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.