1. How did Wu Zhao manage to rise to such a high position in an empire that favored Confucian Values? Wu Zhao was an extraordinary woman of many talents. However, Wu Zhao’s intelligence and charisma were not enough to help her attain the throne. As the book states “Only with the assistance of Propagandists, rehoriticians, ideologies and strong-arms of different persuasions.
Before we had started reading The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff we were given a MACC objective, MACC standing for Massachusetts Common Core. The objective was to read The Tao of Pooh to determine the main precepts and tenets of Buddhism. The Tao of Pooh is about the author attempting to explain Buddhism to Pooh, who at first seems to be an unmotivated and lazy bear and throughout the story uses examples from Pooh’s adventures with his friends to explain the principles of Taoism. As the author describes the principles he uses, effective presentation, rhetoric strategies and style. All of these add to the beauty, power and persuasiveness of the text.
Fan Shen was amongst the Beijing kids whom the Red Guard believed were problematic and needed further education . Despite the fact that Fan Shen had “bad” books and his anti-revolutionary thoughts he was not sent away because of such reasons. Fan Shen was considered problematic because both his father and mother had been sent to labor camps because they were accused of being anti-revolutionist. It was by reason of association that Fan Shen was considered problematic. The accusation made against his parents would affect Fan Shen for the rest of the Cultural Revolution period.
Its influence derives from characters who depend on materialistic values to display prosperity, maintain power and stay healthy. Huong uses the characters’ meals to emphasize the conditions in which different echelons of society are forced to live and to portray the contrast in the character 's’ life styles. The authors first use of this representation is directed towards families who are at the bottom of the hierarchy and the characters financial struggles are illustrated through the quality of their food. For instance, when Chinh becomes ill with diabetes, Que makes great sacrifices in order to provide him with food and medicine throughout his illness. Huong’s oddly detailed description about their rapidly declining food supply provides insight into the harsh living conditions.
Using fiction, Lu uses a metaphor to depict Ah Q, as a self-centered, egotistical representation of the common Chinese individual in this time period. Through the actions of the main character, the author critiques many faults of China including the lack of nationalism. Building on the idea that Lu Xun describes the faults Chinese culture, he also criticizes the underappreciation western influence. “Now this ‘Imitation Foreign Devil’ was approaching. / ‘Baldhead-Ass-’In the past Ah Q had cursed under his breath only, inaudibly” (Lu,3, Chapter 3).
Each and every character in Yu Hua’s To Live is a catalyst through which he explores human nature. The novel itself follows the life of Fugui, whose narrative is framed by pre-communist, Maoist, and post-communist China. Though it chronicles a long period of time, Yu Hua effectively uses characterization to present and prove his claims on human nature. In the end, Fugui is the only one left alive, which further proves every claim he made, because everything dies, including human beings. Throughout Fugui’s journey, each character he encounters reflects on an aspect of human nature, and comments on a specific event or group of people.
Even Though Weiwei is supposed to agree with the regulations, he shares his opinions freely and disagrees. Ai Weiwei still remains outspoken of freedom and human right. He knows they “own the land, [they] set the game rules … but the disappearance is [his]” (Weiwei 2). The government has control over the benefits, therefore Weiwei is trying to emphasize that the chinese receive the consequences. Rather than the government, the people of China have to deal with the pain, lies, and being controlled.
With the order of capture and execution looming over his head, he become more relentless in creating a new and improved China for the future, and motivated Chinese people living abroad to improve their status and cooperation amongst one another. Kang Youwei naively pushed his ideas of reformation to a monarchy unwilling to listen or execute, allowing common people to have a say in governmental issues. For this reason, many historians believe his actions during the “Hundred Days of Reform” not only got his brother executed but many great future reformists that could have helped China tremendously. Unfortunately, this is also where many historians believe Youwei pushed his own agenda for promotion and self-importance.
It underlines you should prioritize yourself over others. In the end, Jing-Mei chooses her happiness over her mother’s because she realizes the importance of finding her own
A Chinese Life in its presentation is selective by nature because it only includes what the author deemed significant and had an impact on his life. Furthermore, the author likely did not experience every event that took place during the Cultural Revolution, thus a personal memoir lacks the ability to express different
In order for himself to live, Long Er dies because of circumstance. That the position of wealth previously afforded to Fugui was fated for death is seen when China becomes communist. This by revealing this the author illustrates that Fugui, by losing his status, did not have to give his life.
To Live suggests that The Cultural Revolution was a time when communist students took authority over Chinese citizens, and the historical event was similar. In the film, Fengxia dies in the hospital because the red guards are performing jobs of professionals and do not know what to do. In historical records, the red guards accused professional workers of crimes and resumed their jobs for them without experience. The film accurately shows how red guards, or young communist followers had control of the maintenance in China. In order to feel safe, citizens would need to be a true communist and throw away old prophecies or ideas.
This presents a development of characterisation when we meet Ling in the first paragraph of the extract. The description of Ling’s wife follows straight after. In the second paragraph , we encounter Wang-Fô whom inspired Ling to have a new perspective of the world as “Ling avait grandi dans une maison d’où la richesse éliminait les hasards.” The passage is written in an omniscient third person narrative. It is predominantly narrative
This protest from the Nanyang Public School showed that people were alienated from the Confucian tradition in modern times, and the legitimacy of the Qing Dynasty was greatly declining in the eyes of the Chinese citizens. Cai Yuanpei’s advocacy of anti- imperialism and anti sentiment toward the Qing Dynasty
The character development of Dieyi was a build-up of emotions for his lifelong friend: so much that Dieyi bids farewell as Concubine Yu in the final scene. On the other hand, To Live brought to life the realities of family relations and abundant tragedies. Unlike Dieyi’s infatuation of friendship and theatre, Fugui was overwhelmed with many hardships. One comparison can be made that Dieyi’s suicide was a result of confusion from his rocky friendship with Xiaolou. Meanwhile, Fugui’s perseverance “to live” became constant underlying perception throughout the film.
