Reading Notes Week 6 : Anna Barbauld and Poems for Every Occasion

Anna Laetitia Barbauld 326-330 (Norton Volume E)

A woman poet in the seventeen and eighteen hundreds. the themes of her writings were diverse and

wide ranging. She wrote playfully, satirical, and somber poems to be published (326).

Her use of literary devices such as symbolism and satire, elicit a human interest in her thoughts. She

writes about political climates and the experience of becoming a mother. These familiar aspects from

a feminist (if you will) point of view were devoured by the public and even other male writers like

William Wordsworth (326).

Barbauld has an interesting past. Her husband suffered a mental break and assaulted her violently.

What is interesting is the fact that she didn’t not stay with him. She left him, only for him to kill

himself shortly after her departure from him. Reflecting on this choice she made one can’t help but

wonder… if she stayed, would she have been killed? Would we still have these amazing works to

enjoy today (326)?

She was able to look objectively at the world around her and see where events would lead. She is

said to have predicted the American revolution, winning against the British Empire. She was blunt

and harsh when discussing political actions she disagree with. “One writer went so far as to say that

the poem was “only the more dangerous on account of its poetical excellence”” (327).

“Colossal Power with overwhelming force Bears down each fort of Freedom in its course; Prostrate

she lies beneath the Despot’s sway, While the hushed nations curse him- and obey.” (328). She is

writing about the oppressive and total power of Britain and their dominance over smaller nations who

bow under the weight of their master. I totally loved this as it did not diminish the nation but brought

its ego up just to rip it down. When she brings up “Freedom” I think she is talking about America, as

they were fighting for independence and the news in England and its territories must have been that

America was loosing (to save face).

Reading Notes Week 6: William Blake The Eccentric

William Blake 330 -441 poetry (Volume E)

Blacken was an eccentric in many ways. He seemed to flip flop his belief system constantly.

From believing in god,believing we are all god, to believing in spirits and his dead brother

communicated with him (330,331)

Blake was not a rich man. Mainly due to his lack of commitment to any employer.

Calling one “the enemy of my spiritual life.” (331).

I would have liked to have met him in his life,

as he seemed to care very much for his personal happiness

and the happiness of others just as much.

He tended to isolate himself when things got rough for him (331) but continued to publish or create art.

He was strongly opposed to the social hierarchies and the division of wealth and power.

This made me think of how the times never really change. They just evolve.

He cared very much for children in his poems and was against the use of harsh

child labor that was popular at the time. He wrote many poems referencing children and the

effects that adults have in them. While they are not able to do anything (333)

His themes of works changed throughout his life. There was political, spiritual,and religious works

in his repertoire.  

I found it interesting that he used words together that looked like they might rhyme due to the

formation of their spelling but did not actually sound like a rhyme like you would think (334).

In his poem The Lamb he makes biblical references to Jesus and children. “ for he calls

himself a lamb: he is meek and he is mild, he became a little child:” (335).

In The Little Black Boy we see more biblical verbiage where a mother tells her child of their purpose. They are to do god’s work and serve their masters and their family. The black boy then says to an English (presuming white) boy “ When I from black and he from White cloud free, and round the tent of God like lambs we joy, I’ll shade him from the heat till he can bear to learn the joy upon our fathers me; and then I’ll stand and stroke his silver hair, and be like him, and he will then love me.” (336)

Comment Wall

https://sites.google.com/view/journey-with-me/life-worth-living-an-analysis-of-historic-wisdom

Week 5 Analysis: Sensuous Readings

Literary Elements

 Ihara Saikaku used his skill as a "writer of vernacular fiction" to reach a wider audience (591). By writing in the way that common people could understand he was able to put forth very interesting ideas to his readers. By the style of writing I felt pity for the woman in the plot. As the way the author wrote from her view point you could really see her choices and how heavy they weighed on her. Being so young and having to have so many men to rely on and having lost them, been refused, or fleeing their company, must have been hard. Though she was strong and clever, it was a pity as she seemed to develop Stockholm syndrome with her Monk Husband (601). When she gained some freedom she is met by a crazed old woman who was in her situation at a time (602). Understandably she left after making the monk think she was pregnant. What a horrible scene to imagine! The crazy old woman could be a metaphor for the Sensuous Woman's intuition about her situation. As there were already many red flags, this may have just been the manifestation of her unease with her temporary husband (600).

