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Christine XuJapanese castles were fortresses constructed primarily of wood and stone. They evolved from the wooden stockades of earlier centuries, and came into their best-known from in the 16 century. Castles in Japan were built to guard important or strategic sites, such as ports, river crossings, or crossroads, and almost always incorporated the landscape into their defenses.Though they were built to last and used more stone in their construction than most Japanese buildings, castles were still constructed primarily of wood, and many were destroyed over the years.
In my class, we are going to talk and learn Asian (Japanese and Chinese) architecture. My students will compare Japanese castles( Asian castles) to western castles. They will find the similarity and differences between the two types regarding structures, styles, and surroundings.
Sources: wiki
Christine XuDuring the Cultural Revolution, many fresh high school graduates, who became known as the so-called sent-down youth, also known in China as "educated youth", were forced out of the cities and effectively exiled to remote areas of China. Some commentators consider these people China's “lost generation”. Many of them lost the opportunity to attend university.
The Cultural Revolution consisted of many different smaller sub-campaigns that affected all of China. Some of which came about quite quickly. One of these campaigns was the Monsters and Demons campaign that ran from 1966-67. Once someone was labeled as a “cow monster,” they were to become imprisoned in a cowshed, storehouse or dark room. The length of time that one was to be held was not disclosed to the person being held, and their imprisonment could be ten days or up to ten years.
In my class we are going to learn Chinese history regarding Chinese Cultural Revolution. The students will have to be able to work in small groups, research, use technology to develop a Powerpoint presentation that they will present in front of our class. Students will talk and discuss about why did Chinese youth get involved in the Cultural Revolution.
Sources: wiki
Christine XuLu Xun has been considered China's greatest modern writer for most of the 20th century. Widely recognized as one of China’ most influential authors, Lu Xun remains strikingly relevant to modern China. His socially-critical work is still widely read and discussed in China and references to his stories, characters, and essays abound in everyday speech as well as academia.
Many of the other authors of fictional works of social criticism popular during the 1920s and 1930s have been at least partially discredited or criticized during the various political movements in China since 1949, but Lu Xun's reputation has remained consistently distinguished. Mao Zedong called him "commander of China's cultural revolution.”
In my class, we will talk and discuss about Lun Xun when I teach Chinese history. Students will do team work. They will do research and presentations. They will answer questions about:
How does Lu Xun's life story illustrate the social and political circumstances of his time?
Why did Lu Xun place all his hope in young people?
Sources: Asia for educators/ ThoughtCo.
Christine XuMei Lanfang, was one of the most famous Beijing Opera artists in modern Chinese theater. He was exclusively known for his female lead roles (dan) and particularly his “verdant-robed girls” (qingyi), young or middle-aged women of grace and refinement. He was considered one of the "Four Great Dan", along with Shang xiaoyun, Cheng Yanqqiu, and Xun Huisheng.
More than eighty years ago, Mei Lanfang introduced Beijing Opera to the outside world. He was the first artist to spread Beijing Opera to foreign countries, participating in cultural exchanges with Japan, the United States, and other regions.
When imperial Japanese army occupied Beijing, the commander of the Japanese army ordered Mei to perform for them and appointed to a high rank official position, but Mei refused to sing throughout the duration of the war and endured an impoverished lifestyle until the war ended in 1945.
Some of his most famous roles are Bai Niangzi in Duanqiao ( “Broken Bridge”), Lin Daiyu in Daiyu Zanghua ( “Daiyu buries flowers”), Yuji in Bawang bieji (“Farewell My Concubine”), and Yang Yuhuan in Guifei zuijiu (“Concubine Gets Drunk”).
In my class, we are going to do research about Mei Lanfang, and Beijing Opera. We are going to have a Beijing opera show. Students will perform different kind of roles during the show.
Sources: wiki/ britannica.com
Christine XuIt is called Beijing Opera because it is formed in Beijing. Opera, which was very popular in northern China in the 18th century. In 1790, the first Anhui Opera performance was held in Beijing to celebrate the Emperor's birthday. Later, some other Anhui Opera troupes went on to perform in Beijing.
