My Readings of 2020

 I'll be honest. I don't read a lot of books, and I know I'm not alone. It's not that I dislike reading, it's that I dislike reading books. Something about them turns me off and away. It may be the length of the medium, the boring and old-school ink on paper style, or just that I haven't found one on a topic intriguing and interesting enough to me. 

What I opt out for instead are videos and podcasts. Videos aren't boring. They provide visual stimulation that, if used correctly, can help aide the text in delivering its message across. This visual stimulation can create a resounding and impactful crater in the mind. Compared to staring at black and white texts, imagery holds great power that can excel one in their respective thought. Podcasts are intriguing. Rather than focusing on a string of texts, podcasts drive food for thought into your mind. The concepts and discussions that your ear picks up can lead to wonderfully fruitful thoughts and conclusions. When I drive, I never play music anymore. Instead, I play a YouTube video on some topic that I'd like to hear more about, or a podcast from a few individuals chiming in and giving their thoughts. There's just so many advantages to these alternatives rather than reading. That's why I prefer them over the old bind and paper.

There's Just Something Better To Listening Than Reading- At Least For Me

However, when I'm forced to via college curriculum, then the story is different. 

Bresnan, Patrick. Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought. Routledge, 2018.

• A mandatory textbook for HUM320, sweeping through tons of primary and secondary sources regarding Asian philosophy, religion, way of life, and much more. This book focuses and zooms in on India, China, and Japan with great detail. Introducing concepts and ideologies accompanied with anecdotes and sprinkles of humor, Bresnan's work serves as an excellent backbone to the curriculum.

Ferrell, O. C., et al. Business. McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2011.

• A mandatory textbook for BUS300. This text covers the general basis and an introduction to business, including entrepreneurship, management, human resources, marketing, and financing. It makes for a great beginner's guide and gives a memorable summary to the business world.

Hawley, Jack. The Bhagavad Gita: a Walkthrough for Westerners. New World Library, 2011.

• A translation of the classic and world famous Ancient Hindu scripture. Hawley's translation is very direct and simple, not obstructing the purposes and full shine of the texts. It's filled with intriguing concepts and philosophy, surrounded by an unforgettable story arc with interesting contexts and characters. A great read for both those looking for both a vivid adventure and some inspiring motivation.

Jacobs, Lynn F. Secrets of College Success. Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, John, 2019.

• A mandatory book for HCD310. This text heavily details plenty of tips and tricks to college in the United States. It includes financial help, mental health tips, studying skills, time management, and much more. Layered with plenty of humor and attractive scripture, this is a must-read for all that are both in college and looking to attend college. A very good all-in-one to the truth about advanced education. I highly recommend this text to all high school seniors, especially those looking to attend college in their next semester.

Kafka, Franz, and A. L. (Albert Lancaster) Lloyd. Metamorphosis. 1946.

• A heartbreaking novel for ENGWR300. This novella tells a story about a man named Gregor Samsa that suddenly wakes up one morning as a giant bug. Gregor, as his family's only source of income, is bound to the bed and requires external help. As we progress along the story, we can see the slow decay of the family's care and love for Samsa, due to him changing from a supplier to a burden. At the end, Samsa curls up and dies in a cold corner, as the family gradually forgets about him and moves forward with their lives. It's a very heart-pulling story and gives room to develop commentary about the natural greed of mankind, and how innately we are all still primed for instinctual survival, not the weakness of our hearts. 

What Could Waking Up As A Bug Mean, Figuratively? 

Da Project!!!

For the final project in this class, I was paired up with Nikki and Anny on our attempt at covering the theme of religion. What I liked the best about the project were the nice refreshing touchups back to our first modules. It felt good to go back and review what we've learned, apply our theme to it, and wrap it all up into our project. I personally put in about four hours into this project, from finding sources by going back to texts and videos to snip those useful bits, to processing the information and presenting it how I think it's best shown. 

