Enchanted with Ancient China - American Institute of Polish Culture

The 44th international polonaise ball
Enchanted with Ancient China
Gala Dinner Dance
Saturday, the twentieth of February
The Year Two Thousand and Sixteen
at Seven O'clock pm
Eden Roc Hotel
Mona Lisa Ballroom - Cocktail Hour
Pompeii Promenade Ballroom - Dinner
4525 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33140
''Polonaise'' by the Members of the Committees
and Special Guests
Entertainment by New Century Dance Company
Music for Dancing by Frank Hubbell Orchestra
White or Black Tie
Regalia
R.S.V.P.
Poles Contributing to Exotic China
During the 17th and 18th centuries,
Polish Jesuit missionaries flocked
to China, among them Michał Piotr Boym (1612-1659). A scientist,
explorer, cartologist, author and
artist, Boym gained attention for
writing the first ever published Chinese dictionaries for European languages. A Chinese–Latin dictionary
was published in 1667 and a Chinese–French dictionary published
in 1670. But it was the hundreds
of exquisite drawings of China’s
natural world, along with extensive
writings in his book, Flora Sinensis,
of the medicinal and healing qualities of Chinese plants for which he
is best known.
Oil of Michal Piotr Boym
Watercolor from Flora Sinensis by Boym
Jan Mikołaj Smogulecki (1610–
1656), a Polish nobleman, politician
and scholar, became a missionary
in China and adopted the name,
Mu Ni-co. Throughout the country,
he taught astronomy and mathematics, introducing logarithms to
China, and his devotion and scholarship was much respected by Chinese scholars. In 1653, Smogulecki
and Chinese astronomer, Xue Fengzuo, translated Western works of
the solar system into the book, The
True Origin of Celestial Movements,
which made use of the Copernican
system.
Fauna plate from Flora Sinensis by Boym
Magni Cathay Pe Kim by Boym
In the years 1897-1949, thousands of Poles settled in Manchuria in northeast China. Among them were explorers and scientists, and those who participated in building the Chinese Eastern Railway such as engineers, technicians and laborers. Many
Poles also served in the Russian army during the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905. They lived in Harbin, nicknamed the
Ice City for having the most bitterly cold winters among major Chinese cities, where they established a Polish Consulate, high
school and several cultural organizations.
Heliocentric Universe by Copernicus
Vintage map of city of Harbin
Ancient Philosophy and Symbols
Chinese philosophy has been developing since the earliest days of
mankind. Founded on a belief system called humanism, it is an ideology that guides people with the
tools to lead lives of fulfillment,
enrichment and achievement. Humanism emphasizes critical thinking
and evidence as opposed to dogma
or superstition.
The lantern was not only used as a
light source in ancient China, but as
an object of artistic expression
There is also a strong thread of the
metaphysical and poetic in Chinese
thought. The great philosophers
tended to present ideas as parables, allusions and aphorisms - the
rule of thumb being “less is more.”
To lead people on how to live
within this philosophy, symbols,
art motifs and theories of color
were developed.
A Qing Dynasty print showing Confucius
presenting Buddha to the philosopher Lao-Tzu
Feng Shui is the art of harmonious
placement of objects to create a
positive flow of energy, with Yin
Yang as the central force, exemplifying all things human and divine
" Do
The crane is a very popular symbol
standing for longevity, and two flying
cranes denote rising high
" Wherever
the difficult things
while they
are easy
and do the
great things
while they
are small.
A journey of
a thousand
miles must
begin with a
single step.
"
Lao Tzu
Brides have always worn red as
it brings joy, vitality and fertility
you go, go with all your heart.
"
Confucius
The peacock symbolizes dignity and beauty, and the eyes on
its tail denote fame, luck and public admiration
Visual and Martial Arts
The Chinese visual styles have remained fairly constant for thousands of years.
Artists seek to express society’s inner and outer harmonies with natural surroundings. By using delicate brush strokes and sensuous lines delineating the movement and flow of everyday life, along with traditional symbols, colors and repetitive art motifs, even the most simplistic pieces impart a depth of emotion and
wisdom. Art is meant to always feed the spirit.
Martial arts, like kung fu and washu, originated over 4,000 years ago as a means of selfdefense, hunting skill and military prowess.
Precise styles of hand-to-hand combat and the
inventive use of a few simple weapons became
extremely effective for Chinese soldiers.
But over the centuries, various philosophies were merged with the
fighting systems to teach practitioners how to achieve strong personal growth, a committed inner focus, and oneness with the world.
Martial arts became essential for excellent health maintenance and
the improvement of self, and remain an integral part of Chinese
culture today.
" Life
is an echo. What you send out comes back.
