Amiram Hayardeny's My China Experience

China - Gaps Bridged

I will have to ask my Chinese colleagues and friends to skip the following entry.  They, obviously, know the facts.  As I wrote here many times before, China is a country in transition.  When you walk the streets in Beijing, and then visit the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, you may find it difficult to bridge the gap between the two: current and Old Glory.  The fact is that China has a glorious history.  History of great accomplishments, innovation and inventions reaching far back.  In fact, many inventions and discoveries that are so proudly presented by the West as original, have been invented and discovered centuries earlier by Chinese scientists and inventors.

Why did I suddenly choose to write about it?  There are two reasons.  The Chinese New Year celebration is done with a lot of fireworks.  Fireworks is a great Chinese invention.  I was watching a Discovery Channel special about fireworks, and I was fascinated.  The Chinese had invented the first self propelled rocket almost a full millennium before it was invented in the West.  I saw a model of multiple arrowheads with a programmed delay, which was used at wars almost a thousand years ago!

But that was only one reason.  The other reason was that my two teenage daughters and my nephew were visiting here in Beijing for the Spring Festival - the Chinese New Year celebration.  We went to many places and I had to explain and bridge the gap for them, between what they are seeing today and the glorious past.

So here is a partial list of Chinese inventions that I was able to find in a short time. 

Emperor Wu Di financed a research done by alchemists on the subject of eternal life.  The research yielded the substance now called gun powder.  But its advantages as a weapon were not discovered until the 8th century.

The first seismoscope was invented in China in roughly 132 A.D. The instrument was said to resemble a large jar with 8 dragons in a circle, each depicting a direction on a compass.  Each of the dragons was holding a ball in its mouth.  When an earthquake occurred, the dragon closest to the direction where the earthquake occurred, would drop the ball.  It is said that the instrument predicted many earthquakes, and that the ruler was able to send help to the affected provinces on a timely manner.  One time, a ball was dropped from one of the dragons' mouths, but no earthquake was felt.  It was days after that when messengers arrived and told about a major earthquake in a remote province.  It was then that everyone understood how sensitive the instrument was.

During the Qin dynasty (221-206 B.C.), Chinese fortune tellers were using lodestone (a mineral known to align itself in a north-south direction).  Eventually some noticed this alignment quality of lodestone and invented the compass!

The list goes on and on: paper, printing (yes, printing was invented in China in the 7th century A.D., the Gutenberg print was invented many centuries after that in 1445), the modern sail structure, silk production process, porcelain (after which China is named), the ship's rudder, the crossbow, guns, kites, and many more inventions adopted (or reinvented) by the West centuries later.  http://inventors.about.com/od/chineseinventors/Chinese_Inventions.htm

Walking the streets of Beijing today, I often find myself looking for explanations.  A wise man once told me that a good measure for a country's development is the percentage of people who are working in agriculture.  The larger the population working in agriculture with relation to the entire population of the country - the less advanced it is.  As an example, the USA and Canada have between 20%-40% rural population.  China has 60%-80% (source: http://www.fao.org/es/ess/chartroom/gfap.asp#).  From what I gather, in the past, the ratio in China was much lower, giving way to science and culture.  Consecutive famines and wars caused large parts of the population to turn to agriculture for survival.  It is obvious that in today's China, there are less people working on the food supply of the rest.  It is also obvious that science and culture are picking up again.

Again, I find similarities between the Jewish people and the Chinese people.  Jews were expelled from their country about two thousand years ago.  They were spread around the world, and when they came back to the homeland and established their state, seventy years ago, a very significant gap had to be bridged.  Walking the streets of Jerusalem today, you quickly realize that an explanation is necessary to bridge between the era of the kingdoms of King David and King Solomon, to the current one.

So here is my lesson: when you see something that is not self explanatory - look for explanations.  You will find that while the gaps are interesting, the explanations are even more interesting.  There is always more than meets the eye!

