Visiting Scholar Shares Chinese Insights

Brought to campus by the Willard E. Walker, Jr. ’66 Visiting Scholar Program, Dr. Harold Tanner, China expert, history professor, and world traveler, and the first Visiting Scholar in the field of Chinese, shared his research with Middle and Upper School students in an accessible way. He held six sessions with students of Chinese, Japanese, and Foundations of World Societies, one discussion with the Chinese Club, and a Middle School assembly. This fellow of the Military History Center at the University of North Texas collaborates with educators all over the world, leading trips to China for the Fulbright-Hays Program. An advocate of undergraduate research, Tanner spends his time researching, teaching, traveling, and writing numerous books and articles on Chinese military history.

 

During Tanner’s sessions with advanced Chinese students, he explained China’s thoughts on democracy. In addition to learning the various viewpoints of different groups of people, students learned that although China has a Communist government, there are many successful privately owned businesses. Tanner delighted advanced Japanese students with stories related to Edo townsmen culture. During a session about one hundred years of war, Tanner explained Gongsun Longzi’s rectification of names and Longzi’s belief that a white horse is not a horse.

 

Middle School students took full advantage of the opportunity to interact with Tanner during his assembly titled “Ten Things to Know about China,” by enthusiastically asking and answering questions during the interactive event. They learned ten entertaining and informative facts about China’s size, diversity, history, inventions, culture, industry, economics, food, and socks. They also learned how to memorize the Chinese dynasties using the tune of Frère Jacques.

 

Tanner’s visit culminated with a forum titled “China and Your Future – A Discussion” hosted by the Chinese Club and open to Upper School students and interested faculty. They took full advantage of the opportunity to dialogue with Dr. Tanner and asked questions about the Chinese government, economics, and religion. When asked about Americans’ biggest misconceptions about China, Tanner replied that the biggest misconception is that China is Communist. In fact, China has a one-party system with strict control over media. There are state-run businesses, privately owned businesses, and social freedom. However, private business plus internet does not equal democracy. Most of the students indicated that they plan to continue studying Chinese in college so that they can talk to others, connect to their families, open a door to another culture, and obtain business opportunities.

 

Dr. Tanner lives in Denton, Texas, with his wife and son.