"
Chinese Proverb
Inventions that Transformed the World
Ancient China has given the world hundreds of inventions, from harvesting a worms’ threads and weaving them into one
of the most beautiful and sturdiest fabrics on earth to developing a way to create brilliantly lit blossoms in the night sky
during times of celebration. A few of the inventions we can thank early China for are:
Silk & Paper
Playing Cards & Kites
Gunpowder, Matches & Fireworks
Porcelain & Lacquers
Compass, Sundials & Mechanical Clocks
Cast Iron & Crossbows
Ink & Calligraphy
Chemistry & Medicines
Decimal system & Abacus
Astronomy & Acupuncture
Forensic Sciences & Civil Service Exams
Printing & Paper Money
Waterwheels & Pottery Wheels
Ice Cream & Incense
Under the gracious patronage of the Ambassador of the
Republic of Poland in Washington D.C.
Mr. and Mrs. Ryszard Schnepf
Special Guest
President Lech Walesa
Royal Guests
H. R. H. King Kigeli V of Rwanda
H.R.H. Duke Dom Duarte Pio de Braganca
Ampun (H.M.) Sultan Muedzul-Lail Tan Kiram, Royal House of Sulu
H. I. H. Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie of Ethiopia
H.I. H. David Bagrationi of Moukhrani, Royal House of Georgia
Marquis Alberto D’Ornellase de Vasconcellos Jardim
Count Antonio De Deus Ramos Ponces De Carvalho
Princess Marianne Bernadotte
Prince and Princess Karol Czartoryski
Princess Lada Schuiski
Honorary Committee
Dr. Horacio Aguirre
Honorable and Mrs. Zbigniew Brzezinski
Drs. Stanislaw and Barbara Burzynski
Mrs. Irena McLean - Laks
Mr. Rafal Olbinski
Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Storozynski
Ms. Loretta Swit
Baron Kimon Andreou Vergara
Mr. and Mrs. Henry P. Williams III
Honorable and Mrs. Walter Zachariasiewicz
Ball Chairmen
Lady Blanka Aldona Rosenstiel
Countess Barbara Pagowska - Cooper
Co-Chairmen
Mrs. Ruby Bacardi
Mrs. Regina Beaman
Honorable and Mrs. Maurice Ferre
Count Rodney Hildebrant
Mr. and Mrs. Keith Gray
Mr. and Mrs. Amedeo Guazzini
Mr. and Mrs. Jan Karaszewski
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Lowenthal
Count Matthew Meehan
Marquis Alexander Colonna-Walewski Montague
and Marquise Maria Alonso Montague
Dr. Michel S. Pawlowski
Ms. Alicja Schoonover
Mrs. Marjorie Sonderling
Mr. John Wayne Jr.
Mrs. Beata Paszyc and Mr. John Frank Velez
Social Committee
Honorable Darek Barcikowski
Mr. Douglas Evans and Mr. Mikolaj Bauer
Drs. Wojciech and Renata Cymer
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Dickinson
Baroness Magdalena A. von Freytag
Mr. & Mrs. Edward George
Mrs. Jadwiga Gewert
Countess Magdalena Grocholski
Mr. and Mrs. Karlheinz Huth
Mr. Steven Karski
Mr. and Mrs. Krzysztof Kruszelnicki
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Kruszewski
Misses Francesca and Lucia Lowenthal
Chicago Committee Chairmen
Dr. Basil and Mrs. Magdalena Mangra
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Meyeringh
Mrs. Nina Mlodzinska de Rovira
Honorable John Petkus
Honorable Marek Pienkowski
Mr. Krzysztof Porowski
Misses Anna and Ashley Porowski
Mrs. Daisy Richardson
Mr. Jarosław Rottermund
Mrs. Carol Sadowski
Ms. Lynne Schaefer
Mr. Jon Theobald
Mrs. Ligia Wiegand
Midwest Committee Chairmen
Countess Brigitte Victoria Cooper
Countess Janelle Annette Cooper
Mr. and Mrs. Thad Cooke
Ms. Halina Malinski
Mr. and Mrs. Chester Partyka
Co-Chairmen
Co-Chairmen
Countess Izabella Pagowska – Budys
Ms. Vanessa Godek
Dr. and Mrs. Janusz Golec
Dr. Michael Hytros
Dr. Ewa Jachimowicz
Dr. Tomasz Osolkowski
Mr. Jacek and Dr. Jolanta Tatara
Dr. and Mrs. Mark Tucci
Dr. and Mrs. Jerome Zwierzycki
Mr. Leon Cholewa Badzinski
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Broski
Mr. Edward Godlewski
Mrs. Barbara Lemecha
Mr. John Nosek
Mrs. Henrietta Nowakowski
Mr. and Mrs. George Sobieraj
Mr. Ben Stefanski, II
Dr. Michael Klimiuk-Wieczerski
New York Committee Chairman
Countess Jadwiga Krasicki
Co-Chairmen
Mr. and Mrs. Chester Lobrow
Mrs. Jadwiga Palade
Mr. and Mrs. Witold Sulimirski
Mrs. Danuta Wilk
The American Institute of Polish Culture, Inc.
A non-profit, public-benefit, cultural organization
1440 79th Street Causeway, Suite 117, Miami, Florida 33141
Phone: (305) 864-2349 ∙ [email protected] ∙ www.ampolinstitute.org