Block+A+Journal+Sun+YoungP

2/19 Q. Please take a couple of minutes to respond to the reading. What stood out for you? What do you think of it, is it exaggerated? A. Neither of much freedom or nor woman's rights were given in Korea, even before the Confucianism was applied in the country. Thus, this proves that the reading is a bit exaggerated. Nonetheless, I agree with the author's opinion about how Confucianism was applied in "extreme" by the Koreans. For example, this idea can be seen in the huge and intense oppression of Korean women and their rights.

2/23 Q. If Rabbit is too smart for his own good, owl is the brain, and piglet…pooh…? A. In my opinion, Piglet is a character that thinks deeply about certain topics and question them constantly. Thus, he represents a person who is "interested" in these religions of "Confucianism", "Taoism" and so on. On the other hand, Pooh definitely represents a Taoist. This is because he, himself, is just naturally a symbol of the "Uncarved Block", which is an important element in Taoism.

 2/26 Q. The Tao says that the ruler should "rule by inaction" How do you make sense of this? Is it at all possible? A. The ruler ruling by inaction, is exactly what Taoists wanted him to do. This was because they believed in the natural order, in which a ruler is resorting to no action, is a "delicate balance and the least interference could upset the balance and lead to disorder." This idea can also be seen in the chapter of "the Pooh Way" in the book of //the Tao of Pooh,// where it explains the idea of //Wu Wei//. This principle is about letting things to work on their way, without interfering them, for they would naturally bring the results in a "perfectly" well-done manner.

3/11 Q. Explain right mindfulness and right concentration. Do you see how you could apply this to your daily life? Why or why not? A. Right mindfulnesss is about being aware of oneself and focused on what is going on at each particular moment; It involves clarity and precision. We are mindful of the tiniest details of our experience, and the way we talk, perform, behave etc. Right concentration is about focusing on objects or concepts as part of meditation to develop further personally; We are to be completely absorbed in "nowness", in things as they are. Through discipline, such as meditation, it cuts through our absentmindedness, which is a mingled sorts of entertainment and speculations. We could apply these two in our daily lives, because first of all, Buddhism, itself, means "a way of life". Focusing by meditation and being aware of what we do in every moment, even right now, can be advantageous, in that we will make less mistakes.

4/1   Q. In describing Japanese development, a British Professor in 1873 declared that he felt 400 years old by the end of the century. Explain the historical context behind this quote. A. Probably, the reason why the British Professor proposed about how he felt 400 years old by the end of the century during the rising of Japanese development, for after a century later, Japan built itself to a real, modernized nation, which could stay equally, along with the Western countries. Japan, really, rapidly reformed itself into something that could have been done after developing for 400 years. Thus, since Japan succeeded in changing itself that could have been done after 400 years, it was right and understandable for the professor to say that he felt like 400 years old.

4/3 Q. Analyze the quote from the New York Times that was wrote on April 5th, 1872. A. "The question is not unfrequently asked..., is not Japan going ahead too fast? In some respects we fear she is." This quote is really meaning this: "The question is frequently asked...isn't Japan developing in really rapid speed? I'm afraid, this is true." I believe that the editor of the New York Times is in fear, for fast development also means fast "break down" of the country. Moreover, many people would go "against" the idea of this fast changing state of Japan into a "westernized" country. Furthermore, because of the "rapid speed" that the country had to keep up with, force and violence were used to just crush those "anti-change" people down. In fact, this happened in reality during sometime in 1877, when a rebellion, led by a samurai class, had occured. Due to this event, 6000 government troops had died.

4/10 Q. What do you find most shocking about what you have read so far? How do make sense of such cruelty? A. So far, I can tell you that this book is just the most sadistic and cruelest book that I have ever read in my life. Well, the book mostly talked about how the Japanese killed and raped poor Chinese people, who were living in Nanking region. Beheading and shooting Chinese people without a reason, as well as having no "mercy" toward the Chinese, was just so appalling. However, these information were just familiar to me, in that this Nanking incident was exactly what had happened to Korea, during the Japanese imperialism. Like, those of Nanking people, Koreans were raped, attacked and beheaded for no reason; except the fact that they were just "animals" or "insects". Moreover, they had an intense racism toward the Koreans as well. Anyway, back to the Nanking incident, I believe that these Japanese soldiers were able to perform these actions, for they believed and learned on thing that was extremely important, I guess: "Loyalty is heavier than a mountain, and our life is lighter than a feather." Thus, this leads to a fact that these Chinese people are not important, for the Japanese soldiers, themselves, were un-important, when comparing themselves with their empire/country. Thus, it was not "sad" nor "cruel" for them to kill the Chinese people. Well, this idea was what they had in "fixed" position, in their minds. This was why they were able to perform such cruelties.

