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Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Chinese Customs and Values
End of Dialogue Project Paper
Chinese culture is very evident in their literature because through stories and legends, people passed down values and culture to the next generation. In the different pieces of literature that my dialogue partner, Ting Ting, sent me over the past few months, I have had the opportunity to read Chinese folk legends to experience different forms of Chinese literature that has given me a deeper understanding of my own culture.
There were many times in the different stories where values were expressed. For example, in the story of Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo, the values of love and respect are very evident through the dedication and perseverance of the two lovers. Although this story is very similar to that of the Romeo and Juliet story written by Shakespeare, this Chinese folktale version heavily reflects Chinese culture due to the different details in the story that represent the Chinese customs of marriage and gender issues. Another reason why I believe the Chinese values were evident in this story was the commitment of the two for the sake of love. In the beginning of the story, Zhu was committed to go to school so she dressed up as a boy. At the end of the story, Liang was so sorry that Zhu married another person that he died. Therefore, it was very evident to me in this story the level of commitment and dedication the two lovers had for each other.
I felt that the Chinese customs and values were also evident in another story because this legend exhibited the fact that this story could have been true and not just a folktale. In the story with the Qin emperor, I could sense the values of respect and commitment evident through the entire story. In the beginning of the tale, there was a very realistic sense about the story because of the fact that the great wall of china was being built at this time and also because there were indeed large masses of people that were gathered up to help build the great wall. So the beginning of the story made me feel that this story was indeed a real story.
It was also interesting and cultural to learn that if the girl’s skin was seen by a man then she was forced to marry her. On a side note, this reminded me of the Taliban women and their burka to cover their skin from the men so that they do not become tempted. So when the man was captured to build the great wall, I felt the sadness of the girl within me as I read the story. I thought that this was also interesting maybe because I am Chinese and I therefore could possibly relate to the poor girl’s grief.
I believe that this story was especially good in showing Chinese values because the situation in which the main character was in became so realistic in my head. For example, I felt that the value of respect was great in this story because of the fact that the first order of the girl was that the Qin emperor take the husband’s ashes back to bury. This is a very important sign of respect for the Chinese (we go back and celebrate/remember the ancestors every year) to honor those who have passed on. Another way that I saw respect in this story was the fact that the girl felt so tied to her husband that she killed herself at the end of the story because she did not have any respect for the Qin emperor who was so barbarous to her husband in the first place.
Overall, each of the three pieces of literature that Ting Ting sent to me was very reflective of Chinese values and culture. Being brought up as an American with Chinese roots makes me realize that although I may not live in china nor speak Chinese, I will always remember my Chinese ancestry and the values and culture that have sustained through the generations.
Chinese culture is very evident in their literature because through stories and legends, people passed down values and culture to the next generation. In the different pieces of literature that my dialogue partner, Ting Ting, sent me over the past few months, I have had the opportunity to read Chinese folk legends to experience different forms of Chinese literature that has given me a deeper understanding of my own culture.
There were many times in the different stories where values were expressed. For example, in the story of Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo, the values of love and respect are very evident through the dedication and perseverance of the two lovers. Although this story is very similar to that of the Romeo and Juliet story written by Shakespeare, this Chinese folktale version heavily reflects Chinese culture due to the different details in the story that represent the Chinese customs of marriage and gender issues. Another reason why I believe the Chinese values were evident in this story was the commitment of the two for the sake of love. In the beginning of the story, Zhu was committed to go to school so she dressed up as a boy. At the end of the story, Liang was so sorry that Zhu married another person that he died. Therefore, it was very evident to me in this story the level of commitment and dedication the two lovers had for each other.
I felt that the Chinese customs and values were also evident in another story because this legend exhibited the fact that this story could have been true and not just a folktale. In the story with the Qin emperor, I could sense the values of respect and commitment evident through the entire story. In the beginning of the tale, there was a very realistic sense about the story because of the fact that the great wall of china was being built at this time and also because there were indeed large masses of people that were gathered up to help build the great wall. So the beginning of the story made me feel that this story was indeed a real story.
It was also interesting and cultural to learn that if the girl’s skin was seen by a man then she was forced to marry her. On a side note, this reminded me of the Taliban women and their burka to cover their skin from the men so that they do not become tempted. So when the man was captured to build the great wall, I felt the sadness of the girl within me as I read the story. I thought that this was also interesting maybe because I am Chinese and I therefore could possibly relate to the poor girl’s grief.