Themes

The theme of the text seems to be the challenging of social norms and the exceptions on women and sex. While also serving as a warning.  The old woman had a difficult life, and still ended up in the woods living alone. She suffered separation from society because "Rumors Started, but I couldn't stop myself." (595). This tale illustrates the wonders, heart breaks, and terrors of love. 

Context

 The Historical Context is something to keep in mind when reading this. The Life of a Sensuous Woman was first published in Japan around 1686. We know that the freedom of women and for us to be seen as equal people has only really been in rapid movement over the last hundred or so years. So for a text to suggest a sexually free thinking woman during this time was a stir. Sexual misconduct by women has been harshly punished ans scandalized throughout history, such as women being stoned in the bible or out cast like in The Scarlet Letter. The samurai who the old woman in this tale fell in love with (in her youth), and who she had her first sexual tryst with was put to death for their affair. While she was simply sent back quietly to her parents house. She was also thirteen and I shiver to think how old her lover was. But as it is said many times in the tale, times change. (595)

Saikaku, Ihara " Life of a Sensuous Woman" The Norton Anthology World Literature, Third ed., D, W. W. Norton & Company, 2012, pp. 593-602.

Week 5 Reading Notes (B) : Basho Bashed

I think that this was my least favorite reading so far. It was rather bland and emotionless in my opinion. Other authors have written about nature  and made it beautiful and vibrant on the page. But Basho's writing fell flat. I understand that it was meant to be a journal, but it was admitted to have been refined and embellished (617). Making it a work of fiction. 

I felt that the writings of their travels (Basho and Sora) were at times more poetic than their haikai. I have great respect for the style, but I feel they did weren't good. Perhaps, in their own language they would have been better.

- The theme seemed to be change and time. Aging and growth seemed to echo throughout, mostly because either one theme or the other is mentioned in almost every paragraph.

- I am in love with the opening sonnet or poem on page 617, and if the whole tale was written like that I wound have been happy.

- "... I put my brush down here." (619) this was the first time brush was said and following he writes about hair on the mountain and hair on the head. This made me think of a hair brush and not his paint brush. but I later made that connection.

- I enjoyed the history of the different locations and temples they saw. It was like a travel guide.

- "My body and spirit were tired from the pain of the long journey; my heart overwhelmed by the landscape. The thoughts of the distant past tore through me, and I couldn't think straight." (620). I loved this passage, it was moving and meaningful. It stirred questions bu also a feeling of comradery, as everyone has had feelings like this.

- "Opening my knapsack, I made those poems my friends for the night." (622) I like this because it showed that his work and the work of others really was a comfort to him.

- "Forbidden to speak - wetting my sleeves at Bathhouse Mountain!" (625) I would like to know what they got into at the Bathhouse...

- He did not write about people in detail often or the interactions between them, till we meet two women of the night (627) we get a good portion on them and even some dialog


Basho, Matsuo " The Narrow Road to the Deep North" The Norton Anthology World Literature, Third ed., D, W. W. Norton & Company, 2012, pp. 616-628.

Week 5 Reading notes (A) : The Will of a Mistress

I was astonished at the fact that a man wrote this, and did not condemn the woman's sexuality at all. It seemed to be a mix of a cautionary tale and a manual of how to enjoy a love life. Several interesting points were-

- The samurai who she fell in love with and had her first sexual tryst with was put to death for them having sex. She was simply sent back quietly to her parents house. She was also thirteen and I shiver to think how old her lover was. But as it is said many times in the tale, times change. (595)

- It does not speak of love at first sight like many tale often do when trying to convey a romance. Her first love was plain to her and what captured her was his heart and his writings to her (595).

- Her first love was exciting and new, forbidden (595) . Her second was a matter of comfort and wealth that she and her family would partake in. And she was treated well and enjoyed herself (598, 599). The third was all for business and a means of security where she would be a temporary wife for three years (600).

