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I was very impressed with the quality of the Institute, the fascinating presenters with encyclopedic knowledge of their subjects and meaningful topics I can use in my classroom today!
I. I will be using the knowledge I acquired and the model of the presentation on Korea as a great introduction to any country of study. It will be helpful to my students to learn how to identify the following information regarding soft power and diplomacy while comparing and contrasting each country with Korea:
NGO, international relief, the image of the country that is put forward.
II. Dr. Gladney mentioned that the dramatization of the Zhen He voyages, was part of the opening reception of the Olympic Games hosted by China in 2008 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bufV3EgyPGU). I somehow missed that episode when I was watching the Olympics back in 2008.
I was re-watching some episodes of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, because I missed the spectacular dramatization of the voyages of Zhen He (which signify very important time of the Chinese history), mentioned by Dr. Gladney in his lecture. I was glad that I had a chance to watch it again. This episode could be a great visual and very impressive conversation starter to introduce my students to Zhen He.
So I decided to have a close look on different kinds of music which were performed during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic games hosted by China and Korea and theatrical dramatization of the important historical events of these two countries, because Olympics are such a wonderful opportunity to showcase the host country’s rich tapestry of the arts, history, culture and traditions. I found some episodes with great classical and traditional music, which can be a great way to introduce Chinese and Korean culture to my students, I particularly like that “the art was dancing with the music” and “the music was playing with the arts”.
III. Dr. Gladney mentioned that during Mongol domination, achieved by their technology and strategy of nomadic warfare, Mongols opened silk roads for travel and trade, they opened their land to trade and exchange…
I did some research, but I still have some questions we can address with my students:
The Mongols conquered vast areas of Asia in the 13th and 14th century CE thanks to their fast light cavalry and excellent bowmen, but another significant contribution to their success was the adoption of their enemies’ tactics and technology. Their ruthlessness in battle would cast a long shadow of fear over those they conquered with generals earning fearsome nicknames such as the ‘hounds of war’ and their soldiers being labeled ‘the devil’s horsemen.’ In addition, diplomacy, espionage, and terror were used in equal measure to win many battles before it had even begun.
The Mongol weapon of choice was the composite bow, which could fire arrows double the distance of those in competing armies. In addition, warriors could shoot with accuracy while riding their horses at speed thanks to stirrups and wooden saddles with a high back and front which gave better stability so that an archer could turn and fire in any direction, including behind him.
Warriors were prepared from childhood thanks to the Mongol tradition of having both young boys and girls participate in competitions of athletics, horse racing, wrestling, hunting, and archery. The Mongol warriors - mostly men but also sometimes women too - were, then, already proficient at using battle axes, lances (often hooked to pull enemy riders from their mounts), spears, daggers, long knives, and sometimes swords which were typically short, light, and with a single cutting edge. A typical mounted archer carried two or three bows and around 30 light and 30 heavier arrows in a quiver. Additional standard equipment included a horsehair lasso, a coil of rope, an axe, a file for making arrowheads, a sewing repair kit, a leather bag for food and to use as a float when crossing rivers, two leather bottles for liquids, and a cooking pot.
Mongol leaders ensured loyalty and increased their chances of success by promoting commanders based on merit rather than the use of clan seniority, awarding rewards and insisting on strict discipline, planning and logistics were another carefully considered area.
Mongolian saddle
Mongol armor was light so as to not impede the speed of cavalry riders, but if worn, it was typically made of thick quilted felt or leather. Sometimes this soft armor, like the heavy coats many riders wore, could be strengthened by adding strips of metal, bone or hardened/lacquered leather but plate armor and chainmail were rare, although that captured from the enemy was sometimes worn. Learning from the Chinese, a silk undershirt might be worn as this had the handy consequence of wrapping around the arrowhead if one was struck, protecting the wound and making the arrow easier to withdraw. Silk was also an excellent light insulator.
Shields, if used, were most commonly small, circular, and made of wicker or hardened leather.
I am eager to conduct research on the evolution of the military uniforms in the middle ages comparing and contrast Mongolian warriors (11th – 14th cc), the terracotta army (210–209 BCE) and the icons of St. George depicted in Byzantine style Russia in the 12th century (Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος, Latin: Georgius, Arabic: جرجس Cercis, Turkish: Yorgi; d. 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, is a Christian who is accepted as a saint in Christianity and Islam. According to traditional rumors, he was a soldier in the Roman army. His parents were Christians of Greek origin. His father, Gerontius, was a Cappadocian serving in the Roman army. His mother Polikronya was a Christian from the city of Lod in Palestine. Saint George was a soldier of Cappadocian Greek origins, member of the Praetorian Guard for Roman emperor Diocletian, who was sentenced to death for refusing to recant his Christian faith. He became one of the most venerated saints and megalomartyrs in Christianity, and he has been especially venerated as a military saint since the Crusades.) (please see some pictures below).
