Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Beautiful and Smart Asian Women

Asian women today are placing more emphasis and putting more effort into their personal beauty routine.  There was a recent study conducted by TNS Asia Pacific which reported that 59 percent of Asian women believe it is very crucial to attempt to look their best even before leaving the home in the morning.  This is in comparison to the 39 percent of Western women who feel the same way.  Asian women are among the most educated people in the world, but their beauty routine has not been neglected by and large.  In fact, these women see personal beauty as necessary to having a good job and a solid education.


According to some newspaper articles, the Chinese plastic surgery industry has grown into a $2.5 billion industry.  In addition, South Korea is reported to have the highest rate of cosmetic surgery in the world.  So when one observes most Asian add campaigns, it might be important to wonder if the strategy that marketers are using to attract Asian women is a good way to proceed in the future?  These women are without a doubt beautiful, social, and caring.  However, there is much more to them than merely a pretty face and a helpful attitude.  Just remember that Asian women have earning power, control of the family finances, and a high level of education.  This is just for starters too!


A company which hopes their brand will do well with the modern Asian woman will want to win the heart and mind of this person first.  There is the complexity of the whole Asian region to consider.  She spends her valuable time online too.  Brands must help this woman become more successful and more beautiful.  She wants to gain credibility and status by her purchases.  Most of all, she wants to build a happy, healthy family.  Therefore, any brand of product must make her happy too.  This is an exciting opportunity for any enterprising business person to consider!


Harlan Urwiler

For more information, feel free to visit my website at:  http://www.myorientalgallery.com/.

Monday, May 30, 2011

The Life of Zhang Ziyi

Zhang Ziyi was born on February 9th, 1980 in the capital city of China, Beijing.  She is the daughter of an economist father, Zhang Yuanxiao.  Her mother, Li Zhousheng, is a kindergarten teacher.  She was raised with her older brother, Zhang Zinan, in a working class, urban section of Beijing.  However, Zhang was originally interested in dancing and gymnastics as a career.  She entered bravely into the dance world when she was only eleven years old.  As turned out, she was accepted into a secondary school affiliated with Beijing Dancing College.  She was four years in this school.  During her time there, she earned some awards which included the National Young Dancer competition.  Even so, her promising career as a dancer came to an end when she became interested in acting instead.  It has been said that Zhang simply became frustrated by the art of dancing.


This young woman enrolled in the Central Drama Academy in Beijing where she then recieved dramatic training.  Zhang Ziyi became successful in her new career when she least expected it.  She auditioned for a shampoo commercial which was directed by the influential director Zhang Yimou.  He knew that Zhang was the perfect choice for the part of a young, rural schoolgirl in love with a schoolteacher.  She was promptly cast in the lead role of 1999's "The Road Home."  When this film was released in China, Zhang Ziyi was given the nickname "Little Gong Li."  This was in reference to the mega-popular Asian actress, Gong Li.  While this may appear to sound like a compliment, the nickname is not intended as such.  In fact, it refers to an alleged affair that Zhang Ziyi had with the director Zhang Yimou.  Gong Li was once considered the director's mistress, but they reportedly broke up in 1994.  Both Zhang Ziyi and Zhang Yimou have denied that any affair took place between them.


When director Ang Lee was casting actors for his martial arts film, "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon," he had a famous Taiwanese actress in mind for the role of Jen Yu.  However, after he viewed the film "The Road Home" he decided that Zhang Ziyi was the actress for this important role.  Ang Lee's film became one of the biggest hits of the year 2000.  It turned out to be the most popular foreign film in U.S. history.  It went on to earn a stunning $130 million at the box office.  It also garnered 4 Academy Awards, including a long list of other awards.


This tremendous success ensured that Zhang Ziyi would become a familiar face to filmgoers.  In this film she shares fight scenes with Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun Fat.  There is also a sexually explicit scene with Chang Chen in the Gobi Desert as well.  Zhang Ziyi garnered the Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2000 as well as the MTV Movie Award for Best Fight Scene in 2001.  She also became one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in the World that same year.