- I had no Idea there was such a thing in those days. I thought there were wives, mistresses, and whores. I had no clue about marriage contracts for a limited number of years for payment. It is almost like an extended stay whore rather than a mistress (600). Now, one may ask what the difference is between the later two. I would have to say in my mind a mistress enjoys the same security as a wife in those times. If a wife did not bear a son she could be turned away but the man would be shamed if he did not look after her in some way. The same with a mistress. A whore or prostitute, I say is not someone you keep in the home, but call to come and go at your wish, they get money but no security and there is no exclusivity.

- I felt pity for her. Being so young and having to have so many men to rely on. Though she was strong and clever, it was a pity as she seemed to develop Stockholm syndrome with her Monk Husband (601). She was stuck and did not enjoy him and then over time she learned to? Because he was her only company in her little underground sex dungeon that was sound proofed and locked for much of the time.

- When she gained some freedom she is met by a crazy old woman who was in her situation (602)! Understandably she left making the monk think she was pregnant and a good thing too I think. What a horrible scene to imagine!

- She talked about different regions and how they were with the opposite sex. She says this of the commoners who live in Edo,"They're honest and straightforward, but they don't feel deep passion and don't know how to express their desire to men or attract them by acting afraid." (596). I found this interesting, as she talks about fear. I debated if this was acting timid to seem shy and submissive to men, or to fear their might and power. Either way, it seems a toxic form of courtship.

- The author defiantly seemed to write this woman as a bit of a cynic in her old age and the start, saying how she could not keep relationships made her seem almost bitter (594). We learn this is not true though.The start off of her reluctance does not so much sway the tone that the beauty of love was not still felt and reverences by all in the tale. "The places in the letters where the men swore by their patron gods that their love for me was true and would never change, those places, he said, didn't burn." (595). In laced the faith of the people with their gods and the love sworn to her by them. It is such a romantic sentiment that I would be lying if I said it didn't bring a smile to my face.

Over all I thought she was a strong female and slightly eccentric. But did indeed lived an exciting life, even if it was not "exemplary" (596).


Saikaku, Ihara " Life of a Sensuous Woman" The Norton Anthology World Literature, Third ed., D, W. W. Norton & Company, 2012, pp. 593-602.

EC Reading Notes, Week 4 - An Overt Refusal

A Modest Proposal - Jonathan Swift pg. 315-320

When First reading, I was interested with what the proposal would be, having no back story on it other than it being fiction. I noticed right away the words used to lead into the proposal were a bit sinister. He calls it a "scheme" early on (315). He calls women "Breeders" many times, but I just assumed that was the language of men at the time. And he is insistent on the children being one year old. I thought that maybe this was to adopt them out to good families after the no longer needed a wet nurse. Well I was right about them being sent to well off families, but wrong about everything else.
In hind sight, I should not have read this in a public space. I gasped and yelled at my friend "He wants to eat babies!". So dignified. Obviously this is literary satire.
At one year the children would be "Plump and fat for a good table." (316).
This tale was horrifying but served a purpose I think. When people complain about things and no one can agree some times it is best to shock everyone with an outrageous situation to bring them back to reality. Such as the case with people on the issues of homelessness and poverty and thieving children who live on the streets. Or disagreeing with a religious faction that is growing in power (317). No one wants these things. But what could be done? So instead of arguing and not accomplishing anything, you say "Well lets just round them up and kill them. Who would miss them?" Then everyone has common ground that this could not happen. Well the same is true with EATING BABIES. Everyone can agree (I pray to god) that eating babies of poor mothers is just as bad if not worse as his own condemning of abortions (315). Yes have the baby and then sell it for meat. No. So rather than complaining about the surplus of poverty stricken families with babies, maybe do something to help them.

Project Planning Week 4 - A sign of the times

- Think about a theme you see running through your life (failure is the best lesson, love is eternal, etc). Choose a reading that you think also discusses this theme (even if it reaches different conclusions about it). Explore connections between how the theme plays out in your life, and how the theme gets played out in the reading.
or 

- Choose a reading. 

In your project, consider the following: 

What does this work reflect about its historical, social, political and/or economic context? You may focus on race, class, power, cultural values and beliefs, historical events, the author’s biography, gender, psychology, etc. 

In my life I see a disconnect from peoples words and their actions. Which leads me to believe that they have no cognition or values to be seen. This overly strict moral standard that I hold myself to, is not reflected in the lives of others. And it is not only frustrating, but heart breaking. We see these conflicts arise in The Song of Ch'un-Hyang and in The Journey to the West. 

