[weihsien_camp] Weihsien reunion to include release of Chinese translation of Shantung Compound.

Included in plans for the August 16, 17, 18 Weihsien reunion is the official release of a Chinese translation of Langdon Gilkey's SHANTUNG COMPOUND: The Story of Men and Women Under Pressure.

Released by Harper and Row Publishers in 1966 and still in print, this book is -- as far as I know -- the Weihsien book that has been actively in print for longer than any other. SHANTUNG COMPOUND has been used both as a college text book as well as a popular book in reading clubs. Of Langdon Gilkey's 15 books, SHANTUNG COMPOUND is his most widely read.

If you enjoy reading Amazon comments about the books they sell, you'll find comments about this book like: "magnificent," "powerful," "insightful. "I couldn't put it down. Every few pages I found myself thinking, 'What would I do in that situation?' "

"This book changed my life."

More: Should be "required reading for all managers, supervisors, teachers, religious leaders, and lawyers."

So how does a Chinese professor of history in Beijing discover SHANTUNG COMPOUND and decide to translate it into Chinese?

It's a fascinating story.

Professor Cheng Long, PhD., Beijing Normal university, tells me, "When I studied the history of foreigners in modern China, lots of them led me to the internment camps in Japanese occupied China and southeast Asia. This directed my focus to these camps. I visited Weihsien camp and those in Shanghai. I went to the archives and libraries to search the documents -- especially about Weihsien.

"It was my idea to translate SHANTUNG COMPOUND into Chinese," Dr. Cheng says. "When two years ago I started the research on the camp, this book came into my attention. I thought it was the best and reliable one for Chinese to get a overview of the camp. My friends at Xueyuan Publisher (a Beijing based publishing company focusing on academic books) supported my idea and helped to deal with the copyright. Since the publisher of SHANTUNG COMPOUND , HarperCollins had been incorporated into Harper One, it took us a little while to locate the copyright holder and sign a contract with HarperCollins/HarperOne. "

Dr. Cheng continues, "I also have an ambitious plan to introduce all books/memoirs about Weihsien Camp, one by one in the coming years. Many friends of mine, mostly university professors, show great interest in translating these books when they heard about the camp story from me. So I will probably organize a committee to do the series of translations in the future."

Dr. Cheng says he welcomes help from any of us who hold the copyright of any Weihsien-related books or know how to handle the copyright of any of these books.

He tells me that government officials in Weifang are enthusiastically supporting his efforts and have promised to launch the Chinese edition of Gilkey's book at the 70th reunion ceremonies in August.

I was extremely impressed last summer when in his many weeks of digging in the USA university and national archives Dr. Cheng found a 1930 movie film of the Weihsien compound. I have heard rumors that this film may be shown at the August reunion.

You may be interested in this fact: Beijing Normal University, where Dr. Cheng teaches, is the same university where Arthur Hummel taught English before being interned in Weihsien. The school was then known as Fu Jen University. Arthur Hummel was one of the Hummel-and-Tipton escape from the camp in mid-June, 1944. Hummel became United States Ambassador to China, 1981 to 1985.

Mary Taylor Previte

To:weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Thu, 23 Apr 2015 at 20:02

[weihsien_camp] Re: 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Weihsien Camp

I have just been asked "have you been told who is being covered with housing and meals—or if any are being covered?"

Sorry, the answer is no. I am also anxious to learn more since I can not make any travel or hotel arrangements for my family group who want to visit Beijing, Yantai and Qingdao in addition to Weifang. I have requested an outline programme for the Weifang event as soon as it is available.

Brian

Brian Kerry brian.a.kerry@sky.com [weihsien_camp]
To:weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Thu, 23 Apr 2015 at 17:34

[weihsien_camp] Re: 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Weihsien Camp

If my correction still does not appear correctly on your browser, here it is spelled out

"Suishude at one two six dot com"

Sorry about this!
Brian

briankerry59@yahoo.com [weihsien_camp]
To:weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Thu, 23 Apr 2015 at 17:30

[weihsien_camp] Re: 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Weihsien Camp

I notice that Mr Sui's email address did not appear correctly in my message.

It should read: suishude@126.com

Brian

Brian Kerry brian.a.kerry@sky.com [weihsien_camp]
To:weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Thu, 23 Apr 2015 at 17:07

[weihsien_camp] 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Weihsien Camp

Hello ex-Weihsien Internees,

Are you planning to attend the 70th Anniversary events in Weifang in August? I have been advised that those wishing to attend should, if they have not already done so, submit their names to Mr Sui Shude who will arrange for the invitations to be sent out.

Mr Sui's email address is: suishude@126.com.

I hope I shall meet many of you there!
zài jiàn
Brian Kerry