Re/searching in Second Spring

Ru-Jün Zhou

An experimental approach to oral history, focusing on the midlife experiences of Chinese immigrant and Chinese American women, is presented through a spiral research methodology that intertwines past, present, and future. It is a meditation on the evolution of the researcher’s sense-making and positionality, fostering an expanded concept of “shared authority” that resonates with her cultural context. The work invites us to turn our gaze inward, tapping into the inherent wisdom of our bodies—a practice deeply embedded in Eastern wisdom traditions over millennia—and from this introspective vantage point, to embrace the collective body of community narratives, mirroring the notion of “oral history from below,” a concept that finds its roots in the history-making of the West. Using a historical novella, readers are invited to an embodied listening journey, metabolizing the knowing and insight of a lineage of quiet voices.

Re_searching-in-Second-Spring_OHMA

Ru-Jün has over two decades of experience in non-profit and philanthropic sectors, playing roles where she could build platforms for untold stories in underserved communities. She has spearheaded projects in Asia and the US that empowered participants to explore and express their stories through photography, creative writing, movement, and film. In parallel, she has become a student of somatic contemplative traditions. She has learned through years of meditation and dyad practice that, in our modern world, we have largely forgotten how to be with one another—how to be present and listen simply, with an open and awakening heart. This recognition points to a primal truth that is being equally uncovered by modern cognitive science and psychology: to flourish as a human, one must feel heard and seen.

Through work and later the OHMA program, Ru-Jün sees how an interview setting could be a powerful modality for meeting this deep human need to be seen and heard. In a space that is open, attentive, and shorn of judgments, a natural, compassionate, and accurate response arises. In this “attended third space,” where two embodied humans meet in openness, communication becomes clear and effortless. A story can be told, and the “life force” of that story can truly sing.

She is known for her ability to think creatively, fostering innovative perspectives, and thrives in the synoptical integration process, integrating diverse ideas, theories, and practices to create a holistic approach. She often navigates this journey independently while now seeking to join forces with the like-minded for collaboration. For her, practicing oral history transcends the acts of recording and transcribing; it is a practice of generosity and humility, engaging in an embodied way of listening that is beyond orality. She views this practice as a way to metabolize experiences and interweave the strands of individual and collective wisdom that form the rich tapestry of our shared human experience.