A Look Behind

At the beginning of this semester, I felt a wide variety of emotions ranging from fear, anxiety, nervousness, to excitement, happiness, and pride. Honestly, I still feel the same way. However, the first week in humanities was very memorable to me. This, to my schedule, was an elective class that I personally chose. I read reviews that the professor was excellent and this was basically the only class that fit my requirement, so I took it. I wanted to learn about Asian culture and traditions, especially Chinese due to my heritage. I didn't necessarily set any goals, but I did expect a good time with a lot of in-depth and intriguing learning about Asian culture. With this expectation, I assumed that the curriculum would be a breeze. Absolute cake walk. Barely feel the workload on my plate, can't wait to start it.

Now, we are at the end of the semester. Did the class meet my expectations? No. The workload hit me like a brick. Soon enough I was miserable, drowning in video vs. text discussions. I barely had time to read the full texts such as the Gita and Bresnan's Awakening, but just enough to fulfill the requirements for the assignments. If I were given more creative and academic freedom along with time to freely dive into the texts, I think this class would've been so much better. Due to my ethnicity, the modules about Ancient China were the most interesting to me. My favourite topics were the Terracotta Army and the process of making silk, which I hadn't known about before this class. Something I did know before this class were the Silk Road, different dynasties of China, and the regional religions. 

What A Wild Ride!

The Schools of Buddhism In Japan

 Today we'll be having a look at Japan and the many different schools of Buddhism present in its history. I will be referencing a book called Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought by Patrick S. Bresnan. Early Japanese society was organized by clans and dominated by the nobles. The Japanese, once a barbaric civilization, had to borrow countless elements from the Chinese culture as they had none of their own, such as the Chinese system of writing and the Chinese grid pattern streets. But, amongst the most memorable and significant contributions from China, shines Buddhism. Out of Buddhism sprang the many schools and sects of it, including Kegon, Tendai, Shingon, Nichiren, and Pure Land. They all share their fair amount of similarities, yet still have distinct differences within each other.

Daibutsu (Great Buddha) - A Giant Bronze Statue of the Vairocana Buddha

Let's start with Kegon. The name Kegon is a translation of the Sanskrit avataṃsaka, meaning "garland" or "wreath". The Kegon school of thought is "...essentially Chinese Huayan transplanted to Japan—flourished in eighth-century Nara, but this was an unmodified Chinese school of Buddhism." (Bresnan 487). The Kegon school held as its ideal the recognition of a harmonious whole of all beings, all interrelated and interdependent, with the Buddha Vairocana at the centre, permeating everything. It believed that no element has a separate and independent existence apart from the whole but rather that each reflects all the others. According to it, the universe is self-creating. In contrast to the Shakyamuni Buddha, the Kegon school of thought focuses on the Vairocana Buddha. 

A Painting of Saicho,
the Founder of Tendai Buddhism.

Next up is Tendai Buddhism. Tendai was derived from the Chinese name of "Tiantai". The name of Tiantai was gathered from the great Mount Tiantai, sitting in Zhejiang of the southeastern pocket of China. This was the beginning of true Chinese Buddhism. "It was there in the sixth century ce that a  monk named Zhiyi (Chih-i) founded Gouqing monastery and initiated the  teaching of “Tiantai” Buddhism, the first truly Chinese school of Buddhism" (Bresnan 382). In the ninth century, it would be transplanted over to Japanese soil and be known as Tendai. Tendai focused heavily on the magical and the supernatural, which was a stretch from the origins of Buddhism, but was much needed by the people at the time. The first characteristic of the Japanese Tendai school is its advocacy of a comprehensive Buddhism and the idea that all the teachings of the Buddha are ultimately without contradiction and can be unified in one comprehensive and perfect system. Tendai Buddhism reveres the Lotus Sutra as the highest teaching in Buddhism. 

