44th International Polonaise Ball Enchanted with China

The 44th international polonaise ball

Enchanted with Ancient China

Gala Dinner Dance Saturday, the twentieth of February The Year Two Thousand and Sixteen at Seven O'clock pm Eden Roc Hotel Mona Lisa Ballroom - Cocktail Hour Pompeii Promenade Ballroom - Dinner 4525 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33140 ''Polonaise'' by the Members of the Committees and Special Guests Entertainment by New Century Dance Company Music for Dancing by Frank Hubbell Orchestra White or Black Tie Regalia

R.S.V.P.

Poles Contributing to Exotic China During the 17th and 18th centuries, Polish Jesuit missionaries flocked to China, among them Michał Piotr Boym (1612-1659). A scientist, explorer, cartologist, author and artist, Boym gained attention for writing the first ever published Chinese dictionaries for European languages. A Chinese–Latin dictionary was published in 1667 and a Chinese–French dictionary published in 1670. But it was the hundreds of exquisite drawings of China’s natural world, along with extensive writings in his book, Flora Sinensis, of the medicinal and healing qualities of Chinese plants for which he is best known.

Oil of Michal Piotr Boym

Watercolor from Flora Sinensis by Boym

Jan Mikołaj Smogulecki (1610– 1656), a Polish nobleman, politician and scholar, became a missionary in China and adopted the name, Mu Ni-co. Throughout the country, he taught astronomy and mathematics, introducing logarithms to China, and his devotion and scholarship was much respected by Chinese scholars. In 1653, Smogulecki and Chinese astronomer, Xue Fengzuo, translated Western works of the solar system into the book, The True Origin of Celestial Movements, which made use of the Copernican system.

Fauna plate from Flora Sinensis by Boym

Magni Cathay Pe Kim by Boym In the years 1897-1949, thousands of Poles settled in Manchuria in northeast China. Among them were explorers and scientists, and those who participated in building the Chinese Eastern Railway such as engineers, technicians and laborers. Many Poles also served in the Russian army during the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905. They lived in Harbin, nicknamed the Ice City for having the most bitterly cold winters among major Chinese cities, where they established a Polish Consulate, high school and several cultural organizations.

Heliocentric Universe by Copernicus

Vintage map of city of Harbin

Ancient Philosophy and Symbols Chinese philosophy has been developing since the earliest days of mankind. Founded on a belief system called humanism, it is an ideology that guides people with the tools to lead lives of fulfillment, enrichment and achievement. Humanism emphasizes critical thinking and evidence as opposed to dogma or superstition.

The lantern was not only used as a light source in ancient China, but as an object of artistic expression

There is also a strong thread of the metaphysical and poetic in Chinese thought. The great philosophers tended to present ideas as parables, allusions and aphorisms - the rule of thumb being “less is more.�

To lead people on how to live within this philosophy, symbols, art motifs and theories of color were developed.

A Qing Dynasty print showing Confucius presenting Buddha to the philosopher Lao-Tzu

Feng Shui is the art of harmonious placement of objects to create a positive flow of energy, with Yin Yang as the central force, exemplifying all things human and divine

" Do

The crane is a very popular symbol standing for longevity, and two flying cranes denote rising high

" Wherever

the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small.

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

"

Lao Tzu

Brides have always worn red as it brings joy, vitality and fertility

you go, go with all your heart.

"

Confucius

The peacock symbolizes dignity and beauty, and the eyes on its tail denote fame, luck and public admiration

Visual and Martial Arts The Chinese visual styles have remained fairly constant for thousands of years.

Artists seek to express society’s inner and outer harmonies with natural surroundings. By using delicate brush strokes and sensuous lines delineating the movement and flow of everyday life, along with traditional symbols, colors and repetitive art motifs, even the most simplistic pieces impart a depth of emotion and wisdom. Art is meant to always feed the spirit.

Martial arts, like kung fu and washu, originated over 4,000 years ago as a means of selfdefense, hunting skill and military prowess.

Precise styles of hand-to-hand combat and the inventive use of a few simple weapons became extremely effective for Chinese soldiers.

But over the centuries, various philosophies were merged with the fighting systems to teach practitioners how to achieve strong personal growth, a committed inner focus, and oneness with the world.

Martial arts became essential for excellent health maintenance and the improvement of self, and remain an integral part of Chinese culture today.

" Life

is an echo. What you send out comes back.

