom Kuntz thinks of Benjamin Franklin as sage transmitter of the Western European tradition to the early American way of life. However, Dr. Dave Wang, a Chinese-American academic, points out that Franklin's correspondence and papers suggest lifelong influences from Chinese culture, “from Confucius philosophy to industrial technologies.”
The China Press, a popular Chinese newspaper in the United States published a brief interview, which introduces Dr. Wang' examination of the connections between traditional Chinese culture and the founding fathers.
Hawaii Reporters reports, New research discoveries focusing on influences between traditional Chinese civilization and the Founders of the United States of America in 1776 is revealed by Dr. Dave X. Wang, manager of Queens Library at Hollis in New York and adjunct professor with St. Johns University.
The Seattle Times introduces Dr. Wang's Exhibition on Benjamin Franklin and China. Benjamin Franklin and China: An Exhibition of Franklin's Efforts at Drawing Positive Elements from Chinese Civilization during the Formative Age of the United States. Exhibit shows Franklin's correspondence and his diary and how he borrowed Confucius' moral philosophy and Chinese technologies.

145. With China We Trade, Historical Ties between China the Founding Fathers

In the following I copy the excellent article written by Mr. Mead, the President of History Education Council of Hawaii. It is carried in Honolulu advertiser.com on March 11, 2009.

'With China We Trade,' Historical Ties between China and Founding Fathers

Jeffrey Bingham Mead, History Education Council of Hawaii
Reader Submitted

When Benjamin Franklin was in his final years as Minister to France in 1783-85 he commented on the Order of Cincinnati and the subject of the absurdity of descending honor. Franklin-descendant and author/historian Mark Skousen recorded in 'The Completed Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin' the following. "For honour worthily obtain'd, is in nature a personal thing, and incommunicable to any but those who had some share in obtaining. Thus among the Chinese, the most ancient, and from long experience the wisest of nations, honour does not descend but ascends This ascending honour is therefore useful to the state as it encourages parents to give their children a good and virtuous education." (note, Franklin's original words is available through this link)

New research discoveries focusing on influences between traditional Chinese civilization and the Founders of the United States of America in 1776 is revealed by Dr. Dave X. Wang, manager of Queens Library at Hollis in New York and adjunct professor with St. Johns University.
The March 11, 2009 edition of Asia Times Online features an interesting China-USA history article recommended by the History Education Council of Hawaii, said Jeffrey Bingham Mead, president and founder of the council. The author, Dave Wang, PhD., is the manager of Queens Library at Hollis in New York and adjunct professor with St Johns University.
The title of the article is 'With China We Trade' in the 'Speaking Freely' business section:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China_Business/KC11Cb01.html
Dr. Wang points out that the newly independent United States of America faced dire economic challenges from the British Empire, which had successfully closed European markets to the Americans. "Embodying Americans' hope to break through the British blockade and revitalize the depressed postwar economy, the Empress of China, the first American commercial ship after its independence, left New York for Canton (Guangzhou), China, on February 22, 1784. Before the Empress of China left the East River Harbor of New York, George Washington duly signed the sea letter, guiding the purpose of the Empress of China's voyage."
"Given the situation," writes Dr. Wang, "commerce became 'the lifeblood of America's recovery from its economic slump'. New trade partners had to be discovered, new trade routes had to be opened and new connections had to be established. Otherwise, political independence wouldn't last long. It was in this critical situation that the first American voyage to China started."
"Dr. Wang has spent a considerable amount of time and effort uncovering 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. Dr. Wang's discoveries provide a fresh and intriguing perspective that the ties between one of the world's oldest civilizations and one of the world's youngest are more important than ever. We are looking forward to inviting him to Hawaii and Connecticut to lecture," said Mead.
Dr. Dave Wang publishes his research on a weblog at:
http://foundingfathersandchina.blogspot.com/
"The bilateral trade relationship between America and China is far older than many people realize," said Mr. Mead. "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."
The History Education Council of Hawaii, Inc., (HECH) is an allied organization of the National Council for History Education (NCHE). The goals of the History Education Council of Hawaii are to promote and advance the study and teaching of history in schools throughout Hawaii, facilitate professional programs and interactive activities involving educators, teacher-candidates, historians and historic preservationists, museums as well as the government, military and business communities. HECH is located online at http://www.historyeducationhawaii.org and by e-mail at mailto:historyeducationhawaii@gmail.com

144. Franklin Collected Books on China

You may wonder, like a graduate student who wrote me recently, how did Franklin get to know China. Franklin traveled and lived in Europe for many years, where he contacted and read the works about China. This link will lead you to his collection of the books on China. It will at least tell some basic information on China available to Ben at the time.