Journey to the West : The Monkey King is a (lit device) Allegory for the human mind. His wants and desires are the key to his existence. VS The Song of Ch'un-Hyang where her guide is her virtue and moral reasoning. 

The monkey wants to learn more, but wants to learn for his own selfish reasons. He wants to life forever, and will do what he must to meet this goal. 

The Tale reflects the religious virtues of the time. With the growth of Buddhism, we see that the Monkey king becomes a student of the teaching to reach everlasting life.  

This tale has historic roots but was morphed into a much more thrilling and whimsical tale. Probable to capture the interest of a wider audience and to convey the message of the religious/moral aspect in a non threatening manor. 

The Song of Ch'un-Hyang: Ch'un-Hyang will not bend to others way of thinking, as she believes she is right, in today's world it is much of the same. No one is willing to compromise. However, we see the difference between Ch'un-Hyang and people of today, as she uses logic and reasoning to discuss her beliefs. People today do not tend to be so dignified when they meet a disagreement. 

Ch'un-Hyang came under the era of Confucianism, another sort of religious practice. Although it did not worship a specific god, it did outline the moral teachings of several popular religions of the time. Its foundation was morality and the use or logic and reason.  

This shows the abuse of power and may have been used to say that the ruler of the time was not as bad as the governor that tortures our hero. It could also have been an inspiration to other women who were oppressed to stand up for themselves. As Chinese culture of the time strongly over powered the will of women. Women were expected to submit to all males and authority that was above them. So when our hero stays true to her morals and values, she is punished, but the ripple of individual strength was witnessed and felt by all who could see themselves in her shoes. 

Wikipedia Trail of my Scattered Mind: From Monkey to Song of Songs

Monkey (zodiac)

Based on my Reading of The Journey to the West I wanted to look into one of the main characters. The Monkey is brought up a lot so I looked at the Chinese zodiac for the Monkey (I may be biased because I was born in the year of the monkey). I know that it is my sign but I knew nothing else about it. Turns out that is is the 9th out of the 12 zodiacs. One for each month but there is also one for each year and they rotate. I also did not know that there are different kinds of monkey years! Turns out that There is Water, Earth, Fire, Metal, and Wood monkey years (I'm a water monkey I guess, cool! I love the water!). And I supose that monkey's and Tigers (the year) Are not good companions. But Monkey and Dragon years work well! I would like that to the reading, but most people haven't read that far. And the lucky FLower for the monkey is a Chrysanthemum!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_(zodiac)#Years_and_the_Five_Elements

Chrysanthemum 

The are native to northeastern Europe and Asia. Many Europian nations have cultural significance tied to the Chrysanthemum. They say that the Chrysanthemum symbolizes death. But in the victorian language of flowers there were other meanings "The Chinese Chrysanthemum meant cheerfulness, whereas the red Chrysanthemum stood for I Love, while the yellow Chrysanthemum symbolized slighted love" . So It isn't all bad I suppose. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysanthemum#Cultural_significance_and_symbolism

(Side note The Year of the dragon's lucky flowers are bleeding heart vine and larkspur. Both are beautiful and all of the flowers together would make a lovly bouquet! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_(zodiac))

Language of flowers

I have always been facinated with this idea! Especially since much midevil authors incorporated the language of flowers into their writing (Shakespere in Hamlet with Ophelia). It became popular in victorian england and in the US in the 19th centry but was around even before then. If you have ever heard someone say "If they give you red roses that means something.", this is where that thought stems (Pun absolutly intended). One such interpretation of flowers is "For example, the mimosa, or sensitive plant, represents chastity. This is because the leaves of the mimosa close at night, or when touched." which is quite the assumption if you think about it. The use of flowers to convey meaning is also found in the bible, and even red thorned roses are a symbol of Jesus (and passionate love).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_of_flowers 

Song of Songs

Is a book in the bible, or you can think of it as a chapter if you dont know about the bible. But the Bible is a lot like our text book, many stories from many authors thoughout a related period of time. I have gone to church for a while but never heard of Song of Songs refered to as the "Fifth book of wisdom". Even my pastor says the whole thing is a love letter. So I learned something new! The book is an alegory for the love God has for the Church. It gets a bit sexual from what I have heard since it reffers to the chirch as a "Bride" but I haven't read it all myself.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_of_Songs

Week 4 Literary Analysis: Wu Cheng’en - The Journey to the West Chapter 1 (A Close Reading)

The Monkey King is the representation of human condition and mind.

