Block+C+Journal+Corie+Hahn

=**Corie Hahn's Journals ** = **Total Number of Journals:** 13 Asian Studies 10C

 __**Feb.19.09.**__ 

First off, I thought that this packet Confucianism and women have very valid information. For example, I never knew that in 1932, Korea became and made a conscious effort that they would be a Confucian country and it was under the change of dynasties. Next, it was sort of predictable that it was under a patriarchal society because other societies in history had been patriarchal and male dominated, and thus, I do not see an extreme significance of the changes of gender roles. I believe that the women of Confucianism had a lot to offer, and had made numerous contributions to society and to this religion for example, it had been proven that some of the women in Confucianism helped the advisers decide what they were going to do with the society, and therefore, I believe that these was the things in which I thought that stood up for me and I thought that the "shift" from Confucianism was exaggerated and over excessed with words.  __**Feb.23.09.**__

In my opinion, Piglet and Pooh represents Taoism. In the book, they are generally innocent and they bring off a certain atmosphere and vibe. They always have the curiosity that they want to know more about life, which causes them to become more innocent and still smart at the same time. Since Owl represents the brain of the group and Rabbit is too smart for his own good and symbolizes for Confucians, and therefore, creating a new knowledge that the piglet and pooh represents something of Taoism and the Taoists that come along with these contrasting philosophies. Moreover, we can definitely say that the piglet and pooh signify Taoism and when we are talking about in a more broader term, I believe that they are all neutral (Piglet and Pooh) in their own innocent way, and thus, they can not be any type of side which I find is contradicting Hoff's first major points, however, it does make sense if you think about it.

__**Feb.27.09: The Tao says that the ruler should "rule by inaction" How do you make sense of this? Is it at all possible?**__

I take this as that the ruler should not always try to take control of everything because if they do, then the empire will eventually fall as it states in the Taoism ppt. that the empire would eventually fall naturally and slowly if the ruler tries to take control of everything. Furthermore, it states that in the book, some things have its own purposes and if you analyze way too much then it will lose its purpose and the function will not work anymore. This goes with the empire and the way that Taoists live life. They believe in naturalism in that there are things that are happening naturally. It is not possible because once you have power or once you reach the top, you want to control everything around you and you don't want to lose power so you restrain the grip tighter on the empire, and in the end, it will eventually fall. I take this as even if you rule by inaction or gripping on too tightly, the empire will fall either way so there's no pure solution to each society because every society is different. Moreover, there is no such thing as a ruler being able to rule by inaction because as humans, we tend to be selfish and greedy and look out for ourselves only and therefore, it can be concluded that there can never be a ruler rule by inaction.

__**March.11.09.: Explain what right mindfulness and right concentration is. Do you see you can apply this to your daily life? Why or why not?**__ 

Right mindfulness is about being aware of oneself and focused on what is going on at each particular moment and it also involves clarity and precision.Right concentration is about focusing on objects or concepts as part of meditation to develop further personally and that we must be completely absorbed with the present instead of the past or future and accepting the things that they are. I could see myself applying these elements to my daily life because I usually concentrate on what is present within me. However, in another sense-- I could not use this practically because living in a society so rushed, I always have to look to the future in determining each decision in my life (mainly school) to be able to survive. I think societies in general must always look at the future to prevent corruption and detrimental effects which harm the society internally as well as externally and therefore, it is not something practical. 

__**April.1.09.:**__ __**<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">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.**__

The historical context behind this quote lies behind the idea that the British Professor thought that he was old by the end of the century and therefore, proposing the rise of Japanese development was extremely rapid when it comes to technology and the way they progressed was extremely speedy and a lot more efficient than the European powers. He is trying to point out how when it should have taken them 400 years, they took a much less time in creating and establishing the developments of technology and other useful factors that might contribute to the quick and rapid pace of Japanese development. All in all, the historical context behind this quote is basically saying that the British professor is stating how Japan took a much more rapid pace when it took the European powers a lot more time to get it established and spread throughout the society.

__**April.6.09. Japan had to Westernize or be destroyed.**__

Based on my background reading, Japan had to westernize or they would have been technologically behind. For example, when Commodore Matthew Perry came with a steam boat, Japan realized how they were behind in terms of where their technology and their way of resources stood and therefore, if they didn't westernize or turn to imperialism and industrialism for help, then Japan would have been behind and been taken over anyway. In these terms, I would take it as the destroyed to be as imperialism because people would have taken over their land anyway, and therefore, creating a destruction for the society. Furthermore, Japan would have had to westernize or else they would have been destroyed and some of the events that I have stated above proves the thesis above.

__<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**April.13.09. What do you find most shocking about what you have read so far? How do make sense of such cruelty?** __

The most shocking thing for me would have to the number of ratio and the number of causalities there has been in the Rape Of Nanking. Although Hitler and Stalin's massacres were brutally huge in terms of size, they took many years to get the job done. However, in the Rape Of Nanking, it took just a total amount of 6 years. As far as I am concerned, how I make sense of this cruelty is the basic knowledge in which there were World Wars going on around in the world and people had better technology and when you have a society that is set on total warfare, your whole society is built on war. For example, the economy, the social system, and etc. So therefore, total warfare would make sense of such cruelty but not justify it. Furthermore and all in all, the number of casualties in such a small amount of time would have to be the most shocking and total warfare and the constant building of the war and militarism would have to be the sense of where the cruelty stands.

