The
Ancients 古人
Contents
THE
6 Contributors 7 Nanjing Nomads 8 Editorial
www.thenanjinger.com
NOVEMBER 2019
Volume#10/Issue#2
#90
9 Poem; Hollow Men 10 Lies Damned Lies
Fake Character is China’s Latest Big Business
13 World Ready
Globale Perspectives Educate New Chinese Character
16 In the Name of Morality Key Influencers of Chinese Character
18 The Philosopher
Episode 2B; Confucius & the Mohists;A Challenge from Above (cont.)
19 Strainer
Perfect Median; China’s Take on Earl Grey
20 A Player’s Heaven in Nanjing The Tennis Academy of China
22 For Art’s Sake Going with the Float
23 Our Space 30 The Gavel
The Role Played by Character in China’s Legal System
31 Metro Map
4
Introducing some of our contributors, editors & designers Our Editor-in-chief and Music Critic, Frank Hossack, has been a radio host and producer for the past 35 years, the past 26 of which working in media in China, in the process winning four New York Festivals awards for his work, in the categories Best Top 40 Format, Best Editing, Best Director and Best Culture & The Arts. 贺福是我们杂志的编辑和音乐评论员，在过去的35 年里一直从事电台主持和电台制片的工作。在中国 有近26年的媒体工作经验。工作期间他曾经四次 获得过纽约传媒艺术节大奖，分别是世界前40强 节目奖，最佳编辑奖，最佳导演奖以及最佳文化 艺术奖。 Josefa Meng studied Advertising in Nanjing Normal University, Zhongbei College. She specialises in advertisement planning and design, is keen to get in touch with new things, is willing to accept challenge and hopes to bring the world to a better understanding of China. 毕业于南京师范大学中北学院，广告学学士学位。 她主要做文案编辑和广告设计，对新鲜事物充满好 奇，乐于挑战，希望能让世界更了解中国。 Roy Ingram has over 25 years experience working as an artist and Creative Director. His early career was with agencies in London but for the past eight years he has lived and worked in Nanjing. Roy先生有着超过25年的创意总监和艺术家的工作 经历。他早期的职业生涯是在伦敦的一家机构里开 始的，但是在八年前他决定来到南京生活工作。 Matthew Stedman has spent years living and working in China. He has sold Chinese tea in the UK, and loves discussing the miraculous leaf with new (and suspicious) audiences. He however never feels happier than when researching the product here in beautiful South China. Matthew Stedman在中国生活工作了多年。多年在 中英两国从事茶叶贸易的他，喜欢和新读者讨论神 奇的东方树叶(虽然有时他的读者保持怀疑态度)。 没什么比在美丽的江南走访品尝各种茶叶更让他开 心的事了。 Legal columnist Carlo D’Andrea came to China in 2005 and now heads up a boutique law firm which is a point of reference as a well-established entity in the international legal profession serving Chinese and foreign companies wishing to globalise themselves. He has been admitted to the Italian Bar Association and is Chairman of the EUCCC Shanghai Board. 法律专栏作家Carlo D’Andrea于2005年来到中 国，如今正领导着一家精品律师事务所，作为国际 律师界的标杆和翘楚，向中国和外国公司提供服务 以助其实现全球化。他不仅是意大利的执业律师， 同时还是中国欧盟商会上海分会的主席。
THE
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NOVEMBER 2019
Sponsor 办单位
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The Nanjinger《南京人》杂志社
Operating Organization 运营机构 Nanjing Hefu Cultural Media Co., Ltd. 南京贺福文化传媒有限公司
Contributors 特约撰稿人 Maitiu Brallaghan Shawn Li Steven Yeh
Columnists 专栏作家 Francesca Leiper Carlo D’Andrea Edmund Culham Matthew Stedman
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Volume 10 / Issue 2 / November 2019 “Character”
Copyright 2019, SinoConnexion Ltd. Published in the United Kingdom ISSN 2051-9974
6
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7
Complicated
E
ver heard the term, “moral abduction”? Neither had we. Now we know its meaning; to kidnap another person’s morality by depriving them of their free will through persuasion under the supervision of public opinion as mental jury. Quite a mouthful. And it turns out it’s a thing in China. Josefa Meng helps us to get our head around it on pages 16-17. Elsewhere, this month’s guest contributor, Steven Yeh, investigates the rise of a World Ready view in the Nanjing populace and finds global perspectives in China’s rapidly
developing education system (p13-15). Last but certainly not least, fakes. In China, we’ve really seen it all; fake designer bags, fake infant formula; the other day, even fake contact lenses. But fake personalities? Internet Correspondent, Shawn Li, looks at the faking thereof for use on WeChat Moments (p10-12). Welcome to “Character” from The Nanjinger.
Ed.
S
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The young child bravely traversing His raging torrent on adventures wild To bring home tobacco for a father I never knew. A lover stealing his not so first kiss Under a lamppost beneath which, Years later, I would unknowingly pass.