I believe that this story was especially good in showing Chinese values because the situation in which the main character was in became so realistic in my head. For example, I felt that the value of respect was great in this story because of the fact that the first order of the girl was that the Qin emperor take the husband’s ashes back to bury. This is a very important sign of respect for the Chinese (we go back and celebrate/remember the ancestors every year) to honor those who have passed on. Another way that I saw respect in this story was the fact that the girl felt so tied to her husband that she killed herself at the end of the story because she did not have any respect for the Qin emperor who was so barbarous to her husband in the first place.
Overall, each of the three pieces of literature that Ting Ting sent to me was very reflective of Chinese values and culture. Being brought up as an American with Chinese roots makes me realize that although I may not live in china nor speak Chinese, I will always remember my Chinese ancestry and the values and culture that have sustained through the generations.
Monday, April 23, 2007
March 7, 2007
Thank you for the interesting tale of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai! It is definately similar to the english version of Romeo and Juliet. Hope you do well on your exams.
Take care! Lauren :)
Take care! Lauren :)
March 6, 2007
Hello Lauren,
I am so glad that you are interested in the Chinese Legends that I prepared. Today I will tell you the third story about Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai.
Once upon a time, there was a girl named Zhu Yingtai who was very smart and liked poetry. At that time girls were not allowed to go to school. So Zhu dressed up so she looked like a boy to go to school.
On the way to school, she met her classmate Liang Shanbo, they became brothers. From then on they studied together. During the three years, Liang protected an looked after Zhu and didn’t know that Zhu was a girl. After three years, they went back to their homes. On the way, she implied to Liang that she was a girl, but Liang didn’t understand her intention. Zhu had no choice but to say she had a sister and she wanted her sister to marry him, so Zhu asked Liang to marry her sister in her home as soon as he arrived at his home.
But because Liang was late and missed the date, Zhu was forced to marry another boy called Ma. Having known the fact, Liang regreted it so much that he died. On the day that Zhu married, she passed the tomb of Liang and was very sorrowful and cried before the grave of Liang. Then it was dark all around and began to rain heavily. Meanwhile, thunder cracked the tomb and Zhu jumped into it. Instantly, the tomb closed. Then there was a rainbow in the sky and two big butterflies who flew with each other. It is said that the two butterflies were Liang and Zhu’s spirits. This story is also called the Chinese Romeo and Juliet.
Best wishes, Tingting
March 5, 2007
Hi Tingting,
That was a very interesting story! Perhaps after your exams we can chat about it in more detail. For now, keep studying hard! Let me know when you are all done with exams. I have included some pictures of me and my friends in this email. The first one is of me and my friend Marissa at Carnival, our annual fundraiser at school. I'm on the left with the haku lei on my head. The second picture is of my friend Cat, me, and my friend Tiffany. Lastly, the third picture was taken about two years back with Erica, Me, and my other friend Blake. I hope you enjoy them. These are some of my closest friends. They aren't all Chinese, actually, only one of them is Chinese. Thank you for sending me the literature, can't wait to hear from you again!
Lauren :)
That was a very interesting story! Perhaps after your exams we can chat about it in more detail. For now, keep studying hard! Let me know when you are all done with exams. I have included some pictures of me and my friends in this email. The first one is of me and my friend Marissa at Carnival, our annual fundraiser at school. I'm on the left with the haku lei on my head. The second picture is of my friend Cat, me, and my friend Tiffany. Lastly, the third picture was taken about two years back with Erica, Me, and my other friend Blake. I hope you enjoy them. These are some of my closest friends. They aren't all Chinese, actually, only one of them is Chinese. Thank you for sending me the literature, can't wait to hear from you again!
Lauren :)
March 3, 2007
Hello Lauren,
We meet again! I admire you that you have already finished all your applications. And I believe you will succeed. Meanwhile, I will work hard too. Let us keep contact all the time.
All the content I prepared are tanslated by myself during the holidays. I think it is a good chance to practise my English. Today, I will tell you the second legend called the girl named Meng Jiangnv.
