Session 7 - May 2 morning (Jennifer Jung-Kim on ancient Korea)

[Jennifer Jung-Kim]

And please do check out their sijo and essay contests! 

[Jennifer Jung-Kim]

Here's a short article about Korean currency:

https://korea.stripes.com/travel/lets-delve-secrets-hidden-inside-korean-money

[Jennifer Jung-Kim]

As in the US, the lower the denomination, more prestigious the person pictured on it. 

[Jennifer Jung-Kim]

Side note: Paekche and Japan had close relations, especially in terms of shared arts and architecture.

[Jennifer Jung-Kim]

Just for clarification, Confucianism was introduced centuries earlier, but became more prominent during Koryo. For example, Koryo instituted the civil service examinations in 968, using the same format as the Chinese did. Neo-Confucianism was introduced to Korea during Koryo (mainly becasue Zhu Xi lived 1130-1200 so it couldn't be itnroduced earlier). 

[Meghann Seril]

Hi Dr. Jung-Kim. Thank you for providing this article. This reminds of our Saturday morning discussion regarding symbolism. And not just in the choice of whom to honor on the currency but also in the choice of other symbols on the front and back as well as the color. Symbols are a part of the third grade curriculum and I would love to add to my curriculum some discussion about the symbols featured on our currency (it could be a good math tie in as well). I might have students consider what symbols they believe represent our country and redesign a bill or coin.

[Meghann Seril]

Given our current context it could be interesting to dicuss trade and exploration along the transmission of disease. I also think students might be interested in the discussion of supply chains. I think it was mentioned in our first lecture by Dr. Dube that pharmaceutical manufacturers in India could not make their products because the raw materials are imported from China. It could be interesting to have students take a product and try to trace it's origin(s) around the world.

[Jessica Ng]

I think it's interesting how Sijo poetry is very similar to traditional limericks in how the poems develop on their topic. The traditional limericks I've come across almost always start with a line introducing its subject ("There once was..."), followed by a few more details about that person, then ending with a punch line/plot twist. If I were an English teacher or taught language arts to older students, I would definitely incorporate Sijo poems and ask students to try and write their own.

[Billie Johnson]

Hi Alma,

I am surprised how much perspectives actually comes up in middle school. This is my second year teaching English and History and I do my best to incorporate looking at information from multiple perspectives into all of my lessons. Plus, I know that I mention historical narratives quite a bit but it is so important for students to walk in the shoes of others...even the lesser known people who were part of the experience.  

[Billie Johnson]

I could see this being an extension lesson as yet another similarity or great discussion topic.  Maybe not even a compare and constrast, but just looking at comparisons and focusing on similarities and not differences. This would be great as a 'Did you know?" activity, too.

[Billie Johnson]

I really like this idea although I wonder if we should select a few items to research as a class...together. I love individuality but I would want to make sure that we are able to find what we are looking for.  It would be cool for students to bring in something from home that was made in China and then try to find from where within China these particular items were manufactured...we could fold in the evolution of technology and transportation. This could be an entire unit really. Great idea!

[Billie Johnson]

I love bringing in outside sources for studies to read through or selecting different passages to share with them as a way to further their understanding on a topic.I'm definitely going to get these two resources for my personal classroom library.  Many thanks!

[Hilda Dixon]

I think that history is written by the victorious people. As humans, sometimes it is not easy to be unbiased. Some cultures tend to falsify more the history than other cultures. We see that nowadays the biographies of the leaders of north Korea are described as exceptional humans. I do not if this has to do with the type of government, the culture or both. I also noticed in cultures where there is more freedom of speech narratives are more accurate because newspaperperson, historians are not persecuted or threatened by stating the truth to some degree. When I was reading the article, “The good, the bad and the Ugly,” I noticed that the story is full of shamanism elements such as the fact that Kung Ye was born on an unlucky day and outside the palace. There are also foretelling elements such as when the mirror was purchased by a Chinese merchant. Then, a ray of sunlight struck on the mirror to show an inscription that described a prophecy of the fate that what was going to happen to Kung Ye. As if the fate of people is written and we cannot escape from out destiny no matter what. I wonder if nowadays Korean people are superstitious and believe in some sort of omens.

[Hilda Dixon]

This is not the first society that has animal protagonists when it is described how a society came to life. The fact that a bear and a tiger wanted to become humans and accepted the challenge of a diet based on garlic and darkness to become fully human. I was thinking that perhaps being secluded in a dark place might be like the womb that in order to be born, one needs to be in the womb for some time. The story also says that the bear was the only one who endured the seclusion and diet. I was also speculating that perhaps the Korean people absorbed the scent of the bear when the bear transformed into a woman. Bears are seen very positively in that region.  For instance, the Ainu or the Aynu people of Japan had many rituals and stories where the bear plays an important role.

[Hilda Dixon]

The fact that the government of South Korea has printed Korean famous scholars on their note bills, one can tell with certainty that the society of South Korea value enormously education. I read some of Nansorhon’s poems. Her poems are very descriptive and organically crafted.  It is easy to picture on my mind the sceneries that she describes. I imagen that after losing her children and beloved older brother life lost it’s lust for her.  I also think in spite that her marriage life was not pleasant, she was blessed for having a brother like she had. I think that she was lucky to grow in that family where she was allowed to express her passion and sensible heart through poetry. In one of her poems, Nansorhon says, “May its fragrance never vanish.” Indeed, her legacy is still pretty much alive. Another Korean woman that stands for her painting abilities and intelligent son was Lady Yi (1584-1609). I think that as artists, they want to evoke feelings through their art pieces. Lady Yi’s artwork inspired poets to write about her paintings.

 

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