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Kim LengProfessor Ye’s lecture gave us so many interesting facts about some of China’s greatest writers:
They all seem like such interesting people. I also enjoyed the poetry readings. One of my favorites is Li Po’s “On the Mountain: Question and Answer.” The poem begins with a question “Why do I live on this green mountain?” His answer is the smile. I especially love the line “My heart serene on flowing water.” I can imagine living up in the green mountains with a majestic view of a river of waterfall. Wouldn’t anyone else smile at a scenery that’s so serene?
Kim LengProfessor Meek gave us a great crash course on Buddhism. In just thinking about the Noble Eightfold Path, much more can be discussed about each of the paths. For instance, I thought that right mindfulness is simply being aware of the present moment. But it’s much, much deeper than that. I’ll admit that I do not fully understand the meaning of being mindful. Professor Meek mentioned that at any moment our “reality” is changing due to “underlying causes and conditions.” So being mindful is understanding this shifting reality context and also observing our feelings and how we respond to situations. It’s also a focus on breathing and being aware of the present.
How many of us can truly be mindful in today’s fast-paced environment? When I think about my daily routine, I may work on a task, but my mind is also thinking about other things. What I’m going to have for dinner or plans for the next day. I would love to practice being more mindful.
Kim LengI collaborated with an English teacher on the sijo. We used this website as reference: http://sejongculturalsociety.org/writing/current/sijo.php. We introduced the form for poetry month and broke down the three lines as shown here: http://sejongculturalsociety.org/writing/current/resources/sijo_guide.php.
We read Yun Seondo’s sijo and then read some student winning entries from previous years: http://sejongculturalsociety.org/writing/past/2018/winnerssijo.php.
Yun Seondo (1587-1671)
You ask how many friends I have? Water and stone, bamboo and pine. (2-6-4-4)
The moon rising over the eastern hill is a joyful comrade. (2-4-4-6)
Besides these five companions, what other pleasure should I ask? (2-5, 5-3)
It helped tremendously for students to read previous students’ examples. I noticed that they initially struggled with how to start the sijo...especially trying to get the exact syllables. It's helpful for them to just write their ideas down and cut out the syllables later. We required that they all write a sijo, but the submission to the contest was optional.
Kim LengWow! I’m very impressed with the Peabody Essex Museum’s A Teacher’s Sourcebook for Korean Art & Culture. In just 35 pages, it managed to pack so much information that is very organized, educational, and visually pleasing. Korea has had two dynasties that are both over 400 years. The Goryeo for 474 years and the Joseon for 518 years! I had no idea that Korea is the 15th most spoken languages in the world! And now with the explosion of Kpop, I wonder if more people will learn to speak the language.
One of my favorite sections in the sourcebook is “Symbolism-Embodied Wishes and Hopes.” I love the idea that so much can be said in using a set of images with connected meanings. For example, peonies symbolizes “wealth, honor, happiness, fertility, martial bliss, spring.” There’s an image of a bridal robe on page ten filled with many images and peonies are one of the flowers represented.
I think students will enjoy looking at some Korean art with a focus on looking for images that symbolizes something else altogether.
Kim LengWhen I read Bell’s article, the lawyer’s apathy regarding the Manchu language struck a nerve inside me. He said, “My personal opinion is that we should let it be, because some languages will slowly fade away. I don't think we should do something to intentionally preserve them. What will die out, will finally fade away." I don’t know why it bothered me so much that someone would say that about a language. Especially a language from a very long-lasting dynasty that is very much a part of Chinese history. I’m not a language expert, but I prefer professor Wei’s response: "If Manchu dies out so much will be lost. Language is the soul of a culture. People would never truly understand Manchu culture and history."
Before reading this article, I did not know that there was a Manchu language or that less than 100 people in the world can read it! And according to language professor Cao Meng, there are many useful materials that will be lost. Materials that include traditional medicine.
I think this topic would make a great argumentative essay assignment. Is preserving a dying language of any value?
Kim LengDid Marco Polo really go to China? I’m curious to know what my students think about Marco Polo’s voyage to China. Who hasn’t heard of Marco Polo? His fame continues to this day from movies to board games. Has anyone played The Voyages of Marco Polo?
The Voyages of Marco Polo is currently one of my favorite board games. Like most games, the winner is someone who managed to gain the most victory points. In Marco Polo, the player that manages to travel to all 4 destinations will gain an additional 10 points. In just 5 rounds, players compete to travel each round. Reaching a destination will give the first player an immediate reward and sometimes the location will give one a repeated reward at the beginning of the next round. But travel can be expensive. Traveling will cost money and some locations will require camels to travel. It’s fun to imagine what Marco Polo’s adventures consist of when playing this game.
I wonder if students will enjoy designing their own version of the Marco Polo board game? I can see this as a group project divided into different roles: game designer, game instruction writer, and researcher.
