The World Expo and Our Turbulent Era

The World Expo and Our Turbulent Era
China Times editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
May 7, 2010

Since its inception in 1851, The World Expo has undoubtedly been a venue for the expression of national power. That is why the Shanghai World Expo has stirred up so much excitement in the hearts of Chinese on both sides of the Strait. After a 40 year absence, a Republic of China exhibit has reappeared at the World Expo. It stands peacefully next to the Peoples Republic of China exhibit on the banks of the Huangpu River. The theme song of the Republic of China sponsored Taiwan Pavilion is "Taiwan's Heartbeat." The lyrics speak of "A little less hate, a little more us; a little less war, a little more simplicity." Who can possibly remain unmoved?

Nearly 160 years ago, Queen Victoria invited the world's governments to participate in the World Expo. The Qing court's response was lukewarm. During the London Expo of 1851 the China Pavilion was essentially constructed under duress by foreign companies in China. Shanghai businessman Xu Rongcuen, an employee of Dent & Co., had a discerning eye. He entered 12 packages of "Wing Kee Lake Silk," manufactured by his own family business, into the competition. The product won the "Manufacturing and Handicraft Award." Over the next 50 years of the 19th century, the World Expo showcased the remarkable achievements of the Industrial Revolution. Chinese exhibitors displayed Traditional Chinese Medicine, silk, tea, and other traditional commodities. The West displayed steam engines and trains. China displayed spinning wheels and handcarts.

In 1912 the Republic of China was founded. Interim President Sun Yat-sen met with representatives of the United States in February 1911. He vowed that "Once our political situation stablizes, we will send a delegation to participate." Soon afterwards the Qing emperor abdicated. Yuan Shikai was inaugurated as provisional president. U.S. President Taft extended a formal invitation to participate in the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. The following year, Yuan announced his decision to participate. The Northern Warlords Government prepared for over a year. It collected over 100,000 items from 19 provinces. The revolution was over. But the chaos of war was not. China had only a tenth of the funds other nations had to construct its "Chinese Government Pavilion." The Panama-Pacific International Exposition opened in late February 1915. The China Pavilion was belatedly opened in early March. Despite the nation's dire circumstances, the China Pavilion won over 1200 medals, including one for Mao Tai liquor. Ironically, people ignored the Mao Tai liquor because of its primitive packaging. But a porter accidentally knocked over a wine jar. The fragrance of Mao Tai filled the air, and people suddenly paid attention. In 1926, the Northern Warlords Government participated in the Philadelphia Expo. Although contemporaries documented it, referring to it as "Ancient Relics Go Abroad," few people visited the China Village.

By the time of the 1933 World Expo in Chicago, the Northern Expedition had successfully returned to Nanjing. It allocated a budget and established a preparatory committee. It even held a small scale World Expo in Shanghai to determine which products should be showcased. The chief juror was Cai Yuanpei. The total cost of the Chinese Pavilion was 22,000 USD, only one-fifth the cost of the Japan Pavilion. But its distinctive oriental features attracted over 2.5 million visitors. The construction process however was difficult. It officially opened half a month after the World Expo opened. This was the first time the Nationalist Government had participated in an expo. All China could display were ceramics, silk, lacquer carvings, jade, and other traditional crafts. Fortunately, a jade pagoda attract the world's attention. The foreign media commented that "The real China, including her culture and the arts, can be summed up in one word -- Jade!"

The World Expo shows that the march of human civilization did not spell the end of war. During the 1937 Paris Expo Nazi Germany rolled through Europe. Exhausted by war, Spain lacked the wherewithal to construct an exibit hall. Instead Picasso was invited to paint his famous painting "Guernica," indicting Nazi Germany for war crimes. The Chinese people will never forget the year of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident and the beginning of an eight year war of resistance against Japanese expansionism. The Republic of China was absent at the Paris Expo, and unable to participate in the 1939 New York Expo. Using donations from patriotic overseas Chinese, a "Chinese Village" was constructed at the San Francisco Expo, showcasing mainly Chinese traditional crafts, including temples and pagodas. Patriotic overseas Chinese recorded their feelings: "Although China is currently weak, we will surely prevail in our war of national resistance. Although China is currently weak, we will surely succeed in our project of national reconstruction."

The Republic of China's project of national reconstruction succeeded. But unrest continued. Nineteen years later, in 1958, another World Expo was held. The Republic of China had already retreated to Taiwan. In 1970, ROC Vice President Yen Chia-kan visited the World Expo in Osaka. Accompanying him were Sun Yun-suan, Li Kuo-ting and other financial and economic experts. The following year, the Republic of China quit the United Nations, then broke off diplomatic relations with Japan. Four years later, the Spokane Expo marked the last appearance of the Republic of China at a World Expo. The same year as the World Expo in Spokane, the People's Republic of China authorities constructed an exhibit hall and a plaque next to the Osaka World Expo to vent their anger.

