Business, languages, and Chinese Opera - FSB hosts an interdisciplinary delegation from Shanxi Normal University

SXNU Assistant to the President, Zhanyong Yuan and Dr. Nick Noble, Director of FSB Summer International Programs

John Skillings, Miami University Associate Provost, receives gifts from visitors

Shanxi University Dean of Foreign Languages, Jinping Tian and Miami University Chair of English, Dr. Kerry Powell at Johnny Chan II

Learn more about our programs and activities on the FSB China Programs website.

The exquisite Chinese meal at Johnny Chan II restaurant in Montgomery was punctuated with many “gan-bei (bottoms up)” toasts to celebrate the beginning of a new relationship between Miami University and Shanxi Normal University of Shanxi (SXNU), China. From October 24 to 26, FSB hosted and entertained a delegation of two deans, the assistant to the president, the CFO, the assistant director of the Institute of Chinese Opera and Relics, and the chairman of the school board.

“Our primary purpose of this visit is to learn," stated the tall, elegantly dressed assistant to the president, Zhanyong Yuan. Their days were extremely busy; the delegation members were escorted from meeting to meeting to talk with Farmer School administrators, international program coordinators, and foreign language faculty members from the German, Russian and East Asian Languages department about academic programs and potential areas of cooperation and exchange. The Chinese guests came prepared with colorful gifts which they presented to their Miami hosts at the close of each meeting. Much learning did occur for both sides. Further conversations and the next MU- SXNU meeting, to take place in China, are being planned.

Shanxi Province, the home of Shanxi Normal University, is considered one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization. Legend tells us that the Yellow Emperor lived in Shanxi for some time. Recognized as the first sovereign of civilized China, this ancestor of the Han Chinese people reigned from 2697 BC to 2598 BC, during which time he established the governmental foundations that allowed Chinese mathematics and libraries, as well as military knowledge, to flourish.

Shanxi is also renowned for its history of banking and Buddhism, two traditionally disparate neighbors. Today well preserved ancient architecture and relics bring tourists and historians to sites in Shanxi such as the Pinyao Historical Banking Town founded in the 8th century B.C., and featured in the award winning movie, “Raise the Red Lantern”. The Wutai Mountain, one of the Four Sacred Mountains in Chinese Buddhism, is said to be home to the Bodhisattva of wisdom. 51000 Buddhist cave statues known as the Yungang Grottoes extent for a kilometer along the southern ridge of Wu Zhou Mountain in 252 caves. The carvings combine traditional Chinese art forms with foreign influence, particularly Greek and Indian.

Dr. Nick Noble, director of FSB Summer International Programs, made a presentation to the delegation. He explained that each summer study trip has three components - cultural, business, and a classroom curricular component. It was clear to everyone at the presentation that Shanxi had much to offer in all three areas. As an historical center in a university town, Shanxi qualifies as an ideal academic and cultural setting. As for studying business, in the neighboring towns of Taiyuan and Datong we find 65,000 square kilometers of coal mines and the largest steel industry in the country. Fortunately, the new Historical Preservation Bureau is no longer allowing factory development in Shanxi proper. An outcome of the meeting with Nick Noble is that next summer, one of the likely stops on the Far East Summer study program will be Shanxi.

In a conference on the last day of the visit, Associate Provost John Skillings put forward the idea of building a university wide agreement between the two schools which would allow individual departments to work together as desired based on their specialties in business, arts and science, fine arts and education. Shanxi Normal University is home to the top national program in Chinese Opera, and enthusiasm was expressed about starting a joint project in comparative theater. As the next step, Provost Jeff Herbst will consult with the Council for Academic Deans about the nature of the proposed bilateral MU-SXNU general agreement. The guests extended an official invitation to John Skillings and Jeff Herbst to celebrate their 50 year anniversary as a teaching college in the fall semester of 2008 on Shanxi’s campus.

At Johnny Chan II, Ray Gorman, Associate Dean, proposed a toast to honor the visitors. Everyone clinked glasses, and some bold individuals drained the contents. To finish off the festivities, guests gathered at Dr. David Yen’s home for an evening of Chinese and English Karaoke.

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