Session 6 - April 18 afternoon (Vinayak Bharne on Architecture in East Asia)

[Meghann Seril]

Hi Billie! I would highly recommend it. We've had a chance to spend some time in Tokyo and Kyoto and it's quite the contrast in pace and definitely in architecture. Just turning the corner on a street you can see a contrast in building design from really flashy shopping centers to quiet houses. In some ways it's like LA in that regard. Anyhow, it's worth the flight and just think of all the amazing food!

[Hilda Dixon]

 

It should be noted that although in ancient China there were different kinds of dwellings that were built as a response to the specific natural habitats of each Chinese area, the Chinese dwellings were built with the need to incorporate some sort of strong protection against bandits, foreigners or bad spirits, and the need for privacy. Some dwellings had built in them watchtowers and other dwellings seemed to give an impression of a kind of a fortress such as in the case of Hakka and the Ka Thing Wai village. Not to mention, the desire of having a courtyard even if they were tiny courtyards so that Chinese people can see the sky from their houses. By reflecting on this, one can see that ancient Chinese felt insecure from outsiders, so they need to rely on their unity within extended family members to form a stronger front against foreigners. One can also infer that Chinese people had a strong sense of collectivism. The need to be in contact with the natural sky in private. Most important of all, the creative ways in which Chinese people have adapted to different environments in order to survive. Charles Darwin, said that it is not the smartest or the strongest, but the people who can adapt easily are the ones who survive. Indeed, Chinese people have faced tremendous odds and thrive splendorous throughout history.

[Alma Ochoa]

Meghann, I love your great math ideas.  I’m not as creative in coming up with lessons but I could definitely also do area and perimeter with my high school geometry classes.  Which also gives me the idea of making a lesson where my students can build their own cities and learn about surface area and volume which we can then discuss like you mentioned their decision in city planning and material choices.  Great ideas, thank you for sharing! 

[Billie Johnson]

When everything settles down around us I told my husband that I want to travel more.  After reading some of your responses, I am definitely excited to suck up the plane ride and make the trip. I love sharing trips that I take with my students and can think of how cool it would be to share pictures that I personally take and incorporate them into lessons. I'm going to do it for sure. Thank you!

[Billie Johnson]

When everything settles down around us I told my husband that I want to travel more.  After reading some of your responses, I am definitely excited to suck up the plane ride and make the trip. I love sharing trips that I take with my students and can think of how cool it would be to share pictures that I personally take and incorporate them into lessons. I'm going to do it for sure. Thank you!

[Jessica Ng]

I used to teach 3rd grade, and area and perimeter were always so tricky for my students to understand. I like your idea of having them build their "dream house;" it sounds like something they would really get invested in. There are some resources available on TPT that help facilitate units on city-building; I once used one that even had students designing their storefronts and naming streets. Your idea of incorporating planning around building materials would be a fun extension.

[Jessica Ng]

During our discussion, Prof. Bharne used the term "geomancy" to refer to feng shui and other philosophies behind the arrangements of buildings. I thought that term was interesting, so I looked further into it and found that there are many other forms of earth divination throughout Africa and Europe. I know feng shui, specifically, is still regularly used in China (even though it's technically illegal) and in other cultures, so I wonder what other forms of geomancy are still practiced today? How did feng shui gain popularity outside of China and become another tool to use in new-age wellness?

[Brigid Schmidt]

I enjoyed Dr. Bharne's lecture on East Asian architecture. Having a background in art, I have always been interested in architecture and design. When I travel to new cities, I look for the buildings with remnants of historic preservations. I am drawn to learning about the traditional cultures and styles through the architecture. As I visited parts of Asia, I noticed this reverence for the past more often in rural communities rather than larger metropolises. I found it interesting to read about the different walls and barriers the cities might have. In the Korean article, the wall was mentioned as a way of protection, defense, or separation. The article about Chinese architecture also mentions walls. Both architecture styles also used the natural formations and elements of the hills and mountains as boundaries. It seems as though there was a lot of need for defense with the use of walls. Were they more in fear of invasion or wanting to keep others out?

[Brigid Schmidt]

This idea is great! While my students are at home, I know they are aching to travel somewhere, just like we all are. It would be really fun to have them find 2 places to travel to virtually and compare and contrast the architecture of the areas. They may even interpret cultural styles and ideas. To tie this into East Asia, I could either give options of places to choose from or specific cities in East Asia. I think it would interest them to use Google Earth to simulate traveling from their home. They might even write it from the point of view of a traveler visiting these areas. 

