“Minor virtues flow like a stream, while great virtues nurture and transform.” – Confucian saying from the Zhongyong (Doctrine of the Mean)
Zixia (Vincent) Wang, a PhD in Public Health student, has gifted two traditional Chinese art banners to Wen Public Health, which are now displayed in the Dean’s Suite. The banners, which were created by Wang’s father, reflect themes of preventative care and societal harmony. They are also rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and Confucian philosophy, two themes that emphasize the importance of preventative care and public health.
Current doctoral student Wang has a close connection to Wen Public Health. He has spent the last eight years earning his undergraduate degree in Public Health Policy in 2020, his Master of Public Health in 2022, and now his PhD Public Health degree that in which he expects to graduate in the Spring of 2027 with a concentration in disease prevention. Upon graduation, he hopes to pursue research focused on Asian American cancer survivorship after graduation continually, maybe work in academia, especially since he enjoyed the teaching aspect as a teaching assistant at UCI.
The banners he and his family donated to Wen Public Health are mounted on blue and green fabric with intricate, detailed patterns and messages that deeply resonate with UC Irvine’s diverse community while underscoring key principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and public health practice. Rather than simply treating diseases, TCM emphasizes the prevention of illnesses and daily health maintenance.
The blue banner, adorned with frozen plum blossoms symbolizing resilience, features a quote from the Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon): “Hence, the sages did not treat those already ill but treated those not yet ill.” Wang explains, “this message reflects the one of the essences of public health that prevention is always more effective than treatment.”
These banners highlight the value of cultural wisdom in shaping modern public health practices. They remind us to engage with diverse communities respectfully and meaningfully.”
– Zixia (Vincent) Wang, PhD in Public Health student
The green banner, displaying scroll lotus flowers to signify health and longevity, carries a Confucian saying from the Zhongyong (Doctrine of the Mean): “Minor virtues flow like a stream, while great virtues nurture and transform.” Wang connects this to public health, emphasizing the importance of both small individual habits and large-scale initiatives in fostering community well-being.
“These banners highlight the value of cultural wisdom in shaping modern public health practices,” said Wang. “They remind us to engage with diverse communities respectfully and meaningfully.”
Wang feels that both banners represent key tenets of public health through quotes from Chinese classical texts. As one of the most important principles of TCM, the Yin-Yang theory emphasizes the importance of balance and harmony in everything in the world, and this theory also applies to public health practice today. Cultural values and evidence-based public health knowledge are just like Yin and Yang, they support each other, and we cannot overlook the importance of either side as public health practitioners conduct culturally tailored interventions.
Wang hopes the artwork inspires current and future students, faculty, and the broader community to reflect on the holistic mission of public health and the value of cultural wisdom. A connection he has kept with him throughout his academic journey at Wen Public Health and a promise he plans to uphold throughout his career as a public health practitioner.
Check out the Guide to Reading & Storing Chinese Calligraphy.