The statue of the Mongolian general Bo'orchu (c. 13th Century CE), in front of the Mongolian Parliament House.
The Terracotta Army (a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BCE with the purpose of protecting the emperor in his afterlife.) The figures, dating from approximately the late third century BCE were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Lintong County, outside Xian, Shaanxi, China.
IV. I hope order Travels by Marco Polo through the interlibrary loan, to get a better understanding under what terms and conditions Marco Polo served Kublai Khan.
Marco Polo (1254-1324 CE), the Venetian traveler who served Kublai Khan (r. 1260-1294 CE) and wrote of his experiences in his Travels (circulated from c. 1298 CE), gives the following description of the sumptuous clothes worn at the Mongol Yuan Dynasty court during important religious festivals:
Kublai Khan (Qubilai-Qan) was the ruler of the Mongol Empire from 1260 to 1294 CE. Kublai Khan’s accomplishments include taking over China and establishing Mongol rule there under the new name of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 CE), and thus becoming the first non-Chinese to rule the whole of that country. He created the new capital city of Xanadu (Shangdu), established Daidu (Beijing) as its successor, and expanded the empire to its greatest ever size so that it stretched from the Caspian Sea to the Korean peninsula. There were setbacks along the way, including a series of campaigns with mixed results in South East Asia and two failed invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281 CE. Kublai, the last of the great Mongol rulers, died of illness exacerbated by his repeated overindulgence in food and alcohol; his tomb has never been found.
I was very impressed with the quality of the Institute, the fascinating presenters with encyclopedic knowledge of their subjects and meaningful topics I can use in my classroom today!
I. I will be using the knowledge I acquired and the model of the presentation on Korea as a great introduction to any country of study. It will be helpful to my students to learn how to identify the following information regarding soft power and diplomacy while comparing and contrasting each country with Korea:
NGO, international relief, the image of the country that is put forward.
II. Dr. Gladney mentioned that the dramatization of the Zhen He voyages, was part of the opening reception of the Olympic Games hosted by China in 2008 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bufV3EgyPGU). I somehow missed that episode when I was watching the Olympics back in 2008.
I was re-watching some episodes of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, because I missed the spectacular dramatization of the voyages of Zhen He (which signify very important time of the Chinese history), mentioned by Dr. Gladney in his lecture. I was glad that I had a chance to watch it again. This episode could be a great visual and very impressive conversation starter to introduce my students to Zhen He.
So I decided to have a close look on different kinds of music which were performed during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic games hosted by China and Korea and theatrical dramatization of the important historical events of these two countries, because Olympics are such a wonderful opportunity to showcase the host country’s rich tapestry of the arts, history, culture and traditions. I found some episodes with great classical and traditional music, which can be a great way to introduce Chinese and Korean culture to my students, I particularly like that “the art was dancing with the music” and “the music was playing with the arts”.
III. Dr. Gladney mentioned that during Mongol domination, achieved by their technology and strategy of nomadic warfare, Mongols opened silk roads for travel and trade, they opened their land to trade and exchange…
I did some research, but I still have some questions we can address with my students:
The Mongols conquered vast areas of Asia in the 13th and 14th century CE thanks to their fast light cavalry and excellent bowmen, but another significant contribution to their success was the adoption of their enemies’ tactics and technology. Their ruthlessness in battle would cast a long shadow of fear over those they conquered with generals earning fearsome nicknames such as the ‘hounds of war’ and their soldiers being labeled ‘the devil’s horsemen.’ In addition, diplomacy, espionage, and terror were used in equal measure to win many battles before it had even begun.
The Mongol weapon of choice was the composite bow, which could fire arrows double the distance of those in competing armies. In addition, warriors could shoot with accuracy while riding their horses at speed thanks to stirrups and wooden saddles with a high back and front which gave better stability so that an archer could turn and fire in any direction, including behind him.
Warriors were prepared from childhood thanks to the Mongol tradition of having both young boys and girls participate in competitions of athletics, horse racing, wrestling, hunting, and archery. The Mongol warriors - mostly men but also sometimes women too - were, then, already proficient at using battle axes, lances (often hooked to pull enemy riders from their mounts), spears, daggers, long knives, and sometimes swords which were typically short, light, and with a single cutting edge. A typical mounted archer carried two or three bows and around 30 light and 30 heavier arrows in a quiver. Additional standard equipment included a horsehair lasso, a coil of rope, an axe, a file for making arrowheads, a sewing repair kit, a leather bag for food and to use as a float when crossing rivers, two leather bottles for liquids, and a cooking pot.