Kim LengIn Hirano’s “The Treatment of Natives,” the Ainu people, living in Hokkaido, were referred to as “tsuchigumo” or “dirt spiders” and many were killed by the colonizers. The fact that Japan’s history is not a homogenous one is new to me. I don’t recall learning about the Ainu people. When teaching about Japan’s history, let’s teach our students about the Ainu people. I found some interesting articles about the Ainu people here:
Japan prepares law to finally recognize and protect its indigenous Ainu people (Washington Post)
How Japan’s Bear-Worshipping Indigenous Group Fought Its Way to Cultural Relevance (Smithsonian)
According to “How Japan’s Bear-Worshipping Indigenous Group Fought Its Way to Cultural Relevance,” the Ainu had a name for the Japanese people. “The Ainu call ethnic Japanese Wajin, a term that originated in China, or Shamo, meaning colonizer. Or, as one Ainu told a researcher: people whom one cannot trust.” From “dirt spiders” to “people whom one cannot trust,” it is interesting to know the words of both the colonizers and the native inhabitants and how such words were used to disparage each other. I liked Dr. Hirano’s final thought regarding the history of “barbarism.” He said to “approach history with suspicion. Who’s telling the story?”
Kim LengWhat are rules but something that society has made up in order to be more civilized in an attempt to gain law and order? My father may have broken what you call a rule, but what are rules? Rules are just clever writings and conventions made by men that create more problems than solutions. As long as my father is content and living in harmony, all is well. Now leave us to mediate on the dao.
Kim LengPrior to attending the seminar sessions, I also did not know that Asia’s population is old or that there’s a population crisis. The population just isn’t replacing itself. Although the article mentioned that cultural lags closed in Europe in just a couple decades, I think the cultural attitudes in Asia will take much, much longer. I grew up in a family where my brothers were given more freedom simply because they were boys. It did not matter that I was the eldest. And in professor Dube's lecture about the four schools of Chinese philosophy, the key ideas expressed in Confucian has influenced Asia for over a thousand years and continues to do so! The article seems optimistic that the cultural lag will catch up to reality by 2070, but I’m doubtful. I hope I’m wrong and it does catch up soon.
Kim LengI agree. This article was an interesting read. The article mentioned that by “2070 in some Asian countries there will be 160 men seeking a wife for every 100 women seeking a husband. Men will have to compete much harder if they want to attract a mate, and that surely means doing more housework.” But I wonder if cultural attitudes in Asia will change in 50 years. If I had to choose between being independent and having a career or being dependent on someone else and doing all the housework, I too would choose a career. Will husbands in Asia begin to do more housework? Thinking about housework and changing cultural norms reminded me of this SNL skit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZRzJJcq6Rs.
Kim LengI’m collaborating with a teacher this semester who wants students to create their own life philosophy. I like the idea of asking the big question found on page 52 of professor Dube’s handout. What might be some big questions students can ask for one’s own philosophy about life? How about what do you value most in life? Is it success, happiness, time for leisure activities? I found this interesting article ( https://www.chronicle.com/article/Why-We-Should-Require-All/243871 ) that explores some big questions:
The students will need to think about some big questions that will help them navigate life. I might ask the teacher to consider incorporating some Chinese philosophy from one of the four schools and other philosophers first. By doing so, students may engage in research in order to think about creating their own philosophy.
Kim LengI had no idea that the United States produces 10% of the world’s ginseng or that the state of Wisconsin is such a major grower of the herb! My curiosity led me to explore the Ginseng Board of Wisconsin webpage. I discovered that American ginseng is different from Chinese ginseng. If you want to learn more about American ginseng, the Ginseng Board of Wisconsin posted a video on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0nLPjEGiN8&feature=youtu.be. According to the video, Wisconsin has been growing ginseng for over 100 years and that over 95% of ginseng grown in the United States comes from this state! They also have an official seal to certify the quality of ginseng. I checked out the distributers and found out that Costco carries products made from ginseng grown in Wisconsin: https://popus.com. Has anyone tried ginseng root tea?
Also, check out this interesting article: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/watch-ginseng-exports-to-china-and-this-wisconsin-county-to-read-trumps-2020-tea-leaves.
Students can create a “Did You Know?” fun fact about a state.
Kim LengI’m a high school librarian in Boyle Heights. This is my 10th year as a librarian at the school. I enjoy reading, hiking and traveling. I look forward to meeting everyone tomorrow and getting some advice on how to travel to so many countries! My last international travel was three years ago.
Kim LengKim LengIn “Chinese Badges before the Cultural Revolution,” I found the “Terminology of Chinese badges” section fascinating. “The Chinese term 像章 xiangzhang is used consistently to refer to badges. The first character, xiang, means ‘likeness’ or ‘portrait’. The original meaning of zhang is ‘pattern’, and in classical literature, zhang is also used as a verb meaning ‘to mark’ or ‘to signify.” I did not know that there were so many specific terms for badges or that there were so many functions associated with badges. There are badges to signify an award. There are badges to signify membership to a party. There are badges to show one’s identification.
As I’m reading this section, I am reminded that the communist party keeps data on people. These badges remind me of a quick visual data scan. I can imagine that some badges are not easily earned and those in possession of a specific type of badge shows a sign of status. I think knowing the symbolism of a badge can help people quickly identify a person's status.