By Maitiu Brallaghan ’19
He sits opposing me; I, him Cupping his right ear leaning in, He scowls, hollow eyes misty, pained. In this dark mess of silence, I struggle to tell Even one of the many fragments that cram Tight, inhabiting his brittle shell:
A husband impatiently waiting at an altar, For his bride to arrive dressed in white and A glamour that we, the unborn, would never appreciate. A patient pedant teaching time’s changing classes, Over decades and on into this new millennium… These moments and more I do not see. I do see, though, the potter at his wheel, silent, shaping, Forming, moulding the crude belligerent clay, That seems to care not what he has done. And a father: distant and serious, so oft disappointed: Frailly reflected each day in the glass and my shame, Across a widening gulf, and over our torrent’s raging. 9
M By Shawn Li
any of our alert readers will know of the expression, “Me and my yacht”. They will also be aware of the limits to the actual truth contained therein. Turns out that in China, this is a concept that has not only been once again taken to extremes, but that the Chinese desire for “face” has also in due process created a multi-billion renminbi industry.
Lies, Damned Lies; Fake Character is China’s Latest Big Business
10
Have you checked through your WeChat Moments and seen anything like this?
Four exquisite photos of an
Thanks to market demand, the
astoundingly expensive villa,
faking of people’s personalities
accompanied by the words,
and characters by use of online
“Maybe I should redecorate my
content has quietly become an
home”; or a carefully-filtered
industrial chain.
photo of bread with the caption, “Always feel that breakfast is more important”; or the best for last, a photo of a first-class aircraft cabin plus the snap line, “Almost missed it”.
Fake, fake, fake. We now live in a China in which people have become actors, portraying the character which they themselves want others to admire. Yes, this is an excellent use of expensive, energyconsuming and ecologydamaging, internet bandwidth. And sociologically, yes, there is the desire for face, but what are even more powerful potents for anyone, including the Chinese?
Money. Power. At the end of the Chinese
For the ¥60, purchasers receive a whole set of photos and videos of travelling, for the purpose of posting on WeChat Moments. The really clever part, however, is that an additional fee makes it possible to modify the posting location information.
Yes, that’s my yacht, and I’m on Tahaiti! As most are aware, WeChat Moments has in recent years become one of the most important platforms for selfpromotion. Through likes, comments, etc., people receive feedback on their shared content very quickly, and such feedback gradually becomes a part of their self-awareness.
National Day holiday, one of the
It’s all a far cry from real life,
many topics to start trending on
where our friends know much
China’s version of Twitter, Weibo,
of the truth to our character,
was, “¥60 is enough to travel
and do not hesitate to call us
the world on WeChat Moments”.
out from time to time.
“
...and I’m on Tahiti!
11
So shall we give it a go? Search “朋友圈” (literally “Friends’ Circle”) on e-commerce behemoth Taobao, and see returned results such as “Friends’ Circle DIY” and “Friends’ Circle Location Modification”. The sheer depth of the issue is noticeable by the fact that many of these merchants have volumes exceeding 10,000 or even 100,000 transactions. During the recent holiday, when the bulk of the country tries to do some traveling, it was noted that there were many
Ingenious. Why didn’t we think of that? Thankfully, there is another side to the coin. A growing movement believes that WeChat Moments is not the whole picture of life, refusing to accept such ideal characters after careful modification. Shunning WeChat Moments altogether, they devote their time and energy to real life issues, such as family happiness and progress at work.
more customers than usual purchasing
That the final sentience above is necessary
Location Modifying services.
to this article is telling as to the depth and
Then there are the videos of luxury cars and piles of cash (I swear I am not making this up) that can be purchased; a set of 50 goes for just ¥6.60. An additional ¥8 per video shall be charged to put the purchaser’s own voice on the video; “Just back from the Ferrari dealer this morning”. But what price love? Elsewhere, some merchants also include strategies and tutorials to teach boys and girls how to create WeChat Moments that will attract the opposite sex. For the really shrewd, some WeChat business
seriousness of the issue at hand. But after the poster of fake WeChat Moments loses interest in the character they have created, the bubble is burst with all that remains one empty shell. According to a poll conducted by CCTV.com on Weibo, most of those questioned said it was nothing but vanity that brought about the “¥60 is enough to travel the world” phenomenon.
Those with such fake characters shall see their day of reckoning.
practitioners create a high-end looking WeChat Moments, mainly to create a ragsto-riches image, so that potential customers identify with their lifestyle, thus generating trust in products. A darker twist then takes us into fake news territory. It has been reported that there was someone who claimed to be an editor of People’s Daily, Zhu Xiangyu, sharing articles from the People’s Daily on WeChat Moments, and using Location Modifying to often position himself at the People’s Daily Headquarters. 12
By Steven Yeh
S
ome weeks ago, as part of a group of international school students, I went on a sports trip from Nanjing to Suzhou. Waiting outside the bus at the service area on the highway, a group of Chinese people from the bus beside ours started taking photos of the foreign students, examining their faces from a distance, enjoying the view of the “Lao Wai”. One man even shoved a professional camera in front of my friend’s face, while another person tried to take a photo with a foreign teacher. He was too shy to ask, so his friend tried to help him ask, saying in Chinese, “My friend, my friend”, showing their interest and “friendliness”, while the teacher was waving no, a simple and common move in western culture that might not look friendly to the Chinese people in this case. This is a pretty typical recount of all of my school trips since 2012, where some Chinese amateur photographers play paparazzi and make us all feel famous for a day.