 **__4/30__ Do countries have an obligation to compensate each other for injustices done in time of war?** Although I believe that it is right for the countries to compensate for the injustices that have been done during the war in a moral sense, I do not think that the countries must compensate for what had been done. Really, what was done was just done. Nobody can change back the past or the history. Although it is unfortunate, that is the reality. Moreover, although solutions or apologies were done by the countries, the victims or their families would always be dissatisfied with them. This is exactly what happened to the No Gun Ri issue, where the former President Clinton apologized about the incident and gave scholarships and built memorial statue there, to remember the dead, and this, obviously, was not fully satisfying to the Koreans.

__05/07/09__ What did the U.S. have to consider in regards to China and the Yalu River? - In regards to China and the Yalu River, U.S. had to consider the fact on whether China was going to march to the Yalu or not. Some said that it was impossible for the Chinese to intervene the war, for feeling "threatened" by a freely uniting peninsula of Korea was just incredible. On the other hand, others proposed that China would intervene them if U.S. was going to keep provoking them.

According to the reading, what was the reason China entered the war? - According to the reading, the reason why China entered the war was to help the Koreans, for they helped China in several wars in the past as well. For example, Koreans participated in the Chinese civil war, war of liberation, Northern expedidtion 1925 - 1927, land reform war 1927 - 1937, and anti-Japanese war 1937-1945. Thus, China wanted its army to be recognized as a "volunteer army".

What effect did it have on the US, ROK, and UN troops? - The Chinese army entering the war affected the troops drastically. It helped the Reds and moved the US and UN troop forces to move down again. The US and UN troops retreated and retreated until in the end, all troops to come up with the solution of having 38th parallel, where Korea was divided into two: North Korea and South Korea.

06/02/09 __Changes of Summer During 1966 (7B)__ - No date, but perhaps around 1966 - Written by anonymous correspondent, who was writing for Far Eastern Economic review - Wrote the document to describe the 1st few weeks of Cultural Revolution that happened in Shanghai - The revolution started in indoors (ex. school, companies etc.) - Mostly students and workers in the CR. - Between August 10 through 21st, revolution started to happen more outdoors. It was mostly processions. (People were holding portraits of Mao, national flags) - Put up red posters for anti-revolutionists - When put those posters on that shops, then the stores are doomed; nobody goes there anymore - No one can put down the posters - the doors are sealed with posters, until the Red guards' demands were met - Supporters of red guards, anti-revisionists, red flag, anti-imperialism, imperialists became popular, because they were the ones who supported Mao and CR.

- As time passed, people became more aggressive, and sort of act against more.
 * Posters of Mao had a big role in CR

- The effect: emphasize cult of personality. - Written for businessman, foreigners who are dealing with China. - Significance: tells the readers what CR was like in the beginning, explains what people used to change the mind of anti-revolutionists, and tells what kind of business people were popular.

__16 Points (7C)__ - Central committee of the party in the People's day league, August 9, 1966 (adopted in 1966) - Purpose: to discourage the resistance, support the Leftists people of China - How resistance comes from capitalists (all the capitalists are bad, old habits are bad) - People should be aware of calling themselves as counter-revolutionaries. (you should be really be aware of them, because they are bad; no measures taken against students; be aware of hurting the students, because they are important) - Education is important in CR (people should learn about farming, military, criticize the middle class -> the class who supported the old habits ) - effect; people should be aware of counterrevolutionaries. - significance: basically tells about how one should act against the counter revolutionaries, and be on guard.