The center image of the Mandala of the Womb Realm 

Let's get to Shingon Buddhism. Shingon was established as the rival school to the Tendai school of thought. It was founded by the monk, Kukai, a year after Saicho began to work on his monastery. "Shingon is derived from the Chinese Zhenyan, the  name for an esoteric school of Buddhism greatly influenced by Vajrayana. Shingon also spread beyond the Kyoto area, but never enjoyed anything near  the growth experienced by Tendai." (Bresnan 488). Shingon may be considered an attempt to reach the eternal wisdom of the Buddha that was not expressed in words and, thus, not in his public teaching. The sect believes that this wisdom may be developed and realized through special ritual means employing body, speech, and mind, such as the use of symbolic gestures (mudras), mystical syllables (dharani), and mental concentration (Yoga). The whole is intended to arouse a sense of the pervading spiritual presence of the Buddha that lies inherent in all living things.

A Bronze Statue of Nichiren

Now to Nichiren. Nichiren was named after the monk who began the movement in the thirteenth century. It's very close to the traditional Tendai. Nichiren was confident and fierce. He was determined to save Japanese society from what he deemed was complete destruction and corruption. Nichiren Buddhism emphasized a great amount on reciting the sutras, especially the Lotus Sutra just like Tendai Buddhism. "At odds with the usually tolerant attitude of Buddhism,  Nichiren argued that all other Buddhist sects were heretical; he alone held the key to the truth of Buddha’s teaching." (Bresnan 489). Nichiren Buddhism also focused on connection actions with thoughts and morality. It strengthened the importance of individuals taking responsibility for improving themselves. 

Amitābha and his attendant bodhisattvas Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta

And last but definitely not least, Pure Land Buddhism. Pure Land Buddhism is one of the most popular schools of Buddhism in the modern East. The term "Pure Land" refers to both the Pure Land teachings of Mahayana Buddhism and the Pure Land sects that developed in Japan from the works of Honen. It revolves around the idea that we will never have a world that is not corrupt. Thus, we must work and strive for rebirth in another plane, known as the "Pure Land". Hōnen believed that most men were, like himself, incapable of obtaining buddhahood on this earth through their own efforts (such as learning, good deeds, or meditation) but were dependent on Amida’s help. Hōnen stressed the recitation of nembutsu as the one act necessary to gain admittance to the Pure Land. What if life just sucked so much back then that they had to focus to spiritual faith and trying to escape this world. 

Works Cited 

Bresnan, Patrick. Awakening: an Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2018.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Kegon.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Kegon.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Nichiren Buddhism.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Nichiren-Buddhism.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Pure Land Buddhism.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Pure-Land-Buddhism.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Shingon.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Shingon.

Groner, Paul. Saichō: The Establishment of the Japanese Tendai School. Univ. of Hawai'i Press, 2002.

Video Versus Text: The Silk Road

 

The Silk Road

Today we'll be having a look at two different works of intellectual property. One is a video by BBC, or the British Broadcasting Corporation, titled The Silk Road: Where East Meets West. The other is a chapter from a book by Patrick S. Bresnan titled Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought, specifically chapter 16. As the titles of each piece suggests, their area of focus is different from each other, yet still overlap in some areas. Something the video offered that the text did not was about the topic of the Terracotta Army. Xi'an, once the capital but no longer, and the eastern end of the silk road, is where the Terracotta Army was first discovered. "Xi'an is home to the Terracotta Army, the construction of which was ordered by the man responsible in the third century BC, for creating China. China was named after him. He was the Qin Emperor." (Silk 14:12-14:25). I've always been fascinated with the idea of the Terracotta Army. To think that an emperor was so powerful and significant to his people that he was buried with an entire life-sized army to protect him in the afterlife, with the tiniest and most careful of details, is astonishing to me. "When he died in 210 BC, his clay guard was ready for installation in an elaborate tomb- 8,000 life-sized figures, 130 chariots, and 600 horses. A marriage of art and power." (Silk 14:27-14:44). This just tells us how special and powerful this emperor must have been to have that arrangement done. Hand-molded figures with extreme details, going as far as having every single face be individual and one-of-a-kind. By contrast, the text in chapter six only referred to the Terracotta Army once under a footnote. "1 It was near Xian that the amazing army of full-size terra cotta figures was discovered in 1974.  The site is still being excavated." (Bresnan 379). Chapter six of Awakening does not touch up on the Terracotta Army after this, thus showing a difference in the amount of detail both works contributed to the same topic. 

