Student Research Spotlight: Mary-Kate Murphy

Chinese cuisine, calligraphy, mask changing performances, and tea ceremonies; these are just some characteristics of Chinese culture that have been captured by University of Central Florida student, Mary-Kate Murphy, during her first year working on the ChinaVine project.  Mary-Kate, a ChinaVine contributor, is an interdisciplinary student at the University of Central Florida involved with the project since June 2010.

Mary-Kate probably won’t be the first to tell you about the inauthenticity of Chinese food in the United States compared to Chinese food. In fact, many Westerners are probably not accustomed to the types of food traditionally found in cities like Hangzhou and Beijing. Unlike much Western cuisine, the Chinese culinary style consists of a base of rice or noodles for nearly every dish blended with unique spice mixes, such as the five-spice powder that often consists of star anise (baijiao), cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan peppers (huajiao), and ground fennel seeds. When asked about the purpose of her research on Chinese cuisine, Mary-Kate responded, “I exposed and described the different delicacies in each major region in China. I also described the qualities/characteristics of the food and how food was related to health.”[1] Indeed, traditional Chinese medicine relies primarily on proper diet as a form of preventive medicine, in addition to a well-rounded lifestyle. Furthermore, as Mary-Kate notes, Chinese cuisine varies per region; what may be found in the southern provinces such as Guangzhou will most likely not be found in Beijing.

Over the course of her research, Mary-Kate found the information on Chinese calligraphy to be her favorite. “I described the evolution of calligraphy, how to write calligraphy (proper posture and tools), and a brief portion on a famous modern artist who uses calligraphy in an usual way (Xu Bing),”[2] explains Mary-Kate.

Without a doubt, Chinese Calligraphy is a precise and true form of artistic creation. Amazingly, calligraphers have used the same tools since the start of its tradition dating back to ancient China, such as the ink stone and handcrafted brush. Even though many practice their technique for years, only few master the various methods.

For this area of research, Mary-Kate gratefully acknowledges ChinaVine team members Yinghua Wang, Laurie Hicks, and Dr. Kristin Congdon for their helpful and informative contributions of photos and information.

Other areas of Chinese culture Mary-Kate has researched are mask changing and tea ceremonies.

Mask changing is a unique aspect of Chinese performance art, where the performer dawns intricate, vibrant costumes and dances to traditional music. The magic of the mask changing performance lies in the artist’s quickness. A performer will change masks multiple times during a sequence faster than the human eye can see. The technique behind this art is often kept as a strictly Chinese secret among families and performers.

Tea ceremonies are yet another important aspect of Chinese culture Mary-Kate has elucidated for ChinaVine. According to Mary-Kate, some of the most pertinent aspects of tea ceremonies are “how tea leaves are harvested, differences in teas, origins of tea and ceremony, and health benefits.”[3]

Previously on the VineOnline blog, Emily Dobkin elaborated on the Art of Tea in China based on Mary-Kate’s work. Check out the article here.

For more information on happenings with Mary-Kate’s work, ChinaVine, and future research conducted by CV team members, keep your browser directed at VineOnline.

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[1] Personal correspondence, May 24, 2010.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.