Harlan Urwiler

For more information, feel free to visit my website at:  http://www.myorientalgallery.com/.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Imperial Seals Speak for Ancient China

There is another characteristic about Qianlong Imperial Seals.  Many of them had carved inscriptions which were taken from selected literature of China.  As Manchu people, all the Qing emperors were conscious of their identity as "foreigners."  This occured during their rule over the Han people of ancient China.  So it was necessary for these emperors to have a thorough knowledge of Chinese culture... if they hoped to create a permanent social and economic stability!  Therefore, they became careful students of the writings of Confucius.  They even began to exercise Confucian rites to help persuade the Han people of their "Chinese" appreciation.


By the time of the Qianlong era, Han culture had spread into every aspect of Manchurian rule.  The reason for this was that the Manchu people had been totally assimilated with the Chinese culture.  The Manchus were so well absorded into China that the emperor had to issue an edict to "encourage speaking Manchu and practicing horseback riding and hunting."  The Qianlong emperor himself was a fervent admirer of Han culture.  He demonstrated his sincere knowledge of traditional Chinese thought and literature through the inscriptions located on many of his famous seals.  Many of these inscriptions came from literature containing the wisdom of Confucius!


Qianlong's sources for his inscriptions demonstrate his deep understanding of Confucius.  However, they also show the depth of his knowledge of Chinese literature.  Qianlong often composed original inscriptions for his seals.  The inscriptions are selections from his personal collection of poetry.  They tend to be very well written, extremely poetic in nature, and they relay profound meaning to us today.  Perhaps the emperor chose these inscriptions as a way of proclaiming himself to the future generations?  As one considers the subject of Asian art and culture today, the Qianlong emperor's work seem very relevant indeed!



Harlan Urwiler

For more information, feel free to visit my website at:  http://www.myorientalgallery.com/.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Chinese Imperial Seals

The Chinese Emperor Qianlong lived from 1711 to 1799 AD.  His life is noted by several achievements.  One of the most memorable is his contribution to Imperial Seals during the time of the great Qing dynasty.  Qianlong was the fourth emperor in this noteworthy line.  He is still famous throughout the world as a accomplished ruler with much ambition.  Consequently, he left a compelling legacy for the world to see.  Qianlong helped to create a prosperous time during his reign of more than sixty years.  He was the longest reigning emperor in China's history.


Qianlong was a fervent artist and an aggressive collector too.  He spent much time and personal energy in this expression of his love for art.  However, to properly understand the court art of this period of history, one must probe more deeply into the brilliant thoughts and life experiences of this important emperor himself.  The popular "imperial seal" provides a small window into the unique mind of Qianglong.... and into the historic world of the past!


Imperial seals which were made during this era took on several familar characteristics.  The first characteristic of the Qianlong seals is that they were made in large quanities.  Different materials were also made to construct them.  The Qianlong emperor commissioned more than 1,800 seals during his lifetime.  This large amount had never been heard of before!  Qianlong imperial seals were made of materials like bronze, jade, stone, crystal, agate, ivory, bamboo, amber, and clay.  However, stone and jade seals make up the majority of the production.  The imperial court closely managed the quantity of these official emblems of political power.


Harlan Urwiler

For more information, please feel free to visit my website at:  http://www.myorientalgallery.com/.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Beautiful Pearls Forever

Did you know that "pearl" is the official birthstone for month of June?  This fact came about through the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912.  It is also the birthstone for the Sun Signs of Gemini and Cancer.  Freshwater pearls are given the first wedding anniversary, according to tradition.  Pearls are also given on most third, twelfth, and thirty year anniversaries.  Pearls are excellent gifts for the true lover!


