Posted: June 14th, 2017 | No Comments »
Technology transfer along the Silk Road: Myth, mystery and reality†by Prof. Plinio Innocenzi
Please join us for an RASBJ presentation about important inventions that were transferred between Europe and China, including their myths, mysteries and reality. Prof. Plinio Innocenzi explains why the architectural marvel of Florence’s famous Duomo — Filippo Brunelleschi’s dome — was a technological breakthrough, never attempted before nor created ever again. Brunelleschi built machines to construct the dome which profoundly influenced later technologies, reaching beyond the field of architecture. Such designs — some of which were brought to China by Jesuits — were categorized centuries later as Chinese inventions. Other innovations were indeed Chinese breakthroughs. And quite a few mysteries remain about inventions that appeared in both China and Europe without any documented exchange. Prof. Innocenzi will present case studies of machines used by Brullelleschi as well other discoveries – paddle boats, the magic square (pictured, Yuan Dynasty), paper, mechanical clocks, hydraulic devices – which offer a view differing from Joseph Needham’s perspective. Veteran foreign correspondent Laura Daverio will moderate the event.
WHAT: “Technology transfer along the Silk Road: Myth, mystery and reality†by Prof. Plinio Innocenzi
WHEN: June 20, Tuesday from 7:30-9:30Â PM
WHERE: The Bookworm, Building 4, Nan Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District Tel: 6586 9507 MAP
HOW MUCH:Â RMB 65 for members of RASBJ and Bookworm, 75 for non-members
RSVP: Email communications.ras.bj@gmail.com and put “Inventions†in the header
MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Prof. Plinio Innocenzi is Full Professor of Materials Science at the University of Sassari in Italy and Director of the Laboratory of Materials Science and Nanotechnology (LMNT) of the University of Sassari. In 2010 he was appointed Science and Technology Counsellor at the Embassy of Italy in China. He is also visiting Professor at the Osaka Prefecture University in Japan and at the Beijing University of Chemical Technology, as well as Honorary Professor at the Luoyang Normal University . He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and author of more than 250 scientific articles, 5 books and 10 patents. His research is focused on nanoscience and he is very active in popularizing science among a general audience.
Posted: June 13th, 2017 | 3 Comments »
This sad tale of architectural vandalism in the former Shanghai French Concession is a cross post from Sue Anne Tay’s Shanghai Street Stories blog with accompanying images by 娄先生…
Earlier in June, Shanghai press reported a bizarre case of the unauthorized demolition of an old English-style garden villa on 888 Julu Lu (巨鹿路) by Changshu Lu (常熟路). The public was most likely irked by the fact that the land deed owner was in fact a millennial (born in 90s) girl who was studying abroad. It was acquired for an eye-watering RMB 80 million (USD 11.8 million) in 2016.
The property is categorized by the Shanghai municipality as heritage architecture, and purportedly designed by architect Lazslo Hudec (1883-1958). Hence, any modification and/or demolition had to be reported to the housing authorities. Yet the developement was reported only 6 months after new construction began, probably when neighbors discovered a mass of scaffolding over the site.
This particular villa was one of 12 that were built in 1930, on what had been Rue Ratard.
Authorities, pressed by press, scrambled and for the longest time, was simply unable to contact or find a responsible party. Meanwhile, construction continued. The question on everyone’s mind was: To modify a heritage building requires approvals from layers of tedious bureaucracy involving housing and planning departments. So how was it possible that the owner had disregarded authorization process and managed to escape notice?
Eventually, the owner was found and reportedly will be fined heftily, on top of having to restore the property to its original state. The report included a few examples of past precedents of imposed re-restoration of modified heritage sites in Xuhui district.
To be honest, unauthorized demolition of “immovable” heritage architecture in Shanghai is not new, especially when it is part of a larger estate initiated by a commercial developer. But this case was sharpened by a young, wealthy “fuerdai” (second generation rich), or her parents, who flagrantly disregarded the law. This kind of socio-economic slice is always an easy trigger in today’s China.