I think it is important to note that though this tale has historic roots (421), it has come a far way from being a historical document. It is more like fan fiction cake that is covered in thick icing of metaphor and symbolism . 

The Mountain of Mind and Heart (433) And Monkey King's interaction with the Woodcutter seems again to circle around values. The Monkey has no faith, religion, he only plays and looks out for what he wants. This seems to be the ever ending struggle. He gets one thing he wants and then moves to the next, his selfishness knows no bounds. Even as light hearted as he is. 

The woodcutter says to the Monkey King in response to the idea that he should also go to learn from the immortal  - "If I go with you, won't I be neglecting my livelihood? And who will take care of my mother? I must chop my firewood. You go on by yourself!" (433). In this interaction we can almost see a mirror being held up to Monkey King. He left on this journey, leaving his family of Monkey's that he is ruler of. And he neglects what has become his life's charge. Monkey becomes board of this, yet still wants to live forever. 

This interaction also shows a lesson of life. What matters to one may not matter to all. Monkey King wants to find never ending life, the woodcutter longs to take care of his family and earn an honest living. This can be ratable even now. Many people long for a life that is plain and they want every day to look the same with no variation. The life for the routine. Others want a life of change. Always learning something new, moving, trying new jobs, wanting to earn more. Everyday is bigger and better than the last. But these life styles are not uniform. Nor should they be. Because every individual life makes society functional as we know it. 

 Monkey King is much like a child's mind. His 400 years in seclusion offered little mind growth and once he begins his quest he starts to learn to navigate his world. one of his statements shows his innocents, "People here are truly honest." When finding that the mountain and cave he was told of really were where expected. He knew of childish games of monkeys but not of human nature. Let alone the nature of the Gods. He does not know what is truly right an wrong. He steals clothes (430), and feels no remorse for robing someone else. He is very self centered like a toddler. Monkey King States that his "... life's without ill temper." bot how can this be true when he mourned for his mortality? Is that not an ill temper?  

When the Monkey King sees humans he wonders why the humans seek profit and fame rather than immortality (430). I chose this because I feel that the text is an example as to why the humans would seek fame, as it is a kind of immortality. The name of the author has survived the ages. Thus preserving his thoughts, feelings, and ideas, and what are we really but those things? Our flesh will rot but the things that make us who we are will last. 

What is obvious to me about the text, is that The Monkey King and the whole tale is an allegory for the human mind. The monkey moves quickly from one emotion to the next and often changes his mind rapidly and at whim to what will benefit him. This is human nature (or some would say) if left unchecked. He also struggles with the idea of mortality just as we all do. He also grapples with taking care of generations we will never see "Seeking wealth and power to give sons of sons," (421). 

 I was a bit bored by the long poem of the monkey feast for the king. Though I did enjoy the incorporation of the royal colors of red and yellow (429). I also liked that the King asked for help when he needed it from the woodsman (433). this showed that he could be humble and was able to open his mind to new information. 

Lawall, Sarah N., and Maynard Mack. The Norton anthology of world literature. beginnings to A.D. 100. Norton, 2002.

Weekly Reading Notes (B) Week 4 - Monkey In the West

Wu Cheng’en - The Journey to the West

Chapter 1

-Why a monkey? What wisdom and what image is the author conveying?

-The Stone? A money born from a stone. He is immortal but the Gods did not make him so, who made the Money? The Jade king didn’t, who is the ruler of heaven, so who placed the stone to be born? How can a Mountain get pregnant “...with a divine embryo.” (424)? With a stone egg that hatches a monkey…. What?

-The monkey is not the main protagonist of this tale, but he is mentioned for a great portion. He is obviously a key player in this tale. So who open with his life and story and spend so much time on who he is?

-“Never fearing Yama’s call to reckoning.” (431) he fears death but humans do not. He lacks something that mortals have while seeking immortality. Too proud to stop and learn how he may better himself from the lower living.

