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AnonymousInteresting presentation. I not only found it engaging, but I find it useful in helping my students understand how various civilizations utilize ceremony and ritual to honor and classify their dead. I often teach lessons on cultures' death rituals or honor rituals such as Dia de los Muertos. I always like to have other material to compare and contrast with. It also allows me to be more inclusive as many of my students are from diverse cultures from Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
AnonymousCustoms and rituals surrounding death reveal much about society and its values.
People have always feared death; the great unknown. Today we understand the causes of illness and have advanced live sustain technology. In times past death must have seemed so arbitrary – healthy one day dead the next. For the Mesopotamians this was proof of unjust capricious gods.
For the Ancient Egyptians and Chinese social hierarchy is maintained in death as well as life. Is there an escape? A reward for the just? Or must the just and wicked both serve the elite.
AnonymousThe story of Yang Guifei is of great interest to me because it raised many questions. Yang Guifei is blamed for causing the downfall of monarchs and nations. After reading “The Song of the Everlasting Sorrow”, the Encyclopedia Britanica’s entry and looking at the movie trailer, a few of the questions that came to mind are, “Why blame a decline of an empire on Yang Guifei?”, “Who was she and what made her so special?”, “How exactly did she do that influence the Tang Dynasty’s people and decline?
Yang Yuhuan was the daughter of Yang Xuanyan. Her father was a census official in Sichuan. When Yang’s father died, she was raised in her uncle’s house. She entered imperial harem at the age of 18. Yang was the emperor’s son concubine when she caught Emperor Xuanzong’s eye. The emperor took her as his own concubine and began neglecting state matters. She spent many hours pampering and her desires were always filled. Soon her relatives took position at the court. She even adopted An Lushan as her son. She helped him place him in court. In 755, An Lushan seized the opportunity to stage a rebellion and marched into the capital. Emperor Xuanzong fled towards the southwest. All the years that the emperor spent fulfilling Yang’s desires, weakened the imperial army. The neglect took its toll and angry soldiers were determined to remove the cause. Yang Guifei was forced to kill herself and the emperor eventually died a broken man as he lost the love of his life.
The readings did answer my questions. However, I do not feel satisfied with the minimal information that I found. I would love to read a more in-depth book about her and her influence. Might add it to my "things to do in the summer" list. The trailer did not catch my attention for the following reasons: 1) I did not understand what they were saying, 2) I could not read the captions, and 3) I was expecting to see a rotund woman as the lead (as described in the reading).
edited by malvarenga on 4/27/2015
AnonymousThis was an excellent source. Many of the topics that were covered in this presentation are covered in the 6th grade curriculum. I will be able to use different parts throughout the school year as we cover the various unitssuch as Egypt, Bronze Age, Neolithic Age, China. Customs and rituals play an important part in our cultures. They define part of who we are. It is critical not to judge others for having different beliefs. In the movie, Samsara, a man was buried in a bullet coffin. The first time I saw that scene, I did not know how to react. However, I understood that it was normal for them and accepted it.
The topic of rituals and honor rituals is a good way to get to know students. In the beginning of the year, as part of "getting to know you", we talk about customs, rituals, and traditions. Students answer the question, " What are customs, rituals, and/or traditions? What are some customs, rituals, or traditions that your family celebrates?" Then the students share their answers with shoulder partners, then their face partner. Once the students have shared with two people. We create a class list. As homework, they have to interview their parents and/or grandparents and add two more (minimum) customs/rituals/traditions to their list. The next day their share again and we add more items to our list. This activity helps the students learn about themselves, classmates, and family. It a great classroom builder. We learn about different cultures that will share our learning environment for the next school year.
AnonymousSome of the burial practices found in Ancient Egypt and China seem very similar. It is strange to see such unique civilizations take on some of the same practices. The burial practices of Ancient Egypt seem to have similarities to the burial practice of the terracotta soldiers, and also some of the practices of Mesoamerica as well. I wonder why such varying religious beliefs would lead to such similar burial practices for an afterlife.
AnonymousSome of the comic strip stories remind me of stories from the bible as well (another person commented on that). When I was younger my parents had a book of bible stories in the form of comic strips and I would look at the book at the time. Reading through the comics and looking at the pictures reminded me of the stories I read as a kid. I have really not seen anything like this in schools at all. I was surprised at the comment previously that stories like this were used at a school in Michigan. I think stories like this could teach students a lot about family and morality, much of which is all but eliminated from public education today. I wonder if these stories are too Confucian in thinking for modern schools, much like biblical stories would not been seen in public education.
AnonymousI think the similarities we find between different cultures when it comes to funerary rites has something to do with the universal fear of dying.To smooth the way to the the other world the individual had to be surrounded by what he knew best, the objects related to every day life.A warrior who spends his life in the saddle is buried with his horses, a viking chieftain is buried in his ship , a Chinese nobleman is surrounded by the servants who were part of his household, the creator of a mighty empire is guarded by statues of his soldiers who were with him in his lifetime.
AnonymousI read about Du Fu's life and i understood why he is so sad and bitter about everything.He aspires to a high government position that he cannot get becausehe cannot pass his final exam.he lives during the An Lushan rebellion and instability does not agree with him.He blames the government for failing to protect the population and he feels deeply the pain of the humble people being uprooted by conscriptions
AnonymousThat was a great point you made scarjan. I see this all the time where people are buried in their favorite team jersey, and people put the deceased's favorite item in the casket or periodically on the grave site. Good insight!
AnonymousEvery culture has its expression of respect for its elders. Of note is the cartoon where the daughter feeds her mother first, then she eats. Subsequently, when they are approached by nefarious types, the daughter immediately positions herself to protect her mother. As is true in the circle of life: our parents care for us, protect us, and feed us first while we are young. Then, as parents age, oftentimes, responsible children become the adults thereby "parenting" their elders - albeit with respect.
AnonymousLike the Greeks and Romans of the ancient world, the ancient Egyptians found solace in ritualistic practices such as sacrifices to appease angry gods and to, hopefully, make one's existence in the afterlife pleasant. It seems as though all ancient civilizations had some redemptive thread through the shedding of animal blood as a redemption for one's human imperfections and as protection from tragedy.
AnonymousMonopolies in a few industries may be a temporary - yet necessary evil if the government seeks to standardize or codify certain practices or prices. Later, as competition emerges, the "monopolistic strings" can be loosened to allow free enterprise with some regulations.
AnonymousThere may have been some difficulty winning converts to Buddhism in early China. If conversion attempts of Chinese people occurred during the Legalistic period, then Buddhism may have been perceived as chaotic in what was - and still is in some ways - a highly regimented society.
AnonymousAt that time in China's history, there were extended periods of strife and dissention which made daily living quite arduous. Who wouldn't seek a "paradise on earth" as described in this poem? The poem served as his "pipe dream" of a pleasant Chinese place where filial piety was followed, food and land were plentiful, and peace ruled in place of conflict.
AnonymousI would talk to my students about different cultural family values and how these drawings are used to give young people examples of morals. I would have them work on cooperative groups and develop a cartoon strip of the values or theme they chose to examine.