It is said that there was a family planting a pumpkin. When harvest time came, they got a very beautiful girl. When she grew up, it was the time when Qin emperor (China's first emperor in history) caught men to build the Great Wall. A man came into the girl's garden in order to evade it while the girl was looking for her fan in the lake. At that time, there was a consuetude that if a girl's skin was seen by a man, she had to marry him. And the girl liked the man as well. So they married. After just three days, the man was caught to build the Great Wall.The girl missed her husband so much that she ignored the hardships and dangers on the journey to seek him.When she arrived at the foot of the Great Wall, she was told that her husband had already died and his ashes was under the Great Wall.
She was so sorrowful that eight hundred kilometers of the Great Wall broke down by her crying. Finally she found her husband's ashes and decided to take him back to their hometown to bury. Hearing that the girl broke down the Great Wall by crying, Qin gave orders to catch her to condemn her. But seeing the girl was very beautiful, Qin forced her to marry him.
The girl made three terms. If Qin could comply, she would marry him. First, he had to make a tomb for her husband; Second, Qin should mourn like a dutiful son before her husband's tomb; Third, Qin must travel with the girl in the sea for three days. And Qin wanted to get hold of the beautiful girl very much, so he complied. Having held a memorial ceremony for her husband, the girl jumped into the sea when travelling.
People made up this story not only to hold a memorial ceremony for people who died when building the Great Wall, but to condemn Qin's barbarity.
Hope you enjoy it!
Best wishes, Ting Ting
We meet again! I admire you that you have already finished all your applications. And I believe you will succeed. Meanwhile, I will work hard too. Let us keep contact all the time.
All the content I prepared are tanslated by myself during the holidays. I think it is a good chance to practise my English. Today, I will tell you the second legend called the girl named Meng Jiangnv.
It is said that there was a family planting a pumpkin. When harvest time came, they got a very beautiful girl. When she grew up, it was the time when Qin emperor (China's first emperor in history) caught men to build the Great Wall. A man came into the girl's garden in order to evade it while the girl was looking for her fan in the lake. At that time, there was a consuetude that if a girl's skin was seen by a man, she had to marry him. And the girl liked the man as well. So they married. After just three days, the man was caught to build the Great Wall.The girl missed her husband so much that she ignored the hardships and dangers on the journey to seek him.When she arrived at the foot of the Great Wall, she was told that her husband had already died and his ashes was under the Great Wall.
She was so sorrowful that eight hundred kilometers of the Great Wall broke down by her crying. Finally she found her husband's ashes and decided to take him back to their hometown to bury. Hearing that the girl broke down the Great Wall by crying, Qin gave orders to catch her to condemn her. But seeing the girl was very beautiful, Qin forced her to marry him.
The girl made three terms. If Qin could comply, she would marry him. First, he had to make a tomb for her husband; Second, Qin should mourn like a dutiful son before her husband's tomb; Third, Qin must travel with the girl in the sea for three days. And Qin wanted to get hold of the beautiful girl very much, so he complied. Having held a memorial ceremony for her husband, the girl jumped into the sea when travelling.
People made up this story not only to hold a memorial ceremony for people who died when building the Great Wall, but to condemn Qin's barbarity.
Hope you enjoy it!
Best wishes, Ting Ting
March 3, 2007
Hi Tingting,
I hope you do well on your entrance exams! You sure are studying very, very hard for them. I am also a senior. I have already completed all of my applications to various colleges and am eagerly awaiting their response. Thank you for working so hard to teach me more about Chinese culture. Also, thank you so much for sharing with me the legend! Since you have limited time to email back and forth, it is ok for you to get a copy of the story online or something and email that to me instead of you having to type it out yourself. I know you are very busy. I will wait in anticipation for your next email. After your examinations, we can chat about the literature. Until then, keep studying hard! :)
Mahalo! Lauren
I hope you do well on your entrance exams! You sure are studying very, very hard for them. I am also a senior. I have already completed all of my applications to various colleges and am eagerly awaiting their response. Thank you for working so hard to teach me more about Chinese culture. Also, thank you so much for sharing with me the legend! Since you have limited time to email back and forth, it is ok for you to get a copy of the story online or something and email that to me instead of you having to type it out yourself. I know you are very busy. I will wait in anticipation for your next email. After your examinations, we can chat about the literature. Until then, keep studying hard! :)
Mahalo! Lauren
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