-“This tyrant of early rising and retiring late?” (430)

- What is the meaning of life with no death? Why live and not work? Or have a goal to accomplish something, better oneself, better the world? Why be an idol stagnant god? Where is the urgency and beauty of now when you have forever?

- He is said to be 400~ years old at one point, why the sudden obsession with youth? He still seems pretty young to me. And most people do not live that long, let alone monkeys.

- “... and live as long as Heaven and Earth, the mountains and the streams.” (429) - the monkey king. He is made of and from the mountains! So he is already immortal, so why is he worried? Silly Monkey.

- The use of Red and Yellow, Royal and rich color, very dynamic and interesting (429)

Weekly Review Week 3 : The Struggle is Real

• 
  
  • Your reading for this week. 
  • Your best writing for this week. 
  • Other people's writing.
  • Your other classes.
  • Next week.
  
  
  
  
  I enjoyed reading about Alexander Pope and his essay on man. I loved the flow and style and the overall honesty of it all. I also loved The Song of Ch'un-Hyang. I found it haunting and beautiful. The descriptive language and the will of Ch'un-Hyang as a woman who has been kept in solitude for most of her life.
  
  
  
  
  I think my best writing was for my other english class that I am taking. It has been a lot easier for me to keep up with as far as knowing what/how to do assignments since the guidelines are very clear and easy to find for reference. Even though the topics are much more difficult for me to understand, I feel less overwhelmed due to the full knowledge of how to navigate my class. 
  
  
  
  
  Enjoyed Caeli's blog posts and her way of relating to the literature in the class. I find it lovely that she can find beauty in so much of the less noticeable aspects of the writings. 
  
  
  
  
  My other classes are a bit stressful with all of my big assignments happening all at once. There aren't really any connections to this class and my other classes. Although I am in a human sexuality class and I do find the aspects to the desires of the heart more interesting now that I have a more firm understanding of it. 
  
  
  
  
  I really would like to get ahead in this class as I will be gone next weekend. I will be working as a winter camp counselor in the middle of nowhere. As there will be no internet or cellular service I have to have my work done . I also want to better figure out how to navigate this website since I cannot seem to find what I need. It has been rather frustrating. Though I love the literature and the laidback style of the course, I feel an unbearable amount of stress when I cannot find the pages I need. I am not at all they tech savvy millennial people assume we all are. 
  
  
  
  
  
  

Reading Notes Week 4 (A) : The Life and Works of Voltaire + Candide

Voltaire (Francois-Marie Arouet) 1694-1778

- Voltaire was in prison or exile for a good portion of his life (352). However, this never seemed to detour his passions for seeking and expressing truth in the form he chose, writing. Voltaire saw the world and its many forms of laws and justices, and even cruelty. He lived to be eighty-three years old and produced "... enough work to fill 135 volumes," (353). He did not stick to only one style of writing or even story telling. He wrote plays or drama and humor, epics and events of history, even dabbling in journalism. 

- He was an influence to the French Revolution leaders and even our own founding fathers (353). His ideals and principals helped to form and shape the constitution we live by today (354). Some of these ideas are what caused Voltaire so much trouble in his life. He fought for freedom of speech and the idea that church and state should be separate. As he often regarded religion and its followers hypocritical (354). 

- His idea of utopia and someone being willing to leave it may signify hope. A hope that someone could try and emulate that perfection for the collective man. (354) 

- Voltaire was called the Antichrist like many a great man (and not so great) throughout history (355) .

- "... and everything was confusion in the most beautiful and agreeable of all possible castles." (356) 

Looks can be deceiving. Even the most perfect religion with the most perfect gods have their faults. 

-Candide .... Candid.... coincidence? I think not. 

- "... men were made only to render one another mutual aid." (357) 

If only it were so thought universally. 

- Candide was very optimistic and thought that everything was for the best as per Dr. Pangloss' teachings. 

- Will for Human rights and freedoms illustrated (357- 358) Violence to those who would impose their freedoms. 

Take Stock Week 2

I completed my Back Up and Checked my course work. I looked into the past announcements and believe I have completed everything.