__Red Guards Smash the Four Olds (7E)__ - paragraph from an article -> written by the Red Guards at Beijing #26 middle school. - Great proletarian cultural revolution - Wash away all the four olds - Mao's thoughts will bring out a new China in the world. - Gives 6 excerpts of the 100 ways to destroy the old China 1) Every house in community must have Mao's picture, and quotes 2) Everyone must have a little copy of the little Red Guard book 3) Everyone must carry it and must study it all the time. 4) Children must sing the revolutionary songs, so they can't sing the folk tales songs anymore. - Effects: It might maybe surprise the readers, may make the readers to think that these are really commanding, and forceful - Importance: How people would think Mao could lead CR and change China

__Burning Books (7F)__ - Writer: a daughter (student) of Black Gang -> the label given to bourgeoisie. - No date; perhaps during the 1966 (the CR) - The Red Guards came to her school and burned books that spread feudalists, capitalists, and revisionists' ideas. - Attacked the authority figures of the school, including teachers, school party branch secretary. - The Red Guards tortured them with belts (slashing) - Forced them to stand at the edge of the fire with their bodies bent to the fire. - "Tried in the raging flame of the CR". - Saw one teacher being slashed by the Red Guards, and as a daughter of Black Gang, she couldn't do anything about it. - Black Gangs were enemies of the revolution. - effect: caused to see skepticism in the Red Guards - significance: Chinese only had restricted media, because others that may support the anti-communism, were cut off.

06/05/09 __Questions on Reflection on the Cultural Revolution__

1) When was this document written and by whom? - Written by the CCP, June 27, 1981 (4yrs after the CR), from the document 'Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party Since the Founding of the People's Republic of China."

2) According to the document, who was largely to blame for the excess and mistakes of the CR? - The document condemns the Cultural Revolution as well as the Gang of Four. To be more specific, Lin Biao, and Jiang Qing were blamed hugely for their "mistakes" that they had caused in the Cultural Revolution.

3) What errors does the CCP believe Mao was responsible in? - He gave wrong people power; Mao placed Lin Biao and Jiang Qing in unacceptably high positions. They used this power to do bad things behind Mao's back, which was absolutely unacceptable. The other error that Mao had committed was that his revolution did not fit for the China. To be more specific, his ideas for initiating this revolution did not meet the reality of the country nor the Marxism-Leninism.

4) Who seems most responsible according to the document? How does this play into the memory of Mao as a leader and his Cult of Personality? - The two leaders, Lin Biao and Jiang Qing, were considered as those who were most responsible, according to the document. This is because of the fact that the document directly attacks and blames both of these two leaders for everything that had occurred as consequences of the revolution. However, as a leader and with his Cult of Personality, Mao is still considered as a good leader. Because he is Mao, it is believed that he cannot make mistakes.

5) What are the CCP's criticisms of the Cultural Revolution are? There are 4 factors that the CCP believe in, where the consequences of the revolution exist. The first one was about the revolution did not have the specific rights and wrong, and therefore people could persecute anyone they liked. Some people were considered as revisionists, but in truth, they were not. The second one was about the confusion of enemy. Lian Biao and Jian Qing were once leaders, but all of sudden, they were considered as enemies. Thus, the confusion had erupt. The intellectuals were wrongly accused and were attacked, muddling up the distinction between the people and the enemy. The third one was about how the revolution was directly relying on the mass - causing a chaos. The Party was absolutely paralyzed and went on hold, and many activists and other masses of people that the Party depended on were rejected. Thus, everything was in chaos. The fourth one was about how the revolution did not change anything in terms of successes. The party, people political power, military and the Chinese society remained unchanged. Since it is unchanged, people thus think that their Party and socialist system are both strong.

6) Why do you think the document mentions achievements made by China during the Cultural Revolution? - The achievement that the document talked about was how China was able to crush the anti-revolutionists in the end. Moreover, the production went up, the Party and the socialist system did not change as well, listing on more achievements that China had accomplished. The significance of mentioning about these achievements is that it shows Chinese nationalism, and their prides toward their country.

7) Describe the tone at the end of the document. Why do you think it ends this way? - The tone of the document ends in a bright way, by listing on the achievements that the China had accomplished on. This ends like this, because of Chinese nationalism as well as to gain many supports from all Chinese citizens.