Session 7 readings (yamashita, 4/2)

[Laura Gonzales]

I learned a lot from Professor Yamashita’s lecture and I enjoyed his sense of humor. I had no idea that the Japanese islands were fairly new when compared to other parts of Asia. What I enjoyed most was the fun facts that were added through out the lecture for example, I had no idea white rice became common after World War II, I always assumed it was in the Japanese diet as a staple. I also found it interesting how people could trace their ancestry by looking at their fingerprint patterns. I feel that these are the facts that make history so interesting and are the things that we tend to remember, they also make for a good conversation starter. After listening to the lecture it made me want to include fun facts when I teach my students. Not only did I learn about Japan but I also learned so much about the Japanese cuisine like the various types of white rice and sushi. It would be interesting to learn about the various types of rice.

 

Professor Yamashita’s was very helpful in breaking down Japanese cosmology myths into two categories, vertical cosmology and horizontal cosmology.

 

Through the reading I learned more about the origins of Japan and how it became a centralized state, however it was composed of many different communities. In the reading sources of Japanese Tradition  I read that there were many accounts of early Japanese history that are inconclusive or differ depending on who is telling the story. Japanese history claims that controlled part of Korea, while Korea denies the claim.  This reminds me of the way history is usually written which one need to keep in mind that the one that writes history is usually seem as the victor.

 

[Stella Castro]

While all the readings to this session were interesting, the one I really enjoyed reading about hoe one gets merits. It is so precise but yet it was/ is to be done on a daily basis, but I can understand that being an officer, these officers do and should receive the merits for being good people. Then the section of “Articles of Excellence”, which to me again are things that should be done and regarded as plain and simple ordinary life practices, but they are stated as articles of excellence, There too many to write about here, but if one read this reading, they know what I am talking about. I also found it interesting when reading about The Vocabulary of Japanese Aesthetics”, as I did not know the word ,”Aware “ could have so many  different  meanings, and that it also means different things in different situation. Like for example that that in these reading meant “to be considered as of Unusual Beauty”, and that also this word had extensive research into it and even had volumes devoted to it. However the most fun part was titled, “MURASAKISAHIKIBU:ON THE ART OF FICTION, this was such an amusing part of the reading as, it is about a conversation Prince Genji is having with Tamakazura, BOUT HE Genji considers a waste of time in reading and translating books. Prince Genji sates to Tamakazura, that reading romance novels are a waste of time and that the authors write about trash and deceit to fool the readers, that it is just merely lies that they write about, but then he mentions to her that without these novels, how would one get by in a day when there is nothing else to do, so Price Genji ended up defended what he just contradicted. But the one point I really liked is when Tamakazura tell Genji, that a reader accepts what he/she reads as the, “truth”, which made me realize and thinks that Tamakazura is correct with saying this, as I never doubted that what I read is false, and I think most people also think this. Now I am curious to ask people if they accept what they read as a truth. I’m guessing they will all answer, “Yes”, to this question, but I still am going to take a personal survey of this.   I can teach my students that the art of reading is a fun and wonderful thing that can travel to many different places and times without even leaving their home and or school. I can also teach them vocabulary, and the art of being a good and fair, honest person, and also the Golden Rule.

[Stella Castro]

Christine, thanks for your input, I did not know that slurping noodles is acceptable in Japan. While this may seem as a rude practice it makes perfect sense that upon slurping the hot noodles into one’s mouth will cool off the noodles. I would actually like to see someone slurping noodles just for the fun of it. You also mention that in your final class you will have a food tasting experience during your final class, and I just wonder doesn’t your school allow you to do and make a simple recipe once in a while, or while doing science on the 5 senses, to do a taste test?

[Sandra Soltero-Torres]

Jacqueline, I was also a fan of how Profesor Yamashita presented all the information in his lecture on Japan.  My historical background on Japan was minimal at best and after the lecture I felt like I had basic knowledge on the origins of Japan.  The outline he provided for us with guiding questions prepared me in advance for the information he was going to present.  I think this is a great strategy that allows students to prep themselves for discussion as well.  I especially enjoyed when Profesor Yamashita lectured  about the five types of Pre-HIstorical evidenc  in regards to the origins of Japan.  I found his presentation to be quite informative and engaging.  I believe this was because of how he organized the information into periods and because of the specificity of the questions he asked.  It was all meant for us to spark our interest and focus our thoughts.  I will definitely take this strategy and use it to formulate questions for my own students to keep them interested and focused.

[Donna Jamshidnejad]

I found both readings helpful because both I and my assigned textbook are weak on Japanese history. The chapters on Classical Japan are not difficult to read, and I will assign them for homework supplemental reading next year when we are studying the classical period. I also appreciate the information regarding the connections between China and Japan. Textbooks often cover regional history as if it occurs in a vacuum. This text addresses that China and Japan are connected. I also noticed that the reading discusses women, a topic often left out of history texts.

[Tanish Fortson]

I actually missed this session with Professor Sam Yamshita. I looked up a bit of information on my own about the Han Dynasty and learned that Han Dynasty may have been the second dynasty of Ching (206BC-208AD). The Han period is considered golden age meaning that it was a better time in Chinese history and everything was somewhat pure still (before all the corruption). The emperor was Gaozu but shared power with the nobility of China and appointed ministers.  A lot of people refer to the Han Dynasty as the “true” Chinese culture and history because of its origins of certain aspects of Chinese culture. At the beginning of Han, it was ruled and controlled by separate lords but things gradually shifted as the Emperor began appointing his brothers, sons, cousins, and uncles to be the lords of those domains bringing territories under centralized control. 

The Han Empire was divided into sub-divisions. Confucianism was taught for education or was the foundation for training and guiding political philosophy of all scholars. Money was on the growth, so Han was an age of economic prosperity.  During this time many traditions were began and were coordinated. 

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