Telling a story of Confucianism and Daoism!

(Ancient Chinese Philosophers)

    There are many Ancient Chinese Philosophers, that marked the history. However, Confucianism and Daoism, will always hold a sacred place, in the Chinese History. Many individuals, may have mistaken Confucianism and Daoism, as a Spiritual character. Yet, they are famous human philosophers, that set the fundamental rules to being a human. The two famous form of Philosophy formed the Cultural, Moral, and human practices, in the Chinese culture. Both philosophers pride massively on bringing harmony to society, self controlled, self discipline, self motivated, and self growth. They are both great teachers in the ancient history, and both differ in different ways. In my opinion, Confucianism focus on daily life approach. More so on the logical way of establishing life. Whereas, Daoism, focus on Ying Yang, which symbolize balance. Daoism steer more on a nature of a human, rather than the rules. Daoism to me, interpret as more to following the heart, mindfulness, and balance. 

    Confucian was born to be a highly superior intellegient child. At a young age, he constantly feels, that his life purpose, was to teach and educate individuals, to create a harmony society. "Aristotle. Confucius would draw on the traditional wisdom of China to  teach his disciples about the principles of right living and right governing.  He described himself as a transmitter, not an originator. Any sincere seeker  was welcome, rich or poor, but presumably most of the disciples were from wealthy families, and Confucius was able to make a decent living doing what he loved most"Bresnan, Patrick S.. Awakening (p. 306). Confucians dreams was to obtain a power to the throne, so he can create changes to society, through the noble name LU. Yet, that did not conclude in a content ending. Confucian did not successfully, spread his teaching, until the Feudalism system. When the Feudalism system created, that is the time of Confucian's shine. Til this day, China still withholds his teaching and guidance.

Books I read in 2020!

 

 Year Of 2020 Read!

"Powerful knowledge through readings"

    Throughout the pandemic, I've tried my best to exercise my brain, as much as possible. I must admit, this year was like a roller coaster ride. It is fulfilled with fears, fast, and furious. The three F's , is what I like to address it as. Therefore, I strive my best, to increase mindfulness throughout the tough times. Here I will share a few reads, that I attempted throughout the years.

Comer J. Ronald, Comer S. Jonathan: Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology. Ninth Edition 2019.

    (This Psychology Book, is required in my Abnormal Behavior class. This book allow us to understand, and acknowledge many different mental health issues. It requires informations to teach, us which modality to use, in treating patients with diagnosis of mental health issues. One of the most important key, I've learned is the 4 D's. An individual must touch based on the 4 D's , to be diagnosis with the mental disorder. The 4 D's are, Danger, Deviance,Distress, and Dysfunction.)

Gray John, Mens are from mars, Women are from Venus. HarperCollins 1992.

( This book, was a fun read. I actually picked up this book from Goodwill, after a break up. I did not have a chance to read it in depth, until now. I've read almost all of it, with the exceptions of the last few chapters. I would say this book is a guidance to understand the difference of both genders. Many times females communicate with emotions, due to the natures of a women, yet mens communicate differently, due to their nature. Therefore, to sustain a healthy long-term relationship, both genders should take some time, and acknowledge the difference of each others natures. If women understand men, as men understand women, then relationship would be more clarify.)

Jack Hawley, The Bhagavad Gita: A walkthrough for Westerners. New World Library, 2011.

( I would had never reached out to this wonderful book, if I never took Asian Humanities this semester. This book holds a Sacred religion and teaching in India. The walk of Yogi fascinates me in many ways. I've always question, where does meditation, and mindfulness come from?. This book definitely provide the answers to my question. This book is truly the way, in living a Humanity way. 

Final Thoughts of this class!

    The theme of the project with our group is called, what it means to be human?. What I liked about this project is, our group was able to work together, and pull it through every circumstance, under the stressful pandemic situation. This translates to the team work, even though we all work in a different schedule, and have a stagnant going in life, we all manage to finish our parts, and feel joy together, after receiving our grade. This teamwork, compassion, and patient to understand each others time and life, is part of answer on what it means to be human. I personally spent countless hours on researching and completing my part of duty. I did not keep track of hours, because for every hour I obtain, I will spend time on working it. I also work full time, so I bring my homework to work also. 

    When I first started this Humanities class, I was expecting to learn, what I end up learning!. I expected to learn about culture specifically in Asia. I am Asian myself, yet I want to grasp a better understanding of my own culture , and other Asian cultures. My goal was to understand the Asia culture more, especially Japan. Now that I learn about India, I am in love with their culture, and teachings of The Bhagavad Gita. Before coming to the class, I've already acknowledge some Chinese culture, since I am Chinese myself. Yet, something I learned new about my own culture, is the Confucius philosophy background. I've always watched ancient Chinese drama, and this whole time, I did not know the teachers who live with the Emperor in the palace, and teaches the Emperor's sons, are called Confucius in English. After learning about Confucius, and doing research about it, I find myself gravitate to the teaching. I always pride on elevating growth physically, mentally and spiritually, so I am intrigue to research about it some more, throughout my winter break. I thank my professor, and group for such a smooth ride, through the rough times. After taking a Humanity class, it made me appreciate and observe life with a different aspect. I advice anyone to give Humanity a try, to better understand, the beauty of being Human. Thank you !

