Reflections on Session #2 (10/9)

[Anonymous]

Moon Festival in China Town, Los Angeles

Looking to support my friend Curt’s art opening, a few friends and I went to Coagula Curatorial Gallery on Chun King Road in China Town. I was surprised to see so many people on the street. As my friends and I made our way through the crowd, I heard a voice yell “Ms. Watt! Ms. Watt!” There was Regina Wu, one of my students, following behind me. “What’s going on?” I asked. “Tonight is the Moon Festival,” she told me. Though I’d lived in Los Angeles for some time, this was the first time I’d heard about the moon festival! On the other side of the street we watched several young Chinese boys, dressed in a dragon costume, form a long line, and dance in a square. Near the end of the dance, another dragon appeared, and together they moved to the beat of the drums sounding near. When the drums ended, they revealed signs that said “peace.” I left the square, curious about what I’d just seen. What was the Moon Festival, I wondered, and what purpose did it serve in Chinese culture? So you can imagine my delight when I came to class tonight to hear about the moon cakes and how they are a part of the Moon Festival.
Apparently, the Moon Festival in China Town, Los Angeles, takes place every year, and as our professor indicated in class, you can buy moon cakes at every venue on Broadway and Hill at this time. I think this festival would be a wonderful opportunity for a school field trip or to give students extra credit if they decide to go, take pictures, and share their experience with their history or English class when they return to school.
The link below provides detailed information on the moon festival—the brightest night of the year—and several Chinese myths around the moon festival. One in particular is the “Lady Living in the Moon”: The moon fairy lives in a crystal palace, and comes out to dance on the moon's shadowed surface. The legend surrounding the "lady living in the moon" dates back to ancient times, to a day when ten suns appeared at once in the sky. The Emperor ordered a famous archer to shoot down the nine extra suns. Once the task was accomplished, Goddess of Western Heaven rewarded the archer with a pill that would make him immortal. However, his wife found the pill, took it, and was banished to the moon as a result. Legend says that her beauty is greatest on the day of the Moon festival.
http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/midfallstory.htm
edited by mwatt on 10/30/2012

[Anonymous]

I was glad to finally here the correct pronunciation of the Yangtze River. The moon pie discussion interested me because it's just another example of overkill on certain cultural aspects purely for profit. It seems to lose significance when it becomes too overdone.
edited by nfreeman on 11/16/2012

[Anonymous]

Taoist philosophy: A clever mind is not a heart.

From The House at Pooh Corner:
"Rabbit's clever," said Pooh thoughtfully.
"Yes," said Piglet. "Rabbit's clever."
"And he has Brain."
"Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit has Brain."
There was a long silence.
"I suppose," said Pooh, "that that's why he never understands anything."

Taoist philosophy: There is more to knowing than just being correct.

From The House at Pooh Corner:
"Lot's of people talk to animals," said Pooh.
"Maybe, but..."
"Not very many listen, though," he said.
"That's the problem," he added.

Taoist philosophy:The wise know their limitations; the foolish do not.

From The House at Pooh Corner:
Roo and Tigger were walking along the forest one morning, and Tigger was talking about all the things that Tiggers can do....
"I can swim," said Roo. "I fell into the river, and I swimmed. Can Tiggers swim?"
"Of course they can. Tiggers can do everything."
"Can they climb trees better than Pooh?" asked Roo, stopping under the tallest Pine Tree, and looking up at it.
"Climbing trees is what they do best," said Tigger. "Much better than Poohs."
And the next thing they knew, they were stuck in the tallest pine tree.
edited by gsharpe on 12/23/2012
edited by gsharpe on 12/23/2012

[Anonymous]

Moon pies? They have become a symbol of china and their new year's celebration, but have we really understood the meaning? Unfortunately, many of our students who have been exposed to the moon cake do associate them with China, but how much do they really know, or even care? This reminds me of the 5 de Mayo celebration in the United States. Even Mexicans do not know what is celebrated on that date. Its impressive how we can take for granted the importance of understanding what we celebrate and honor. To know that moon cakes are produced and consumed during the new year celebration in China is not good enough to believe we know "something" about that particular celebration. We, educators must make an effort to better educate our students; not just about China, but about the world. This is the 21st Century, and we are in this profession to educate competitive global learners.
This was a very interesting lecture, a lot of new information.

[Anonymous]

Thinks can be taken out of content or history eliminated as though not important. Moon Pies have a significant history in China, unfortunately some people are just out to make a buck at the expense of others. I remember growing up eating the marshmallow pies. I wonder if those were a replica of moon pies for profit?

[Anonymous]

Moon pies are a cultural tradition of China that has been commercialized. The making and selling of Moon Pies is a business. The more moon pies they make in many different ways, the bigger the hype and the more money is made. I grew up eating marshmallow pies. I wonder if they are a spin off of the Traditional Moon Pies?

[Anonymous]

One of the topics I found interesting about this session was the story of the famous Opera singer Mei Lanfang, a Male actor. It is a shame that during this era Female actresses could no longer act because male Safari would get drunk and fight over the female actresses. As a female I find this really disturbing. On a different note it was also interesting to learn that the china uses symbolism for important dates or scenes. I also never knew a thing about moon pies except that they are delicious! I am learning a lot of new things.

[Anonymous]

In the world history text I use for AP Mohism isn't mentioned, only Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism. I was very interested in the radicalism of Mohism, and I think I'll include it when I teach the course next year. Mohism is almost an early form of socialism or communism, and Mo's denial of the family seems so radical given the later strength of Confucianism. Mohism would seem radical today in the US as well since the unitary family and blood connections are still so important. I look forward to introducing my students to this fourth school of philosophy.

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

Dear Colleagues,

Please write a paragraph on your thoughts of session #2 (Oct. 9).

Best,
Yingjia

[Anonymous]

There's such a tradition of cross dressing and role playing in European music and drama as well. Just think about the castrati, Italian men who sang both female and male roles, young or boyish roles in operas that are written for sopranos, men playing women in Shakespearean theater. Oh those theater folk! There seems to be something about the performance of make believe stories that encourages make believe in other ways.

[Author]

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