Her footprints are said to be all over Taiwan and mainland China, thanks to her extensive travels in the last 22 years.
Venus Tan, a 76-year-old author and Richmond resident, has returned to China a total of 12 times in an attempt to uncover the roots of Chinese civilization and satisfy her passion for what she calls “lifelong education.”
In her latest book, Xi’an Wo DuXing, she chronicles her most recent trip back to China in 2012 where she journeyed to understand her own cultural heritage in Shanxi.
The book, written in Chinese, records many of the thoughts, feelings and conversations she experienced during her period of self-discovery.
The work also includes Tan’s poetry and photographs of Chinese relics.
Thanks to the help of a friend, Sophia Zhang, Tan was due to speak at the Richmond Public Library’s Authors in Our Midst program, July 14 at 2 p.m. to launch her new book.
“Venus’ passion about Asian culture, cultural roots, and Chinese history moved me to approach Richmond Public Library about having her be a part of Authors in our Midst said Zhang, who has known Tan since 2010 and has worked with her to hold poetry recitals as well as meet poets from around the world.
Although this is her first book published in mainland China, Tan is a seasoned author who has published more than 12 literary and educational books, such as Education For The Whole Brain By Unity of the Left and Right Brains.
She was also the recipient of the Golden Tripod Award, Taiwan’s most prestigious publishing award. Tan, who was born in 1938 in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, spent her childhood in Chongqing and Taiwan.
She began teaching at age 18 and immigrated to Vancouver in 1992, at age 59, where she remains an active Chinese teacher and member of numerous Chinese literacy societies.
“It’s interesting how a woman of her age and in this stage of her life wants to share this book and her experiences with people” said Shelley Civkin, communications officer at the Richmond Public Library.
The Authors in Our Midst program is about celebrating local authors and their works, and giving people in our community an opportunity to meet authors,” Civkin added.
Although Tan will be presenting in Mandarin, Authors in Our Midst offers other programs in English as well as Cantonese.