Virtual Museum Experience !

 Covid Museum Edition !

Fuji in Clear Weather (Red Fuji), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji, early 1830s
Katsushika Hokusai (Japanese, 1760–1849)
Color woodblock print

    Hello to all viewers, welcome to my blog of the Museum experience. I had never been to a museum location before. Unfortunately, due to Covid, I am not able to experience a museum event fully in person. I will most definitely plan on a Museum trip, after the world returns back to the normal state. The piece of art I chose to speak about, was discover through Allen Memorial Art Museum, located at Oberlin College, in Ohio, California. I've always been driven by the nature, therefore, this piece hooked my attention. The experience, I obtain from the virtual museum tour, was a great experience to appreciate art. In my most honest words, I've always think of Museum being boring. I've never been interested in enjoying it. However, taking the Humanities class, helped me achieved a different perspective of Museum. I've learned that an image, or a piece of art, is not just art. It tells a story, of how people lived in the time of Era. Therefore, taking the Asian Humanities class, and now having a museum experience, gave me many insights and knowledge, to how Humans live throughout the history. Setting my experience aside, Let's start diving into the creation of the art I've chosen !. 

    First, Mount Fuji Mountain, is the tallest mountain in Japan. It stands at 3,776 meters, and is actually an active volcano; erupted in the year of 1707. This is one of the most popular tourist spot in Japan, and many people attempt to climb it. Besides the beauty, and popularity of this important spot. It holds a sacred spiritual meaning in the Japanese culture. Which, they now announce it as a symbol of Japan.Mount Fuji holds an important meaning to the Japanese. It is said to be the symbol of Japan. The Mount Fuji represents cultural, physical and spiritual geography. "Mount Fuji has been a sacred site for practicers of Shinto since at least the 7th century. Shinto is the indigenous faith or spirituality of Japan" (Carly Sue). Shinto is referred to "Shinto began as a primitive animistic collection of beliefs and practices,  focusing on reverence for the spirits (kami) of natural phenomena, such as  mountains, waterfalls, great trees, and also the spirits of departed ancestors"Bresnan, Patrick S.. Awakening (p. 486). This is how Mount Fuji, holds a sacred spiritual meaning to the Japanese. The nature of the rock that erupted on the island, is recognized as a Kami to the blessing in Japanese land. This spiritual aspect, contributes to the creator of this art piece. 

    Katsushika Hokusai, earns a name of being the famous artist, of the Fuji in clear weather painting, as show above. He has been striving, to earn a legacy name of being a great artist. Throughout his low moments, of not being known of his arts. He still holds motivation to create better art. "Hokusai writes: From around the age of six, I had the habit of sketching from life. I became an artist, and from fifty on began producing works that won some reputation, but nothing I did before the age of seventy was worthy of attention". Through obstacle he still proceeds with his passion of painting. At the age 60, he started to earn recognition, with the Mount Fuji art collection. This painting is stem from his religious beliefs. Hokusai was a member of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism. His name Hokusai means North studio, and this name links to North Star, which is associated with the deity Myoken. With the religious belief, and his love for mountains, this had driven him to create arts of Mount Fuji. Which earned him, his legacy, before his death. He had successfully, became what he wanted to be known for, and recognized as; A Well painted artist. 

    Through researching, and understanding the meaning of creating this art piece. It generates a different way to admire the art piece. Each Museum art piece, allows us to understand, how an individual live and feel, during the Era, that we didn't experience. It holds the generation map, to how humans are now. From the beginning of the semester, our professor ask us what does our name means, and now I understand why she ask that question. Our name holds a value and a story to our life. This Museum experience, had truly opened me up, to have a real person experience in a Museum. That will be on my goal list, after the pandemic. I hope all viewers learned and explore something new, like I did. Here I attached a link below, to Hokusai website, for more information, and contributions to his work. Thank you for stopping by, and reading a piece of my discover. 

https://www.katsushikahokusai.org/biography.html

Work Cited

Bresnan, Patrick. Awakening: an Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought. Routledge, 2017. 

“Biography of Katsushika Hokusai.” Katsushika Hokusai Biography | Life, Paintings, Influence on Art, 

National Geographic Society. “Mount Fuji.” National Geographic Society, 9 Nov. 2012.