The latest exhibition is Chinese Cultural Center It aims to teach students more about Chinese history and medicine by introducing the origins of acupuncture.
“The significance of this exhibition is to debunk the myth that acupuncture is invasive and harmful,” said Lily Chen, founding director of the Chinese Cultural Center. “Rather, we want to promote understanding of health and healing, not just in humans but also in our beloved animal world.”
According to Cheng, acupuncture can be a beneficial alternative to surgery and drugs for people with chronic pain or injuries.
“The acupuncture exhibit tells the story of how acupuncture came to the United States,” Chen said. “(Acupuncture) was popularized through President Nixon’s visit to China and the coverage of the great New York Times reporter who received acupuncture treatment while sick in China.”
The idea for this exhibit came from questions from interested visitors. They also got ideas from the following work:
There was a similar exhibit at the San Diego Chinese History Museum, and I thought it would be a good fit here as well.
Production of the exhibits began around 2020, but production took time due to the spread of the new coronavirus.
“Normally it wouldn’t take this long,” Chen said. “I think a lot of things on campus stopped due to the coronavirus. In fact, the center was closed.”
Issues included a lack of face-to-face interaction and having to rely on Zoom. They used this digital medium to interact with the campus virtually by delivering online lectures, which motivated them to continue their work.
“I could see people joining us,” Chen said. “They listened to us, asked questions, gave comments, and that helped us.”
Another part of the process was meeting Yong Ming Li, author of Acupuncture’s Journey to America, which was used in the exhibit. He is an instructor and practitioner of both Western and Eastern medicine.
“Dr. Li was personally interviewed by me regarding acupuncture,” Chen said. “He was someone who helped bring together the wisdom of people who practice acupuncture.”
According to Yudan Wang, curator and developer of the China Cultural Center, the actual construction of the exhibit took only a few weeks. She worked with her colleague Mu-ting Huang, a budget analyst at the center, to choose the content to use and set everything up.
“The only thing is there are some challenges to moving this forward,” Wang said. “(We) want everyone to know that we’re here, free of charge, and ready to give tours.”
The center is currently exploring alternative ways to engage in outreach, such as engaging with student organizations instead of relying on social media.
“These programs are completely educational, so we want more people to know about them,” Chen said.
The China Cultural Center is also planning future exhibitions that will include the possibility of Chinese calligraphy and Peking Opera next spring. Kung Fu workshops are also held every month.
“The center on campus is for students, faculty and staff, so please feel free to stop by the center,” Professor Huang said.
The Chinese Cultural Center is open Monday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m., and reservations are available for students.
The acupuncture exhibit will be on display until 2024 and can be viewed in Room 130 of the Senmon Gakugei University.