Zhang Qian Returning From His Journey

Connecting back to the Silk Road, the video shoehorns the audience from the Terracotta Army into a neat little story about the first transaction on the Silk Road, establishing its reputation. As the hungry and ruthless Huns of the north continued to threaten the fragile and newly established Han Dynasty, it grew clearer by the day that they were going to be more of an irritant. The Huns would be a threat for the Han Dynasty. However, the Han Dynasty was severely lacking in terms of military specialty and armaments. "In the Qin Emperor's day, all China had was little ponies almost too cute for combat. And that remained true for decades after the emperor's death. (Silk 17:27- 17:38). Until, the Han Emperor Wu Di sent out a trusty envoy, Zhang Qian, on a mission of search for allies to the west. He brought back steeds, beasts of the land. Strong and enduring, Zhang Qian declared them 'heavenly'. "It was all too much for his emperor to resist. Here was the perfect warhorse which is exactly what China needed to defend and extend its borders. So almost immediately, Zhang Qian was sent back to do the first ever iconic Silk Road deal. He would exchange Silk for these heavenly horses. Zhang Qian's journey would lay the very foundations of the Silk Road." (Silk 19:32- 19:57). In contrast, the text does not bring up Zhang Qian nor his adventures to establish the first transaction of the Silk Road. Rather, it focuses on the spread and movement of religion, specifically Buddhism, along the Silk Road.

Something that I haven't seen before today was the process of making silk. The video's coverage of a silk factory in China really opened my eyes. Massive amounts of cocoons with a living caterpillar in each are processed and sorted by color and quality. "And then, this. Each cocoon is a tiny tragedy. They're plunged into boiling water to loosen the threads of which they're made. So the making of silk has two outcomes: a pile of tiny, sodden caterpillar corpses, and this extraordinary beautiful, glossy thread.  (Silk 22:59- 23:36). While somewhat downing and sad, it shows me how sacrifice is made through such a wonderful and extraordinary process to achieve something amazing. I wonder how the first batch of silk was made. How did they discover it? Who found out one day that the materials spun out by a cocoon can be woven into this magically soft and luxurious thread? These are all questions I have, due to me pondering at this beautiful story and monument of history. 

Works Cited

Bresnan, Patrick. Awakening: an Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2018.

“The Silk Road: Where East Met West.” Films Media Group, www.films.com/ecTitleDetail.aspx?TitleID=127877.

“Xi'an Travel Guide.” Xi'an Travel China: Attractions, Tours, Transportation, Maps, www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/xian.htm.

Daoism and Confucianism

What is your reaction to Mencius’s story about the child about to fall into the open well? Does it really prove anything? Are people really “good” by  nature? 

An Illustration by Helen De Cruz

Mencius, a devoted follower of Confucius, spread his experimental doctrine around in the story of the child about to fall into the open well. The doctrine supported his main ideology and point, that humans are inherently good as part of nature, and that there's more to human nature than self-driven determinations. If someone, anyone, were to see a child about to fall into a well, they would have immediately entered into an alarmed state. Heart pumping fast, blood flowing, very cautious and rushing to action. That person feels that way not because they want to get on the good side of the child's parents, or want to win the affection of the villagers, or dislike the child's cries. 

He does have a point. I think anyone that comes across that situation would feel alarmed and worried. Of course, all contexts have to be the same for them. We have a heart-mind for each other. Before applying our biases and contexts, we have this basic reaction to the events happening to each other. The result is after the steps of processing and adding everything on, then giving the responsive action or other.

