Laoshur Tim

Laoshur is the Chinese word for teacher and is generally used as an honorific followed by your surname.  In Weifang at the university all the western faculty except for Wynter were known as laoshur ____.  Wynter was known as Doctor Wynter as an added sign of respect due to her earned degree.  I was just the old guy who hung around.

Today I gave a short lecture to the graduate students and faculty at Tshinhua University’s Architecture School with regard to western timber architecture.  I wasn’t sure what to expect but as is often the case here, it ended up being much more interesting than I’d imagined.

Getting to the university involved a rather long cab ride through Beijing traffic which you can’t fully appreciate until you’ve been through it a time or two.  I’ve become a little bored by the constant thrill ride after considerable repetition.  Today I experienced something new.  I was in the cab going over my notes and looking out the window from time to time when my cab driver hit the brakes, launched me a bit forward and rattled off a long string of what could only be words not normally uttered on CCTV.  Rearranging myself I looked out and saw a pretty lady driving a brand new Lexus SUV while texting on her cell phone.  As if Beijing traffic is not already dangerous enough, one must now text as well?  I’m with the Tappet Brothers, Click and Clack, on this one, put down the damn phone and drive.

Upon arrival at Tshinhua I met up with my personal laoshur on Chinese timber framing, Simone.  She came along to hear what I had to say and keep me out of potential trouble.   We were shown into a very nice conference room by a student who our host, Professor Wang, sent to escort us from the front gate.  We walked in and I was immediately greeted by another student who proceeded to take my jump drive and load my presentation onto a computer that had already been set up for me.  Five minutes later I was up and running with both coffee and tea set before me.  Now this is service I could get used to.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the Chinese are gracious hosts.

It is my habit to do presentations more or less as question and answer sessions.  That method has been known to be a hazardous way to do things with Chinese students. They are often loath to ask questions for several reasons of culture and the program tends to devolve into a series of uncomfortable pauses.  Even knowing this tendency I thought I’d give it a try and lo and behold, these students rose to the challenge and kept me going with excellent questions and comments for an hour and a half.  I truly enjoyed every moment.

Tshinhua University is known as one of the premier institutions in China and I can say without reservation that these kids are in the same league as the best and brightest in the west.  They were articulate, thoughtful and willing to express their well-considered opinions.  This is quite different from what we saw in Weifang where the students were mostly cowed by anyone in authority. 

I’ve one other item is worth mentioning here. I was able to do the entire presentation without a translator as these students were quite capable in English.  I wonder how it would work with American architecture students receiving a lecture in Chinese?  I know, it’s a silly question.

As we were wrapping things up and everyone was ready to begin a long weekend Professor Wang stepped forward, gave me a very formal handshake and said, “Thank you Laoshur Tim for giving us your time and your knowledge.”  He then handed me a beautiful scale model of a duo gong, the complex and decorative bracket sets that support the graceful roofs so indicative of Chinese architecture.  I am grateful and humbled by both the title and the gift.

Duo gong (bracket sets on lowest beam) supporting extended eave in Beijing 2010

Comments

[Michele Chew]

Congratulations Tim, Sounds like the lecture/presentation was well received!

[Wynter, Marit and Mattie]

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