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A Love Letter to Life: Yongzheng and His Porcelain When Civilization Blossomed Like a Flower – Reported by Dr. Jeannie Yi

Austin Tang — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:00:09 +0000

Listen to “A Love Letter to Life: Yongzheng and His Porcelain When Civilization Blossomed Like a Flower – Reported by Dr. Jeannie Yi” on Spreaker.

Reported by Dr. Jeannie Yi

The Yongzheng era (1722–1735) was not an age of display, but of restraint. Power turned inward, sharpness softened into gentleness. In only thirteen years, it achieved a rare concentration of political efficiency, economic stability, and cultural refinement. It was a peak moment when civilization chose elegance over dominance.

Politically, governance was streamlined and centralized.

Economically, the treasury was restored, paving the way for the prosperity of the Qianlong era.

Culturally, imperial kilns, enamel painting, and court aesthetics reached an extreme of precision and restraint.

History is clear: only a prosperous civilization can produce great art and technology.

Yongzheng aesthetics were a national project of condensed civilization, completed in just thirteen luminous years.

In New York, I first saw a coral-red famille-rose enamel bowl from the Yongzheng imperial kilns. It was so beautiful it almost took my breath away. This was not beauty “painted” onto porcelain; it was beauty forged in fire, born through extreme heat and mastery.

The bowl felt alive.

Pink and violet held a shy gaze.

Gold carried a quiet inner light.

The petals seemed to breathe, ready to drift away with time.

I asked the collector why it looked so new.

He said: true value lies not only in age, but in craftsmanship, glaze, body, reign mark, and preservation. An old object that appears new is a treasure. For masters, its perfect Yongzheng reign mark alone confirms its imperial origin. It stands as the highest example of the saying:

“For Ming, look to Chenghua; for Qing, look to Yongzheng.”

None of us could afford such a bowl. But love always comes before price.

We may be newly free from poverty, yet we are rich in awe.

This bowl returned me to Dream of the Red Chamber.

Like the Twelve Beauties, it transformed object into life, collectible into destiny.

It reminded me that true beauty is fragile, gentle, and dignified. It knows life will pass, yet still chooses perfection.

This is the soul of Yongzheng enamel:

civilization refined into tenderness.

Red is the color of empire.

Flowers are its heartbeat.

Many look at antiques and see only price, authenticity, and provenance.

I saw life—and the long journey that life took to arrive before me.

⸻

On January 22, at the World Speakers Series in Trump Tower, collector Jeff Ye brought ancient civilization into dialogue with the present.

He said:

“True antiques find their owners. Owners do not find them.”

And:

“Let the object speak for itself.”

From relics to lost imperial kilns, from jade to porcelain, his presentation showed that civilization is not history—it is a living conversation across time.

⸻

What I learned is simple:

First, Yongzheng porcelain was a national aesthetic project. Choosing “flowers” to represent the empire was a choice of compassion, femininity, and quiet strength. It was a civilization expressing power through tenderness.

Second, China’s modern engineering achievements are not sudden miracles. They are the awakening of an ancient engineering civilization gene.

This bowl, born of fire centuries ago, already carried that spirit.

The Middle East uses oil to build the height of cities.

China uses ancient artifacts to preserve the depth of time.

Let cities tell their own stories.

Let wealth find its true source.

Let civilization travel again.

Holding this bowl is like holding a love letter from the Yongzheng era to the world:

A prosperous China,

like standing in a sea of blossoms.

———————————————————————————

Testimonials

Michael Daly shares personal thoughts upon seeing the powerful art.

Jeannie,

This moved me deeply, because I recognized myself in the moment you described standing before that bowl.

I’ve had that same experience—when an object stops being an object and quietly becomes alive. Not because of its price, or its rarity, but because it carries the emotional intelligence of a civilization that once knew how to pause, refine, and listen.

What touched me most is your understanding that Yongzheng beauty is not loud. It doesn’t announce power. It assumes it. In a world that often confuses dominance with strength, this porcelain feels like a reminder that the most confident civilizations express themselves gently.

When you describe the bowl as breathing—its pinks holding back, its gold glowing inward—I felt that. That sense that perfection doesn’t need to prove itself. It simply is. And perhaps that is why it looks new: not because time spared it, but because it was made without anxiety.

The line about love coming before price stayed with me. None of us may ever own such a piece, but ownership isn’t the point. Awe is. To stand before something like that and feel poor in money but rich in reverence—that is a kind of wealth few people ever experience.

Your reflection also made me think differently about modern China. What looks like sudden engineering brilliance isn’t sudden at all. It’s a memory returning. That bowl already knew how to master fire, chemistry, patience, and restraint centuries ago. Today’s achievements feel like the same hand, simply working at a different scale.

And the idea that antiques find their owners—I believe that. Some things arrive not to be possessed, but to remind us who we are and where we come from.

