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AnonymousChina and HIV/AIDS
China AIDs infection rate is low but with its high population any change in the infection rate is really alarming.
Some sites
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4772130 an NPR story on one man's personal efforts in China
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1481542.stm
a BBC report on China and its problem with AIDs
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/aids/view/
Part 2 episode Six deals with AIDS in China. A video which can be watched in the classroom
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/health/aids/
A PBS lesson plan on teaching about AIDS. Not focused on China
http://www.who.int/hiv/HIVCP_CHN.pdf
WHO report on China and the 3x5 program
http://www.prb.org/Content/NavigationMenu/PRB/Educators/LessonPlans/HIV_AIDS_and_Contemporary_Population_Dynamics/HIV_AIDS—A_Scourge_of_the_Land.htm
The Population Reference Bureau's lesson plan on AIDS. Lots of practical application and can be focused on China and Asia
AnonymousSydney, Australia has a beautiful Chinese Gardens at Darling Harbour. The modern part of it was actually funny; they have a hut with costumes from the Imperial Period and you can pay a few dollars, wear the costumes and take your picture among the pagodas, ponds and tea area.
If you go to Sydney, take an hour to visit the Chinese Gardens.
Cathy
AnonymousAccording to the BBC, the number of people killed has risen to 16 in the recent typhoon that came ashore in SE China. Over 1m people were forced to evacuate. That number is astounding as the number to flee New Orleans last August was less than half of that, 485,000.
AnonymousJapan's warrior class the Samaurai and information from the British museum on the art of sword making
Cutting Edge:
Japanese Swords in the British Museum
30 September 2004 – 27 February 2005 Japanese Galleries ( 92-94) Admission free
The Japanese sword is probably the most deadly cutting weapon ever developed by man, razor-sharp and almost unbreakable. But apart from its efficacy as a weapon, in Japan, the sword has always been imbued with a spiritual essence according to both Shint? and Buddhist thought. Kend? (‘the way of the sword’) is the spiritual study of sword-fencing which aims beyond victory in combat, towards the ultimate understanding of Buddhism. The sword is thus considered as an implement of enlightenment, and as such it sometimes has Buddhist invocations or depictions of deities carved on the blade. Appreciation of the beauty of the blade is an ancient and important aspect of Japanese aesthetics.
This exhibition features one hundred blades and mountings from the Museum’s extensive collection. All of the swords on display have been recently polished and conserved by a team of thirty-three specialists in Japan, with guidance from the Government of Japan and the Society for the Preservation of Japan Art Swords. The project has been generously supported by the Peter Moores Foundation. Polishing a samurai sword is an art in itself – each sword takes at least 2 – 3 months to polish - and requires a long apprenticeship. This exhibition will provide the first opportunity to see these swords restored to their original glory, displayed alongside prints and screen paintings which depict samurai and their weapons.
The curved sword of the samurai was perfected sometime during the Heian period (794-1185). It remained the major weapon in almost constant civil warfare between samurai clans vying for governmental control until the end of the 16th century. However slight changes in shape, length and appearance, affected by both fashion and technology have led to the recognition of three distinct types of sword: ‘kot?’ (old swords); ‘shint?’ (new swords); and ‘shinshint?’ (new new swords). Kot? blades are generally slender and of a deeper curve than later swords, and was the name given to all swords made up to the late 16th century. The establishment in 1600 of a relatively stable regime under the Tokugawa clan (the Edo period) led to a new style of sword, ‘shint?’. The peaceful isolation engendered by the Tokugawa meant that the sword gradually became more a symbol of samurai authority and a fashion accessory, rather than a weapon. The emphasis was now on luxurious mountings, scabbards coated with gold or coloured lacquer, patinated metal fittings and minutely sculpted decorative motifs. Larger swords known as shinshint? appeared in the late 18th century as increased western naval activity roused the samurai from the complacency of Japan’s isolation. In the late 19th century, with imperial rule restored, Japan rapidly modernised and samurai were prohibited from wearing swords in public. All kinds of antiquities, including the now obsolete swords, began to be avidly collected by foreign visitors and exported. The Museum’s own collection arose as a result of bequests from this first generation of enthusiasts. However, by the time these swords reached the Museum, many had rusted or were broken as a result of neglect or mistreatment. The kind support of the Peter Moores Foundation has meant that the Museum has finally been able to restore these swords to their former glory.