✸
World Ready Global Perspectives Educate New Chinese Character 13
T
oday, China is flourishing with an evolving
education
which
propels
✸
the quality of the population and in turn, promotes social solidarity. Since arriving in Nanjing at the age of 2, I have personally felt the leaping social progress of the last 13 years. Gone are the days of mass spitting or littering. I also notice that more people are now choosing to use Nanjing’s convenient public transportation system instead of traveling in their private cars, helping to make the city more environmentally friendly than ever. Most importantly, the combination of remindful, inspirational advertisements, plus educational PSAs in Chinese have greatly contributed to the population’s awareness as to the importance of making civic decisions. Before China’s opening up and reform, the chances of any ordinary person seeing a foreigner were slim to none; now they are ten a penny. However, colossal change in society over the last 40 years aside, many Chinese people, especially the middle to older
Y
et, taking such photos of strangers in public can sometimes cause feelings of
confusion and hurt, making foreigners feel alienated and uncomfortable. Drifting back in time, as far back as fourth grade, our class went to a museum in Nanjing. After visiting all the exhibition areas, we went to the souvenir shop. We stepped inside and shortly after, an older lady asked her granddaughter, “Can you stand beside this young foreigner?”. Nodding her head, she walked and stood beside my friend, who was baffled about what they were about to do. “Please move away”, the grandma politely asked me, waving her hand. Predictably, she took out her phone and snapped a photo of them. At that time, I felt mind blown, and a little infuriated. I thought, “Why not me? I am his friend”. As a non-foreigner, she did not want me in her souvenir picture.
generations, still feel a certain fascination
Yes, the taking photos of people without
when encountering foreigners.
permission involves the right of portrait, and the difference between Chinese and Western property rights is an area ripe with misunderstanding, although again, China has made significant progress recently as to issues surrounding “banqian” (版权); copyright.
14
T
he social phenomenon, on the other hand, is
It was a far cry from the traditional Chinese point of
actually very understandable. After years
view; “When you see violence, retreat as soon and
of insight, I’ve learned that such is the result of
as far as possible. Leave well alone; most of the
transitioning from a closed society to an open
time, it is better to be respectful by staying quiet”.
society (after the economic reform). Chinese adults wanting to take photos of foreign people reflect the tendencies that many Chinese still exhibit today; the worship of all-things foreign and a binging on foreign commodities. Over time, however, the Chinese population will soon start treating foreigners in China as common visitors and foreign residents, leading to the Chinese displaying a new attitude and world view, through education. Not only powerful in developing knowledge, education also shapes people’s character through the learning experience. Becoming a mandatory part of the national curriculum in recent years are historical-text studies where students learn about Chinese morality and ethics, greatly benefitting students on character, one of the main elements that determine
In many countries, citizens are expected to report crimes when witnessed. So too in China, as more people become educated at a global level, their character will change as their world view expands. Despite the cultural differences in China due to its historical background, ignited by the country’s rapidly advancing education, as the local population becomes more knowledgeable as to global trends, so too shall their characters develop to be a model for centuries to come. China’s advancing education system and a growing awareness amid the population, no matter differing social status, remind us everyone can eventually learn that as humans, we should contribute to society positively, through having a strong moral character.
a person’s success. Likewise, there has also been the introduction of liberal-arts elements into education, resulting in a wide range of subject choices, such as the arts and physical education that improve people’s mental and physical health. In addition, cultural and foreign languages, plus history, social and political science, will all help students to acknowledge that globalisation is a trend that also expands the students world view in general. Even though morality and ethics are taught in schools, there are always some events in life that are not taught by schoolteachers or parents, which leaves the question, how much do we know about right and wrong? I once witnessed a street fight between two men, in front of a restaurant. Frenzied and out of control, I was appalled to see the immense amount of blood all over the ground at the scene. Fresh red. Yet, more shockingly was the crowd of bystanders who did not mind the bloodiness. Some were using their phones, not to notify the hospital and the police, but to take videos of the fight as a rare and memorable experience. It was as if someone was performing martial arts. Even grandparents took toddlers with them to ogle the fight scene. 15
In the Name of Morality
By Josefa Meng
Key Influencers of Chinese Character
S
ocial debate of so-called “moral abduction� has become
popular in recent years in China. In the name of morality, people use excessive or even unrealistic standards to demand, coerce or attack others, and to influence their behaviour.
16
Have you ever been kidnapped by morality? If a soldier sees that someone is in danger, he must give up his life to save people, otherwise he will be condemned. If someone participates in a competition on behalf of a group and does not obtain the desired results, she will be condemned. You better believe it.
