thoughts about session 4 on 7/24 w/Dr. Dube

[Anonymous]

The debate: The Debate and discussion was interesting and helped to clarify the separate philosophies.... that Daoism is a little schizophrenic.. Legalism is easy to understand -- we all need to be controlled and motivated to not be bad and be ready to farm or make war.... Mohism.... love everyone as you would yourself.... but don't waste you time with song art or poetry. Study engineering and math they can make a practical/real difference in the world. Confucians want you to look to the past -- honor your ancestors and to uphold the relationships.... ruler to family ; father to son ; older son to younger son; and friend to friend. Do I have it right???
Movie 1: Wow!!! That is very convoluted world ... And I can't imagine it being part of a reality past or present . Not one character was true to thier role as a father - son- mother nor wife-- perhaps that is the parable ... So China was conceerned about the stereotype?? I can't believe the county would have really been like this .. even in the way back... it's a cariacture for sure? The film was visually beautiful, but a beast to endure!! Perhaps preparing me for the nest film???

Movie 2: To Live: To Endure: I enjoyed this film.. but the communist state approves of it?? Doesn't it seem a little critical of the government -- or is it that the film is showing Chairman Moa's rule to be flawed and the government is so FAR beyond all that now??? IT seems to be the "bash on regardless" I will survive" theme to me but I am probably oversimplifying it. The main character is one in power/wealthy and through his depaviity falls into poverty ... which saves his life so he can become the model communist. But it seems everytiime he tries to be the "model" it kicks him in the teeth.... his son dies .... his daughter dies... I liked it but it wa a tragic story.

[Anonymous]

I visited Macau in 1999 I think, when the gambling there was only Chinese. Macau has gone from China to Portugal, to some Japanese influence, attacked by the US in WW II, then back to China in a one country two systems plan , and now is invested in by American gambling concerns from Las Vegas. Amazing. What would Chairman Mao think?

[Anonymous]

The history of the dynasties was fascinating this afternoon. I learned how outside influences contributed to the culture of Asia very revealing. You mentioned on Monday how China, Japan, and Korea all believe they are the most influential. There are so many cultures, dialects, and they rename land and seas according to their principles. Yet, much of the influence mentioned today was from other cultures. Do they acknowledge all of these influences or has it all been integrated into their cultures?

Both movies were very tragic. But after reading the Chinese Philosophies, I can attempt to distinguish the influences in the movies. Movie 1, I believe represented very much Confucius beliefs. The hierarchal stand point of honoring each person and knowing your roles was very apparent in this movie. But none of the roles were followed, so it had a tragic ending.

Movie 2, I believe was the tampering of the Dao. It seemed the husband messed with normality by gambling. Therefore his desire to attain more made him lose everything his house, his wife for a while, his children etc. Every time he thought he was in harmony something tragic happened. All of this intent to be content and have harmony was centered around Communism. Wow what a concept to analyze in your brain. What was strange was the men in the movie who were most loyal to Communism were also faced with tragic endings.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Great debate - I think we needed more time for discussion. My students really enjoy them. I use them as a learning tool as well as a review for an assessment.

Katie

[Anonymous]

Very informative and detailed - a lot to digest for those teachers who are not familiar for the dynasties. I think there should be time set aside for us to work in smaller groups to determine how this information can be taught.

[Anonymous]

The movie To Live was oddly comforting as it portrayed the patience, loyalty, virtue, and endurance of China’s people through the social and political upheavals from the 40’s through the Red Guard period. The central characters were carried along by the floods of change clinging tenaciously to each other. True survivors they reinvented themselves to adapt to each new reality. There were subtle messages delivered. The old regime was morally corrupt filled with destructive vices and false friends. Revolution cleanses and allows for rebirth and renewed hope. Socialism connects you with your community and allows you to play an integral part. Communism requires great sacrifice from each individual in order to serve the common good. Wealth, power, and possessions are mill stones around your neck, and you are better off without them. Comfort is to be found within the bonds of family.
This movie also blended well with the Chinese history we explored in class. The people of China have been enduring turbulent times for thousands of years. Always putting the pieces back together, making the best of each new situation, emerging from the ashes like the Phoenix. To live is more than to endure. Utilize the jewels of each of China’s philosophies; cultivating a harmonious family (Confucius), letting go of the desire for worldly goods (Bhuddism), realizing that the changes made by man are transitory and that you will be happiest living a simple life (Daoism), follow the rules whatever they are (Legalist), learn a practical occupation(Mohist), and you can live life to the fullest.

[Anonymous]

I had not heard that Marco Polo's travels were debated to being real, though I had thought them to be exaggerated. In the text, there is a section from his tales describing how a lion genuflected upon greeting the Khan. The students and I discuss the flowery and amazing descriptions in how at first the stories would be largely discredited or overlooked, but how later generations may look upon the stories as fantastic and wonderful. I found today's discussion on him to be very interesting and relevant to what I am teaching in the classroom.

Also, I loved the part with Zheng He. The students this past year really liked learning about him (from the limited knowledge I had in comparison to what I found out today). They liked the comparison of the boat sizes, as well as what the Chinese did when they explored rather than the Europeans. Essentially, the students end up with the idea that China didn't need anything the world had to offer, where as the Europeans were desperate for something better or more than what they had.

Even though it's from Wiki, this is a picture of a model my teaching team uses to show the different scales of the boats: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Zheng_He%27s_ship_compared_to_Columbus%27s.jpg

Here is another link to an article and resources related to Zheng He: http://www.international.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=10387
edited by tsmith on 7/24/2012

[Anonymous]

I cover Zheng He as well in the context of the Italian Renaissance. I learned a lot more about him today in which I will incorporate into my lesson and the fact that he was would have signified the expansion of China;instead, this period represented the turning point that focusing on domestic policy, economics and infastructure within the empire up til the 20th centur . Also I will be incorporated the Mongols into my Eurpean and World History course by means of mapping empires- Roman- Holy Roman, Ottoman, and Mongolian etc...comparing the PERSIA similarities and differences of theseregions

[Anonymous]

As a legalist I feel that the scenario was too vague and that I would need to know the offense and various levels of legal discipline that have been implemented in society. I would have him taken into custody, but these details would need to be identified before judgement is made.

[Anonymous]

The movie we saw last night, Survive, was excellent. It's nice to see a movie from the perspective of the Chinese, even though I know it is is ony one point of view. I believe that showing students movies in other languages is a good thing to help them understand that English is not the only form of communication... We're, at least, a bit too ethnocentric. I play music from various cultures throughout the year as we explore those regions and we learn a few words from each culture too which we use in conversatiion while studying those regions.

[Anonymous]

Oops...Clay responded to me but it was meant for you about the debate.

[Anonymous]

The afternoon session on Tuesday was helpful to me because it discussed the topics that I cover in 7th grade history. I especially appreciated learning more about the Ming dynasty, and the factors that lead to the end of each dynasty. It can be helpful to talk about the various factors leading to the fall of different empires/dynasties and compare and contrast them (e.g. Rome, Aztec, Inca, Maya, Ming, etc.).

I really appreciate when we talk about topics and strategies that I can specifically use in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Is Huangdi who is credited for traditional medicine the same person as Emperor Shi Huangdi, the Emperor who ordered the books burned and the 400 scholars to be buried alive?

[Anonymous]

I really learned a lot about each school for thought. Things that I had read about and wasn't so clear about was cleared out during the debate. The only thing that I think would have made it better would of been if we would have been able to go more into more of an actual debate than a question and answer thing. But overall, it was very interesting and fun to see people get into it.
edited by dcontreras on 7/25/2012

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