For further information please contact Hannah Boulton on 020 7323 8522 or email [email protected]
How a sword is made:
Japanese swords are manufactured by heating the blade and folding a steel billet several times, then hammering to form a laminate, which is then beaten out into the final shape. It is hardened by a unique method of heat treatment. The blade is first coated with a slurry of clay which is then partially removed along the cutting edge. When dried the whole is heated red and quenched in cold water. This produces a resilient body able to withstand the shock of violent combat and a cutting edge of hard steel which can be polished razor sharp. When a blade is polished a grain formed by the folding process becomes visible. The crystalline structure of the hardened edge appears as a whitish line, the hamon (‘badge’ of the blade). The various hues and patterns within the hamon are described using terms derived from nature.
The polishing process:
The polishing process is no less important than the original manufacturing process. This often involves the use of more than twenty grades of stone, from the coarsest down to the finest. It is the unique nature of the Japanese polish that it reveals all the varied textures in the blade. Above all the polisher ensures that the lines of the curved blade are smooth and continuous and that the angles of the planes are clearly defined. The polisher produces a completely even surface, which not only renders the textures of the blade clearly visible but also helps preserve it against corrosion. The final stages of polishing involve the use of various powders, including stone dust and iron oxides. These processes are intended to produce a surface that reveals microscopic variations in both grain contour and crystalline formations.
[Edit by="rparker on Aug 8, 9:16:14 PM"][/Edit]
AnonymousClayton introduced us to a great source of Chinese art- the British Museum
Here is the web site and use their search engine with "China" as the key word. Great examples of Chinese art
AnonymousLooking for Asia in Seattle
If you find yourself in Seattle looking for Asia, here are some of the places to look. In the International District (known as the ID), you will find China, Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam. There are shops, bakeries, restaurants, churches and culture centers representing these countries within the district. The Wing Luke Asian Museum, displaying local Asian American history is also in this District.
The Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park features buddhist art from Korea, Japan, China and South East Asia, spanning 2000 years of history. When near Volunteer park, visit Bruce and Brandon Lee’s grave at the Lake View Cemetery. Also near by is a Japanese Tea Garden. Depending on the time of the month, you can participate in Japanese tea ceremony or view live kabuki performance in the garden.
In Downtown Seattle, visit the tea shop called vital t-Leaf at the corner of 1st Ave. and Union, where you can enjoy tea tasting for FREE! Their website is http://www.vitalTleaf.com . They have a sister store in San Francisco. The famous Pike Market Place offers many options for Asian eating, including a tiny hole in the wall Chinese bakery specializing in fried and steamed han-bow buns.
AnonymousNow that I am making power point presentations for my high school world history and world geography classes (thanks to Clay), I will most definately access the british museum for pictures........China and anything else they offer! Thanks for reminding me of this site.
Cathy, Chapparal, Temecula
AnonymousLet's all meet each other and create a governement where transportation is based on solar energy, instead of gasoline.........I wonder which empire will bully the rest of the world and take control of our shared sun. It's frustrating to me that we learn about the peaceful ways of Buddhism and Daoism when studying E Asia and then have to wonder if man's real nature is just greediness for power and being puffed up? In my lifetime I have been affected by the results of WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War (Not to mention the civil rights issues here at home), all the conflicts in the Middle East and I would just like to see all the various governments and peoples come together to celebrate our marvelous earth, learn how to take care of it, and respect each other as fellow inhabitants. One day at a time, I guess.
Let's teach Peace in our Schools.