1
Scenario ; “With Great Difficulty” Online food deliveries are often late for many reasons. With the arrival time imminent, the “waimai guy” (外卖 小哥; delivery boy) always chooses to call you to say he is already downstairs and would you please confirm the delivery and pay first. You will likely agree to do so, feeling that it does not matter and may be a little rude to deny the request. However, an hour passes and your food has still not shown up. Feeling angry and hungry, you call back to cancel and request a refund. The delivery staff then blame you, saying you couldn’t understand them. Colleagues come to comfort you and this is when you will hear the phrase, “都不容易” (Since life is a struggle); your actions will get them fined, why bother?”
2
Scenario ; “The Rich are Deserving” While driving home from work, an electric tricycle on the wrong side of the road unexpectedly appears. You step on the brakes as quickly as possible but still hit a nearby object. Everything is fine except your car. The tricycle owner is about to leave when you ask for compensation. Their reaction? “Money is not an object for you; why do I have to pay?” Such cases of moral abduction are even more serious for celebrities. Not long after the 2017 Jiuzhaigou (九寨沟) earthquake, a Chinese actor
was forced to donate ¥100 million. Someone said to him, “Your movie was so successful, you should donate ¥100 million for the earthquake!” This is obviously a case of moral abduction. The irony is though, the actor had in fact quietly donated 1 million prior, in the aftermath of the quake to help victims.
3
Scenario ; “The Weaker is in the Right” A blind candidate was enrolled in university with honours. Considering potential safety issues, the school agreed with the parents’ requirements, renting a house with water heaters and air conditioners for the family, all prepaid for half a year. The school even arranged a special teaching team for the blind student. This did not satisfy the father; next he wanted a guide dog and nurses. There are few guide dogs in China and a fully trained one costs as much as ¥200,000. The school said that there was nothing more it could do, but the father took to the media to voice his grievances.
4
Scenario ; “Not Helping When Ignorant of the Need” An television anchor took to Weibo to complain that she had “tried hard to remove the suitcase” on the plane, but that among people around her, especially the men, no one helped and few even looked up. She called them, “Ugly and without any love”.
Scenario
5; “He is Just a Child”
A 50-year-old woman was shopping with her grandson in a supermarket; while walking around the snacks area, her hands constantly cracked open pistachios taken from the shelves and fed the grandson. A member of staff approached to remind her that items for sale could not be tasted, unless offered as part of a promotion. The old lady said in disapproval, “I didn't taste it, can’t the kid taste one or two?”, while putting another one
into the child's mouth. The shop employee then pointed out that her grandson had eaten 20 to 30, which cannot be called a taste. At this point, the grandson sitting in the shopping cart became shocked by the scene unfolding and suddenly burst into tears. The grandmother was on a roll; “We have to make sure the goods are of good quality, so just had to have a taste. And what do you do; make my grandson cry just for one pistachio? He is just a child; how bad is one child eating these two pistachios?” The sound of the quarrel had attracted a large group of people. With no regard for the truth, they automatically took the side of the old lady and blamed the shop employee.
6
Scenario ; “What I Have Done is Good for You” There is a kind of parent (mother or dad) who really does their best for you (as they see it). They wake you up every day, they make breakfast for you, wash clothes for you; when you go to primary school, they will urge you to do your homework on time and take you to various tutoring classes. In middle school, they will help you organise your schoolbags, help you clean your room and manage everything that you do not want to do. Their "sacrifice" and "help" is not what you want, as illustrated by the saying, “我不要你觉得，我要我觉得!” (I don't want you to think; I want me to think). The inextricable goodness in human nature should never become a moral abduction. Weakness is not terrible. It is terrible to use it as an excuse to ask for benefits to which you are not entitled. Lying behind these six realworld examples of moral abduction is a confusion of logic. Why use your moral standards to kidnap my interests? As the saying goes, either way, you can’t win. China’s no different there. 17
THEPHILOSOPHER {EPISODE_2B} with Edmund Culham
Confucius and the Mohists: A Challenge from Above
(cont.)
Previously: “My poor cherries,” Kongzi moaned, then hesitating a moment. “And why would the neighbours want to see the lake, they have nothing to contemplate. ‘Tian-a’, they couldn’t even see the Dao if it was before their noses.” While it was thought following a master could help people seek and find the true Dao, it was accepted that they most likely would not have the ability to ascend to the level of their teacher. Instead, those of lesser ability were to find and fulfill their societal role. In this sense, Confucianism preserved a hierarchy of sages, those enlightened few who passed on their rule-bound teachings without regard for another’s abilities. Conversely, the Mohist contrasting of actions with that of a model morality necessarily implies a self-reflective approach, which can be individually advanced. Now Mozi moves his wiry frame closer, balancing nimbly on the ridged corner of the pavilion. “How can they [Kongzi’s neighbours] be expected to find the path to the Dao if it is obscured from them? If your rules, your trees, leave them forever in the shadows?”, he muses. “I’ve thought it through all quite clearly; they’re much more likely to accept your teachings if you allow them a little more light to read your books.” “Oh, spare me, won’t you come down and show me some respect, man”, Kongzi, surprisingly animated, shifts from foot to foot in agitation, as you both crane your necks upwards. “I teach them as much as they can learn and they show me due respect. Come to think of it, a little more would be nice. It’s a hopeless task.”