It doesn't "prove" anything, but it definitely serves as a great example and proposition for his argument. To me, people are not good by nature. In nature, survival is priority. You need to survive to pass down your genes, thus ensuring the survival of your kind. It is no different for humans. Although we can think and reason, the innate nature of our primal instincts are still active and influence our everyday decisions. 

The word "good" is subjective in and of itself. What does good mean to you? To me, in this context, it means looking out for others and putting others before yourself in terms of priority. It means sharing your wealth or resources, helping others succeed and survive at the cost of your own chances at doing so. And to me, these propositions are rarely ever seen at all. I've seen people pay for other people's meals, I've seen people give each other rides or help with trouble. But how much of that is biased? How much of that was influenced by the thought of eyes being on them the whole time, the entire world peeking through?

What in the world do you suppose Lao Zi meant by saying that governing a country is like frying a small fish? 

A Plate of Small Chinese Fried Fish

We find ourselves now immersed in a simile. Governing a great country is like frying a small fish? What in the world is that supposed to mean. I thought about it more and more, and pondered more at the thought. The more I've picked at it, the more bits and pieces fell off and came to realization in my mind. How do you fry a small fish? Keyword is, small. It's small, it's fragile, it's likely to break and disintegrate. However, if you're careful with it and give it patience and care, it fries beautifully with time. With enough effort, oil, time, and temperature, it turns out perfect instead of a chunky mess.

How do you govern a great country? Keyword is, great. It's great. What does great mean? Great is subjective, but in general it means being prosperous in all the right ways. To be prosperous takes an immense amount of effort in the right direction. All the efforts focused in one direction, so that no efforts are diluted and diverted from the main point. How do you accomplish that? You set the nation forward and together. You give it patience and care, showing it genuine affection and leadership. 

What do these two have in common? It takes a great deal of time and patience to establish both of them. Everything has to be right to get the perfect result. A bit too hot and a bit too long, and you'll have a charred stick. A few bad laws and international relation swings, and you'll have a country burning down to the ground. They're both complex and simple in their own beautiful ways. The beauty lies in how one achieves that final goal. 

Works Cited

Bresnan, Patrick. Awakening: an Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2018.

“Govern a Great Country as You Would Cook a Small Fish.” Cato Institute, 11 Sept. 2015, www.cato.org/blog/govern-great-country-you-would-cook-small-fish.

Van Norden, Bryan. “Mencius.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 6 Sept. 2019, plato.stanford.edu/entries/mencius/.

Verse 60: Frying a Small Fish, ramblingtaoist.blogspot.com/2009/09/verse-60-frying-small-fish.html.

~ 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology. “Mengzi's Moral Psychology, Part 1: The Four Moral Sprouts.” 1000, 17 Dec. 2018, 1000wordphilosophy.com/2018/04/10/mengzis-moral-psychology-part-1-the-four-moral-sprouts/.

Inside the Shubox: Theravada and Mahayana

     Today we'll have a look at the two main schools of Buddhism: Theravada and Mahayana. Although there are plenty of different types of Buddhism, most of them fall into one of these two schools. Although most teachings are shared between each other, there are also major differences to be examined. Theravada was essentially the grassroots of Buddhism. It started and grew and stayed in southeast Asia, primarily India, Indonesia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and others. It set fundamental teachings and was defined by the Pali Canon. However, Mahayana would be the one to flourish and establish itself as the main face for global Buddhism. "Over time, Mahayana would become the larger and historically more influential movement." (Bresnan 243). While these two systems of thought have had disagreements in its past, they live together relatively peacefully today. They accept each other and live in co-existence, unlike some other religions. 

The Spread of Buddhism and the Division of the Two Schools

    Theravada is generally regarded as old-school or the foundation of Buddhism. Theravada's reason for being is to promote and pass on Buddha's original teachings about how to detach and liberate oneself from the characteristics of suffering. The practice of Theravada is very personal. Through meditation and teachings, one will achieve nirvana. It's much closer to some of the original teachings and concepts. "Theravada literally means "teachings (doctrine) of the elders," but in more everyday language, we could translate it simply as "the orthodox tradition." (Bresnan 252). The goal of those who practice Theravada is to achieve nirvana as soon as possible, to become an Arhat. In the Theravada path, enlightenment is achieved through the cultivation of the Noble Eightfold Path, insight, and concentration. The heart practices are incorporated, and the attention is given to developing insight and awakening to the nature of reality.

