Session 3 - March 28 readings (dube- china qin/han - song/yuan)

[Cynthia Stults]

The Song of Everlasting Sorrow uses beautiful imagery to convey this all-consuming love, but the question I had, upon reading it a second time, was if, inaddition to being a testament to love and faithfulness, if it is also a cautionary tale about the negative consequences of excess. When the emperor met his love, he let all the cares of the world fall away. He neglected his kingdom, and I might argue, that the wars and battles that resulted, and then the loss of his love could be viewed as consequences/punishment for his dereliction of duty. 

 

I very much connected with the 4th poem between Wang Wei and P'ei Ti- The Pavilion of the Lake. As I read, it reminded me of the times when my parents come from out of state for a visit. Much like the boat, my car and spirits feel light as I navigate traffic to the airport, and when they leave, I feel solitary (as the moon) and my perspective can be a bit skewed towards viewing/interpreting things in a more melancholy way (hearing the monkey's cries from the depth of the valley). 

[clay dube]

Cynthia, Thanks so much for choosing a poem and responding to it. The one you chose is one of the most famous, not just in China, but throughout East Asia. Here's a page on it and how it was featured in The Tale of Genji: http://www.taleofgenji.org/yang_kwei-fei.html

I hope others will offer their takes on this or other poems.

[clay dube]

Great work everyone wrestling with the issues presented by a parent who has violated the law. It's fascinating how priorities vary, but sometimes the prescriptions don't. Confucian faith in education is remarkable, Legalism's hard line is perhaps easiest to apply, the Daoists assume that law creates law-breaking. The Mohists may be the most troubled, believing that favoritism much be avoided, but not wanting a stern punishment.

[Brigid Schmidt]

I went back through this poetry section because I only skimmed through it before. I connected with the poem, "To Someone Far Away." This past week I lost two people important to me and due to the pandemic, funerals aren't the same. I am not certain this poem is about someone dying or a breakup, but the imagery gives off the feeling of loss and mourning. The reader can imagine being in that room, picturing the flowers in the hall, and still smelling her scent. Even as years pass by, the loved-one is not forgotten and the love for them still lingers in those memories. 

The other poem I enjoyed reading was "Looking Out Over the Plains." The figurative language used makes you feel like you are outside looking forward. The poem is freeing but maybe lonely too. Being out there alone with hills in the distance, the far waters meeting the sky, neglected town, and shadows. I love beeing outside as the sun is setting at the end of the day and turning into twilight. Sometimes it is the perfect time to be alone with the beauty of the earth all around you. Being cooped up inside, this poem is making me want to go outside! 

[Brigid Schmidt]

Sandra, 

 I agree with your thoughts that perhaps the poem "To Someone Far Away" could be somehow linked to "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow." Both poems share similar raw emotions about looking back at her home and remembering the loving times they had together. It is possible they were both from the emperor. 

The narrative poem, "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow" was elloquently written with metaphorical language to evoke emotion. He uses vivid imagery and the simile "drowned in tears of sadness like a spray of pearl flowers, veiled with springtime rain" and we can immediately picture the softness of those many tears. The half of the laquer box and part of the hair pin makes you feel a little heartbroken while reading it. The poem gives off the image of love lasting even after death. My question is why would he even bring her to war? He loved her so much and the two did not want to part, but by taking her with him, she was a distraction that the other men thought would ensure they would be defeated in battle. He allowed her to be killed so he could focus and lead his men into victory. The title is truly meaningful because it shows a love and sorrow lasting to the afterlife. 

[Chad Espinoza]

Sadly, I must admit, that I have always looked at China as a country of homogenity with a history of homogenity. I am glad my ignorance of China and its history has been addressed by this course. I found it really interesting to learn that Li and Yuan families had mixed origins. The mixing of blood was not simply a novelty, it bestowed these families with knowledge they later used to develop the Tang dynasty. It also seems to have given them some mental flexibility and openmindedness as well, since they encouraged women to participate in the mainstream culture. While openness can be a risky trait, it seems to have tremendous payoffs. I think this discussion is a great way to discuss our current issues in immigration. What are the benefits of being open to other cultures? And what are the risks? I think a discussion framed this way would help students to acheive the mental plasticity seen in the successful Yuan and Li families.  