Can it be properly restored? Judging by the current state of construction, with foundations built in and several floors already in place, I doubt it. But the fine will mean a windfall for the local district, that’s for sure.
Note: All photos taken liberally from 娄先生’s weibo account. He is a respected historian of Shanghai heritage architecture whom I interviewed on one occasion. Photos of the original property were sent to him too.
Full story in Chinese: http://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1703137
The villa pre-destruction
Villa interior pre-destruction
Villa interior pre-destruction
A now meaningless heritage plaque (i post this specifically for all those people who tell me to stop going on about destruction on Shanghai – “don’t you know buildings are protected by heritage plaques!!”)
The site of the former villa now
The former villa (left_ – as you can see restoration has occurred on other properties in the road in keeping with their traditional construction)
Posted: June 12th, 2017 | No Comments »
A big thank you to the travel correspondent of the Chicago Tribune in 1935 who advised the following…
The “Native City” is what is now generally referred to as “old town” (or Nantao, or a variant). It is less of a shock these days unless, of course, you are a lover of traditional Chinese architecture, treaty port architecture or historical preservation in general in which case its destruction is so shocking as to make you lie down and weep….
Posted: June 9th, 2017 | No Comments »
Made in 1929, Shanghai Lady mostly played in cinemas in 1930. The character plaayed by James Murray was called ‘Badlands’ McKinney, which obviously I love.
Posted: June 8th, 2017 | No Comments »
I came across this wonderful advert from 1934 for Ann Bridge’s novel of Peking ex-pat life The Ginger Griffin…if you haven’t read it then do.
Odd though that they should choose to stress that The Ginger Griffin is “far richer” than her first, Peking Picnic – which is also a fantastic novel and sold plenty and won prizes.
Posted: June 7th, 2017 | No Comments »
In October 1920 Chang Tso-lin’s (Zhang Zuolin) troops were advancing on Peking. These interesting photos show how they used the Mukden (Shenyang)-Peking train line to speed their arrival…
Posted: June 6th, 2017 | 3 Comments »
A curio of a story from 1987 – it’s a Chinese New Year, Janurary – the Year of the Rabbit is being ushered in. Among the many wonders Pekingers can now buy is a rather elaborately framed picture of Brooke Shields – and just $2.45 (though I suspect this canny lady wasn’t taking FEC) – it is just about within the realms of possibility that this still adorns a hutong wall somewhere….
Posted: June 5th, 2017 | No Comments »
Norman Smith edits this fascinating deep dive into the notion of Manchuria as China’s great adventurous expanse….Empire and Environment in the Making of Manchuria…
This unique and compelling analysis of Manchuria’s environmental history demonstrates how the region’s geography shaped China’s past. Since the seventeenth century, the call of the Manchurian wilderness, with its abundant wildlife, timber, and mining deposits, has led some of the greatest empires in the world to do battle for its riches. Chinese, Japanese, Manchu, Russian, and other imperial forces have defied unrelenting summers and unforgiving winters as they fought for sovereignty over this vast “frontier.”
Until now, historians have focused on rivalries between Manchuria’s colonizing forces. Empire and Environment in the Making of Manchuria examines the interplay of climate and competing imperial interests in the region’s vibrant – and violent – cultural narrative. Families that settled this borderland reaped its riches while at the mercy of an unforgiving and hotly contested landscape.
As China’s strength as a world leader continues to grow, this volume invites further exploration of the indelible links between empire and environment. The role of Manchuria in China’s social and political evolution provides context for understanding how the geopolitical future of this global economic powerhouse is rooted in its past.
Norman Smith is a professor of history at the University of Guelph. He is the author of Intoxicating Manchuria: Alcohol, Opium, and Culture in China’s Northeast and Resisting Manchukuo: Chinese Women Writers and the Japanese Occupation, which was awarded the Canadian Women’s Studies Association 2008 Book Prize.
Contributors: David A. Bello, Blaine Chiasson, Annika A. Culver, Loretta E. Kim, Diana Lary, Kathryn Meyer, Wang Ning, Norman Smith, Ronald Suleski, and Sun Xiaoping.