Beijing opera is one of the traditional spiritual Chinese operas. It is an art that converts a national spiritual essence through elegance and beauty.
Beijing Opera is one of the representatives of Chinese culture. The roles of Being opera are: Sheng, Dan, Jing, Mo, and Chou. The instruments for Beijing Opera are: Jinghu, Erhu, Yueqin, Pipa, Suona, and Chinese flutes.
In my class, we are going to learn Chinese culture through studying Being Opera. We will do a Beijing Opera show. Students will do presentations that the topics will include history, masks, costumes, roles, and instruments for Beijing opera. Students will perform Being opera at the final class for fun.
Sources: wiki
Christine XuThe tradition of eating soba originates from the Tokugawa period, also called the Edo period. In the Tokugawa era, every neighborhood had one or two soba establishments, many also serving Sake, which functioned much like modern cafes where locals would stop for a casual meal. Soba is typically eaten with chopsticks ( like Chinese), and in Japan it is considered acceptable to slurp the noodles noisily. This is especially common with hot noodles, as drawing up the noodles quickly into the mouth helps cool them.
In my class we are going to do research about Asian noodles. And we are going to compare Udon, Soba and Rice noodles. And we are going to have a food tasting during the final class for fun.
Sources: Wiki
Christine XuThe Manchu takeover did not dislocate Chinese cultural life in the same way the Mongol conquest had done, and their culture was much more elevated than that of Yuan Dynasty art. The Manchus had been imitating Chinese ways for some time prior to their invasion, and their rulers, particularly Kangxi and Qianlong, were well-educated leaders who were keen to enlist the support of Chinese scholars. The Qianlong emperor ranks alongside Emperor Huizong from the era of Song dynasty art as the most culturally active of the Qings, assembling a collection of some 4,000 works of painting and calligraphy and listing them in successive editions of the Shiqubaoji.
In general, Chinese painting under the Qings is characterized both by lavish decoration and orthodox academicism. The former was embodied by Yuan Jiang, whose style embraced the work of Guo Xi as well as the mannered expressionism of the late Ming period; and by Jiao Bingzhen, who applied Western perspective to his pen and ink drawing, which were often reproduced in the form of wood engravings. The more landscape painting was represented by scholar-artists like "The Four Wangs": Wang Shimin, Wang Jian, Wang Hui and Wang Yuanqi. These four together with Wu Li and Yun Shouping comprised the Six Masters of the early Qing period, followers of Dong Qichang's systematization of painting method, whose Shan Shui paintings are exemplified by Wang Jian's masterpiece White Clouds over Xiao and Xiang .
In my lessons, we are going to play the video lesson China during Qing Dynasties. And students will do research about Qing Art. Then we are going to do a project that students will make/draw or print an art work to show Qing art ( group work).
Sources: visual-arts-cork.com
Christine XuWe used to talk about air pollution and water pollution during our 5th grade exhibition. Now China’s soil pollution would be a new a topic that students can discuss and share about ideas.
China is facing a real challenge to soil pollution according to Lucy Hornby. This is a big problem that people can not see, and can not complain about it. Soil pollution could cause a lot of problems, such as cancer, learning disabilities, infant death, deformities, food security problems, etc.
Some experts said that china’s urbanization is increasing the risk of soil pollution through waste disposal and acid deposition derived from urban air pollution.
In our “ Go Green “ project we also can compare China’s urbanization and America’s urbanization. And we will talk about how to solve soil pollution and how to Go Green.
Christine XuI went to the Great Wall of Ming often for hiking with friends when I was in college in China. Some part of the Great Wall was wild, and there were no tourists which I could enjoy the nature without interruption.
The Great Wall of Ming is amazing. It was built between 204 and 201 B.C. The earthen great wall was built by hundreds of thousands of conscripted workers. Responding to new threats from the north in the late 1500s, the Ming emperors began an 80-year refurbishing of the wall, rebuilding it out of local granite, limestone, and fired bricks of clay strengthened with sticky rice. The taller, thicker, longer wall featured integrated watchtowers, barracks and storehouses and stretched from the Bohai Sea in the east to the Jiayu Pass (an important Silk Road oasis) in the west.