In the end, this didn’t read to me as an essay about porcelain. It felt like a quiet conversation with history. A moment where civilization leaned forward and whispered—not about power, but about care.

A love letter/post, yes. And one I’m grateful you shared.

——————————————————————

So deeply in love, holding them like a precious treasure, kissing them.

Reverend Paul Sladkus All Faiths and Spiritual is Special Advisor to Jeff Ye, Founder of the The Jeff Collection

The post A Love Letter to Life: Yongzheng and His Porcelain When Civilization Blossomed Like a Flower – Reported by Dr. Jeannie Yi appeared first on Good News!.

Dominican Day Parade August 2025

Austin Tang — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 19:29:49 +0000

Listen to “Dominican Day Parade August 2025 part 1” on Spreaker.

Listen to “Dominican Day Parade August 2025 part 2” on Spreaker.

Listen to “Dominican Day Parade August 2025 Part 3” on Spreaker.

Listen to “Dominican Day Parade August 2025 Part 4” on Spreaker.

Listen to “Dominican Day Parade August 2025” on Spreaker.

Listen to “Dominican Day Parade August 2025 Part 6” on Spreaker.

Listen to “Dominican Day Parade August 2025 Part 7” on Spreaker.

Listen to “Dominican Day Parade August 2025” on Spreaker.

The National Dominican Day Parade in New York City is a parade organized by people of Dominican heritage in the city. The event started in 1982 as a local celebration with concerts and cultural events in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan. Organized by Dominican American community leaders, the parade is held annually in August on 6th Avenue.

Similar parades to celebrate the culture of the Dominican Republic are also held every year in Haverstraw, New York, Paterson, New Jersey, Boston, Lawrence, Massachusetts, Philadelphia, Providence, Rhode Island, and along the Grand Concourse in The Bronx.

#DominicanDayParade #DDP2025

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Meeting October 25, Meeting China and the United States Association, The First National Community Cultural Activity and Halloween Ball of China and the United States Association

Austin Tang — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 18:44:05 +0000

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World Renowned Brazilian Percussionist Cyro Baptista to Lead CHAMA Ensemble at NJPAC’s Horizon Sounds of the City

Austin Tang — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 14:57:25 +0000

Listen to “World Renowned Brazilian Percussionist Cyro Baptista to Lead CHAMA Ensemble at NJPAC’s Horizon…” on Spreaker.

An Evening of a Fusion of Cultural Rhythms, featuring special guests at NJPAC’s Horizon Sounds of the City

Newark, June 21^st, 2024 – On July 11th, as part of the Horizon Sounds of the City series, renowned percussionist Cyro Baptista will dazzle audiences in a free outdoor concert at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark. Known for his innovative sounds and captivating rhythms, Baptista’s performance promises to be an unforgettable evening of world music and jazz fusion.

Brazilian percussionist and composer Cyro Baptista has carved a niche for himself in contemporary jazz, experimental, and world music, spanning a wide range of styles. His collaborations with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Paul Simon, Yo-Yo Ma, John Zorn, Wynton Marsalis, and Brazilian legends Milton Nascimento and Caetano Veloso have cemented his reputation as one of the foremost percussionists globally.

In his latest project, CHAMA, released on the Ropeadope label, Baptista displays his visionary approach to music. Listeners are taken on a vibrant journey through mythical towns filled with engaging tales and colorful characters. Experience the magic of CHAMA life and immerse yourself in a night of rhythmic excitement, cultural diversity, and joyous music.

A powerful ensemble of talented musicians leads Baptista’s CHAMA Band, including Zé Luis Oliveira on saxophone and flute, Felipe Hostins on accordion, Tim Keiper on drums, and Jason Fraticelli on bass and cuatro. Through their rhythmic complexity and dynamic performances, they create a dynamic and culturally rich musical experience.

The NJPAC concert will showcase special guests, enhancing unity, cultural exchange, and local artist empowerment. FORRÓ CHAMA will feature David Vieira and Mauro Refosco, members of Forró in the Dark and “American Utopia” by David Byrne. PAGODE CHAMA with Helder Celso, Kauê Alves, Junior Karegato, and Renatinhu from Newark’s vibrant music scene, adding a unique flair to the performance.

Plus, enjoy a vibrant dance party featuring Sabrina Evangelista & Gustavo Nunes, Sabina Ciari, and Dora Flor from BLOCO FROM THE BLOCK. Don’t miss this extraordinary evening with Cyro Baptista and the CHAMA band at NJPAC’s Horizon Sounds of the City.

Event Details:

Date:July 11, 2024
Time:6:00 PM
Venue:Chambers Plaza on the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) grounds

Join us for an extraordinary evening with Cyro Baptista and experience the magic of CHAMA. For more information visit https://cyrobaptista.com.

