On September 29, 2024, the USC U.S.-China Institute hosted a workshop at the Huntington’s Chinese garden, offering K-12 educators hands-on insights into using the garden as a teaching tool. With expert presentations, a guided tour, and new resources, the event explored how Chinese gardens' rich history and cultural significance can be integrated into classrooms. Interested in learning more? Click below for details on the workshop and upcoming programs for educators.
Happy Year of the Ox! 祝您牛年快乐!
February 11, 2021
It's Lunar New Year Eve, a time to get together with family and call on friends and neighbors. U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with President Xi Jinping. Accounts of the conversation differ. The White House reports that Biden wished Xi and the Chinese people well, but also raised concerns over unfair economic practices, repression in Hong Kong, Xinjiang and elsewhere in China and actions towards Taiwan and others. China's foreign ministry reports that Xi told Biden that China expects the U.S. to stay out of its internal affairs. Xi wants to restore the various government to government dialogues that were set aside during the Trump administration. Both leaders called for better communication on key issues and held out hope for cooperation in critical areas such as combatting climate change. This call followed a similarly blunt exchange between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Central Foreign Affairs Commission Director Yang Jiechi last Friday. Biden and Xi have had more contact than most leaders. In 2012 and 2013, they hosted each other's visits, including a stop at the International Studies Learning Center, a public secondary school here in Los Angeles.
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In 2015, the FBI arrested the chair of the Temple University Physics Department. Prof. Xiaoxing Xi 郗小星 was charged with wire fraud. The FBI said he was seeking to help China become a leader in superconductivity technology. The Department of Justice press release noted Xi could be sent to jail for 80 years and fined US$1 million. Within a few months, the government dropped all charges and Xi returned to his research and teaching. Because of his experience he has devoted considerable time to studying issues associated with ensuring transparency and accountability in research while encouraging cross-border cooperation. Later today, Prof. Xi will examine “Scientific espionage, open exchange, and American competitiveness.” We hope you’ll join the discussion.
As it happens, today is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. To mark the occasion the U.S. Postal Service is issuing a stamp to honor a China-born physicist. Chien-shiung Wu 吳健雄 was born in Jiangsu province and graduated from National Central University and carried out research at Academica Sinica in Nanjing. She studied at the University of California, Berkeley and earned her doctorate at CalTech in Pasadena in 1940. She eventually joined the effort to develop the atomic bomb, working at a Manhattan Project materials lab at Columbia University. She would remain at Columbia until her retirement in 1981, becoming the first woman in the physics department to earn tenure and a full professorship. Some argue that she was worthy of the Nobel Prize who consulted with her on it received the prize in 1957. She received numerous awards, including the National Medal of Science in 1975. She died in 1997. Her ashes were buried at the school her father founded in Liuhe, her hometown. Wu began her education there.
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This should be an especially festive time in China. Covid-19 fears remain high, however, despite the relatively few cases in the country and the recent approval of two China-developed vaccines. In the past couple of months areas with small outbreaks have been locked down. Many cities are discouraging new year travel and some employers are increasing pay and other enticements to keep workers on the job. In the U.S., of course, the case rate and number of deaths are dropping and millions have been vaccinated. But the disease is still prevalent and we mourn the loss of more than 470,000 family members, friends and neighbors. We wish we could drop by to visit you, but hope that you will accept and share our annual collection of lunar new year stamps from around the world. The China and U.S. designs were by Yao Zhonghua 姚钟华 and Camille Chew. Yao also created China's 1985 Year of the Ox stamp. Since 2016, one of China's new year stamps has emphasized parenting. The number of births, however, has declined each year since 2016.
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US, East Asia
China, Yao Zhonghua 姚钟华 paintings
2009
1997
1985, Yao Zhonghua painting
United States, Camille Chew artist
2009, Kam Mak artist
1997
Hong Kong
2009
1997
1973
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Macau
2009
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1985
Taiwan, Republic of China
2009
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1997
1985
1973
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Japan
2009
South Korea
Rest of the World
Armenia
Australia
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2009
1997
Brazil
2009
Canada
2009, Ivan Novotny design
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1997
France
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2009
Gambia
2009
Ireland
2009
Kyrgyzstan
Liechtenstein
Mali
1997
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Marshall Islands
1997
Nevis
1997, Han Huang, Tang dynasty, artist
New Zealand
2009
1997
Niger
1997
Palau
Philippines
2009
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Thailand
2009
Vietnam
2009
1997
Previous USCI lunar new year stamp collections
2020: Year of the Rat
2019: Year of the Pig
2018: Year of the Dog
2017: Year of the Rooster
2016: Year of the Monkey
2015: Year of the Ram/Goat/Sheep
2014: Year of the Horse
2013: Year of the Snake
2012: Year of the Dragon
2011: Year of the Rabbit
2010: Year of the Tiger
2009: Year of the Ox
Featured Articles
February 7, 2024
Happy Lunar New Year from the USC US-China Institute!
Events
Thursday, March 21, 2024 - 4:00pm PST
Ying Zhu looks at new developments for Chinese and global streaming services.
Tuesday, March 19, 2024 - 4:00pm
David Zweig examines China's talent recruitment efforts, particularly towards those scientists and engineers who left China for further study. U.S. universities, labs and companies have long brought in talent from China. Are such people still welcome?