Mongol leaders ensured loyalty and increased their chances of success by promoting commanders based on merit rather than the use of clan seniority, awarding rewards and insisting on strict discipline, planning and logistics were another carefully considered area.
Mongolian saddle
Mongol armor was light so as to not impede the speed of cavalry riders, but if worn, it was typically made of thick quilted felt or leather. Sometimes this soft armor, like the heavy coats many riders wore, could be strengthened by adding strips of metal, bone or hardened/lacquered leather but plate armor and chainmail were rare, although that captured from the enemy was sometimes worn. Learning from the Chinese, a silk undershirt might be worn as this had the handy consequence of wrapping around the arrowhead if one was struck, protecting the wound and making the arrow easier to withdraw. Silk was also an excellent light insulator.
Shields, if used, were most commonly small, circular, and made of wicker or hardened leather.
I am eager to conduct research on the evolution of the military uniforms in the middle ages comparing and contrast Mongolian warriors (11th – 14th cc), the terracotta army (210–209 BCE) and the icons of St. George depicted in Byzantine style Russia in the 12th century (Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος, Latin: Georgius, Arabic: جرجس Cercis, Turkish: Yorgi; d. 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, is a Christian who is accepted as a saint in Christianity and Islam. According to traditional rumors, he was a soldier in the Roman army. His parents were Christians of Greek origin. His father, Gerontius, was a Cappadocian serving in the Roman army. His mother Polikronya was a Christian from the city of Lod in Palestine. Saint George was a soldier of Cappadocian Greek origins, member of the Praetorian Guard for Roman emperor Diocletian, who was sentenced to death for refusing to recant his Christian faith. He became one of the most venerated saints and megalomartyrs in Christianity, and he has been especially venerated as a military saint since the Crusades.) (please see some pictures below).
The statue of the Mongolian general Bo'orchu (c. 13th Century CE), in front of the Mongolian Parliament House.
The Terracotta Army (a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BCE with the purpose of protecting the emperor in his afterlife.) The figures, dating from approximately the late third century BCE were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Lintong County, outside Xian, Shaanxi, China.
IV. I hope order Travels by Marco Polo through the interlibrary loan, to get a better understanding under what terms and conditions Marco Polo served Kublai Khan.
Marco Polo (1254-1324 CE), the Venetian traveler who served Kublai Khan (r. 1260-1294 CE) and wrote of his experiences in his Travels (circulated from c. 1298 CE), gives the following description of the sumptuous clothes worn at the Mongol Yuan Dynasty court during important religious festivals:
Kublai Khan (Qubilai-Qan) was the ruler of the Mongol Empire from 1260 to 1294 CE. Kublai Khan’s accomplishments include taking over China and establishing Mongol rule there under the new name of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 CE), and thus becoming the first non-Chinese to rule the whole of that country. He created the new capital city of Xanadu (Shangdu), established Daidu (Beijing) as its successor, and expanded the empire to its greatest ever size so that it stretched from the Caspian Sea to the Korean peninsula. There were setbacks along the way, including a series of campaigns with mixed results in South East Asia and two failed invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281 CE. Kublai, the last of the great Mongol rulers, died of illness exacerbated by his repeated overindulgence in food and alcohol; his tomb has never been found.
For all those Art-Appreciators, just for your info, it is not too late to bid on beautiful Chinese Art. Yale-China's 5 day online auction of art from the exhibition Bridging Cultures: The Art of Stephen Lowes runs until 11:59 pm on Sunday, August 16.
Artist Stephen Lowe (劉允衡 ) was a Lingnan School painter who emigrated from Hong Kong to Canada early in his career. Lowe made it his life’s mission to create understanding and appreciation of Chinese art in North America. The artist described his paintings as a fusion of Chinese ink and watercolor technique and North American inspirations.
In 1909 Sergei Diaghilev introduced Ballets Russes to Paris making Art to Dance with Music, pushing the limits of arts, dance and music and bringing together the most creative artists of his day: Natalia Goncharova, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Igor Stravinsky, Vaslav Nijinsky. I always teach my art classes offering some elements of traditional music and dance.
Contemporary music is closely connected with contemporary art, slicing the piece of today’s reality. I would like to share with you a special edition of the online magazine Photo London, made in collaboration with "Photography of China".
Founded in 2011 by Marine Cabos-Brullé, Photography of China's goal is to offer a multifaceted vision of China and its history through the eyes of people who love photography.
Following an archival approach to contemporary photography, this issue features eight contemporary artists who have been reworking historical and vernacular photographs from China.
Magazine issue 15: Photography of China
#PLmagazine #PhotoLondonAcademy
After having completed the readings I became interested in examining the religious beliefs of Scythians and their connections to Buddhism. Why did the envoy find a copy of the Scripture in Forty-two Sections in "Scythia"?