For more about inventions and discoveries made in China and the time in which the corresponding invention was made in the western world, see: http://www.computersmiths.com/chineseinvention/index.html
 

Posted at 03:39PM Feb 26, 2007 by Amiram Hayardeny in Personal  |  Comments[2]

The Generation Clash

When I was young, (about five centuries ago - my teenage kids would happily suggest) I remember having a piece of soap, and a bottle of shampoo, and I was all set for a shower.  The language has evolved, and so did the products.  What was then shower - is now part of a "personal hygiene regimen", soap has turned into "body wash", and a whole family of products were added to the body cleaning process.

My two teenage daughters came from the US to visit me in Beijing.  They brought gifts, clothes (a lot), the usual iPods and music things, and another suitcase for their personal hygiene regimen.  Shampoos, gels, shaving foam and blades, conditioners, moisturizers, night cream and day cream, and only God knows what else...

I have no problem with that, and I am usually not a fan of any conspiracy theory about big conglomerates controlling the world.  Yet, I couldn't help thinking about the following.  Someone is sitting out there planning carefully the consumption of products.  It starts earlier and earlier, and surprisingly, not only the consumption is carefully planned, the need is planned as well.  Thirty years ago nobody knew the term Hair Gel.  Now if you tell someone not to take his gel container on board an airplane due to security reasons, they think that you deprive them of their livelihood.  Seriously, I saw this guy on CNN, all up in arms about not being allowed to bring his gel on board the airplane.

The interesting part is, that they (whoever they may be) are using the generation gap to work it out, and frankly, it is working very well.  Imagine this.  When I was young I loved listening to Led Zeppelin.  (Led who?  asked my sixteen year old girl).  My father thought that Led Zep represented all the bad in this world: drugs, crime and what have you.  He said that Frank Sinatra was real music, the Led was noise at best.  The age difference between my father and I is 27 years, which is similar to the age difference between my older daughter and myself.  At the time I thought that my father was old, old fashioned, not familiar with the "cool" and "hype" stuff, and therefore, whatever he said was considered irrelevant.  What did he know.  Well, guess what: I just grew into my father's old shoes.  I am now the irrelevant guy.  I am not "cool".  When I say to my eleven year old girl: why do you need shampoo, conditioner, gel and the mouse - she says to me (yes, with the look - you know - the "what do you know" look): Dad, I NEED this stuff, everyone is using it...

So here is how it goes: a carefully planned product life cycle: start them on shampoo and conditioner, then throw in the gel, the spray and the styling mouse.  When the hair is damaged enough after long use of strange chemicals, get them on the "damaged hair" product line.  When they start losing their hair, get them on the hair loss product line.  When that is over, get them on the "regrow" product line.  When there is nothing to repair anymore, start replacements, implants, not to mention wigs and toupees...  And don't forget: if someone from the previous generation tells you that when they were young, all they needed was shampoo and soap - wave them off, tell them that evolution is much faster now.

I spoke to my wife about it, asking what will bring this thing to an end, she said: consumers rebellion.  I said I didn't think so.  It will only happen one household at a time.

As a side note, I must mention the ingenuity of the iPod.  There is something in this product which I have never seen before.  It is so well marketed, that kids all over the world would rather sing on their own than buy an MP3 or MP4 player made by another company.  It is absolutely outstanding.  There is no judgment involved when buying an MP3 player.  I mean things like: durability, quality, price, warranty, they all seem like a things of the past.  iPod is IT!  (I have a confession to make - I got myself an iPod Nano.  And yes, I like it.  I also had a Samsung Yepp, and I liked that one too).

So, while respecting marketing, product life cycles, sales, revenues and profits, which seem to be driving our world, I have this natural objection to planting, growing, maintaining consumers.  And the younger they are, the more I object.  When I was growing up, eleven year old girls were still playing hide and seek.  Nowadays, they shave their legs, and apply a series of chemicals to their body and hair on a daily basis.  I guess that old guys were always irrelevant.  When did we decide that childhood was irrelevant?