The Great Wall of China is my must -each lesson about Chinese culture. My students love my Chinese culture lesson. Some students told me that they want to go to China to see the Great Wall. I was so happy to hear that.
Sources: wiki
Christine XuFor the past 3,000 years, everyone in China, from emperors and government officials to scholars and poets, have built their own Chinese gardens.
Chinese gardens are constructed to recreate and miniaturize larger natural landscapes. Traditionally, Chinese gardens blend unique, ornate architectures with natural elements. Just like we saw from Huntington library park, traditional Chinese garden contains architectures, like a buildings or pavilions; decorative rocks and a rock garden; plants, trees and flowers, like bamboo and pine trees; and water elements, like ponds and waterfalls. Most Chinese gardens are enclosed by a wall and some have winding paths. Chinese gardens are not just thrown together, but they are deliberately designed. Visitors should walk through them in the particular order that the garden was laid out.
Chinese Garden is a good topic for teaching Chinese culture. I will show some supportive pictures to show the characteristics of traditional Chinese garden like Chinese traditional architectures, Chinese Characters, and poems. From learning Chinese garden students can learn Chinese language and Chinese civilization better.
Sources: China Highlights
Christine XuThe Silk Road was an ancient network of trade route that were for centuries central to cultural interaction originally through regions of Eurasia connecting the East and West and stretching from the Korean Peninsula and Japan to the Mediterranean Sea.
The ancient Silk Road contributed greatly to the cultural exchange between China and the West. From the second century BC to the fifteenth century AD, splendid civilizations among China, India, Greece, Persia and Rome were exchanged along this famous trade route, making the route a great "Cultural Bridge" between Asia and Europe.
“Is the silk Road an example of globalization? ” will be a good topic that I can teach in my class. Students will analyze exchanges along the Silk Road. Also, students will argue and defend opinions on whether or not the Silk Road is an example of globalization and whether it is properly named.
Sources: Wiki/ Travel china guide
Christine XuDr. Yang Ye expressed his concern about China and what happened recently about the presidential long-term rule. Yes, with the path now apparently cleared in China that president Xi Jinping wanted to continue in office past 2023 as officials. This scraps the two-term limit rule, and questions about how the change will affect the economy, foreign investment and political power there abound.
Some experts abroad expressed their options that there are too much power for one person, unexpected timing, and a plateful of challenges to China even to the world.
Also, Xi’s new mandate could allow him to better meet a long-standing Chinese goal of becoming a more socialist society modeled on northern Europe, and it could give Xi more time to see through important longer-term projects like the “ one belt, One Road initiative”- the country’s plan for a new silk road trade route from China to Europe. Or, it could ultimately be a setback for democratic rule, particularly as it applies to limits on institutions, while enhancing a growing tendency to expand the “ surveillance state” some experts said.
In my classroom we will talk about what are the differences between Chinese election and USA election.
Comparing the two system would allow students understand Chinese society and culture better.
Sources:K@W
Christine XuMy father violated a law, according to Daoism, I would follow the law and treat my father the same as to other people.
Daoist rules cover both ethics, i.e., the personal values of the individual, and morality, the communal norms and social values of the organization.
In practice Taoism disapproves of killing, stealing, lying and promiscuity, and promotes altruistic, helpful and kindly behavior.Taoists believe such good behavior is an essential part not only of self-improvement but of improving the world as a whole.
“ Cultivate the Tao within oneself; and one’s virtue will be perfected. Cultivate it within the household, and one’s virtue will be abundant. Cultivate it within the neighborhood, and one’s virtue will be enduring. cultivate it within the nation, and one’s virtue will be overflowing. Cultivate it with the entire world, and one’s virtue will be universal” .
Sources: Tao Te Ching 54/ BBC: Taoist ethics
Christine XuClassic of filial piety in China is a good topic to teach about Chinese culture.