[Chad Espinoza]

I found the Song's Dynasty's innovation fasciniating, especially their use of water. Our students, as well as myself, grew up in a culture very far removed from challenges. And because of this, convenience is an entitlement and not a luxury. I think it would be great for my students to imagine a life without modern convenience and have them determine which modern convenience would be the most missed by them. Now, I think it would be fun to then have students figure out ways to reattain their selected conveninces using water as a resource. I think such a project would force my students to become resourceful and learn something about the process of innovation. By depriving my students, I actually will engender a desire for them to overcome that deprivation. 

[Chad Espinoza]

The salt and iron deabtes during the Han dynasty are a fascinating incite into the concerns of that nation. The debates read as a very modern text and are laced with some many similarities to the current economic debates nations are having today. The heart of the debate seems to focus on who has control of goods: the government or the private entrepreneurs? Another question that was brought up was the idea of whether or not participation in markets were good for the morality of the nation. Confucians worried that the greed that is stimulate in trade would rot the good citizens of the Wu dynasty. While important aspect of the debate, the most contested front of the argument was the disputes between the government and private entrepreneurs. The first chapter of the debate concludes with the idea that government is ultimately infringing the economic interest of the private merchants, not for the good of the people, but for the good of the state. To help students understand this complex and very relevant tension that always seemed to exist between the government and private sectors, I would have my students draft a policy that addresses this very issue. Students, in groups, can create a policy and then defend it in a whole class discussion, mimicking the debates of the Han. 

[Chad Espinoza]

This poem is a masterpiece. The imagery is enrapturing and the characters are extremely compelling. The tension in the poem is also immense as it put its characters, namely the emperor and his concubine in extreme circumstances where only equally extreme measures offer any deliverance. The poem however ends with calmness and maybe even indifference as the concubine is no longer concerned with the matters of the emperor and earth. She has transcended to another plane and thus only concerned with that plane. This, the emperor finds out, only after he spends time searching for her in the afterlife. Considering that his love for her intoxicated him and the only way to move forward was to drain his system of her, the ending is quite disciplined in not giving the resolution desired by the emperor. 

The question I have after reading this poem is the impact of such a protrayal of an emperor. Since the poem has endure, I would assume it was popular during its time. But was it ordained by the emperor or was it shunned and only enjoyed by those not in high office?

 

[Mario Ruiz]

Great point, Chad. I also think this would be a great way to discuss current issues that we're facing in our daily lives such as immigration. This is also a great piece of evidence that shows how multicultural beliefs and ideas had extreme benefits to the Tang dynasty. It's heart breaking that even now in the 21st century, we're still facing prejudice, discrimination, and racism. Being able to show evidence of how multiculturalism worked even way back in the 7th century is a powerful argument.  

[Betsy Ures]

Reading about the Penal Servitude in Qin law reminded me of the Hammurabi Code. Punishments were harsh and relevant to the crime. When I taught middle school history, the students enjoyed studying the Hammurabi Code and comparing to the American system. I know they would find this topic interesting in comparing and contrasting with the Hammurabi Code nd the American Penal system. They would enjoy looking through the perspective of justice to determine whether punishments were too harsh or rightful based on their values and world views.

[Betsy Ures]

I think you're on to something with this lesson. I have found that students engage deeply with a text and sources when they are seeking social guidelines to analyze. 

[Betsy Ures]

Your lesson sounds like an excellent opportunity to bring in engineering to the study of history. Students would have to read about the Song Dynasty's use of water and maybe even compare to other civilizations' prior to designing a water system to replace ours. Using human need as a motivator will be critical to a deeper understanding of the challenges the Song Dynasty faced.

[Alma Ochoa]

One can question whether the Peach Blossom Spring is about an event that actually took place or if it was a dream that Wen had had.  He had been drinking while fishing and was drifting in and out of a sleepy state when suddenly came upon an uncharted area finding a utopian village.  A villager shared with Wen that centuries ago a group of people had fled the wars and found this secluded area where they have been living in peace away from any contact with the outside world.  This is a way of living they wanted to continue.  After enjoying his time in this beautiful area surrounded by peach trees he left and after promising never to tell others about this place.  However, stories and rumors did start to trickle out and circulate about this mysterious place and explorers did go to try and find its location without success.   Whether true or not I think the Peach Blossom Spring conveys a yearning for peace which is understandable.  Living during a time of war, instability and uncertainty it makes total sense to want to escape and seek beauty and peace in nature.

[Alma Ochoa]

Elizabeth, I think it’s great  that you do this activity.  I think it’s important that students are given the opportunity to analyze, compare and contrast systems of justice and punishments of crimes.  Their views will greatly be influenced and dependent on their beliefs and experiences and that of their families which would be very interesting to see discussed in the classroom.

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