I didn't know...

[Anonymous]

Funny you say that Moody. I was just thinking about it too. I know that fight is not only a way to measure respect but it also measures character. How you fight can tell a lot about your character as a person. The form as well as the method shows you what type of person the fighter is. Also, if you are challenged to duel , then you must fight. If you don't, then that means you have just disrespected your opponent; meaning you look down on him or thinks he's not good enough to duel with you. The worst shame for your opponent is for you to refuse the challenge.

When someone offers you his genseng, it's not a compensation, but instead it's an admiration. You admire that person's martial discipline and therefore you show your admiration by offering him the best you have.[Edit by="tnguyen on Jan 29, 10:41:46 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

I always thought that the US is the most liberal country among all others (not including third countries of course). This is maybe i am from an Asian root and see things alittle differently here. But, i think even though US implement many laws and regulations, it is liberal. I think if China didn't shut down those Internet Cafe than children (thier future) will not comply to what the government want to implement. It's just a safe initiative for the Chinese to guaranttee their country's future.

[Anonymous]

I watched an episode of Taboo with National Geographic which covered Korean Shamanism. The episode featured a young girl who had been "chosen" and was participating in a ritual which would determine whether she would be a shaman. It involved dancing and singing for hours to put her in a type of trance, then she underwent a series of "tests," like walking on the edge of a sword. It was interesting to see how the shamans are on the fringe of Korean society, yet they hold so much power. They are feared and revered at the same time, and they seem to live isolated lives, because they are never fully accepted in society.

[Anonymous]

How interesting that fighting and upholding one's honor is revered in other countries whereas in the US, so many people condemn someone for fighting (whether it is a principle or a real physical battle). Recently, I have heard of situations where administrators are demanding that certain teachers/coaches do things their way instead of what is honorable to the individual. While some encourage the person to stand up for what is right, most people say to get over it and roll with it. Perhaps more people would take pride in what they do if they would fight for what they believe. In Asia, I think what is respected is dedication, loyalty, and honor in both mental and physical disciplines. It is the strength to risk something for what you believe.

[Anonymous]

I was reading some lesson ideas about Korea and found an interesting fact. In Korea's last dynasty, it was possible for a woman to be a widow before she was born! This was because of the daughters being promised for marriage before their actual birth. What is even more amazing is that, since it was improper to marry more than once, she would never be able to "marry" again. That certainly should give students something to think about and discuss.

[Anonymous]

Another interesting fact I learned from this booklet titled "Teaching More About Korea:Lessons for Students in Grades K-12" published by The Korea Society, is one of the reasons South Korea went from the 2nd poorest nation in 1960 to one of the wealthiest today.
Yes, they mentioned the Confucian ideals of hard work and respect for education, and also its"outward looking view with an emphasis on exports. But, they also said "Japan also gave the economy a jumpstart, by paying Korea $60 billion for damages inflicted during the second world war." Wow, not only is that a lot of money, but it is also quite a dramatic admission of guilt by the Japanese government, even if their textbooks still don't tell the whole story. That's something I haven't seen in newspaper stories about this issue.

[Anonymous]

Korean betrothal and pre-birth widowhood -- it is something that the students could think about -- I'm having an interesting time with it. Did your information tell you anything about what these women did with their lives if they could not marry? I would love to find out more about their situations -- like the medieval women who became "nuns" and started their own convents so that they would not have to marry and/or give up their inherited wealth.

I wonder if they remained with their families or did they also become nuns of a sort. Sometimes the choices people create for themselves in impossible situations are better than the ones they might have had if their options were completely open.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, the source I used didn't tell what these pre-birth widows did for the rest of their lives. Maybe they stayed with their parents, maybe they got into some type of business. I remember in our Asia seminar hearing that in China, some widows had something of an advantage in not having the responsibility of looking for a husband. Of course, the cultural mores of the time period and place would determine what was possible.

[Anonymous]

An elderly neighbor tells me on great authority that the reason pagodas have curved edges is so that dragons have somewhere to sleep at night. It makes me want to restructure my house.

[Author]

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