Chinese Cultural Performances by Valarie Gauthier, Bibliographer, Collection Management Services
In celebration of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Monkey, we recently spoke with Xudong Jin, asking him about the Chinese cultural performances in which he and his wife Yan Zhao participate. Xudong Jin is Associate Director & Head of Technical Services for the Ohio Wesleyan University Beeghly Library.
A: How long have you and your wife been performing together?
XJ: I started to perform when I was in elementary school, which was 40 years ago. But I stopped performing for some years. Together, I would say 20 or more years.
A: Do you perform primarily "folk" songs and dances, or do you also perform contemporary Chinese pieces?
XJ: I perform Chinese folk songs and Beijing opera. I don't dance although my wife Yan Zhao is a professional dancer.
A: What do you hope to promote through your performances?
XJ: To spread Chinese culture in the area, to promote U.S. - China cultural exchange, and to serve American Chinese and Chinese scholars and students when they live and/or study in the U.S. My wife and I have performed at several organizations, such as European Adoption Consultants and Chinese Adoption Association in Ohio. Some of my wife's dance class students are adopted Chinese children.
A: Were you born in China? If so where? When did you move to the U.S.?
XJ: Southwestern China, Kunming City, capital of Yunnan Province. It is close to the Southeast Asian countries, such as Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. I came to the U.S. in 1989.
A: The traditional costumes are so elegant, do the colors and designs have certain meaning? Are there certain forms of dress used for different occasions?
XJ: The traditional Chinese costumes are different by different minorities and by different periods in the past 5000 years. For example, Han people (the majority group in China) have different costumes than other national minorities (e.g. Bai, Dai, Yi groups). Most minorities have their own costumes. Han people in the Han dynasty (2000 years ago) and in the Qing dynasty (400 years ago) wore totally different costumes. Therefore it is hard to say the colors and designs have certain meaning. But I am sure white usually means mourning apparel. During holidays people usually wear formal costumes which represent their own minority's tradition. Working days people wear casual dress.
A: What was your favorite performance?
XJ: The Beijing opera "Bao Long Tu". The famous story describes that 800 years ago, Bao Long Tu, Judge of Kai Feng City, brought Chen Shimei to trial. Chen was the Emporer's son-in-law who tried to murder his first wife and his children when they came to the capital to join him.
A: I see that you have performed at various Ohio campuses, do you perform as part of a cultural program? If so, what program?
XJ: Yes, I have performed at Ohio University, Ohio State University, Kenyon College, Wittenberg University, Ohio Wesleyan University, Chinese Contemporary Chinese School in Columbus, etc. to celebrate Chinese New Year and/or Mid-Autumn festival; at Georgetown College in Kentucky to celebrate Chinese Cultural Festival, and in Columbus to celebrate the Asian Festival, and many events related to Asian culture.
A: Do you teach others the dances or songs you perform?
XJ: No, I don't teach songs. As the Art Director of the Ohio Chinese Arts Troupe, I organized a forty-people chorus in Columbus. We performed chorus in this Chinese New Year celebration.
Thank you so much for your time--the pictures you have sent along will make a beautiful accompaniment to the article. We appreciate you sharing this with us.
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