In Memoriam: Yuni Han
It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our dear friend, Yuni Han, who left us peacefully on November 7, 2024. Yuni was a cherished member of the qin community whose warmth and kindness touched all who had the privilege to know her. Her dedication to the art of the guqin and her generous spirit enriched our lives in countless ways, and her presence will be greatly missed.
On Saturday, November 16, several members of the New York Qin Society, including our founding president, Master Yuan Jung Ping (who was also Yuni’s guqin teacher), and Sarah Chen, Secretary of the Chinese Guqin Association from Taiwan, gathered for a special memorial event at Swan Lake, NY, where Yuni once lived. This gathering provided an opportunity to honor and express our deepest gratitude to Yuni—a beloved friend whose legacy in the guqin community will continue to inspire us all.
We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Mrs. Terra Vandergaw, who cared for Yuni over the past year and a half and thoughtfully organized this memorial event. Her kindness and support have been invaluable, and we are deeply grateful for her efforts in bringing us together to celebrate Yuni’s life.
This photograph of Yuni, graciously provided by Mrs. Vandergaw, captures the spirit of a remarkable person whose memory we hold close.
With condolences,
Peiyou Chang. 張培幼
Links to the guqin yaji (elegant gatherings) hosted by Yuni since 2011:
https://guqinyaji.blogspot.com/2014/06/5312014-zhong-dao-tang-qin-with-archery.html
https://guqinyaji.blogspot.com/2014/12/ice-string-in-han-mountain-guqin-yaji.html
https://guqinyaji.blogspot.com/2015/08/late-summer-at-cdt.html
https://guqinyaji.blogspot.com/2016/09/master-yuan-2016-cdt-concert.html
Taichi Quan Performance with Yuni: https://guqinyaji.blogspot.com/2016/09/full-moon-festival-promoting-taichi-and.html
Last Yaji Yuni participated: https://guqinyaji.blogspot.com/2017/03/3252017-binghamton-spring-guqin-yaji.html
Notes from Yuni’s friends:
1. Peiyou, Qin friends & Terra,
Yes, we remember Yuni with smiles even though it is sad that she died before her time. We’re glad you and Hongmei went to visit her, and that Terra has been there when she passed away. When you shared the photo of her you’d taken on your visit, we were surprised at how ill she looked and that she would pass away so soon.
We are thankful for her peaceful death and will remember her generous and welcoming spirit at the Chungdao Tang that she built and shared with everyone so modestly. Yuni had a special way with plants, flowers and growing things. And the Chungdao Tang emanated that spirit. We who attended gatherings there will remember the sunny pleasure of being there together with her.
With thanks for her memory,
Marilyn
2. I loved those days with Yuni . — Ralph
3. Peiyou, Thank you very much for the update. My wife and I are both saddened to hear the news, and out thoughts and condolences are with her friends and family. I still remember the number of yaiji we attended at her home, and how amazing and gracious of a host she was. I still feel that those were some of the best yaiji we have ever attended, and when I think of yaiji, the memories of those events are what stick with me. During my guqin string development studies, Yuni generously sent me a huge selection of old silk string sets for me to test, which was an immense help for my work. My wife and I even had a chance to stay with her after one of the yaiji for a wonderful hotpot dinner, and we are thankful we had the chance to make such memories with her.
Sincerely,
Michael (Bretti)
4.
孤竹君 (Lord of Solitary Bamboo – name of a guqin piece)
山居吟 (Ode to Mountain Dwelling)
廣寒𨔼 (Travel to the Palace of Vast Coldness)
泣顏回 (Crying for Yan Hui)
關山月 (The Moon over the Mountain Pass)
長相思 (Endless longing)
憶故人 (Remembering An Old Friend)
秋風辭 (Ode to the Autumn Wind) …
Yuni will remain in the happy memories of our good old days. — Renjie
5. Dear Peiyou and all, I was deeply saddened by the news of Yuni’s passing. Although I never met her in person, she was always very kind to me. We exchanged a few emails when she was still able to type, and we wrote to each other about music and walking. I always felt somehow connected to her without really understanding why.
I’m grateful for those moments of connection, however brief they may have been. I hope she is at peace wherever she is.