Inclusivity is paramount in Mohist thought; their ideal of “jianai” (impartial love; 兼爱 ) for others evidences radical differences to the Confucian ethic. Jianai necessarily meant extending your “love” or “care” to your family, but also crucially to your neighbours, to other families and to all those you encounter in life. A basis for this principle was the concept of the “inclusive”, to include others in your thoughts so as to instruct your actions, bringing about beneficial behaviour and thus being a source for good. The “exclusive”, on the other hand, i.e. self-interest, putting your family before others etc., was believed to bring about bad consequences. In this way, the Confucian devices of attaining self-enlightenment (which few could achieve), reverence to a master, their rules and the foundational belief in filial piety, and of putting one’s family first, have nothing of the inclusivity for which the Mohists strove. But what was this great arbiter or standard that Mohists proclaimed, which allowed individuals a model to judge their actions upon? Simply put, they saw the “intention” of Heaven as providing for an objective moral standard. Mozi wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, an elaborate gesture, “The problem with you, Kongzi, is you’re too into this sagehood crap. I mean, look at you sitting all day in that chair of yours, thinking you’ve solved it all and fobbing everyone else off with a few half baked rules”. Then, in a single motion, he swung himself over the edge of the pavilion landing not far from where Kongzi and you stand. The great master looks as though he has been slapped in the face, it being ashen, his lips pursed. Mozi stands motionless, then with a jaunty laugh says, “Why do they need you anyway, your followers?”. And turning on his heal uttered, “Remember old chum, we’re all one under Heaven”, before disappearing into the nearby bushes.
To be continued in the December issue of The Nanjinger 18
By Matthew Stedman
Perfect Median;
China’s Take on Earl Grey It’s pomelo season in Jiangnan. That pleases me.
E
ven if you don’t know its (obscure) English name, you know the fruit. It hangs, moon-like, from trees in parks and campuses everywhere. You can eat the windfalls, but they’re a little too sour. Thankfully, bigger, more-user-friendly versions of these yellow globes appear in stores. Open them up to find segments each as big and tactile as a Nokia phone. These segments are red (slightly more expensive) or “yellow” (cheaper and just as good), partitioned by a tough white pith. Unlike, say, a clementine, you can easily remove the pith without damaging the fruit or getting your hands sticky-wet! Crescent clusters of capsule happiness. I’m a citrus fan. But I’ll admit that grapefruit is a little sour for me. So I adore the pomelo as a perfect median between the grapefruit and the orange. It’s simply the favourite fruit of this fan. Yet part of me has always wondered whether this “perfect median” is a bit of a contrivance. Even the spectre of genetic modification has troubled me. Are these just grapefruits tamed for wimps, I wondered. Well, further research into this citrus spectrum quickly revealed a number of surprises; firstly that the grapefruit is itself a hybrid. So, too, are lemons, limes and oranges, apparently. Who’d have thought it! But it’s not the result of some shady CRISPR gene-editing sorcery; it’s just the way that humans have cross bred and selectively bred different variants for different purposes; some for munching, some for “spice”, some for perching on a Martini.
And the pomelo, it turns out, is not a hybrid; it’s an elemental citrus totem. So, too, is the bergamot. And the bergamot is partly the point of today’s Strainer. You may well be a big fan of this flavour. It’s increasingly appearing in milk tea stores and even bottled tea drinks in
China. Though used in winter desserts in Italy and other Mediterranean countries, this citrus fruit is best known internationally as the “Earl Grey” flavour. I understand there is no pleasure at all in eating a bergamot. China has no native bergamots. It’s not part of the culinary tradition here, never mind the tea culture. Perhaps in China, jasmine occupies the same place as the default non-tea ingredient used in tea production. Both of these strong-smelling substances are stored with the tea leaves, rather than included in the final teabag / loose selection (Lady Grey tea, incidentally, combines both jasmine and bergamot). China also doesn’t have much of a tradition of pairing black tea with lemon, a la Russian samovar. But there is a citrus tea with a real following in China; the pu’er tangerine. The wet fruit is somehow channeled away, Houdinistyle, without damaging the spherical form of the skin. Loose pu’er tea is stuffed, ship-in-a-bottle style, into the cavity. Aging happens (somewhere in West or North China, probably) and the peel becomes leathery and far less orange. The tangerine peel is much more than just neat packaging; the two elements infuse together tastily and consistently. As I write, I’m drinking a lime variant of this formula. It works well, the sprightly oils in the peel complementing the old-book wisdom of the pu’er. Even before discovering this, I knew about peel. Since marrying a Beijinger, I have laid out my tangerine skins on the radiator, occasionally making a hot drink from them. But I never spontaneously thought of pairing them with pu’er. It’s easy to do, and well worth trying, especially if your local tea seller doesn’t sell the wonderful tea balls themselves.
