Thank yoy for the book recommendation. I am in a book club and we are always looking for a new book. I recently read a book about the memoirs of a Korean grandmother written by her grandaugher. he grandma lived in Korea during the Japanese invasion. Her family escaped to China and then ended back in Korea. I learned more about Korea from the book than I knew before. It was well written and very touching. It a true story. There is a sequel but I can not remember the name.Everyone in my book club enjoyed it and we had a great discussion. I think you would enjoy it! It is a pretty easy read.

I just read an article from the UCLA Asia Institute home page entitled "Changing Times for Japanese Sex Workers." It was based on a January 9 presentation by independent scholar Janet Goodwin who proposed that during the early Heian Period Japan had a liberal attitude towards sexuality. According to the article Goodwin proposes that men were polygamous, women mostly monogamous, widows sexually active, divorce common and prostitution was merely risqué and not shameful. By Mid-Heian Period, Japan shifted in its outlook and adopted more orthodox and "traditional" attitudes towards sexuality.
Although we can't use this information in our classrooms, it was surprising to hear about a more liberal time in Japanese history.

Just opened my mail to find a beautiful magazine called Education About Asia sent as a gift from UCLA! Make sure to open your mail tonight! Thank you very much Clayton!!
There is a section on page 46 called Facts About Asia---Columbus and Zheng He are featured. You'll recognize the comparison picture of Admiral Zheng's Ship with Columbus' Santa Maria that Clayton shared on the 28th. On page 37 there is a piece on the "Tokugawa Period and Beyond". Also "The Tale of Genji" and "The Samurai in Japanese History " are terrific, but the pictures are fantastic. The image source is given for each which I believe will allow us to scan and also use. On page 50 you'll find a lesson plan on the Chinese Cultural Revolution. It includes options and discussion questions! Awesome...This is a beautiful publication! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Denise Clement

I've recently picked up The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston again. I read it for the first time in college. It is more or less autobiographical. The author is a first generation Chinese American and she struggles to balance her Chinese heritage with growing up in America. I remember being intrigued by the translation of names when i read it originally. America is "gold mountain" and her mother's name is "Brave Orchid", her aunt's "Moon Orchid".
One of the chapters retells the legend of Fa Mu Lan; not the disney version. It's fascinating to read all of the trials this legendary girl supposedly went through.
This would be a great summer read. It's confusing a bit, because it doesn't focus on one plot or even one protagonist, but very interesting, nonetheless.