[Cynthia Stults]

I love how Professor Bharne always challenges the stereotypes that we Westerners have about East Asian architecture. I also am excited to encourage my students to approach learning about new cultures as chameleons, as he suggested. We need to try and blend in and ask the question about everything they see: why is it the way it is? Just asking that one question can take students (and ourselves) into a wonderful, authentic path of inquiry that can cross into multiple disciplines. When students ask the question why did they build homes or cities the way they did, the answer can lead to lessons in geography, climate, religion, family structure, agriculture, food, and even geometry and physics. Think of how deep you could go with this one simple question about dress, food, and basically all aspects of culture? These skills will help students develop empathy and can hopefully lead to improved relationships with students who have different home cultures.   

[Cynthia Stults]

I love how Professor Bharne always challenges the stereotypes that we Westerners have about East Asian architecture. I also am excited to encourage my students to approach learning about new cultures as chameleons, as he suggested. We need to try and blend in and ask the question about everything they see: why is it the way it is? Just asking that one question can take students (and ourselves) into a wonderful, authentic path of inquiry that can cross into multiple disciplines. When students ask the question why did they build homes or cities the way they did, the answer can lead to lessons in geography, climate, religion, family structure, agriculture, food, and even geometry and physics. Think of how deep you could go with this one simple question about dress, food, and basically all aspects of culture? These skills will help students develop empathy and can hopefully lead to improved relationships with students who have different home cultures.   

[Cynthia Stults]

Jessica, as I read your comment, I suddenly remembered the fairy tale of The Three Little Pigs, which I think that your little ones are already familiar with. In that story, brick is supposed to be the "best" building material, but with what we have learned about Japan and building with wood, you could discuss cultures that use straw, wood, and brick, and discuss a little bit of how they are able to withstand the elements and last for hundreds of years. There would be lots of visual references available from Professor Vharnes presentations, and for those of us with older students, we can get more into the science of why and how wood can be just as strong and durable as brick, despite what the fairy tale says.

[Brigid Schmidt]

Reading about Chinese architecture was quite interesting because like the US, the North and the South have very different climates and topography which are part of the reasons for the specific types of structures. In the South in the US we tend to see different types of roofs in the Southern states that can withstand the heat and sun, however, in areas where tornadoes are common, we see homes with basements. In China, the North (Honan and Hopei for example) is have steep cliffs, more variations of weather changes, barren lands, and the Yellow River which can flood. Homes were built into the cliffs and built to withstand the harsh winters. Less people lived in the North as well. 

On the otherhand, the South was more prosperous particially due to the tropical and substropical climate and the longer growing season which made them a strong food supplier. Their homes were built like community structres or like a clan system. They had townhouses with really high walls for privacy, so only the roofs were visable. Additionally, no windows were facing out, only in towards the courtyards. Courtyards were common in their homes. The more affluent homes had more than one courtyard! What is also part of Chinese culture is the idea of Feng shui for the siting and building of their homes. This style aims to bring forces of nature to balance. This design idea has even made its way to the US and there are many people who move their furniture about to be more feng shui. 

My 6th graders start the school year off at many different levels, so learning about the different types of architecture could be a way to teach setting and descriptive adjectives and vocabulary. Having something place to look at and visualize could be enaging. 

[Betsy Ures]

It was interesting to read about the development of cities in Korea. The two functions of developing cities were administrative and commercial and there is still evidence of that today in cities. The temporary use of streets and alleys for commercial use and for communal activities is so innovative and should be implemented more in urban cities where space is limited and cars are a burden. I love hearing about how Korean city planners used cul-de-sacs as well as in other places. I learned that golmok means alleyway and are between residential homes and is often used as a communal space. It's unfornate that these spaces are being threatened with new development.

[Chad Espinoza]

The reading on the Ise Jingu is absolutely fascinating. The building is a beauftiul, yet misunderstood, representation of Japan's complexity. It also embodies Japan's early philisophical unnderpinnings. The building is molded by many different elements, and it is amazing that so much information can inform the design of a simple building that itself seems rather unbusy and uncrowded than its inception would suggest. What I found interesting about the building too was its fame. A German architect is the one who made the Ise Jingu the wonder it is today, as he insisted that the building embodied Japan, thus ignoring other trends in Japanese architecture and solidifying Japanese style as minimalist and monochrome. Buildings tell many stories. And I think this building in particular is a text as rich as any form of literature. Unless I was told, I would have always assumed a building was meant for function or beauty. Never did I realize architecture could communicate cultural ideals and philosophies. In my class of high school students, I think it would be beneficial to teach my students to read architecture and articulate their analyses in writing. Looking at the Ise Jingu specifically. I would point my students to specifics aspects of the building and have them write a response detailing what those aspects communicate. 

[Author]

Posts