Winter is coming. And there’s a tea for that, too.
19 21
A Player’s Heaven in Nanjing
By Josefa Meng
the Tennis Academy of China
N
anjing is home to the only national-level special tennis academy, the Tennis Academy of China, located in the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Scenic Area on Purple Mountain and built on the former site of the nation’s Central Stadium in Republican times. 20
T
hat such a facility exists in Nanjing
Upon our visit, The Nanjinger spoke with
comes to most as a surprise, especially
Chen Jiahui, a player for the Jiangsu
when the Academy’s credentials become
Women’s
apparent; the only facility in China with
commented on the facility’s grass courts,
four Grand-Slam-standard courts, second
saying, “There has not been any related
to none worldwide and also home to an
competition recently, so the grass courts
Academia Sánchez-Casal, one of the most
just looked like lawns. Today we are lucky
famous tennis academies in the world
to see the staff going on to the grass to paint
that has helped to train the likes of Andy
lines and install the net”.
Murray, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Daniela
As for the Academia Sánchez-Casal, their
Hantuchova, among others.
tennis
singles
team,
who
cooperation with the Tennis Academy
Divided into a training competition area and
of China makes full use of the superior
a living/teaching area, the Academy comes
conditions of the facility and adopts the
under the remit of the National Sports
teaching modes of the Spanish school. ASC
General
Sports
Nanjing began operations on 23 April, 2016,
Management Centre, Jiangsu Provincial
as the third Tennis Academy of Academia
Sports Bureau and the Nanjing Sports
Sánchez-Casal around the world.
Administration
Tennis
Institute. Construction began in 2013 and was completed in 2014, at a cost of nearly ¥200 million. The Academy offers a total of 40 tennis courts, among which are all the Grand Slams’ standard courts, again making the Chinese tennis academy unique in China. The total breakdown comprises seven clay courts, four grass courts (Wimbledon), four
As for the answer to the question on everyone’s minds, yes, the Tennis Academy of China courts are available for hire, at times when there is no competition. The Tennis Academy of China can be contacted on 84755905/18260032574/1589 5982478 asnd accessed via Zhong Lingjie Station (钟灵街) on Metro Line 2.
medium-paced hard courts (Australian Open), 17 fast-paced hard court (US Open) and 8 indoor courts. Among the clay courts, two are traditional red (French Open); five compound red. All four grass courts comply with Wimbledon specifications, while the Academy has been the venue for the “Wimbledon Road” China Division competition for 4 consecutive years. 21
FOR ARTS SAKE with Francesca Leiper
T
wenty days was all they had between receiving
economy”, lit up on the screen, like the ubiquitous red
the order and presenting an initial proposal.
and white slogan banner.
That’s not all that long when you’ve just been asked to design the Jiangsu float that will be
a part of the Tiananmen parade to mark 70 years of vcommunist rule in China.
In prime position up front is a bathyscape; which I am sure you know is a kind of deep-water vessel which takes people to the depths of the ocean for scientific, and perhaps other, pursuits. This one comes with a robot
The task fell to Nanjing University of the Arts who quickly
popping out the top to say hello. To balance it out at
gathered a team of around 20 teachers and students
the rear of the float is a real person suspended within
who got to work scratching their heads. The finished
a compass-like ring. Does her air-born performance
piece would eventually pass the main gate of Tiananmen
represent Jiangsu’s achievements in space too? I’ll let
on 1 October, taking all of about 20 seconds or so, but
you decide.
not until the designs had successfully jumped through a number of hoops.
To top it off is a slanted multi-lane running machine which sports five men and women who stand for the
So how do you represent a province spanning 100
courageous and innovative people of Jiangsu, so we
thousand square kilometres and home to around 80
are told. Clad in tight-fitting silver suits that look like
million people, all within a 15-metre long colourful
something out of Austin Powers, they run together to a
parade cart?
never-ending finish line.
Let’s take a look, from bottom up. At the base you’ve got Nanjing cloud-pattern brocade swirling around in gold, blue and turquoise to represent Jiangsu’s three main waterways; the Yangtze River, the Huaihe River and the Grand Canal. It’s a sympathetic nod to nature and culture, although there’s not much more of that. From here on up it’s all about technology and the future.