In fact, it has been said that freshwater pearls offer the power of love to those who wear them.  They also provide money, protection, and good luck!  This is not a bad deal for the purchase of a fine pearl necklace which will beautify your life for many years to come.  Furthermore, freshwater pearls are thought to give wisdom through experience.  This is according to the laws of karma.  They also cement engagements and love relationships.  Pearls have been credited with keeping children safe from harm as well.


In ancient folklore, early Chinese myths told of pearls falling from the sky when great dragons fought each other.  The legends say that pearls were thought to be the tears of the gods.  Ancient Greeks believed that wearing pearls would promote marital bliss and even prevent newlywed women from crying.  In short, a pearl necklace is an elegant present to give or receive for all these reasons.  Pearls are some of the most special and beloved gifts of all time!



Harlan Urwiler

For more information, feel free to visit my website at:  http://www.myorientalgallery.com/.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Asian Women Are a New Consumer Market

It may surprise many of us in the West that Asian women work in more equitable environments than we ever imagined!  In fact, it has been noted that the gap between women's income and that of men is tightening much more quickly throughout Asia than it is in the West.  A famous Chinese proverb puts it this way:  "Women hold up half the sky."  Many Asian women still desire to fulfill their traditional role as wives and mothers in the home.  Even so, they continue to have more disposable income than ever before.  It may surprise many that Asian women spend seven times the amount of household income on an annual basis as Asian men.


More and more Asian women are leading large companies to the extent that they are even becoming the new heads of entire industries.  One example of this phenomena is Sung Joo Kim of Korea.  She is the chairwoman and CEO of Sungioo Group AG and MCM Holdings.  Another noteworthy example is Yan Cheung, nicknamed "the recycling queen."  She is the chairlady and co-founder of Nine Dragons Paper Holdings.  It is reported that she is the richest woman in China today.


Asian women of the present time are well educated and employed in high-paying jobs.  They are enjoying more disposable income.  In fact, today's affluent Asian women are younger too.  Eighty percent of wealthy women in China are under the age of forty five.  This is compared to thirty percent in the United States and nineteen percent in Japan.  Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that in order to get the attention of Asian women consumers, brands and products need to speak to the young, successful female age group.  It would be wise for businesspeople in the Asian market to think between the ages of eighteen and twenty five in terms of marketing.  This would be ambitious... and very smart!



Harlan Urwiler

For more information, please feel free to visit my website at:  http://www.myorientalgallery.com/.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Asian Female Favorites

Who is an "Asian" woman suppposed to be?  Many people think in terms of either Chinese, Japanese, or perhaps Indian or Korean women.  Most forget about the Southeast Asian countries including places like the Philipppines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia... or even Northern Asian countries like Pakistan.  Regardless of the stereotypes we see in most Asian marketing adds for various products, it is important to have a complete view of Asian women based on the facts. 


It has been said that Asian women include a "melting pot" of unique ethnicities.  Each ethnic group has its own special cultural heritage.  For practical purposes people in the West tend to think of Asian women as one group.  However, at some point we must ask ourselves what traits define the modern Asian woman best?  There are a few facts which may help us better understand this growing demographic in the market place of the world.


Asian women live in the fastest-growing consumer market in the world.  The way in which wealth is distrubted in Asian countries is like no other region.  On one side of the spectrum, China, Japan, and India's GDP places these countries in the top five richest countries in the world.  In other Asian countries there remains extreme poverty and civil unrest.  This great discrepancy influences Asian women's purchasing choices in the markets of the world, depending on where they come from.  Even so, the Asian woman is more empowered in the market today than ever before.  She may live in an established economy (like Japan or Singapore) and enjoy product choices of top name brands.  She may have the ability to buy common luxuries most people in the West have.  Generally speaking, women in Asia are active in the workforce and the marketplace.  This is an important truth which has come of age.... and it can no longer be ignored!


Harlan Urwiler

For more information, feel free to visit my website at:  http://www.myorientalgallery.com/.