Page 46. Each nation has its own myth of the arrival of Buddhism. In the case of China, it is said that the emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty (who reigned from 58c.e. to 75c.e.) had a dream in which he saw a golden spirit outside of his palace, emitting rays of light from the top of his head. When he told his ministers about his dream, they reported that they have heard about the sage called "Buddha" who was able to fly. The emperor dispatched a party of envoys, who journeyed westward into Central Asia and the eastern end of the vast and vague region that the Greeks called "Scythia", returning with a copy of the Scripture in Forty-two Sections (p. 496).
I am very familiar with the unique collection of the Scythian gold from the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. The most valuable artefacts were produced by the nomadic tribes of the area known as Scythia from the 7th to 3rd centuries BC. The identities of the nomadic peoples of the steppes is often uncertain, and the term "Scythian" should often be taken loosely; the art of nomads much further east than the core Scythian territory exhibits close similarities as well as differences, and terms such as the "Scytho-Siberian world" are often used.
The major contribution for the collection of the Scythian gold, started by Peter the Great in early 18c and continued by Catherine the Great who ordered a systematic study be made of the works, was made during the time of Russian Emperor Alexander III with the development of modern archaeological techniques and efforts of the Russian archaeologists specializing in Central Asia who led many of the most important excavations of kurgans. Russian scholars from the State Hermitage Museum have concluded that a discovery of Scythian gold in a Siberian grave in summer of 2001 is the earliest of its kind ever found and that it predates Greek influence. The find is leading to a change in how scholars view the Scythians, supposed barbaric, nomadic tribes that once roamed the Eurasian steppes. (See the article in its original context in New York Times from January 9, 2002, Section E, Page 1)
In 1882 Fabergé won a gold medal at the Pan-Russian Exhibition in Moscow, where he attracted the attention of the Tsar, Alexander III (1845-94), and his wife, Marie Feodorovna (1847-1928). Tsar Alexander III personally praised Faberge for his replica of a gold Scythian bracelet from the 4th century BC. Three years later, in 1885, Faberge was awarded a warrant as official supplier to the imperial court. It was then that the Tsar commissioned Fabergé to produce the first Imperial Easter Egg for his wife Maria, starting an annual tradition which would showcase some of his most inventive and sophisticated craftsmanship.
"Scythia", Scythian Gold, Hermitage Museum, Faberge
After having completed the readings I became interested in examining the religious beliefs of Scythians and their connections to Buddhism. Why did the envoy find a copy of the Scripture in Forty-two Sections in "Scythia"?
Page 46. Each nation has its own myth of the arrival of Buddhism. In the case of China, it is said that the emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty (who reigned from 58c.e. to 75c.e.) had a dream in which he saw a golden spirit outside of his palace, emitting rays of light from the top of his head. When he told his ministers about his dream, they reported that they have heard about the sage called "Buddha" who was able to fly. The emperor dispatched a party of envoys, who journeyed westward into Central Asia and the eastern end of the vast and vague region that the Greeks called "Scythia", returning with a copy of the Scripture in Forty-two Sections (p. 496).
I am very familiar with the unique collection of the Scythian gold from the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. The most valuable artefacts were produced by the nomadic tribes of the area known as Scythia from the 7th to 3rd centuries BC. The identities of the nomadic peoples of the steppes is often uncertain, and the term "Scythian" should often be taken loosely; the art of nomads much further east than the core Scythian territory exhibits close similarities as well as differences, and terms such as the "Scytho-Siberian world" are often used.
The major contribution for the collection of the Scythian gold, started by Peter the Great in early 18c and continued by Catherine the Great who ordered a systematic study be made of the works, was made during the time of Russian Emperor Alexander III with the development of modern archaeological techniques and efforts of the Russian archaeologists specializing in Central Asia who led many of the most important excavations of kurgans. Russian scholars from the State Hermitage Museum have concluded that a discovery of Scythian gold in a Siberian grave in summer of 2001 is the earliest of its kind ever found and that it predates Greek influence. The find is leading to a change in how scholars view the Scythians, supposed barbaric, nomadic tribes that once roamed the Eurasian steppes. (See the article in its original context in New York Times from January 9, 2002, Section E, Page 1)
In 1882 Fabergé won a gold medal at the Pan-Russian Exhibition in Moscow, where he attracted the attention of the Tsar, Alexander III (1845-94), and his wife, Marie Feodorovna (1847-1928). Tsar Alexander III personally praised Faberge for his replica of a gold Scythian bracelet from the 4th century BC. Three years later, in 1885, Faberge was awarded a warrant as official supplier to the imperial court. It was then that the Tsar commissioned Fabergé to produce the first Imperial Easter Egg for his wife Maria, starting an annual tradition which would showcase some of his most inventive and sophisticated craftsmanship.