While the university was tasked with producing the final design, hundreds of other people were involved in the process. One of the main design features to be rejected was the S-shaped structure that puts the “su” in Jiangsu. Several initial designs also incorporated the Yangtze River Bridge (see above), an obvious choice, as it was the first heavy bridge designed and constructed using only Chinese expertise in the 1960s that became an iconic
At the centre of the float is an “invincible super
symbol of Communist China. The bridge designs get my vote, but
computer” (I quote here from the design explanation); a
their rejection sends a clear message that the 70th anniversary
large screen essentially, with a clear message. Just as the
was not about nostalgia and memory, but about pushing forth
float rolled onto CCTV’s live stream the words, “strong
and racing towards the future. 22
Herein, the cosy environment of the restaurant has only a few private dining “booths”, which are in fact pitted, enabling the Japanese tradition of sitting on the floor while eating, and also avoiding the cramp/aching joints from legs crossed for an entire meal. For the elder diners, that’s almost reason enough to go in itself. Japanese restaurants “abroad” offer the same kinds of dishes in the same way that every Italian has a carbonara on their menu. Hence Jiu Shang serves up those delightful breaded pork or chicken cutlets (¥32). The Nanjinger’s two visits presented the opportunity to sample both; the pork pips the chicken to the post by a hair’s breadth.
GASTRONOMY By Frank Hossack
Rotisserie, Japanese Style; Nanjing has a Winner
J
apanese restaurants in Nanjing number in the hundreds, and The Nanjinger has indulged in its fair share. Yet, one Sunday, with a hunger-fueled argument lingering in the air over the various lunch options in the Baijia Lake 1912 leisure area, we stumbled across the hitherto unknown, Jiu Shang Japanese Rotisserie.
Then came another Japanese staple; the kimchi flavoured pancake (¥48) that just gets better when barbecued by yours truly and dipped in one (or all three) of the special sauces designed for purpose. Seafood and chive versions thereof (¥48 and ¥28, respectively) also available. But it was the meat platter that attracted us back. Upon our first visit, we must have had serious protein deprivation, for it took us a full 5 seconds to order a ¥388 platter of beef, lamb and pork. And it was worth every fen. E
NA
N J I NGE
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Beinst Class
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Additional info, map, online version or WeChat contact via the QR code that follows each review
Even with an enticing name like that, this is the kind of place that’s easy to walk past, especially for those more intent on the escalator that leads to the queue for likely the cheapest all-you-can-eat buffet in Nanjing (it’s not bad, actually).
Except perhaps for the pork slices, marginally more chewy than the staple for which China is famed. Ordering a smaller, but not necessarily in-proportionately cheaper option would be the better choice.
Beside the escalator, therefore, sits Jiu Shang, and from the outside, many would argue there is little to recommend it. Heard the expression, “Mutton dressed as lamb”? All the more reason to step inside. Where, by the way, BBQ heaven awaits.
In addition to the predictable sushi options, which, this correspondent was told, are top notch too, special place of mention should be reserved for the “sausages on a bone” (three for ¥38). Second-tier Nanjing is all but evident in the sausage offerings from local supermarkets or delis; its Chinese or German, take it or leave it. Jiu Shang’s readyto-bbq option, on the other hand, is the absolute perfect antidote to those sausage woes; succulent pork with an irresistible fat-meat ratio. Speaking of BBQ, the charcoal-fired version thereof is sufficiently generous that diners need not be put off, or petrified, by the exchanging of the coals that all too often sees the morsels you’ve had your eye on for ages disappear into 23
red hot coals, while fellow diners gasp at the proximity to that which created their own earth. That Jiu Shang be the best Japanese restaurant in Nanjing is a tough call to make, but it can’t be far off. Jiu Shang Japanese Rotisserie 久上日式烤肉店 is located in the 1912 Leisure Area in Jiangning 江宁区 百家湖1912. Tel 02552117685/18068815755.
RETREAT By Frank Hossack
One Night with the Pinecones in Pukou
G
iven that it is possible to count the “Nice Things to do in Pukou” on the fingers of both hands, any addition to the list is a welcome one. So it came to be that The Nanjinger found itself camped out in one of the many “huts” that comprise the rural, but decidedly civilised and newly-opened, Yunxilinshe (云栖林舍), English name Pinecone Residential Village. A retreat that is perfect for an overnight away from the city, but close enough to home, Yunxilinshe would also be ideal as a romantic escape or an opportunity to give urban youngsters a little taste of country life, Chinese-style, i.e. with all the mod cons.
people walking on it very, very slowly), the deck of which The Nanjinger estimates to be 50 metres high. Not wishing to venture therein, The Nanjinger was content to watch the park’s evening firework show (it was National Day and so it was a good one) from the comfort of our hut’s balcony. Technically a Bed & Breakfast, whereby the latter is a pleasantly large spread, The Nanjinger’s only complaint would be that something resembling dinner would have been nice, to avoid driving to the nearest hotel. Again, the balcony of our hut would have been the other option, for something of a picnic; given the amount of trees around, BBQs are out. Just remember one thing, before attempting to order online, the location puts the delivery fee through the roof. Just as important, don’t forget the Esky. And a good book.
