Bird Tracks in the Air - You’re Invited to The 7th Greater Van Asian Heritage Celebration 2021
During the COVID-19 pandemic, now, more than ever, is the good time to recognize how our communities have been shaped by many diverse cultures and to celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Asian Canadians.
1.
The theme for Asian Heritage Month 2021 is "Recognition, Resilience, and Resolve".
Asian Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate the many inspirational Asian descents whose accomplishments have played a vital role in social, artistic and economic success in the municipal, provincial and federal levels.
Asian Heritage Month is dedicated to recognizing and deepening our understanding and appreciation of the resilience, perseverance and contributions of Asian Canadians.
Now, more than ever, we stand together, we demonstrate through our words and actions, we commit to build a truly racism-free society, and stay true to our shared values of respect, inclusion and diversity.
2.
With many residents born outside the country and the majority having connections to over 30 Asian cultural roots, Greater Vancouver is one of the most diverse communities in Canada.
Poetry is always one of the best carriers of culture. Hence, we invite you to join us for:
The 7th Greater Van Asian Heritage Celebration 2021
Bird Tracks in the Air
-Wang Anshi Poetry Appreciation
Zoom meeting:
Time: Friday, May 28, 2021 @7pm (Vancouver time)
Guest Speaker and Authors: Dr. Jan and Yvonne Walls
Hosts: Cici Liang, Aiying Li
As usual, as one of the WS Sharing Series, this small sized, casual event is conducted in both English and Chinese.
Space is limited, reserve yours at:
If you wish to read a poem from the book, please also submit at
I encourage everyone to take this opportunity to learn more about the most mature form of enlightenment revealed in Wang Anshi’s poetry, to experience the cornerstone of a mellow philosophy of life, to appreciate the diverse cultures, traditions and histories of Asia.
3.
Wang Anshi (1021-1086): was known as a prime minister, writer, one of the truly great poets of the Song dynasty, has always been known as an essayist, one of the “Eight Great Essayists of the Tang and Song Dynasties”, a master of the shorter verse forms, the eight-line regulated verse (Lǜshī) and the quatrain verse (Juéjù) form.
After his retirement from his comprehensive political, economic, educational, social and military reforms with the vision for a better China, the Taoistic and Buddhistic dimensions of his worldview were revealed through his poetry.
Wang was, perhaps even more than a committed Taoist, a serious Chan (Zen) Buddhist. His quest for enlightenment, his sympathy for people and animals who suffer, his request visits to Buddhist temples, his appreciative poems to Buddhist monks and his many poems in imitation of the Buddhist monk-poets Han Shan and Shi De, all show him to be a serious believer in Buddhist ideals.
Jan W. Walls: received his M.A. and Ph. D degrees from Indiana University in Chinese Language and Literature. He is a Professor Emeritus in the Humanities Department at Simon Fraser University, where he was Founding Director of the David Lam Centre for International Communication and Founding Director of the Asia-Canada Program.
In addition to teaching at Aichi University in Japan, the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria in Canada, he also served as First Secretary for Cultural AND Scientific Affairs at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing and Founding Vice-President of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. He has published many English translations of Chinese literature, especially poetry.
Honorable Advisor for WS Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society.
Yvonne L. Walls: received her M.