As for me, I am bold headed, no problem, soap still does the job for me.

Posted at 11:23AM Feb 24, 2007 by Amiram Hayardeny in Personal  |  Comments[1]

Happy New Year!

We have been told and warned.  We read about it on-line.  They even said it on the evening news, various times.  Still, we were taken by surprise.  At 20:00 last night, it started.  We were standing on the porch, and the entire skyline just kit up.  The noise was almost unbearable, yet the site was spectacular.  If you haven't guessed it yet, I am referring to the demonstration of fire power shown by our Chinese neighbors on the eve of the new year - The Year of the Pig.  Fireworks.  Fire crackers.  Call them whatever you like - it was quite a show.
And then it subsided, and we thought that it was over, that everyone went happy and hopeful to sleep.  Only to realize, that the 20:00 show was only done to warm up the engines...  At exactly midnight, hell broke loose.  Back to the porch.  This time it looked more like the city was on fire.  The noise was indescribable, but I can imagine that people living in war zones can take a shot at describing this noise.  It was beautiful, powerful, amazing.

This is my first time in Beijing for the Spring Festival.  I can't compare it to previous years.  I can only compare it to Independence Day celebrations I have seen over the years in Israel, in the US and in France.  Compared to last night - all the above seemed like children playing with match boxes.  And that is the understatement of the Year of the Pig...

The year of the pig should be honored and blessed having had such a wonderful welcome.

I looked it up and found that within the twelve animals representing the Chinese cycle of years, there are different characteristics depending where they fall on a 60 year cycle.  For example this year is the "Fire Pig" (see also: Metal Pig, Water Pig, Wood Pig, and the Earth Pig).  I am going to guess that the demonstration of fireworks was particularly strong due to the fact that this year is the year of the Fire Pig.  You may want to look it up here: http://www.usbridalguide.com/special/chinesehoroscopes/Pig.htm.  It may seem unlikely to find this information in the US Bridal Guide site, but I thought it was a good source of data.

So, welcome the Year of the Fire Pig.  I hope that you will be healthy, happy, generous and prosperous, productive and successful.

Happy New Year everyone - Xin Nian Kuai Le!,  新年快乐!

Posted at 07:42AM Feb 18, 2007 by Amiram Hayardeny in Personal  |  Comments[1]

Apologies

It occurred to me that without proper explanation and association, words that I write here can be associated with reality and left for interpretation.  Let me make it very clear.  Things happen to me, and they trigger thought, memories, stories, observations.  I like to share them with people in conversation, and sometimes in my blog.  A couple of weeks ago, I saw a TV show which reminded me of the King Solomon judgment about the baby.  I thought it is a worthy story to publish.  One of my Chinese colleagues pointed out to me, that in Chinese culture, there's a similar story - the story about the two peaches which killed three knights.

Since I am intrigues by similarities between the two cultures - Chinese and Jewish - both with thousands of years of documented culture, I wanted to share it as well.  But there is absolutely no connection between either of the stories to the current affairs in my life.  None whatsoever.

I use my blog to communicate with people I don't know, and sometimes also to document a thought process.  I would like to keep doing that.  I now understand the power of the pen so to speak, and will make an effort to avoid controversial entries without more explanation.  I apologize.

Posted at 10:01AM Feb 15, 2007 by Amiram Hayardeny in Personal  |  Comments[0]

Two Peaches Kill Three Knights...

After reading the story about King Solomon ruling of the live baby, Paul Lee, a colleague and a scholar, mentioned to me that there's a Chinese idiom from which one can learn a similar lesson.  The story itself is not a corresponding one.  It describes arrogance, inability to compromise and even listen to others, being too sure and confident, and the inevitable tragic results.  The idiom is simple: "Two Peaches Kill Three Knights".  Here it is:

The kingdom of Qi had three powerful knights, Gongsun Jie, Tian Kaijiang, and Gu Yezi, who were so arrogant and secure in their power that they were grossly disrespectful of their kingdom's Chief Minister, one Duke Yanzi.  When he complained of their behavior to the king, the king sadly replied that the knights were too powerful for him to punish. 