143. Two Works of Benjamin Franklin

The works of Benjamin Franklin: containing several political and historical tracts not included in any former edition, and many letters, official and private, not hitherto published; with notes and a life of the author
By Benjamin Franklin, Jared Sparks
Published by Whittemore, Niles, and Hall, 1856

142. Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy

At the Conference organized by the well known International Association of Benjamin Franklin Friends and St. Johns College in September 2007, Dr. Wang presented Benjamin Franklin's efforts to use Confucius Moral Philosophy to cultivate his virtue. Requested by a friend of mine I publish here the main content of his presentation. According to Dr. Wang, Benjamin Franklin contacted the works of Confucius when he was in London from 1724 to 1726. Inspired by Confucius moral teachings, Franklin started the lifelong drive to cultivate his virtue. Following Confucius’ virtual cultivating procedure,--cultivating one’s self virtue first, then promote others to cultivate their own virtue and eventually illuminate virtue to the whole world, Benjamin Franklin started to cultivate his virtue as soon he returned to Philadelphia in 1728. In the period from 1728 to 1736, he focused on cultivating his own virtue. Starting from 1737, when Franklin published some chapters from the book "The Morals of Confucius,” to 1783, the Americans won a totally victory in their struggle for independence, Franklin mainly promoted the youth in North America to cultivate their morals. The final period started from 1784, when Franklin relayed his moral cultivating experiences in his autobiography, to 1790, at the last minute of his life, Franklin promoted the people of the world to advance their virtue. Franklin’s efforts at moral cultivation remade him, influenced others and left a permanent legacy in American tradition.

141. Benjamin Franklin and China

Since 2005 when Dr. Wang's paper, Benjamin Franklin and China was published by the Official Website of Benjamin Franklin's 300th Anniversary, his study of the great founding father of the United States has won him international repute. He has been invited to deliver speeches and lectures in five countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal and China. The Well-known European Website Reset Dialogue on Civilization publishes Dr. Wang's paper, Benjamin Franklin and Chinese Civilization.On January 29, 2009, New York Times also joined the concert of introducing and promoting Dr. Wang's study of Ben Franklin, "the sage transmitter of the Western European tradition to the early American way of life". The famous site PDFox also includes Benjamin Franklin and China into its widely welcomed Benjamin Franklin Biography Collection. From this link you can find Dr. Wang's speech on Benjamin Franklin and the Great Wall of China. So far, Dr. Wang also published other papers related to Benjamin Franklin's efforts to draw nourishment from traditional Chinese culture. They include; Benjamin Franklin’s Efforts to Promote Sericulture in North America, Franklin Gazette, Volume 18, No. 2, Summer 2008; Benjamin Franklin and the Great Wall of China, Franklin Gazette, Volume 18, Number 1, Spring 2008; Exploring Benjamin Franklin’s Moral Life, Franklin Gazette, Volume. 17, No. 1, Spring 2007; Benjamin Franklin’s Attitude toward Chinese Civilization, Social Science Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology, Issue 4, 2006 and 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 Official Website of Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission.

140. The Founding Fathers and Chinese Civilization

Dr. Wang presented the Founding Fathers of the United States and Chinese Civilization at the Third World Conference on American Studies held in Lisbon, the capital of Portugalin 2007.
Firmly believing that the founding fathers of the United States were among the main architectures of the fiber of American civilization, Dr. Wang explores that the founding fathers with a great vision for this nation worked hard to draw nourishments from Chinese civilization during the formative age of the United States. Dr. Wang mainly examines Benjamin Franklin’s, George Washington’s and Thomas Jefferson’s efforts to use the positive elements from Chinese civilization to build a new nation in North America. The scope of their efforts to borrow from Chinese civilization is so wide, including almost every aspect of the civilization, from Chinese classics, economic plants to industrial technologies. Benjamin Franklin promoted Analects of Confucius to North America in his effort to enhance people’s virtue in North America. He also worked hard to introduce industrial technologies into American society. George Washington, who loved to use Chinese products, 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. The examination of this legacy will enable us to further understand and grasp the whole picture of the formation of American civilization.

