Dr. Lianlian Lin with Dr. Mark A. Rafter
Dr. Lianlian Lin has been one of my teachers of Chinese Culture and History here in the U.S. Dr. Lin is a great friend and supporter of The Modern Day Marco Polo and holds important status both here in the US and in China. It is a privilege to present Dr. Lin and this article. Dr. Lianlian Lin is Professor of Management at Cal Poly Pomona. She currently serves as CEO of Roundtable of Chinese American Organizations, President of Professors and Experts Federation USA, and Chairwoman of US International Talent Association.
When Dr. Lin is your advocate as she was for Madam Sue, leaders received what she presented. Dr. Lin recently visited a number of national cultural institutions in Beijing for cultural exchanges. Among them were the National Museum of China, the Overseas Chinese History Museum of China, and the National Library of China. Lin donated Sue’s new autobiography for the museums and library’s collections. Dr. Lianlian Lin is a member of the Organizing and Editorial Committee for Zhang Sujiu’s autobiography 《The Daughter of The Peace General》. Sujiu, known as Sue, is one of the most prominent Chinese community leaders in the United States. As I have written in my book review I was an editor and contributor of Madam Sue’s bookso I know first hand the important contribution Dr. Lin made to this book publishing and presentation to China’s National Museums and Library.
The National Museum of China was formed by the merger of the National Museum of Chinese History and the National Museum of the Chinese Revolution, which is a modern comprehensive museum with the world’s largest single building area. It is the pinnacle of history, culture and art that represents the national collection, research, display and interpretation of the representative material evidence of Chinese culture. At the National Museum of China, Lin had a meeting with a senior expert Mr. Wang Haijiao, the Deputy Director of the Department of Books and Materials, and his colleagues. Lin donated Zhang Sujiu’s autobiography 《The Daughter of the Peace General》，which she said reflected the history of the lives and struggles of the Chinese diaspora in the United States. Both sides introduced their respective unit and association, and both expressed their willingness to do their utmost to preserve and document the history of more overseas Chinese. Director Wang conveyed the welcome and gratitude of Director Weng Huainan of the Books and Materials Department and offered a cultural and creative souvenir from the National Museum and tickets for the “Repin Art Special Exhibition.”
The National Museum of China is very large and has many exhibitions. Lianlian Lin visited the thematic exhibition 《The Red Flag Flutters Like a Painting: The Collection of Red Classical Cultural Objects》 and saw the original Chinese national flag raised on the day of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Previously, she saw a replica of the Chinese flag when she participated in an event organized by the China Overseas Chinese Federation to visit Tiananmen Tower. Lin also viewed the exhibition “Ancient China: Looking back thousands of years in 115 objects”. In addition, the National Museum also launches the Commemorative Exhibition of “International Friends and China’s War of Resistance” marking the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
The Overseas Chinese History Museum of China is a themed museum at international level that comprehensively displays the history and culture of Chinese overseas immigrants. It is the national base of international cultural exchanges as well as the national research base of overseas Chinese. Dr. Lianlian Lin visited the Overseas Chinese History Museum of China and presented Zhang Sujiu’s autobiography 《The Daughter of The Peace General》to Vice Curator Ning Yi, who is currently in charge at the Museum. They explored the ways to collect and preserve historical records and materials of overseas Chinese. Mr. Ning issued a thank you letter on behalf of the Museum.
At the Overseas Chinese History Museum of China, the basic display of “The Overseas Chinese Historical and Cultural Exhibition” is divided into five parts: the history of Chinese immigration abroad, the life of Chinese diaspora abroad, the contributions of Chinese diasporas abroad, overseas Chinese and China’s development, China Overseas Chinese Affairs. Dr. Lin also viewed two special exhibitions: “All Together with One Heart” – a special exhibition commemorating the overseas Chinese and the Chinese people’s war against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War; and “Dare to Be First” – an exhibition of the pioneering spirit and century-long legend of overseas Cantonese in modern times. Dr. Lin strongly recommends that the Chinese diaspora visit the overseas Chinese Museum. It’s even better to donate historical materials because leaving your overseas footprints here can be properly kept and passed down.
Last but not the least, Dr. Lin visited the National Library of China, which is the National General Library, the National Bibliographic Center, the National Ancient Books Protection Center, and the National Museum of Classic Documents. With a total construction area of 280 thousand square meters, it is one of the largest national libraries in the world. Dr. Lianlian Lin and Mr. Wang Changsheng donated Zhang Sujiu’s autobiography, 《The Daughter of the Peace General, to the National Library. Ms. Ren at the Department of Foreign Language Materials Donation issued a certificate of donation from the National Library to show their appreciation.
As an Editorial Committee member of Zhang Sujiu’s autobiography, Dr. Lianlian Lin said that people-to-people exchanges and cultural exchanges between China and the United States are a two-way process of mutual learning. While overseas Chinese promote Chinese cultural traditions and tell Chinese stories, we could also record and disseminate the stories and contributions of overseas Chinese, so as to spark new ideas and promote cross-cultural understanding and cooperation.