Cathy from Chaparral High in Temecula
AnonymousLooking for articles on China for my world history and world geography classes, I came across 7 national Geographic issues on my bookshelf in my home office. I can't wait to count how many I will find in the at 100, probably more, NG magazines in my classroom cupboards!
National Geo march 1980: Pges 292-331
Western China tour highlights
1. Uygur dwellers are Muslims, speaking Turkish language
2. relay runners follow the route of the 1934-35 Long March of Mao
3. silk Road, China's minorities
4. Cutural Revolution being replaced with PDAs and the Mao clothing is being replaced with color and differnet styles
5.Inner Mongolia, Yellow River, Gobi Desert
6. Science and research are back in/proletariate ideology is not so severe
Labzgiyr;s oetricgenucak factirues oiyr iyt a tgucj veuk if kybg-threatening fumes, making the Westerners sick
7. 2,000 yr old irrigation systems
8. 1980: 4/5 of Chinese are farmers, yet only 11% of China is arable
9. Great Wall at Jiayuguan, 14th c.
10. Turpan Depression, one of the lwoest spots on land, 505 feet below sea level and HOT
11. The shift from Han (94%) trying to eliminate minorities to celbrating their cultures
12. Kazaks, nomads
13. Religious freedoms revived
14.Authors feel a sense of optimism in the People and their scholars, scientists
Cathy, Temecula
Anonymousnational geographic, March, 2004: pages68-95
China's Growing Pains: More money, more stuff, more problems. Any Solutions?
This article is about pollution and consumerism, lack of clean water, death toll from bad air quality (2 million in 10 year period) and some of the efforts the PRC is making to clean up. "The Hope of many Chinese is to copy the lifestyles of affluent city people all over the world."
Noting that China is becoming a world player in the buying power arena, the journalists highlight: "More than 25 million workers are in regular contact with toxic dust and poisonous material. What good is money if you can't breathe the air?"
Cathy, Temeula
AnonymousNow that I am hoping to visit East Asia 07 (first choice is China!), I find myself fretting over the pollution and articles on the Amnesty International pressuring the IOC about human rights issues in preparation for the Olympics (today's news). So, I go back to old issues of National Geographic to get a sequential look at the changes in China over the last 5 decades.
Nat Geo, Feb 04 HAN
The first picture is of a bronze horse and reminds me of the painting in my living room. I have a Chinese horse above my bed, as well (which I bought in China 30 years ago)
What I did not know is that there was a belief that the horse could carry the Emperor to Heaven. HMMMM
The next picture is of a modern Daoist fortune-teller. Reminds me of the shaman in Kenya who gave me such good news 20 years ago......it was so funny when the Beijing educational group had lunch with us in August in Chinatown and asked what the fortune cookies were.
The article compares the Han Dynasty to the Roman Empire; this could be a great lesson in world history and geography. It notes that these time periods overlap and the policies were similar. Goes on to mention Confucianism.
Hans made paper and many technological advances which were ahead of the Romans. A wool weaving from Xinjiang is evidence of trade between the West and Central Asian traders in 200 AD. Other relics from tombs show various beliefs. The juxtaposition of the rich and peasants 2,000 years ago is relived in a modern photo of a farmer with a hand tool in a field near the burial of Emperor Jing's favorite concubine, Li.
Accupuncture, caligraphy and politics.......the article shows the ancient and gives the historical background then provides wonderful pictures of Chinese today; acrobats, models, artists, doctors, to illustrate that the Han traditions are still taught and alive today.
Science: the Han Dynasty's Zhang Heng invented an earthquake weaterhcock, the precurser to a seismograph.
The final picture is of Mao poster (bigger than life) with Confucius statuettes in the foreground with this caption:
"Two Giants who changed the course of China, Confusius and Mao Zedong, share space at a street stall in Zufu, near Mount Tai. While Mao preached revolution, the Han rulers sought order and stability, promoting Confucian principles that still resonate in today's China."