CHAMA

Ropeadope

It’s probably fair to say that only Cyro Baptista could concoct a mix of music including Brazilian, Mexican, and Afro-Cuban forms with hints of jazz, funk, and whatever else may fit, sometimes with multiple forms within the same song. Yet, even while you may not detect the particular style or have a total grasp of what he’s up to, he somehow makes it accessible and infectious.” Jim Hynes, Glide Magazine

Link to video DANGER ZONE shot in Bahia Brazil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n86iJmxHQE

Link to live video PERIGO, shot in NYC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC-QBJPy-fQ

Media Contact:

Nilza Barros
N&P Media Consulting, LLC
nilzabarros@npmediaconsulting.com
+201-852-7829

Career

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Baptista arrived in the U.S. in 1980 with a scholarship to Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, New York.

During the 1980s, he worked on films with John Zorn and appeared on Zorn’s albums in the 1990s. Also in the ’90s, he appeared on albums by Marisa Monte, Holly Cole, and Cassandra Wilson. In 1997 he released his first solo album, Vira Loucos, with cover versions of music by Heitor Villa-Lobos. The album was recorded with Marc Ribot and Nana Vasconcelos and released by Avant, a label owned by Zorn. He was a member of Zorn’s band Dreamers.^[2]

He recorded with pianist Herbie Hancock on his album Possibilities. He recorded and performed worldwide with Hancock’s Grammy award-winning Gershwin’s World. He toured with Yo-Yo Ma’s Brazil Project and appeared on the Obrigado Brazil, which won two Grammy awards. He collaborated with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra for a Brazilian Carnival modern jazz concert. For over two years, he toured with Paul Simon and appeared on his Concert in Central Park album. He has toured worldwide with Sting.

Baptista has also worked with Paul Simon, Trey Anastasio, Laurie Anderson, Badi Assad, Derek Bailey, Gato Barbieri, Daniel Barenboim, Kathleen Battle, David Byrne, Dr. John, Brian Eno, Melissa Etheridge, Stephen Kent, Ivan Lins, Bobby McFerrin, Medeski Martin & Wood, Milton Nascimento, Robert Palmer, Carlos Santana, Tim Sparks, Spyro Gyra, James Taylor, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Caetano Veloso

Baptista formed Beat the Donkey, a percussion and dance ensemble. The name comes from a Portuguese expression for “let’s do it” or “let’s go”. The band’s personnel and genre are in flux. Sometimes it includes Ribot and Zorn. The music can be rock, funk, Brazilian, or Balkan.^[3]

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THE DEADLINE FOR GLOBAL HATIKVAH IS TOMORROW—DON’T WAIT TO SUBMIT YOUR VIDEO!

Austin Tang — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 17:12:50 +0000

We’ve seen submissions from nearly 800 people across the world to our virtual choir—tomorrow is your LAST CHANCE to be a part of this global movement for hope.

Sing with Global Hatikvah Now!

Global Hatikvah is a virtual choral movement to unite the Jewish community and friends of Israel around the world through the unique power of music.

Participants—like you!—from around the world will submit videos of themselves singing “Hatikvah” in a show of solidarity and allyship.

Each one of the submitted videos will be combined into a single virtual choir performing a new arrangement of “Hatikvah” alongside the Israel Philharmonic—a truly unique and inspiring experience—which will premiere on Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, on May 14.

BECOME A VIRTUAL CITIZEN OF ISRAEL

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ISRAEL FOREVER FOUNDATION

In partnership with the Israel Forever Foundation, you can become a Virtual Citizen of Israel when you participate in Global Hatikvah! Becoming a VCI enables you to connect with and identify as a member of the global community dedicated to the concept, history and reality of Israel. Learn more about this initiative here.

Join the Global Choir for this Opportunity!

A Virtual Citizen of Israel is not recognized by the Israeli government as a form of Aliyah. It does not allot any physical or material benefits from or related to the State of Israel. There are no tax benefits nor can a VCI vote in the Israeli elections.

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF GLOBAL HATIKVAH

FOLLOW US

The Israel Philharmonic proudly serves as Israel’s greatest cultural ambassador, unifying diverse audiences through shared, transformative artistic experiences and enriching communities with music education programs that transcend border.

DONATE TODAY!

122 East 42nd Street, Suite 4507, New York, NY 10168

Tel: 212.697.2949

American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (AFIPO)

Donate | Visit Our Website

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Chinese Opera…

Austin Tang — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 20:57:01 +0000

The post Chinese Opera… appeared first on Good News!.

GoodNewsLetter: TUNE IN TODAY – 11am EST May 21 Good News Joins the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

Austin Tang — Fri, 21 May 2021 15:05:05 +0000

Thoughts For The Day

Friday, May 21, at 11 am est to 12:30 pm Please watch the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development World Broadcast

https://youtu.be/fcyzIVmhtr0

Dear Friends and Members,

The Good News is that Mother Earth has CULTURAL DIVERSITY everywhere. Today’s Broadcast at 11am will share that diversity in dialogue and development. Good News is part of this show.