Taking matters into his own hands, Tanzi plucked the two best peaches from the finest tree in the king's garden and sent them to the three knights via messenger, with the news that the two peaches must go to the two most valiant knights. 

Gongsun Jie immediately spoke up, claiming to have killed a wild boar with his bare hands, as well as capturing a tiger in the same manner.  Needless to say, he grabbed a peach as soon as he was done talking. 

Tian Kaijiang routed two entire armies with just his sword and no companions, finishing his story by snatching up the other peach.

Then Gu Yezi spoke.  When he was riding along the Yellow River on horseback, a giant turtle grabbed his steed and made off with it, dismounting him at the same time.  Not willing to give up his horse, Gu Yezi sank to the river bottom, first running a hundred steps upstream and then, after having gotten his bearings, ran nine miles downstream, finally killing the turtle and rescuing his horse.  When the locals saw him emerge from the depths of the river with the trophy head of the turtle in one hand and his horse's tail in the other, they promptly mistook him for a river God. 

By now, of course, the peaches were gone, so he drew his sword and demanded one.  The other two knights were so ashamed of their greed that they handed over both their peaches to Gu Yezi, then committed suicide.  Immediately afterwards, Gu Yezi himself felt guilt, both for having brought about the deaths of his comrades and for bragging about himself.  Naturally, he committed suicide as well, and as a last gesture of his arrogance, he lamented the greed of his fellows, commenting that if they had given him one peach and split the other in two between them, then everyone would have gotten what he deserved.  Thus ends the story known in China as "Two Peaches Kill Three Knights."

The approaching New Year made me look at the Jewish calendar - something I do not do very often.  I found (what I should have known) that the Chinese Lunar year is completely parallel to the Jewish months.  Indeed, the Chinese New Year is celebrated on the first of the month of Adar, which is the sixth month on the current Jewish calendar, and the 12th month on the ancient Jewish calendar.  (In ancient times, the Jewish New Year was celebrated in the spring, on the first day of the month of Nissan.  (http://www.eifiles.cn/cjc.htm)

Posted at 10:27AM Feb 07, 2007 by Amiram Hayardeny in Personal  |  Comments[0]

Keep It Alive!

I know, the title sounds a little cryptic.

In Jewish history, King Solomon is considered to be the wisest man who ever lived. There are many stories about the wisdom of King Solomon. Here's one.

One day two women came before the King. They carried with them a little baby, which was set down on the floor, at the foot of Solomon’s throne.

“O my lord,” said one of the women, “five days ago I gave birth to a child. This woman and I live in the same house, and three days later she also gave birth, but that same night her child died, and at midnight she arose and, while I was sleeping, took my son away from me, and laid her dead child in its place. When I awoke in the morning I thought at first that my son was dead, until I realized that it was not my child.”

“No,” interrupted the second woman, “she is lying, my lord, she is lying! The living child is mine and the dead is hers!”

“No,” cried the first woman, wildly. “No, the dead child is yours, and the living child is mine.”
King Solomon raised his hand for silence.

“One of you says ‘my child lives and yours is dead ’, and the other says ‘your child is dead and my child lives’: there is a simple way to resolve the matter. Bring me a sword.”

A sword was brought, and the assembly waited to see how the King would proceed.

“Very well,” he said, “ cut the child in half, and give half to one mother, and half to the other.”
The first woman turned pale. “O my lord,” she said in a faltering voice. “Pray, give her the child. I beg you, do not kill it.”

But the other woman’s face remained hard. “Let it be neither mine nor yours,” she said, “divide it as the King has ordained.”

Then Solomon arose, and pointed to the first woman. “The child belongs to her, ” he said. “Give her the child, and do not kill it. She is its mother.” Word of this judgment spread throughout Israel, and people marveled at the wisdom of the King.