Wikipedia Trail: Week 3 - Confucianism

Confucianism

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucianism

I found that another word for Confucianism is Ruism. And was also called the "Hundred Schools of Thought". It began to be integrated into the Chinese teachings in 551–479 BCE. It was a competition between Buddhism and Confucianism. Though both were similar, Confucianism did not focus around the worship of a god and emphasized the role of moral thinking and relationships of family. 

Chinese philosophy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_philosophy

 Many different kinds of philosophy can be found in the Yi Jing (the Book of Changes). Chinese Philosophy changed many times over the centuries and are each regarded for their different out looks an ideals on the many aspects of life. The philosophies seem to change with each new dynasty and ruler. This I can not say is a correlation or causation but it is interesting to note. Especially since Confucianism remained popular throughout the ages after its creation. 

Shang dynasty

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang_dynasty

This Shang Dynasty was all about and based on cycles. "This notion stems from what the people of the Shang Dynasty could observe around them" The day to night, the seasons, the moon cycles. There is also the circle of life. And the circle is a symbol of unity and togetherness (family). Round tables, so you can see everyone while you eat, round bowls to hold your food that brings you health. One thing that I did not know and found interesting was that "The Shang dynasty is the earliest dynasty of traditional Chinese history supported by archaeological evidence" . 

Written Chinese

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Written_Chinese

Chinese characters have six key principles that form their structure. 

1.   象形 xiàngxíng: Pictographs

2.   指事 zhǐshì: Indicatives, or ideographs

3.   會意/会意 huìyì: Logical aggregates

4.   形聲/形声 xíngshēng: Phonetic complexes

5.   轉注/转注 zhuǎnzhù: Transference

6.   假借 jiǎjiè: Borrowing

The strokes of the brush to make these complex shapes takes much skill and practice. And the way you read the characters is from right to left, not the European standard left to right. 

I find the time and care it takes to form these structures beautiful and enjoyable to read about. It seems very calming to watch people use their brush and make such flowing and exact shapes. 

Topic Research: Project 2000 Words (Eeek)

I am debating between these two prompts at the moment. Both are similar in the sense that I would like to write about The Song of Ch'un-Hyang

- Think about a theme you see running through your life (failure is the best lesson, love is eternal, etc). Choose a reading that you think also discusses this theme (even if it reaches different conclusions about it). Explore connections between how the theme plays out in your life, and how the theme gets played out in the reading.

- Choose a reading selection. Explore the relationship between elements of the selection. For example: how does setting influence character development?  

Ch'un-Hyang values virtue and loyalty above all else. 

This lead me to inquire about her belief in teachings which were those of Confucius. I discovered this academic paper on the development of china and its teachings of Confucianism.

https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1132765.pdf

The setting of the tale is during this shift of value and dichotomy between the common people, the economic and influential positions of power. 

Jiangang Zhu writes "The dominant ideology surrounding the common good in Imperial China was the Confucian concept of “ren” as a supreme moral virtue (“de”) that is inherent in humanity, yet requiring cultivation throughout one’s lifetime (Tsu 1912: 16). Both Confucius and Mencius see ren as “to love all men”, which is a distinguishing character of a noble and superior human being (8)." 

I find this true in my own life, as I think that people are good natured, and that evil or badness is not born but is made. But life is messy and there is bad that is made, and that bad can create more. It is like ripples in the water, always growing. What I love about this Ideology is that we can learn to have more ren, and grow as better people throughout our life time. 

We see this ripple of immorality being challenged by our hero Ch'un-Hyang, when she will not submit to becoming one of the governors mistresses. She uses her moral reasoning and virtue to protect her marriage. She stands example to those who witness her mistreatment to stand fast in her belief. She also does not cure the man causing her pain or the ones executing their orders. She is the perfect example of a "superior human being".

Again this resonates with me as I have been challenged for my morality my whole life. I don't smoke, do not touch drugs, have a faith in my God, and have been with one man my entire life. I am challenged for this constantly. I am mocked for my faith,, I am called a square and people assume I am not fun (joke is on them). I have had men try to take me away from my husband to show me "what else is out there". I gladly refuse. 

This is hardly a comparison to what Ch'un-Hyang goes though. She is humiliated, abused, and tortured. But her strength to stand and die by what she feels is right is only what I could hope to be.