139. Chinese Civilization and the Early Development of the United States

Invited by Cleveland Public Library, one of the most prestigous public and research libraries in the United States, On December 6, 2008 Dr. Dave Wang deliverfed his speech on the influence of Chinese civilization on the United States in its formative age. You can find the event on line. In his speech, Dr. Wang talked about how US founders, such as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, used positive elements from Chinese civilization in their efforts to build a new nation in North America. He introduced his audience the following quotation from former President Bill Clinton; "Long before the United States was even born, China was a stronghold of creativity, knowledge, and wealth. From the printing China invented to the poetry it produced, from medicine and mathematics to the magnetic compass and humanistic philosophies, many of China's earliest gifts still enrich our lives today."
Remarks at a state dinner honoring President Jiang, 11.03, 1997. The Organization of Chinese American of Greater Cleverland introduced Dr. Wang's speech on its website.

138. United States and China in this Economic Recession

Dr. Wang delivered his speech at the prestigious Coffee House Club in Manhattan on March 25, 2009.

In his speech Dr. Wang told his audience, "No one knows what will happen in the future, but the past can help guide us into the future. The lessons of the past are like a map into the future. By examining the founding fathers’ efforts to prevail over the first economic crisis of the New Nation, we learn how to move forward. However, by comparing the two events (the Empress of China sailed from Manhattan in 1784 and on the first Monday of 2009the ringing of the New York Stock Exchange’s opening bell was started by Stephen Orlins, the Chairperson of the National Committee on United States-China Relations.) we have found that both events happened in Manhattan and both in critical time for the United States. Clearly, we can derive at the conclusion that China is important to the United States. The cooperation between the United States and China is crucial to prevail over the economic crisis.

137. Benjam Franklin and the Great Wall of China

Dr. Wang presented Benjamin Franklin and the Great Wall of China in Benjamin Franklin House in London on April 9, 2009. More detailed information is available through this link.
According to Dr. Wang, Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was arguably the most famous lover of the Great Wall of China in the United States. In 1756, when Franklin was entrusted to be the leader of defense in the French and Indian War (1754-1763), he organized the Pennsylvanian colonists to build a great wall between the Delaware River and the Susquehanna River in Northampton County as a means of protection against the French and their Indian allies. Later in 1760, Franklin recommended the English Parliament to build a great wall resembling that of China’s to safeguard the British Colonies in North America. Even later in 1776, Franklin recommended the colonists to build a great wall for shelter during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) against the English empire.

136. Honolulu Advertiser Recommends Dr. Wang's Paper

The bilateral trade relationship between America and China is far older than many people realize," said Mr. Mead. "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 enjoy reading Mr. Mead's paper through this link.

135. Hawaii Report Introduces Dr. Dave Wang's Study of the Founding Fathers

A well-known author, educator, entrepreneur and historian, Jeffery Bingham Mead writes, "Dr. Wang has spent a considerable amount of time and effort uncovering 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.

Dr. Wang’s discoveries provide a fresh and intriguing perspective that the ties between one of the world’s oldest civilizations and one of the world’s youngest are more important than ever. We are looking forward to inviting him to Hawaii and Connecticut to lecture" More could be read through this link.

134. President Obama and George Washington's Wisdom

President Obama reminded the Americans of the difficult situation that the nation faced directly after the US gained its hard-earned independence from Britain. It was when the newborn US was in such a critical time that American trade with China was opened. We all know that looking back at the history may be of some help to understand current US-China economic ties, though the situation today is tremendously different from previously. We will benefit from the founding father's wisdom. "Our founding fathers faced perils that we can scarcely imagine." Dr. Wang's Paper With China We trade shows you how the founding father led the new nation rise above the economic quagmire.

133. Relics of the China Trade

High atop a wooded hill in Milton, overlooking the clusters of sailing ships out in Massachusetts Bay, Capt. Robert Bennet Forbes in 1833 built a handsome, spacious Greek Revival mansion. He filled the house with the porcelain, paintings, furniture, silver, lacquerware and silks he had collected during decades of journeys to China, beginning when he was 13 years old. More information following this link from New York Times.

132. Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Architecture

Dr. Dave Wang has again made significant progress in his exploration of the connection between the founding fathers of USA and Chinese Civilization. His Paper Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Architecture: Chinese Culture in North America before the Founding of the United States was published by the well known Huaren E-Magazine, January 2009 issue. It is available through this link.

131. Dr. Wang Will Speak on the Foudning Fathers and Chinese Cutlure at the FreedomFest 2009

FreedomFest is an annual festival described in many ways: The world’s largest gathering of free minds…..The Trade Show for Liberty….An intellectual feast in a fun town…Three glorious days of “great ideas, great books, and great thinkers.”

Imagine over 1000 freedom loving attendees coming together to create “The World’s Largest Gathering of Free Minds.”
Imagine 9 great debates on topics such as US foreign policy, health care, the financial crisis, global warming, immigration, and more

Through this link you will find the well known speakers.

130. 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 is now one of the wonders of the world.

The Great Wall of China was built 2,000 years ago by the Qin dynasty, as a sturdy "No Trespassing" sign to neighbouring kingdoms. For centuries, however, the wall remained neglected and forgotten, until Europeans in the 18th-century became infatuated with it. Doctor Dave Wang from St John’s University will talk discuss how Benjamin Franklin became connected with what is now one of the wonders of the world.

More information is available through this link.
More information on this event calender.

129. Benjamin Franklin in China

Through reading my posts on Benjamin Franklin and Chinese civilization, you have learned a lot of Ben's borrowing from China. This weblog will show you the Chinese also borrowed something from Ben.

128. How Did the Founding Father Lead the Fledgling United States Over its Economic Crisis?

Dr. Dave Wang will talk George Washingon and the China Trade in Salem

According to his findings, 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.”

127. Benjamin Franklin and China in New York Times

In this well-known New York Times blog, “Ideas,” written by Tom Kuntz and other editors of the Week in Review featuring brief posts on interesting articles, you will find that on January 29, 2009 Dr. Wang's papers,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 and Benjamin Franklin and Chinese Civilization are introduced in the Franklin and China .

126. Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Flowers

Thomas Jefferson sowed China pinks at Monticello , which he got from Philadelphia nurseryman Bernard McMahon in 1807.

125. Thomas Jefferson's Collection of Books on China

Jefferson had a very big library. He collected some books about China. If you search by key words CHINA, you will find three books. If you search by key word CHINESE, you will find two books. If you search by key word ASIA, you will find six books. How about by EAST INDIA, there will be five books. However, for Thomas Jefferson, one of the most important books about Chinese culture is this book, Designs of Chinese buildings, furniture, dresses, machines and utensilesby Sir William Chambers you could find it through this link.

124. Chinese Art in the Northern American Colonies

A. East and West: Chinese Exporting Porcelain
B. Chinese Hand scrolls
C. Chinese Paintings
D.Tea in colonial America
E. Art and Identity in the British North American Colonies
F. Art and Society of the New Republic, 1776-1800
G. The Arts and Crafts Movement in America

123. George Washington's China

George Washington loved Chinese porcelain. I here collect online information concerning his Chinese porcelain wares.
A. George and Martha Washington's China
B. Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Porcelain Ware
C. The Blue China Book The Blue-china Book: Early American Scenes and History Pictured in the Pottery of the Time ; with a Supplementary Chapter Describing the Celebrated Collection of Presidential China in the White house at Washington D.C. and a Complete Checklist of Known Examples of Anglo-American Pottery , By Ada Walker Camehl, Published by Tudor, 1916, Original from the University of Michigan Digitized Aug 18, 2006
307 pages.
D. Chinese Export Porcelain for the American Trade, 1785-1835, By Jean McClure Mudge, Published by University of Delaware Press, 1981. This revised edition of a book first published in 1962 is still the only work that goes to fresh, primary shipping sources to tell the story of America's trade in export Chinese porcelain. There are over one hundred photographs in the book covering all the major types of export porcelain both common and uncommon, made for America. Illustrated.
E. The George Washington Collection: Fine and Decorative Arts at Mount Vernon, By Carol Borchert Cadou, Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, Published by Hudson Hills, 2006
F. George Washington's antiques at Mount Vernon
G. Chinese Canton Porcelain