Hut, therefore, may not be quite the right word (but neither does “villa” qualify). Each is tastefully decorated and well appointed with almost everything one would expect from a five-star hotel room. Up to 100 such huts are divided into four sections, with the appropriate architecture to match; the Chinese, Japanese, Post-Modern and Zen areas. As usual, The Nanjinger chose to be… Zen, taking the two-bedroom option that went for just ¥300 for 1 night, as part of an opening promotion. At time of writing, same are going for ¥550-770. Across the road is the draw for most locals, a theme park made not-particularly attractive by the fact that its standout feature is one of those terrifying glass-bottomed bridges (witness
Yunxilinshe is located off the west end of Yanshan Avenue (沿山大道), accessible from Longhua Lu metro station, exit 2, and the 686 bus. Tel 85288888. 24
Beautiful Nanjing weather greeted EtonHouse Nanjing’s maiden school Fun Run, held in Hexi Ecological Park. All students, Early Years through Year 10 enjoyed a picnic lunch and fun activities that created a wonderful family atmosphere. Students had also gathered sponsors, whose donations went to a student-council nominated local charity.
Band on the Run 25 October, 2019
25
At the Learning2 Asia conference, proudly hosted by Nanjing International School, over 40 teachers participated, with many facilitating teacher-led workshops and giving L2 talks, while another 60 staff, students and parents, along with our amazing facilities team, worked to make sure the conference ran to the school’s usual worldclass standard. Highlights were the 20 students leading workshops for teachers, delivering amazing speeches and inspiring participants throughout.
You’re the Voice 18-20 October, 2019
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Around 30 runners and walkers, some from as far a field as Shanghai and Suzhou, joined Nanjing’s Hash House Harriers for its first Oktoberfest-themed run, with rather fine costumes, including the Bavarian Dirndl, Lederhosen and equally-good German beers. Games such as Masskrugstemmen were enjoyed by all, before dinner at a local restaurant.
Run to the Hills 27 October, 2019
27
Students, staff, parents and friends of The British School of Nanjing celebrated the 71st birthday of the United Nations with an international festival in the gym, some fantastic presentations from students and families, plus a first public performance from the school’s own Orchestra of United Nations in the theatre.
One World 25 October, 2019
28
Legal notes from The Nanjinger in association with:
THE
D’Andrea & Partners Law Firm
The Role Played by Character in China’s Legal System
M
ost people associate character with moral qualities but the definition also includes non-moral characteristics, behavioural tendencies and patterns of life, things with
past misdeeds, in which the prosecutor offers evidence that the method a defendant used to commit past misdeeds is unique and nearly identical to the
nothing to do with morality; being mindful of others, shyness or a fondness for cats, etc. Is a man honest, is he of a violent temper, is he modest and retiring or imprudently forward? These all constitute traits of character. The definition is also tricky because we must distinguish persistent behaviour from a tendency to behave in certain ways. The opinion of a person generally derives from the knowledge of the people who are best acquainted with him/her.
method allegedly used to commit the charged crime. Evidence is then admissible, not to address the bad character, but to show that the common MO points to the defendant as the perpetrator of the charged crime. For whatever it’s worth, a judge might give a limiting instruction to disregard the evidence as it relates to the defendant’s character.
The reference to “character” includes both reputation and a person’s disposition. In court, if a reputation is truly bad, or can be deemed poor in other respects affecting moral character, a jury may infer that the witness is unreliable. Generally speaking, in civil proceedings, the good character of a party is inadmissible, unlike defendants in criminal cases. However, there are a few exceptions. A defendant’s character can be attacked in civil proceedings to undermine their credibility. Of course, if a party in litigation has their credibility argued, they can call evidence of good character to rebut the allegation. Evidence of character may be a means to suggest that a person acted on the occasion in question in a manner consistent with his/her character. This use of character is often described as “circumstantial”. Evidence of good character is not permitted for the purpose of arguing that the defendant committed a crime but it is admssible to show that the defendant is unlikely to have committed an alleged crime. Prosecutors also sometimes use the concept of modus operandi (MO) to present evidence of a defendant’s
There are fundamental distinctions on evidence and judicial proof between the Chinese system and AngloAmerican law (Common law). In civil law systems, the judge calls and questions witnesses, while the trial relies upon written evidence and minimal use of precedent. Common law systems however, grant attorneys great control over the trial; there are intricate rules as to evidence and they rely heavily upon precedent. However, with recent judicial reforms in both civil and common law jurisdictions, the distinctions between the two systems have diminished significantly. In many civil-law countries, such as China, attorneys are taking a leading role in calling and questioning witnesses. For instance, there are now almost no exclusionary restrictions against hearsay and character evidence in the Chinese evidence system. Usually, character evidence can only be used as the basis for impeaching the defendant’s statements, rather than the basis for convicting him/her of a crime. Hearsay, character and propensity, as well as other certain areas of evidence are excluded when offered to show fault and liability. Nowadays, when the judge encounters a witness in court reporting another’s statement, they usually call the author of the text to the stand; hearsay evidence may then be transformed into witness testimony via these means.
DISCLAIMER This article is intended solely for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Although the information in this article was obtained from reliable official sources, no guarantee is made with regard to its accuracy and completeness. For more information please visit dandreapartners.com or WeChat: dandreapartners
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THE
Download this map to your smartphone by scanning the QR code above.
To assist with journey planning, The Nanjinger’s Metro Map includes first and last train times for every station. 31
