ASIA TIMES

New book on Chinese culture arrives

PHOTO:  EAST AND WEST: Author Dr. Yit Seng Yow and the WA Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests, the Hon Mr. Tony McRae, loos over Dr. Yow's book, Chinese Dimensions - their Roots, Mindset and Psyche

Marilyn Chin

ZODIAC symbols, yin and yang, the I-Ching, Lao Tze, Confucius, Sun Tzu — all these can be recognized easily as being part of the rich and diverse heritage of Chinese people living both in China and all around the world.

They are also just a few of the many concepts which can be found in Dr Yit Seng Yow’s new book Chinese Dimensions: Their Roots, Mindset and Psyche.

On October 17, an informal gathering was held at the Parliament House to witness the Australian launch of Chinese Dimensions: Their Roots, Mindset and Psyche.

 Among the guests gathered to celebrate this new and fascinating book were the Western Australia Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests, the Hon Mr Tony McRae MLA, ministerial officers Ms Vicki Caulfield and Mr Les Faulds, Office of Multicultural Interests executive director Mr Ellis Griffiths and Deputy Consul General of China in WA Mr Ruan Ping.

Also attending the event were WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry International Trade Manager Mr Ian Whitaker, Chung Wah Association president Mr Richard WC Tan, WA Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Mr Richard TB Tan and WA Chinese Chamber of Commerce advisor Mr Wilson Wu.

Dr Yow and his wife, Ms Soi Har Yow, also presented Mr McRae with a framed picture of the Chinese Gardens in Sydney inscribed with the Chinese characters ‘For Our Country, For Our People.’

All attendees also received a signed copy of Chinese Dimensions from Dr Yow.

Born and raised in Malaysia, educated in France and now living in Australia, Dr Yow’s writing credits include the role of editor and writer for the Chung Wah News.

Proficient in English, French, Malay and Mandarin, and having lived in several different countries, there are few who are more suited to writing a book on Chinese heritage for the vast numbers of Chinese living overseas than Dr Yow.

Chinese Dimensions delivers to its readers a comprehensive explanation of Chinese heritage, culture and mindset. Its contents are a wealth of information on the world’s largest population and are perfect for all ethnic Chinese who wish to learn more about their heritage and also for anyone else who would want to learn about the Chinese race.

Chinese people living in Australia who wish to get in touch with their roots will find all they need to know in this book, whether it is the meaning and spelling of their Chinese name or their origins in China.

The book also gives several insights in the development of the Chinese language and Chinese characters and also provides a basic explanation of the history of China.

And one thing which sets this book apart from many others is its bilingual aspect. Several texts in the book are printed in both Chinese characters and English and also in pinyin, the anglicized version of Chinese characters, allowing non-Chinese-literate readers to learn the pronunciation of the Chinese words.

One such example is the listing of 365 commonly used Chinese proverbs. Each proverb is written in both English and Chinese, complete with pinyin translations and an explanation of the proverb.

The book, which is hailed as a bridge between the East and the West, provides such a detailed and complete guide to Chinese culture that it would be near impossible to relate all which it encompasses in a single article. Instead, it is recommended that readers get their hand on a copy. After reading the book, whether one is a Chinese or not, Chinese Dimensions is guaranteed to change your outlook on Chinese cultures and the Chinese people forever.