Please allow me to inform you about a Hmong history course in Guiyang, Guizhou, China which will be started this summer. I'm one of the five American Hmong to attend a similar course in Xiangtan University in 1996. I strongly recommend this course to all of those who are interested in Hmong and Hmong history. Listed below are the invitation letter and class schedule from Guizhou University for Nationalities. Should you have any questions, please contact me via email at hmongabc@prodigy.net or by phone at (651) 293-0019. Yuepheng Xiong
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
GUIZHOU UNIVERSITY FOR NATIONALITIES
Dear colleague,
It gives us a great pleasure to introduce the 2000 summer program for
Guizhou University for Nationalities (GUN).
GUN is situated in a beautiful suburban community of Guiyang city, the
capital of Guizhou province, southwestern part of China. This province is a
province with multiple ethnic groups. GUN is a university specially desired
for students fromthese minority people. this university has been at the
forefront in the education and research of minority cultures. So GUN is an
ideal place for those who wish to experience the vibrant atmosphere of one
of Chinese southwestern minority cultural centers.
As part of the ongoing development of the Department of Sociology, we feel
that our summer school will be of benefit to students of Anthropology,
Sociology, and cognate disciplines in other countries. As the course
combines a comprehensive range of academic topics with a rich cultural
theme, we trust that it will provide students with an enjoyable learning
experience.
We would be grateful if you could display the enclosed leaflets in your
institution, or introduce our program to your friends, and advise students
or other young people of the summer school existence.
Many thanks!
Sincerely yours,
Xiaoping Wu Denhan
Chen
Vice chair of Sociology Department Director of Summer
school
at Sociology Department
SUMMER PROGRAM IN HMONG HISTORY AND CULTURE:
ABOUT GUN:
GUN is situated in a beautifl suburban community of Guiying, the capital of
Guizhou province, southwestern part of China. The main difference between
GUN and other universities is that GUN is a university mainly for
minorities. Guizhou is a province with about 49 minority groups, among
them, Miao/Hmong, Buyi, Dong, Shui and Yi are the most numerous (Miao/Hmong
population here numbers more than 5 million in this province). The
originate desire of GUN is to train students from different minority grops
and sent them back to serve their community. GUN has been at the forefront
inthe education and research of minority cultures. So this university is an
ideal place for whose who wish to experience the vibrant atmosphere of one
of Chinese southwestern minority cultural centers. Currently the university
has a student body of more than four thousand.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
This program is an intensive two weeks program. It aims to provide a
stimulating environment in which students may increase their understanding
of the culture and life of Hmong ethnic group in southwest China. Our team
of highly qualified and experienced teaching staff are able to provide a
distinctive overview of Hmong culture, past and present.
ABOUT THE COURSE
The program will offers a comphrensive and enjoyable introduction to the
history and culture of Hmong ethnicity group, through a coordinated program
of lectures, field trips and visits to places of interest. The course will
consist of a core program of lectures, giving an overview of Hmong society
from the period of earliest settlement to the present, focusing on such
issues as the settlement history and the development of Hmong societies,
their early literature, mythology and folklore, the tourism industry and the
marketing of heritage in contemporary Hmong communities. Lectures will be
supplemented by visits to national museums, Hmong villages and historical
sites, and other places of interest. The course consists of approximately
26 hours of instruction in the classroom. Most of the classes will be held
from 9:30 in the morning to 4:00 in the afternoon. The rest of the time of
the afternoons are devoted to the Culture program, individual laboratory
work, and consultation with teachers, most of them will be Hmong professors.
During the field trip, the students will travel to Hmong communities and
stay there for some time, to experience the daily life of the Hmong there.
The attendants are supposed to sumit a paper (approximately 5 pages).
Period of study for two weeks: Middle of June to the end of June, 2000.
CREDITS:
GUN will provide students with a certificate of attendance and each student
will receive a detailed transcript of thirty hours. Those students who wish
to gain credits on programs in their home institution should discuss this
aspect with their departmental head prior to commencement of the course.
Visiting students will have access to the college library.
FEES:
Two weeks program:
1. Application fee: $10.00 US (non-refundable)
2. The total fee for the progam is: $500.00 US, which:
-tuition
-housing in two bed rooms
-food for all days in the campus
-get together parties
-sport activities
-evenings with guest speakers
-film evening
-farewell dinner with dancing afterwards
Expenditures not included in he program fees:
-all the costs to all the field trips (travel tickets, entrance fees,
food, and accommodation)
-books
-any insurance
Information: If you need further information about admission requirements
and the application procedure, please contact the following addresses:
PROGRAM, FIRST WEEK:
Monday:
-9:00 - 11:30, introduction: Guiyang city and Guizhou province, minority
groups
-1:00 - 5:00, Guiyang city tour, visit to People's Square and some other
places
-After 5:00, geeting together with teach team
Tuesday:
-9:00 - 11:30, lectures, concise history of Hmong
-1:00 - 2:00, Hmong and Chinese language
-2:30 - 4:00, Tradition Hmong art, such as music, painting and
handicrafts
-After 4:00, getting together with Hmong students of GUN
Wednesday:
-9:00 - 11:30, lecture, ancient Hmong songs and poetry, mythology
-Afternoon, visit national museum
-Evenining, get together with students
Thursday:
-9:00 - 11:30, tradition Hmong art such as music, painting and
handicraft
-1:00 - 2:00, Hmong and Chinese language
-2:30 - 4:00, concise Hmong history (2)
-Evening, guest speaker
Friday:
-Field trip to Anshun, visit batik factory and Hmong traditional
painters, Huangguoshu waterfall, Longgong (dragon palace), Tianxingqiao
(heaven bridge)
-Visit free market in Hmong community on Sunday
SECOND WEEK:
Monday:
-9:00 - 11:30, lecture, modern Hmong history (1)
-1:00 - 2:00, concise history of Hmong (3)
-2:30 - 4:00, ancient Hmong songs and poetry, mythology (2)
-After 4:00, watching videos and films relating to Hmong culture
Tuesday (course or field trip):
-Field trip to an ethnic theme park, Fengyugiao (the roofed wind and
rain bridge), the drum tower and a Hongfenggu (red Maple Lake)
Wednesday:
-9:30 - 11:30, Modern Hmong livelihood
-Afternoon, tour to Gaopo, a typical Miao/Hmong community, and an
evening in the pasture
Thursday:
-9:30 - 11:30, Chinese ethnic policy and international trade law
-1:00 - 4:00, the development of Hmong custom and tradition
-Evening, visiting Hmong scholars
Friday:
-Field trip to Qiandong Nan, a Miao/Hmong region.
-Get together with some Hmong officers in Kale
-Watching Hmong traditional welcome ceremony in langde or Shading
-Lunch and dinner at Hmong family
-Evening, farewell dinner and party
-