    Mahayana Buddhism stems from internal splits and divisions. Originally, the movement of Mahayana happened due to the growing attitude that the school of Theravada was becoming elitist and exclusive, very narrow-scoped and not general. The goal for Mahayana is for all to achieve Nirvana, not just yourself. In fact, the individual goal is to hold off on achieving Nirvana just before crossing it and helping others get to where you are. Mahayana has a complex range of divine entities that can be different across regions called celestial beings. "What initially fueled the rise of Mahayana was a deep dissatisfaction on the part of some with the traditional interpretation of Buddha's teaching by the dominant majority, the Theravadins. An attitude was developing among some Buddhists that the Theravada tradition had become too conservative, too rule-bound, too elitist, and too narrow in scope... Buddha, though, had directed his teaching to everyone, not just a select few." (Bresnan 263). The Mahayanists often at times refer to the Theravada as "Hinayana" or "little raft" due to this. The entire idea is to escape reality, the pains and sufferings of the mortal world. Mahayanists label themselves as the big raft, inclusive and welcoming for all, holding off on their personal ascensions to liberate every being.

A Video Detailing the Differences of the Two Schools

Works Cited

“Buddha's Teachings: Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana.” Diamond Way Buddhism, 23 Apr. 2016, www.diamondway-buddhism.org/buddhism/buddhas-teachings/.

“Differences Between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism.” One Mind Dharma, 10 Dec. 2018, oneminddharma.com/theravada-mahayana-buddhism/.

“Divisions of Buddhism - Buddhist Beliefs - Edexcel - GCSE Religious Studies Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize.” BBC News, BBC, www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zf8g4qt/revision/2.

王翬:桃花漁艇 || Wang Hui: Peach Blossom, Fishing Boat

 

王翬:桃花漁艇 || Wang Hui: Peach Blossom, Fishing Boat
c. 1712

Today we'll be having a look at Wang Hui's (王翬) painting, Peach Blossom, Fishing Boat of the Qing Dynasty. This is a hanging scroll painting by Wang Hui (王翬), a Chinese landscape painter famous for his orthodox art and reflection of the Yuan and Song traditions in his styles. Wang Hui (王翬) was one of four Wangs that held the top of Chinese painters throughout the Ming and Qing periods. He was gifted at both northern and southern styles as well as ancient and modern ones. Thus, he was aptly recognized later as "The Sage of Early Qing Painting". That's enough about the author, you came for the artwork. Let me tell you more about the piece. 

This work illustrates lines from Tao Yuanming's (陶渊明) poem "The Peach Blossom Spring". The poem tells a story about a fisherman that was oblivious to the distance he had sailed, until he came upon the scenery of a forest. The forest consisted of gorgeous and vibrant blossoming peach trees, their bases surrounded by lush and vibrantly green grass with the presence of soft flowers complementing them. Suddenly, the fisherman had come to awareness about where he's sailed to and couldn't help but be mesmerized by the pink and light orange sights. The fisherman, astonished and dazed, curiously squeezed through the springs and continued to a village with animals and people of all ages. The fragile and dazzlingly pink peach petals were scattered across the ground and wove this lovely image in the fisherman's eyes. Everybody seemed happy and living their best life; their buckets were filled with fuzzy, ripe peaches. Not a sight of crime, disease, grief, or desolation were to be seen. The villagers were surprised to see him, but nonetheless greeted him with warm regards. They explained that their ancestors escaped to this place during the civil unrest of the Qin dynasty, and they have not left or made contact with anyone from the outside. The fisherman was showered in generous hospitality by the villagers and stayed in luxury for over a week. The villagers constantly questioned him out of curiosity for the news of today, and he answered as requested. He informed them about political uprisings, conflicts and territorial grabs; he updated them on everything in the outside world. Amazed by the revelations revealed by the fisherman, the villagers quickly took a liking to him. Heads of every single household invited him in to feasts consisting of chicken and wine and other regional dishes. Upon leaving, the villagers requested that the fisherman not inform the outsiders of them, so that they could continue to exist in harmony and secrecy. The fisherman gestured his goodbyes and sailed off while leaving marks on his journey to his next destination. Upon arriving, he told the audience of his experiences and they immediately dispatched followers to sail back with the fisherman. However, on the way back, he could not find the marks that he had left anymore. Confused and saddened, the fisherman sailed away, and that so called utopia was never found again. 