Today, 40 years later, pavilions constructed by both Taipei and Beijing have met on the banks of the Huangpu River. China is no longer engulfed in the flames of war. Taipei and Bejing are no longer caught in a zero sum game. The Shanghai World Expo has opened with great fanfare. Taipei is pleased to be a part of it. Taipei hopes the Expo will be a success. Taipei should not be scornful of the chaotic crowds at the Expo. Civilization is a long road. Taiwan has walked that road. We hope that the mainland, which has endured centuries of war and poverty, will also be able to travel down that road and advance toward civilization.

中時電子報 新聞
中國時報 　2010.05.07
社論－回顧世博與一頁滄桑的現代史
本報訊

毫無疑問，從一八五一年第一屆開始，世界（萬國）博覽會就是國力的展現，從這個角度出發，可以想像，上海世博如此激動兩岸中國人的心；而絕跡四十年之後，台灣終於重回世博，與中國和平地矗立於黃浦江畔，台灣館主題曲《台灣心跳聲》迴盪，「少一點仇恨，多一點我們；少一點戰爭，多一點單純。」沒有人不為之動容。

回望歷史，近一百六十年前，英國維多利亞女王盛情邀約各國政府參展世博，清政府興趣缺缺，一八五一年倫敦世博的中國館，幾乎是由在華洋行集力促成。當時一位在寶順洋行工作的上海商人徐榮村獨具慧眼，拎了十二包自家生產製造的「榮記湖絲」參展，拿下「製造與手工業大獎」。十九世紀的五十個年頭，世博展現工業革命非凡成就的同時，中國參展的還是中藥、絲綢、茶葉等傳統商品為主，面對西方的蒸汽機、火車，中國則是紡車、手推車。

一九一二年，中華民國肇建，二月，臨時大總統孫中山在前一年，會見美國代表時應允，「一旦政治走向常規，就派團參加。」話沒說多久，清帝退位，袁世凱宣布就任臨時大總統，當時的美國總統塔虎脫還是向中華民國發出巴拿馬萬博的正式邀請函，隔年，袁世凱回應表示決定參展，北洋政府以一年多時間籌備，從十九省徵集十多萬件展品。革命才結束，戰亂卻猶未止歇的中國，只有他國十分之一的資金，籌建「中華政府館」，一九一五年二月下旬巴拿馬世博會開幕，中國館卻在三月上旬才正式開館。在這麼拮据困窘的條件下參展，中國館拿下一千二百多枚獎牌，包括茅台酒，讓人笑中帶淚的是，包裝粗鄙的茅台酒根本沒人理，還是因為搬運工打翻了酒罈子，酒香四溢，才引人嘖嘖稱奇。一九二六年，北洋政府又參加了費城世博，儘管時人以「舊幫文物於賽重洋」紀錄這段過程，中國村卻是門前冷落車馬稀。

直到一九三三年芝加哥世博，北伐成功還都南京的國民政府編列預算，成立籌委會，負責參展事務，還特別在上海舉辦了一場小型世博會，為參展品進行評選作業，評選主席是蔡元培。總計花費二點二萬美金的中國館，經費只有日本館的五分之一，但以鮮明的東方特色吸引二百五十多萬民眾參觀。同樣的，建館過程曲折，世博開幕後半個月，才能正式開館。國民政府第一次參展，中國拿得出手的還是陶瓷、絲織、漆雕、玉器等傳統手藝。還好，有一個翠玉大寶塔吸引世人的目光，國外媒體說，「真正的中國，包括她的文化和藝術，是通過另一個符號來描述的，這就是玉！」

世博展現了人類文明，卻無法阻止戰火綿延，一九三七年巴黎世博，納粹德國攻勢席捲歐洲，困頓於戰爭的西班牙沒有壯麗的世博建築，卻請來畢卡索繪製傳世名畫《格爾尼卡》，控訴戰爭罪行！這一年，中國人是不會忘記的，因為盧溝橋事變爆發，八年對日抗戰伊始，巴黎世博，中華民國缺席了。一九三九年的紐約世博，中華民國依舊無力參展，靠著愛國華僑自力集資，在舊金山世博區建造「中國村」，中國村裡還是以傳統工藝為主，包括神廟與佛塔，愛國華僑們寫下他們的情懷，「此際中國雖弱，推斷抗戰必勝；此際中國雖窮，預料建國必成。」

中華民國建國已成，卻動亂不斷，十九年後，世博於一九五八年再次舉行，中華民國卻已播遷台灣。一九七○年，中華民國慎重以對，副總統嚴家淦親臨大阪世博，隨員包括孫運璿、李國鼎等財經重臣。隔年，中華民國退出聯合國、接下來與日斷交；四年後，美國史波肯世博會，是中華民國留在世博的最後身影。就在史波肯世博的同一年，中華人民共和國特別在大阪世博館區旁，蓋了個展館，展後立碑紀念，以洩其憤。

一直到四十年後的今天，兩岸兩館重遇黃浦江畔，中國，不再是流離於戰火的中國；兩岸，不再是漢賊不兩立的兩岸。上海世博盛大開幕，台灣欣然參展；世博成功，台灣祝福；世博人潮紛亂，台灣不必譏嘲。文明，是一條漫漫長路，台灣，走過來了。祝福熬過百年戰禍與貧窮的中國，也能一步一步從崛起走向文明。