According to the reading “ The classic of filial piety”, the family has always been considered by Chinese as the fundamental unit of their society. Filial piety had been praised by Confucius, and thinkers of all schools took for granted that a well-run family was one in which parents looked out for the interests of their children and children obeyed their parents and supported them in their old age. It is true. Filial piety was a central value in traditional Chinese culture. Parents gave life to children, gave them food and clothes, and education etc. For all the things that children received from parents, children have an eternal obligation towards them. They have a debt to their parents, a debt that can never be fully repaid. The only thing that children can do in order to repay at least a small part of this debt, is to take care of their parents in their old age (children are like an old -age insurance to parents), to make them proud and happy, to obey and serve them.
In early China, besides expressing love or care, the presentation of food or by extension material support, create obligation. If one feeds a man, he is obligated to repay your kindness. This sense of obligation was so strong. This could be used as a means to control others. In the same way, a child is obligated to repay his parents for the food and care they provide his as a helpless child. For many Chinese or Taiwanese, love is not expressed with words, and it is not simply a matter of feeling. Love is shown and displayed trough material care. Chinese parents and children are not so much interested in sharing their emotions through, for example, hugs or words. Filial piety and parental care are shown by ‘feeding’ someone, ‘providing’ for someone, or performing ritualistic acts. This rule applies to many kinds of familial relationships.
In the film “ Eat Drink Man Woman” directed by An Lee, he tells the story of a patriarchal Taiwanese family. The father is one of the most famous cooks in Taipei. Every day he prepares sumptuous meals for his three daughters. They have to eat together because that’s what their father desires. But they barely talk with each other, and behind the curtain of family harmony and love, which are shown through the performance of ritualistic acts such as the common meals, there are problems and contradictions that will come to the surface in the course of the film. The visual emphasis placed on the delicious food cooked by the father is a brilliant symbol of the concept of yang, which at the same time represents love, parental power, and filial obligation. This film shows responsibility is mainly regarded as ‘providing’ for someone, rather than as caring about each other’s feelings.
BTW, this is a good film. I am going to use this film in my classroom to teach Chinese culture and philosophy.
Sources: The Greater China Journal/ The Classic of Filial Piety
Christine XuThe Daoists: Lao Zi, the old master of Daoism. Tradition has it that he was born in 604 B.C.E and lived for nearly two centuries. He wroteTao Te Ching or the classic of the Way and of Virtue.
Daoism is a philosophical tradition of Chinese origin which emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao. Taoism differs from Confucianism by not emphasizing rigid rituals and social order. Taoist ethics in general tend to emphasize Wu Wei (effortless action),“ naturalness”, simplicity, spontaneity, and the Three Treasures:” compassion-Ci, “frugality-Jian”, and “humility”.
Unlike Confucianism, Daoism looked to nature rather than human beings as the source of morality. According to Laozi, human society has to conform to the Dao ( The Way). Or the essential unifying element of all that is. Some interpret Dao as Nature. Others interpret Dao as Nature’s countervailing elements—ying and Yang, moon and sun, women and men, darkness and light, etc. - at work; complementing yet continuously changing, and interacting with each other at the same time. Despite the appearance of differences, all is one.
Daoism’s impact on Chinese culture is pervasive in history, arts, literature, science, philosophy, folklores, politics, religion, and medicine.Within the intelligentsia class, throughout the past two thousand years, Daoist values and practices-such as retreating into the lifestyle of a hermit - have often been an “ escape route” for Confucian officials/ scholars who, for whatever reason, were no longer in a position of political influence. This co-existence of contrasting Confucian and Daoist values in the lifetime of a Confucian schooler is good example of the fusion fo two very different philosophies, and point to the sometimes perplexing nature of “ duality” in Chinese culture.
Daoism began to morph into a religion around 200 AD, with tens and rituals heavily influenced by Buddhist practices. As a religion, in pursuit of sternal life, Daoists in subsequent millennia contributed to Schinese medicine, science ( the invention of gun powder), and martial arts( Taiji, Wudang). As philosophy, many Chinese paintings reflect Daoist values through the prominent display of mountains, streams, and other Natural elements next o small and relatively insignificant human figures.
Sources: Wiki/ The influence of Daoism, Buddism, and Legalism on Chinese Culture by Warren Liu
