Asian Studies Program Co-hosts Mid-Autumn Festival

The Asian Studies Program, East-West Living and Learning Community (EWLLC), and Center for International Program (IP) co-hosted its annual Mid-Autumn Festival on September 21, 2022, in the Sojourner Truth Library. Event co-organizer Akira Shimada, the Asian Studies program director and a professor of history, said “the festival is about appreciation of the full moon of the mid-autumn and offers gratitude for a good harvest and celebrates reverence for family. In that sense, it can be compared in nature to American Thanksgiving.”

The library lobby is an expansive and highly visible location for the celebration, and this year’s event attracted many students. Participation in the festival often encourages students’ interest in Asian Studies course offerings.

After the opening remark by Shimada, the event began with a presentation on the mid-autumn by William Speziale ‘24, Asian Studies student assistant and member of the EWLLC. Under the instruction of Jun Lu, professor of languages, literature & cultures, students of her Intermediate Chinese course sang Chinese songs featuring the mid-autumn theme. The finale of the cultural presentation and performance was a live calligraphy and painting performance by Bi Guanliang, honorary chairman of the A&C Culture Center in New York and vice chairman of the Chinese Artists Association of America. The artist created calligraphy of poetry by Li Bai, often considered the greatest Chinese poet, and a painting that illustrated poet Su Shi’s The Moon Festival. Bi generously donated his painting to the Asian Studies program, and it is currently displayed in the Center for International Programs.

No Mid-Autumn festival would be complete without food and sweets. In addition to the famous mooncake, a traditional delicacy to be eaten during the festival, participants tasted a variety of Korean and Japanese sweets, snacks, and drinks. They also enjoyed calligraphy, origami, and traditional games organized by EWLLC members and other student volunteers.

Upcoming Asian Studies program events include a Lunar New Year Celebration in February.

Photo credit: Lauren Meeker