__**April.28th.2009: Which would be more safer? To be on the Communist Party or the Non-Communist Party?**__

From the events showed in the homework, I would allow myself to say that the non-communist party would be a lot more safer in Korea. Although there were fear of being turned in for being non communism, the aftermath of the effects shown in Korea would have to say the non-communist party would be a lot more cautious and safer in Korea. Since it is Korea in general, I would have to say that the non-communist party would be the way to go because according to the packet, the South Korean army was a lot more effective and since the majority was in the non-communist party, I would have to say that the safer party would be the non-communist. Although there were travesties on both sides as there are in all wars and occupations being held in one area or country, the non-communist party would be a lot more safer.

__**April.30st.2009: Do the countries have the right to intervene after the war?**__

After the war, I do believe that the countries that were part of the war do have the right to intervene because to gather allies, this is a tactic that one country must use in order to gain mutual support from other countries which will be beneficial for that country in the end. For example, after World War 2, the United States intervene to Russia to help them for many reasons why their economic downfall occurred so they sent troops and economic aid to support them because in terms of the population and the number of causalities, Russians were lost at the most rate in the number of deaths. And there was also the interest rate where Russia had to pay more because they borrowed the money and so United States became more richer in the end, therefore, this is one of the minor reasons why the United States was able to become so powerful in such a short amount of time-- because of their aid and idealogies pushed forth into different countries, they became one of the top global powers of the world.

__**May.8.09: What is the significance of the title, Shattered Faith? How does it relate to the story?**__

Obviou <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">sly, <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">during this time period, there were the clash against the North and South Koreans and that caused some of the faith to be destroyed during this time period. For example, during Hongyoong's life and journey throughout the war, anyone she associated with even though she wasn't directly with the other party, she would have to go to prison for several months and that lost faith in her government. The war brought out multiple shattered faiths because people during this time really didn't know who to rely on anymore for help. There were betrayal everywhere and it was hard to keep track sometimes. Furthermore, this relates to the story because the Shattered faith that brought out certain faith that was broken due to the lack of faith brought out about the war and the country during this time period. All in all, the significance of this title and how it relates to the story was that there was a lack of trust throughout the war to the point where people didn't know who to trust anymore during this time period.

__**May.26.09: Describe the picture? Who is the subject? How is it portrayed?**__

The subject is Mao Ze Dong and the picture shows different types of colors and we see mother nature in this picture and he is on top, meaning that he is the principal leader. Also, it is a propaganda that Mao Ze Dong is holding the red and he is looking very heavenly and good in terms of what he really should look like. Also, he is holding a scroll to emphasize the importance of education and it shows how he is the center of the universe as there are nature and different types of nature to show that Mao Ze Dong was the one true principal leader and that he was above all and was looking out for the best of everyone in China's interests.

__**June 2nd, 2009: Images from the Cultural Revolution; The reactions (The cultural revolution, what the picture tells you about the four olds)**__

It tells us that the people who went against Mao's beliefs were publicly humiliated and they were forced into some practices which gave them shame and humiliation which ultimately, would negate their characters. If there were any person that went AGAINST the Cultural Revolution, they were beaten and publicly harmed severely and even burned therefore, for example, Buddhas were tied and being burned therefore, it went against the four olds and it tells us that the pictures emphasizes the negativity against the Four olds (Religion). These pictures show the degradation of the four olds. They had to carry Daibozyous and this shows again, that they were against the four olds and people were constantly being tortured and publicly humiliated in these pictures.

__**June 3rd, 2009<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">: **____**1) When was this document written and by whom? 2) According to the document, who was largely to blame for the excesses and mistakes of the Cultural Revolution? 3) What errors does the CCP believe Mao was responsible for? 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? 5) What does the CCP believe the consequences of the Cultural Revolution are? (4 of them) each person in your group read one, and explain it to others 6) Why do you think the document mentions achievements made by China during the Cultural Revolution? 7) Describe the tone at the end of the document. Why do you think it ends this way?**__

1) Chinese Communist Party and June 27, 1981. 2) According to the document, Lin Biao, Ging Shing and they are blamed for taking the crimes for Mao Ze Dong. The criticism of the document was based and responsible for the most severe setback and the heaviest losses suffered by the Party, the state, and the people since the founding of the People's republic and there were many setbacks. 3) The errors that the CCP believe that Mao was responsible for was that he was actually negating the correct principles, policies, and achievements after the foundings of the People's republic and negated the work of the Central Committee of the Party and People's government. And also one of the errors was that he placed Lin Biao and the people in power in one of the most important positions which could see behind his back. Also it shows that Mao Ze Dong negated some of the prove that the correct principles were wrong. It proved false theories he pushed forth in China. It went against all the principles of the original Cultural Revolution which is the hypocrtical aspect of the Cultural Revolution. 4) The person which seems the most responsible according to the document was the people that were trying to reach for the Cultural Revolution which are the Mao officials rather than Mao himself. 5) They thought that the Communist Party that was responsible for negating some of the 'correct' principles and traditions that were already established in China and that they were trying to build the 'correct' Socialists. 6) The document mentions achievements made by China because they still praise the Cultural Revolution and it seems to be still praising Mao Ze Dong and what he did and trying to justify his actions. A sense of nationalism was brought on by the end of the document. 7) The tone of the document and the point of view definitely exemplifies a sort of justification for Mao Ze Dong and for the actions being pushed forth in China and it seemed to be still praising Mao Ze Dong in a sensible way.