Andrea Lioy
6. Thanks for the update. I remembered meeting her in a Qin gathering in her house and impressed by her love of Qin art. I feel so sad that we lose a friend and will always remember her… — 刘之育 Lizzy Zhiyu Liu
7. Yuni was a sweet and kind soul, naturally gifted at making life more interesting and bringing joy to those around her. Her generosity towards friends and her warm spirit touched everyone she met. She will be deeply missed. — Yanyan from Canada
8. What a beautiful picture! I spent so many lovely evenings with Yuni, sitting outside and drinking wine. I will do some puja for her. Seeing this photo of Yuni with her glass of dark red wine reminds me of all the evenings I enjoyed with her, after our lessons, sitting on the porch and drinking wine. It was a lovely time, and I miss her very much. — Stephen Dydo
9. 對於Yuni的去世感到震驚與難過。ㄧ時不知道如何回應。但是與她相聚的共同回憶是永留在心中的。祝福Yuni安息於美好的天堂
— 中平 敬禱
I am shocked and saddened by Yuni’s passing and at a loss for how to respond. However, the shared memories of our time together will remain forever in my heart. Wishing Yuni peace in a beautiful heaven. — Yuan Jung-ping, Respectful Prayer
潤伊如晤
許久未見, 但你常在我心, 回憶是我們共同的精神資糧, 猶記得最初[中道堂]的建設, 池塘的挖掘, 池中的於是一起去買來放入池中的, 看著四季的變化不同景色, 多次課程與雅集活動, 懷念那段時間發生的點點滴滴, 都如昨日一般清晰, 一草一木也有我的情感, 雖然今日不再, 但所有的回憶都在我心中.
又想起我們童趣日本的所有記憶, 京都的高台寺演出, 及所有的地點, 其他的城市, 溫泉, 琵琶湖等, 所有的行程, 交通, 住宿都因為有你而成全的. 無比的感恩你.
人生是時間的過程, 留下的只有彼此的回憶, 我很慶幸此生能遇見你帶給我許久美好的回憶, 及對我無私的幫助, 中心祝願你身體健康, 心情平靜愉悅, 期待能見到你, 並跟你說聲感謝你! 親愛的潤伊
永遠忠實關懷你的
中平 [袁氏] [中平]
甲辰七月十三 於台北曦軒
Translation of the letter
Yuni, As If Seeing You,
It has been a long time since we last met, but you are always in my heart. Our shared memories are a cherished spiritual treasure. I still vividly recall the early days of [Chung Dao Tang]—the construction, the digging of the pond, and the fish we went to purchase together and released into the water. Watching the changing scenery across the seasons, holding classes and yaji gatherings, every little moment from that time remains as clear as yesterday. Every blade of grass and tree holds my affection. Though those times are no longer with us, all the memories live on in my heart.
I also think back to all the memories from our trip to Japan: the performance at Kodaiji Temple in Kyoto, the various other locations, the cities, the hot springs, Lake Biwa, and so on. Every detail of the itinerary—transportation, accommodations—was made possible because of you. I am infinitely grateful to you.
Life is a journey through time, and the only thing we leave behind is the memories we share with one another. I am so fortunate to have met you in this lifetime, to have experienced so many beautiful memories you have brought me, and to have received your selfless help.
From the bottom of my heart, I wish you health, peace, and joy. I look forward to seeing you again and expressing my gratitude to you in person! Dear Yuni.
With love and unwavering care,
Jung Ping [Seal of the surname Yuan] [Seal of the name Jung Ping]
July 13, 2024 (in the Chinese Lunar Calendar)
Written at Xi Xuan (studio), Taipei
10.
Dear Peiyou,
I just saw the announcement on the New York Qin Society website about Ms. Yuni Han’s recent passing and wanted to offer my deepest condolences. I had not met Ms. Han, but I encountered her in my review of the NYQS archives, and I can clearly see the impact she had on everyone within whom she interacted. May she now bathe in the love that everyone holds dearly for her.
Regards,
–Mark–
Mark R. Johnson
Photographs from the Memorial
The hosts, Terra and Richard, shared how they met Yuni and reminisced about all their memories with her. Many of Yuni’s friends, including Jung Ping, John, Henry, Renjie, and Peiyou, also shared their memories of Yuni. From the memories shared by every friend who crossed paths with Yuni, we can feel her motherly warmth and hospitality, as well as her independence, resilience, generosity, meticulousness, seriousness, and impeccable attention to detail—qualities that made her personality so captivating.
Music played:
Jung Ping – 古琴 Guqin 憶故人 Remembering the Departed
John – 古琴 Guqin 茶歌 Song of Tea (1617), 酒狂 Wine Mad (1511)
Renjie – 馬頭琴 遠方的母親 The Morin Khuur: “Mother in the Distance”
There’s more to write, but I’ll leave it here for now…
Peiyou Chang 11/16/2024
Dear Peiyou,
Thank you for your kind words. We are very happy that Yuni brought us all together and that the event yesterday turned out well. Yuni deserved a good celebration, and in fact the morning of the day she died, before I went to work, I talked with her and told her we would always hold her our hearts and that we would have a party in her honor. Thanks to you, Master Yuan, and the Qin society members, it was very special!
I’m not sure if everyone understood that the we purchased the stone bench for Yuni. Please feel free to come back and visit anytime.
best,
Terra (11/17/2024)
Documentation: Peiyou Chang