reading - in manchuria, ch. 4-6

[Anonymous]

In chapter 4, the Willow Palisade is a system of ditches and embankments planted with willows that were intend to restrict movement into Manchuria. They were built by the Qing during the later 17th century and were divided into three sections. Meyer discovers that an inscription indicating he is in what once was the western Willow Palisade. As Meyer continues to explore Wasteland, he begins to realize there is no evidence of history. At least in the sense of settlements and old structures. Only the personal stories remained and even these only went as far back as people could remember.

[Anonymous]

In chapter 5, Ms. Guan changed since Meyer's last visit. She has a job at a new school, much different than No.22. We now see her with blond streaks in her black hair and she has undergone quite a transformation. Like her own transformation, Jilin has also undergone a transformation since the Japanese occupation. Much of the beauty has been destroyed and replaced or manufactured. Meyer's house is also between centuries. On one hand, he has no indoor plumbing. On the hand, he has broadband Internet, which is very modern. The Qingming tomb-sweeping festival has also undergone a transformation and has been reinvented as a national holiday by the Chinese government.

[clay dube]

reading - in manchuria ch.4-6
Remember, you're welcome to raise other questions or offer comments focusing on other themes.

Ch. 4 "Ruins and Remains"
What was the Willow Palisade? What did Meyer learn while hunting for it? What does he mean when he says that in Huangdi 荒地 (Wasteland) is personal? Why might history in Manchuria be limited to particular messages?

Ch. 5 "The Waking of Insects"
We learn about big changes for Ms. Guan, the English teacher that Meyer helps. How has Jilin changed from the time of the Japanese occupation? Why does Meyer describe his house and Wasteland in general as straddling the 19th and the 21st centuries? What is Qingming? Why is it difficult to mark in Wasteland? How does Frances celebrate her father?

Ch. 6 "Grain Rain"
We open with Auntie Yi observing a paradox in Wasteland and in China generally -- the odd and ad hoc mix of socialism, private enterprise, and traditional beliefs/symbols. What is she referring to? Can you identify other examples? Sometimes, one can fight city hall. How did San Jiu prevail against village authorities? What does the resort built by the rice company suggest about what they think about locals, about potential tourists?
edited by Clay Dube on 6/4/2015

[Anonymous]

Much of chapter 6 centers around the Eastern Fortune Rice Company and its' control over everything. What appears natural has been manufactured. Many farmers were forced to move into new apartments, and many lost land that was not theirs to lease in the first place.

[Author]

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