We are very happy to announce that “The China Issue” is now live. We would like to thank our guest editor Mai Mang (Yibing Huang) for reading the poetry and prose submissions with us as well as curating the “Poetry in translation” and “Art & art criticism” sections. As usual, Reviews Editor Eddie Tay has brought us a fine selection of book reviews, which for this issue are all related to China. The issue also features editorials by Mai Mang and Tammy Ho Lai-Ming. Last but not least, we would like to thank our webmaster Jarno Jakonen for all his hard work moving the website to a new webhost. Without him, Cha would not run.
The issue:
Editorials
1. The Chinese Curse – by Mai Mang
2. China: What It Is, What It Could Be – by Tammy Ho Lai-Ming
Poetry [Link]
Salvatore Attardo, Eleanor Goodman, J.H. Martin, Camille Hong Xin, Arthur Leung, Vera Schwarcz, Miroslav Kirin, Alithini, W.F. Lantry, Sumana Roy, Russell C. Leong, Amylia Grace
Poetry in translation [Link]
Duo Duo, Mai Mang, Wang Jiaxin, Christopher Lupke, Zhai Yongming, Andrea Lingenfelter, Xi Chuan, Lucas Klein, Zang Di, Ming Di, Meng Lang, Denis Mair, Tony Barnstone, Chen Dongdong, Eleanor Goodman and Ao Wang, Shu Cai, Gao Xing, Leonard Schwartz, Zhang Er, Xiao Kaiyu, Kang Cheng, Vivienne Guo, Ralph Parfect, Aku Wuwu, Mark Bender
Fiction [Link]
Isabelle Li, L.M. Magalas, Kaitlin Solimine
Fiction in translation [Link]
Han Dong, Nicky Harman
Creative non-fiction [Link]
Madeleine Marie Slavick, Michal Slaby
Art & art criticism [Link]
Anton S. Kandinsky, David Rong, Zhang Dali, Mai Mang, Ted Ciesielski, Zheng Lianjie, Ji Shengli, Ai Weiwei
Book reviews [Link]
1. Han Dong, Banished! Trans. Nicky Harman. 2009. Reviewed by Katherine Foster.
2. Yan Lianke. Dream of Ding Village. 2011. Reviewed by Glen Jennings.
1. Han Dong, Banished! Trans. Nicky Harman. 2009. Reviewed by Katherine Foster.
2. Yan Lianke. Dream of Ding Village. 2011. Reviewed by Glen Jennings.
3. Xu Zhichang. Chinese English. 2010. Reviewed by Joel Heng Hartse.
4. You Xiaoye. Writing in the Devil’s Tongue: A History of English Composition in China. 2010. Reviewed by Joel Heng Hartse.
5. Joseph Lo Bianco, Jane Orton, and Gao Yihong (Eds.). China and English. 2009. Reviewed by Joel Heng Hartse.
6. Frank Dikötter. Mao’s Great Famine. 2010. Reviewed by Alice Tsay (Cha‘s Staff Reviewer).
7. The Butterfly Lovers: The Legend of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai: Four Versions with Related Texts. Edited and Translated, with an Introduction, by Wilt L. Idema. 2010. Reviewed by William (Billy) Noseworthy.
8. Lena Henningsen. Copyright Matters: Imitation, Creativity and Authenticity in Contemporary Chinese Literature. 2010. Reviewed by Ruth Y.Y. Hung.
9. Ouyang Yu. The English Class. 2010. Reviewed by Jason Eng Hun Lee.
10. Alistair Noon. Some Questions on the Cultural Revolution. 2010. Reviewed by Jason Eng Hun Lee.
11. China Voices. Oxfam Hong Kong. 2010. Reviewed by Maura Elizabeth Cunningham.
12. Steve Noyes. It is Just that Your House is so Far Away. 2010. Reviewed by Emily Walz.
Interview [Link]
Karen Ma interviews Pallavi Aiyar, author of Chinese Whiskers
Full list of contributors.
Full list of contributors.
Fine Tea Competition 2011: Prizes: First: £25.00, Second: £15.00, Third: £10.00, Highly Commended (up to 3): £5 each. Payable through Paypal.
We are accepting submissions for the Fourth Anniversary Issue, which is scheduled for November 2011. Robert E. Wood (poetry) and Royston Tester (prose) will act as guest editors. Deadline: 15 September. If you are interested in having your work considered for publication in Cha, please read our submission guidelines.
Cha 
The new issue is mentioned on Daily s-Press.
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Iain said: “I've been enjoying the new China issue. Congratulations to you, Jeff, and Eddie on another terrific journal, filled with interesting, informative, and creative pieces. It's an honor to part of the CHA family.”
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Bob said: “I love 'Dreams and Dust' by Russell Leong, but there are so many many other fine pieces here…thx for all the hard work in putting together this terrific issue”
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Arthur said: “I remember very well the poem “Workers Disturb My Sleep in Beijing” – very impressive for it to kick off the poetry section of this particular issue. Of course there are other very nice poems too: “Forever Lasting Love” and “Sanctum” are my favourites.”
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Royston, guest editor for the forthcoming fourth anniversary issue of Cha, said: “Dear Tammy: You, Jeff, and Mai Mang have made a breathtaking achievement with the current issue of Cha. It certainly does give an original and profound insight into 'China.' I especially enjoyed the editorials, the fiction in translation, the poetry, and artwork. It must have taken a great deal of work to produce the issue. It truly feels like a historic moment in the evolution of Cha. I'm keen to read the blog (unfortunately it's inaccessible from Beijing) to see how others have responded, and I will take a look at it when I'm back in Canada. Congratulations!”
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Steve said: “Hi Tammy, many thanks. I consider myself fortunate to get reviewed in your magazine, with its focus on Asia and China […] I thought Emily's review offered me some insight into how narratives bog down over the long haul, and that is useful to me. I'll continue to follow your magazine with interest, as Chinese language and culture remain an obsession with me.”
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Gary said: “This is a fascinating read”
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Bill very kindly said: “Dear Tammy, Just a quick note to say I read through the list of contributors for the China issue today, and I am truly overwhelmed. What a stunningly glorious issue you've put together! I am humbled to be included. It is a truly wondrous achievement for you, and for all involved. I don't usually find myself over-exuberant about any particular issue, but this one is truly exceptional. Congratulations!”
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John said: “This foreword to the current issue of 茶: An Asian Literary Journal contains [an] interesting discussion of shifting identity, in aspiration and meaning in the contextof Hong Kong / China.” (More here)
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The new issue is mentioned on The Bamboo Sea.
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The new issue is mentioned on China Digital Times.
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The new issue is mentioned on Paper Republic.
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Aukur wrote: “The China issue is really great, with the Poetry in Translation section especially impressive. It's a delight to read voices that I otherwise might never have read.”
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Read Charles's response to Russell C. Leong's poem “Dreams and Dust”.
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Jackson wrote: “The China issue is superb. So, thank you for that as well. Despite the difficulties when you first went live, I spent several days clicking and clicking until I got
through it all. I wondered whether China might have had something to do with it…”
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