Block+C+Journal+Albert+Joo

During the Women and Confucianism reading, the quotes of the “captive” women really stood out to me. I was surprised that they were kept indoors so long and really wanted to find out what they thought about the Confucian law. It gave me a first person perspective at what the sudden change felt like for those that were affected. Women spoke of how they felt like dolls instead of the humans that they were. Also, it stood out to me how drastically women’s rights were eroded. However, I feel like the modern perspective towards women was greatly exaggerated. Women now are treated almost equally, if not completely equally by the society. They have freedom to move, interact, and work as they please. I feel like the reading exaggerated their current captivity.

If Rabbit is too smart for his own good, Owl is the brain, and Piglet...Pooh?

I think both Piglet and Pooh represent the Taoist principle of un-carved blocks. We see that throughout the book, although they say some silly-sounding things, in reality, they are correct if one looks deep enough. When Piglet says that the day of the week is "today", we see the principles of the un-carved block in motion. However, the difference between Piglet and Pooh is the way they use their simplicity. Pooh uses it to lead others, leading Piglet and Pooh back home. However, Piglet seems to be less confident about his ability and tends to cower when put up to the wise and smart.

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

Although the Tao principle can be very helpful and useful on a personal level, I don't think that a ruler can rule by inaction. Since a ruler has responsibility over a large group of people, his principles must slightly change from those who only have their personal problems to worry about. If a ruler were to lay back and watch things happen, others would choose to interfere and disrupt the natural order. Eventually, the people will act as if there is no ruler and there will be no power to regulate them. Instead, I think that instead, the ruler should only act when he needs to versus at every chance. As in all things, the principle of acting with inaction needs to be moderate.

Explain right mindfulness and right concentration. Do you see how you could apply this to your daily life? Why or why not?

In the eightfold path, right mindfulness is being aware of everything that one does while right concentration means being absorbed only in the here and now. While following these two parts of the path may be extremely difficult in today's society, it could greatly simplify our lives. We often worry too much about other things going on the in the past or the future to focus on the here and now. I believe that it's more important to do best in what we do now in order to succeed in the future. We live today in a society that is obsessed with multitasking to save time. However, if we do one thing at a time, focusing on the present details, I think that our accomplishments would come out more successful. It just requires discipline, and according to Buddha, meditation. Therefore, if one can calm down and not worry about the future, I believe that they can focus thoroughly on the present.

4/1 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.

I think this quote was said to explain the incredibly fast and sudden modernization of Japan. Japan had been a feudalist country but after changing their government, many other reforms began to take place. Their industry, education, government, and technology all changed drastically during this time. Therefore, if one came into Japan from an outside country, they would see changes take place that would normally take a long time. However, due to Japan's assimilation of Western cultures combined with their own tradition, Japan was able to modernize its society in an incredibly short amount of time.

Japan had to Westernize or be destroyed

During this time in history, Japan was surrounded by foreign civilizations on all sides. Like most other Asian countries, they had to face the influence of Western nations. However, to prevent war or destruction, Japan decided to adapt to Western ways to further their society. They assimilated ideas of Western education and government to modernize their society. This resulted in a rapid growth and reformation of Japanese ways. For example, under the Western-style modernization, Japan's class system was basically abolished, leaving everyone with an equal opportunity for success. If Japan had decided instead to resist the influences of Western cultures, they would have quickly been looked down upon by Western nations, eventually being taken over. Furthermore, their old style of feudal government would not be able to thrive as the Shogun would lose power.

 What do you find most shocking about what you have read so far? How do make sense of such cruelty?

I found the Japanese's mindset incredibly shocking. It never struck me as to how one could go beyond murder, and kill someone through torture and humiliation. I had thought that Japan's number one code was to be honorable, and humiliating another being before death is definitely not honorable. I constantly saw the Japanese beliefs being compromised during the massacre of Nanking. Yet, the reason that they did it was to bring honor to the country and the emperor. Some of the torture stories are told by Japanese soldier participants, as if they have absolutely no regret or remorse over their actions. I believe that they had eventually become numb to these feelings of guilt through conditioning. As children, they had been raised in a mindset of war and aggressiveness. They learned that they were worthless by themselves, and the things they did would ultimately help the nation and the emperor. Therefore, I feel that as they did these incredibly cruel acts, they justified them by telling themselves that it was the right thing for their country. They believed China was meant to be conquered.

4/28

Overall, I think that it would be safer to be a Non-Communist during the Korean War. I would feel safer with America giving aid. Also, the fact that I could keep running and hiding from the oncoming force would make me feel safer. If instead, I were the side occupying first, I would have to worry about the resistance that is involved. Being on the defense, I could solely be concerned with my safety and not the aftermath of my own actions.

5/8 Explain the meaning of "Shattered Faith" how does it relate to the story?

The chapter was called Shattered Faith because of the devastating news that Hongyong receives towards the end of the chapter. Throughout the entire story, she has had a child-like, blind faith towards Jesus Christ, who has saved her again and again through miracles. We see her religion is prominent throughout her entire journey, giving her something to believe in. However, when the one thing she really cares about, her eldest son, is thought to be dead, everything goes downhill. She feels like the faith she had in running away from North Korea and leaving her eldest son has all been in vain. It literally was shattered to pieces to a point where Hongyong has absolutely nothing to believe in. She feels like she never should have ran away from North Korea in the first place. Now, with nothing to believe in, she is devastated and distraught.

