In collaboration with the Hmong Archives and Hmong Educational Resources, the East Side Freedom Library invites you to meet Dr. Kou Yang, who will present his new book Sayaboury: Land of a Million Elephants, on Friday, July 5th at 7pm.

Sayahoury: Land of a Million Elephants
After being away from the province for over 43 years, the author felt like a stranger to the Sayaboury Province, a place he used to call home. By reconnecting with the Sayaboury Province, Dr. Yang hopes to provide readers a better understanding of the history, the land, and the people of Sayaboury — the Land of a Million Elephants.

“With long and informed experience, Dr. Kou Yang has assembled a book which explores the historical and cultural roots of Sayaboury Province where he grew up long ago. His early recollections provide a rare glimpse of the province decades ago. The book also describes the many ethnic groups of the province. And, Dr. Kou also covers the current economic and political situation of the province. The work is a fascinating case study of one of the most unique provinces of Laos.” –Lionel Rosenblatt, Former State Department official who played a leading role in protecting and resettling Indochina, Hmong and Laotian minority refugees to the U.S.

Almost every mountain, cave, natural wonder, and village has its own set of folk stories or legends, adding humanity, spirituality, mystery and supernatural elements to this land. The indigenous people of Sayaboury, such as the Khmu, Phay and Tong Leuang (Mlabbrii-ຕອງເຫລືອງ), have lived in this land for at least 10,000 years, and the famous and venerated Phra That Xieng Lom or Xieng Lom Stupa in Sayaboury was built more than 700 years ago, indicating that this land has seen many rulers come and go, many civilizations rise and fall, many eras of peace and many periods of war. Situated in the tropical zone, Sayaboury’s diverse flora and fauna gives it the historical and cultural name as the Province of a Million Elephants.

Kou Yang is Professor of Asian American Studies at California State University, Stanislaus. He holds an Ed.D. from the Joint Doctoral Program of Educational Leadership, California State University, Fresno/University of California at Davis, and an MSW from California State University, Fresno.

Click “Going” and share on Facebook!