When we act as ONE we are ONE! And the Good News is that we already are ONE SPECIES CALL HOMO SAPIENS…EVERYONE IS RELATED…

Here is the link to our Business Card with the most famous NASA Photo from the MOON, the BLUE MARBLE. We attach one of the 75 VIRTURES that we have to each card, this one says:

THANKFULNESS – Warm friendly feeling of gratitude: gratefulness.

http://goodnewsplanet.com/mother-earth-as-seen-from-the-moon-known-as-the-blue-marble/
Our friend Robert Forenza has donated to us these VIRTUES for many years, a great gift is a Hugg-A-Planet, for family, friends, corporate and others. Please purchase some Hugg-A-Planets from him and say Good News sent you. www.hugaplanet.com 1(802)891-6645

Please support our nonprofit, 501 C 3, Good News Corporation at http://goodnewsplanet.com/peacedayparty/peace-day-donations/ Reminder save September 21st for our www.peacedayparty.org.

When you DONATE WE WILL SEND YOU A BUSINESS CARD, AND THERE ARE OTHER PRODUCTS THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE, HUGG A PLANETS, MONTAUK MANOR VACATION RAFFLE….

LET’S GROW TOGETHER. GOOD NEWS MOTTO: ALL WE ARE IS WHAT WE ARE WITH EACH OTHER. ZEAL

For more information contact:

Paul Sladkus 212 647 1212

New York, NY, Montauk, NY

PS – One of a kind apartment on Upper Westside. 2BR. 2 Bath, Backyard Share. newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/roo/d/one-of-kind-manhattan-garden-br-bath/7322236950.html

MONTAUK HOLIDAY SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR FRIENDS AND MEMBERS: Looking to go on vacation. SHORT TERM, in Montauk. http://goodnewsplanet.com/montauk-manor-rental-suite-403-paul-sladkus/ Call Paul.

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Mother Earth as seen from the MOON, known as the BLUE MARBLE. No Boundaries, borders…IMAGINE…just CULTURAL DIVERSITY…

Austin Tang — Fri, 21 May 2021 14:06:02 +0000

This is our Business Card…Mother Earth and we are Thankful. Paul

The post Mother Earth as seen from the MOON, known as the BLUE MARBLE. No Boundaries, borders…IMAGINE…just CULTURAL DIVERSITY… appeared first on Good News!.

Friday, May 21, at 11 am est to 12:30 pm Please watch the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development World Broadcast

Austin Tang — Fri, 21 May 2021 01:44:31 +0000

Here is a live link or you can scroll down and watch it from here, down there, https://youtu.be/fcyzIVmhtr0
Listen to “Earthtones, Northfork, Long Island….Ospreys Dominion Vineyards, live” on Spreaker.

https://youtu.be/fcyzIVmhtr0

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UN World Water Day. March 22

Austin Tang — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 15:15:12 +0000

https://www.worldwaterday.org/
United Nations World Water Day is March 22

VALUING WATER

Water means different things to different people.

This conversation is about what water means to you.

How is water important to your home and family life, your livelihood, your cultural practices, your wellbeing, your local environment?

By recording – and celebrating – all the different ways water benefits our lives, we can value water properly and safeguard it effectively for everyone.

LEARN

VALUING WATER

Water means different things to different people.

This conversation is about what water means to you.

How is water important to your home and family life, your livelihood, your cultural practices, your wellbeing, your local environment?

In households, schools and workplaces, water can mean health, hygiene, dignity and productivity.

In cultural, religious and spiritual places, water can mean a connection with creation, community and oneself.

In natural spaces, water can mean peace, harmony and preservation.

Today, water is under extreme threat from a growing population, increasing demands of agriculture and industry, and the worsening impacts of climate change.

Tell us your stories, thoughts and feelings about water.

By recording – and celebrating – all the different ways water benefits our lives, we can value water properly and safeguard it effectively for everyone.

Join the conversation about what water means to you.

WORLD WATER DAY 2021 TOOLKIT

The World Water Day 2021 toolkit contains everything you need to inspire your friends, family and colleagues:

Q&A on valuing water
Key campaign messages
Top facts
Download the toolkit in

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

SHARE

GET THE MESSAGE OUT

You are the most important element of the World Water Day 2021 campaign. Join millions of other people and share key messages with your friends, family and colleagues. Use the assets below to start conversations and raise awareness of these crucial issues.

ACT

Tell us your stories, thoughts and feelings about water.

#WORLDWATERDAY
Here are some conversations in real time about what water means to people around the world. Share your thoughts and experiences on any social media platform to spark conversations and help shape the forthcoming World Water Day campaign, leading up to 22 March 2021.

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