Briefly describe what you see in this picture. Who is the subject? How is he portrayed?

This picture seems to be a propaganda image supporting Mao Zedong. He's shown majestically among the mountain and clouds as a tall, handsome figure. He's portrayed as almost a deity, strolling among the high mountains of China. His height is amplified and he's skinnier to make him look like more of a powerful, ideal individual (in reality he was short and stout). He's also carrying a red (Communist) scroll that portrays wisdom and leadership of the country. His distant look into the horizon implies that he is pondering great plans for the future of China. His clenched fist shows that he will fight for Communism. Portrayed as walking among the heavens with the wind dramatically blowing past him, Mao looks like the perfect man.

Kevin Gunwoo Lee Handout #7D: -Written by a school teacher and a 19 year-old student in 1966 -The school teacher states that Mao is such a great chairman. He talks about the incredible amount of respect for Mao, almost in a delirious manner. However, even after his support for Mao, he was arrested and violently beaten by a Red Guard for being a “counter-revolutionary.” -However, the red guard beat him mostly because of a personal conflict. The teacher ended up killing himself. -19 year-old student wrote a letter to Mao complaining and criticizing. He’s against Mao and declares defection from the Communist Party. For this criticism, he was sent to jail for life. Released right after the Cultural Revolution. -Two people believed in two completely different ideas (love Mao and hate Mao), but they end up being treated the same way. Shows the flaw of the Cultural Revolution. Joorhee Kwon Handout #7B: -First few weeks of Cultural Revolution in Shanghai, anonymous writer, writing for an economic newspaper. -The purpose of attending school was to acquire the thinking of Mao Zedong and to conduct the Cultural Revolution. -The shop names were changed to something about the Red Guards -Revolution was marked by numerous flags, red banners, pictures of Mao Zedong -The Red Guards say to eradicate all vestiges (useless things) of China. Soyeon Jeong Handout #7C: -From a newspaper from a Communist newspaper around 1966 -Tried to encourage support for the cultural revolution -Promotes equality to women, youth, and different groups -Wanted to promote education for everyone else as well. Having debates, and reasoning out conflicts. -Get rid of the 4 olds and people supporting rightists.

Reaction to pictures of the Cultural Revolution What do these pictures tell you about the Cultural Revolution?

The Chinese (most likely the Red Army) are terrorizing and taking down a statue of the Buddha. Buddhism is an incredibly old religion that would definitely fall under one of the Four Olds. It shaped ancient China and would be a prime target for Mao in destroying the Four Olds. Destroying the ancient religious symbols both destroys their beliefs as well as the ancient art. Also, the shaming of the Nuns shows the resentment for religion and old religious values. Their heads are bent down in shame so that the people can yell at them, further demoralizing religion. Both religious figures and statues were persecuted to get rid of the religion. It's comparable to the Spanish Inquisition in which all other religions were purged. Many of these people might have been punished only for the fact that they believed a certain belief.

Questions on Reflections on the Cultural Revolution pages 82-84 1) When was this document written and by whom? This document was written by the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee in 1981, after the Cultural Revolution ended.

2) According to the document, who was largely to blame for the excesses and mistakes of the Cultural Revolution? The document blamed Lin Biao, Xiang Qiang, and all the other officials except for Mao Zedong. The CCP blamed them for severe setbacks and heavy losses.

3) What errors does the CCP believe Mao was responsible for? The document holds Mao responsible for thinking the bourgeois class actually existed. However, the class itself was nonexistent, and Mao was fighting for a cause that didn’t necessarily exist. His other error was that he gave the blamed officials power, and allowed them to work behind his back. Also, he gave erroneous appraisal to the class struggles. Basically, he made incorrect judgments about classes that weren’t there.

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? Lin Biao and Xiang Qiang seem the most responsible for the failure of the Cultural Revolution. This shows Mao as being an innocent leader, who was not at all responsible for the setbacks and losses of the Cultural Revolution. This serves his Cult of Personality, signifying that he cannot be hated or criticized.

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. The CCP most believed that the Cultural Revolution failed because of its lack of organization. First, there was mass confusion as to what was right and what was wrong; who was good and who was bad. Also, the error involving the nonexistent bourgeois class confused people further, making enemies out of innocent people. Third, the revolution was dispersed instead of being unified and organized as one. This caused people to break rules away from the masses and the party itself. Finally, the revolution was unnecessary. It sought out to destroy a class struggle that never really existed.

6) Why do you think the document mentions achievements made by China during the Cultural Revolution? I think that the document adds more to the Cult of Personality by listing some achievements from the Cultural Revolution. Although Lin Biao and Xiang Qiang had failed completely, the party wanted to say that Mao had not let them down completely.

7) Describe the tone at the end of the document. Why do you think it ends this way? The tone served to bring pride to the Chinese party, admitting that there had been some achievements aside from the horrible failure. This most likely served to bring Nationalism to the country in the midst of failure.