The closing paragraph quotes Liu Qingzhu, director of the Institute of Archaelology in Beijing: " The West inherits its traditions from the Romans and Greeks, while China inherits from the Han."
AnonymousNational Geographic, Nov 2005 Longevity Article
There were 3 locales for longevity featured in this article: Okinawa, Loma Linda, CA (the 7th Day Adventist, who are vegetarian) and Sardinia, Italy. Want to live beyond 100?
organic, vegetarian diet, never retire, volunteer, have a social network, exercise and know your ikigai: your purpose that makes your life worth living. Have a moai, a mutual support network that provides financial, emotiona, and social help throughout life. Live by the Confucian-inspired adage "hara hachi bu"-eat until your stomach is 80 percent full.
Elder Okinawan women are respected spiritual leaders in many villages, a role that gives them a greater sense of purpose.
All three locales were villages, so I think it might be beneficial to live in smaller context. Loma Linda is surrounded by urban sprawl, freeways and smog, but the Adventists have their own hospitals, living complexes and social tightness. Smoking and drinking are taboo.
Guess I better study the book I bought in 1982: The Dao of Longevity..........seems I never give myself the time to do yoga and tai chi. But, today, I taught my geography class the Mao 4 minute Exercise routine!
AnonymousNational Geographic, Nov 05 Inside Nepal's Revolution
Article is about the Maoists insurgency and the king declared a state of emergency, outlawing dissent. Tourism down, poverty up.
In today's news it was the Maoists who were repressing dissidents in Beijing, the worst since the Tienamen Incident.
I always think of Nepal as the gateway to Mt. Everest, with the Sherpi guides and the Dali Lama promoting Peace on Earth. This article made me more aware of the death toll, the poverty and the fact that many civilian and children have died in the last 6 years while neither the government nor the Maoists offer any real promise for stability.
AnonymousNational Geo, Dec 05 Buddha Rising, out of the monastery, into the living room
Buddhism is gaining Western followers drawn by its ideals of pacifism, selflessness, and social action. 2,500 yr old teachings of Siddhartha Gautama
Great article of how Buddhism is being infused into coporate workers' practices, into hospitals and sports teams. The Four Nobel Truths are related, with a bio sketch of Siddhartha Gautama, examples of meditation and a very interesting page on prisioners in India who use vipassana to use their term for self realization.
Buddhism is resurfacing in China and India, but not Japan.
"With our thougths we make the world", well written and inspiring article.
AnonymousWow, I found a national geographic that predates my trip to PRC in 1976.
The Dec 1974 magazine has a 9 page (open to big size photos) article entitled:
"China Unveils Her Newest Treasures", about an exhibition world tour of artifacts which spanned from 400,000 years old tool to 14th century porcelains. In 1968 the two multi-chambered tombs at Manch'eng were excavated, providing 2,800 Han Dynasty artifacts.
Peking spelling!! "Politically attuned archeologists cataloging the exhibits in Peking explain that such lavish objects expose the extravagance and decadence of the feudal ruling class. Also, they give credit to the working class for many technical advances of ancient times: making paper, improvig methods fro manufacturing iron tools, brocading silk, and using acupuncture needles of gold and silver-all skills reflected in the exhibition."
Flying horse: symbol of Heaven.
"He who knows does not speak. He who speaks does not know" Lao-tzu, legendary founder of Taoism. Journalist was referring to a pottrey figure found in 1964, dated at 2,000 years old.
I recall seeing King Tut's Tomb on exhibit in the 80's, I think. It all seemed surreal in the museum, but the minute I stepped outside, I was overcome with awe; that I just saw jewels and gold, art and labor of thousands of years ago; that it was real. That's how I felt when I visited China. Even the pictures and articles in National Geographic bring me back to the belief that we are all related, that over the centuries and continents there is a goodness in Mankind (I like to see it as kindman); and even though emperors and armies have been and are malevolent, the truth is: we are all connected and Peace will One Day Be Visible.