The lesson of this story is rather simple. It is easy to spot the people who really care: they are willing to give up their half in order to keep the whole alive. In short, sometimes insisting on getting your fair share is still a losing strategy...

Posted at 08:19PM Feb 05, 2007 by Amiram Hayardeny in Personal  |  Comments[1]

Food for Thought

If you knew me personally, you would have wondered how come I haven't blogged about food yet.  I guess that when you first see me, you would notice me, I can't be ignored or overlooked, I can't be pushed around.  It is simple - I am big.  185 cm, and 260 lbs.  Don't worry, this is not a JDate entry, it is merely to explain why this blog entry is about food...

When I first got to Beijing in April, 2006, I realized that if I rely on the pictures in the local restaurants' menus, my meals were very unpredictable.  My favorite dish - Chicken and Peanuts would end up being bones and tomatoes, tofu and hot peppers, and various other combinations.  Can you imagine the disappointment, when you sit in the restaurant all ready and drooling, and the poor waiter puts in front of you.... well, something you were not expecting.

In order to avoid that, I have started the following tradition.  When I had something I liked, I respectfully asked the waiter to write it down for me (in Chinese).  Soon enough I had a list of my favorite dishes.  It was in handwriting, and due to my frequent visits, the page started looking like a dish.  So I asked my faithful helper, Jasmine, to put in a document.  When my wife and I entered a restaurant, we were no longer gambling.  We were placing safe bets.  I remembered this list today, and I respectfully put it here before you.  I no longer use it.  I'm not dieting, don't worry.  It's just that my Chinese is a lot better, and my wife is slowly becoming a true Beijinger.  She is kidding with taxi drivers and waiters.  I am becoming an outsider.  Well sometimes she does translate.

 

Next.  I don't know if I have mentioned it, but my wife is a great cook, and a baker.  She makes the most delicious food you can imagine.  Fortunately for her, it is I who is collecting the resulting pounds.  She just enjoys the kitchen.  Anyway, she was surfing the web this afternoon, and she saw a recipe for Shakshuka.  Yes, I know, sounds funny, but trust me, it is absolutely delicious.  So here is the recipe for two:
 
Ingredients:
1 large onion - minced
2-3 cloves of garlic roughly diced
4 cut tomatoes
4 eggs
3 peppers (all green, but different colors OK)
2 chili peppers (you can add more - I love it real hot)
1 small can tomato paste
1/4 cup oil
Salt, pepper, paprika to taste
A must: freshly baked bread

Preparation:
Fry the onion until transparent
Add the garlic and fry for one more minute
Add the peppers and cook for 2-3 minutes
Add the tomatoes and cook for 2 more minutes
Add the tomato paste and the spices
Cook with close pan for 10 minutes until peppers are soft
Add the eggs and cook with open pan for another 8-10 minutes
Dip the fresh bread in and enjoy!

Lastly, My wife, the kids and I went to a Greek restaurant on Sunday.  Disappointment all around.  Well maybe not ALL around.  The Greek Salad seemed to have been authentic (and good), and so was the Tomato and Mozzarella salad.  The bread was good and so was the prepackaged butter.  But the mix grill, which contained (I think) a skew of lamb, of beef, and of chicken, was partially edible.  The beef, particularly, needed a a much better set of tools than my 45 years old teeth.  Perhaps Black and Decker makes something with which this meat can be chewed.  And the price was much more appropriate if the restaurant was in Greece.  I was thinking that in an average local Chinese restaurant, we would have eaten thrice as much for half the price.

So truthfully, Beijing offers an incredible variety of restaurants.  Ridiculously cheap as well as incredibly expensive.  So far, I found that my favorite restaurants are the neighborhood joints, with the real hot Chicken and Peanuts dish, and a great eggplant and potatoes dish.  With fried rice and a bottle of real cold YanJing Peejio (local beer), I am all set.

Posted at 08:59PM Feb 04, 2007 by Amiram Hayardeny in Personal  |  Comments[0]