"

Chinese Proverb

Inventions that Transformed the World Ancient China has given the world hundreds of inventions, from harvesting a worms’ threads and weaving them into one of the most beautiful and sturdiest fabrics on earth to developing a way to create brilliantly lit blossoms in the night sky during times of celebration. A few of the inventions we can thank early China for are:

Silk & Paper Playing Cards & Kites Gunpowder, Matches & Fireworks Porcelain & Lacquers Compass, Sundials & Mechanical Clocks Cast Iron & Crossbows Ink & Calligraphy

Chemistry & Medicines Decimal system & Abacus Astronomy & Acupuncture

Forensic Sciences & Civil Service Exams Printing & Paper Money Waterwheels & Pottery Wheels Ice Cream & Incense

Under the gracious patronage of the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Washington D.C. Mr. and Mrs. Ryszard Schnepf Special Guest President Lech Walesa Royal Guests H. R. H. King Kigeli V of Rwanda H.R.H. Duke Dom Duarte Pio de Braganca Ampun (H.M.) Sultan Muedzul-Lail Tan Kiram, Royal House of Sulu H. I. H. Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie of Ethiopia H.I. H. David Bagrationi of Moukhrani, Royal House of Georgia Marquis Alberto D’Ornellase de Vasconcellos Jardim Count Antonio De Deus Ramos Ponces De Carvalho Princess Marianne Bernadotte Prince and Princess Karol Czartoryski Princess Lada Schuiski

Honorary Committee Dr. Horacio Aguirre Honorable and Mrs. Zbigniew Brzezinski Drs. Stanislaw and Barbara Burzynski Mrs. Irena McLean - Laks Mr. Rafal Olbinski Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Storozynski Ms. Loretta Swit Baron Kimon Andreou Vergara Mr. and Mrs. Henry P. Williams III Honorable and Mrs. Walter Zachariasiewicz

Ball Chairmen Lady Blanka Aldona Rosenstiel

Countess Barbara Pagowska - Cooper

Co-Chairmen Mrs. Ruby Bacardi Mrs. Regina Beaman Honorable and Mrs. Maurice Ferre Count Rodney Hildebrant Mr. and Mrs. Keith Gray Mr. and Mrs. Amedeo Guazzini Mr. and Mrs. Jan Karaszewski Mr. and Mrs. Paul Lowenthal

Count Matthew Meehan Marquis Alexander Colonna-Walewski Montague and Marquise Maria Alonso Montague Dr. Michel S. Pawlowski Ms. Alicja Schoonover Mrs. Marjorie Sonderling Mr. John Wayne Jr. Mrs. Beata Paszyc and Mr. John Frank Velez

Social Committee Honorable Darek Barcikowski Mr. Douglas Evans and Mr. Mikolaj Bauer Drs. Wojciech and Renata Cymer Mr. and Mrs. Bob Dickinson Baroness Magdalena A. von Freytag Mr. & Mrs. Edward George Mrs. Jadwiga Gewert Countess Magdalena Grocholski Mr. and Mrs. Karlheinz Huth Mr. Steven Karski Mr. and Mrs. Krzysztof Kruszelnicki Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Kruszewski Misses Francesca and Lucia Lowenthal

Chicago Committee Chairmen

Dr. Basil and Mrs. Magdalena Mangra Mr. and Mrs. Roy Meyeringh Mrs. Nina Mlodzinska de Rovira Honorable John Petkus Honorable Marek Pienkowski Mr. Krzysztof Porowski Misses Anna and Ashley Porowski Mrs. Daisy Richardson Mr. Jarosław Rottermund Mrs. Carol Sadowski Ms. Lynne Schaefer Mr. Jon Theobald Mrs. Ligia Wiegand

Midwest Committee Chairmen

Countess Brigitte Victoria Cooper Countess Janelle Annette Cooper

Mr. and Mrs. Thad Cooke Ms. Halina Malinski Mr. and Mrs. Chester Partyka

Co-Chairmen

Co-Chairmen

Countess Izabella Pagowska – Budys Ms. Vanessa Godek Dr. and Mrs. Janusz Golec Dr. Michael Hytros Dr. Ewa Jachimowicz Dr. Tomasz Osolkowski Mr. Jacek and Dr. Jolanta Tatara Dr. and Mrs. Mark Tucci Dr. and Mrs. Jerome Zwierzycki

Mr. Leon Cholewa Badzinski Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Broski Mr. Edward Godlewski Mrs. Barbara Lemecha Mr. John Nosek Mrs. Henrietta Nowakowski Mr. and Mrs. George Sobieraj Mr. Ben Stefanski, II Dr. Michael Klimiuk-Wieczerski

New York Committee Chairman Countess Jadwiga Krasicki

Co-Chairmen Mr. and Mrs. Chester Lobrow Mrs. Jadwiga Palade Mr. and Mrs. Witold Sulimirski Mrs. Danuta Wilk

The American Institute of Polish Culture, Inc. A non-profit, public-benefit, cultural organization

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