Depiction of the tale on a painting from the Long Corridor, Summer Palace, Beijing.

Peaches are a reoccurring object in Chinese art and literature. They symbolize immortality and longevity with fertility and blissfulness. Blossoming peach trees thus symbolize rebirth, prosperity, growth, and romance. It is very popular for couples to get married under a blossoming peach tree. This peaceful and gorgeous location, disconnected from the political tensions and atrocities of war at the time, seemingly draws itself to be a desirable utopia. 

I wish I were there right about now. Just chill by the riverside and bite into a soft squishy peach. Relax and take in the scenery as the calm and luscious breeze flows through the scenery, inviting the leaves for a little dance. Maybe there'll be some fish in the waters as well, gracefully flowing along with the cool and crisp stream.

              Chinese Peach Blossoms

Why couldn't the fisherman find the location again? Is it because he did not fulfill the villagers' requests to not leak the secrecy and location of their utopia, causing an observing supreme entity a great deal of anger and casting his marks away as punishment? Or did he just naturally lose his markings and forget where he put them? What if this was all just a hallucination? We may never know.

I'd like to believe that this utopia is a real place, and that there's still a pocket of villagers there today, living in oblivion and ignorant to the woes of today. Oblivion and ignorance have such a negative connotation to them, but the possession of these qualities can provide a blissful existence. 

This is turning into more of a poem review rather than a painting review. What can I say about the painting? I chose it because it looked nice. The pinks of the peach blossoms invite the fisherman in and draws attention to the riverbanks. The landscape is laced and scattered with luscious white clouds for an almost mystifying effect, highlighting and driving in the context of this utopic location, hidden away and disconnected from the outside world. I just thought it looked really cool. There's no other reason. 

This piece represents the Qing era due to the landscape characteristics, highlighting the orthodox/conservative style of painting. Wang Hui (王翬) is also known for his Shan Shui (山水) style, involving scenery or natural landscapes highlighting mountains, rivers, and waterfalls. The poem was a very popular fable in the dynasty eras of China, thus there were plenty of other interpretations and works of arts and literature influenced by this poem. Peach Blossom, Fishing Boat is just one of many. 

The research I performed consisted of carefully filtering through websites and collecting valuable and informative critical information. Or, if I'm being brutally honest, just typing "peach blossom fishing boat" into google and clicking around for about an hour. I did find a few very informative sources that I tapped into to create this blog. 

What's my experience touring a virtual museum? I'm not sure if I can provide any interesting or unique feedback about it. I was just looking at images and descriptions about them through my 22" computer monitor, while I sit in my broken 3 year old chair with a flat cushion, listening to lo-fi hip-hop. I've been to plenty of museums in my life, but I never truly enjoyed them or took a liking to them. I guess I don't have too big of an appreciation for art works or artifacts in my heart, or I just didn't have the best experiences in going to them. After watching that 'how to visit a museum' video, maybe I'll try again with my significant other one day, of course not until all of this blows over. 

I really did enjoy stumbling upon this work of art and the poem that came along with it. It gives more to me as the audience than just ink and paint on a scroll. It provides context, a backstory, a scenario and more images that I can imagine for myself. My mind is fascinated by this fable, and my eyes are captivated by this piece of art. I encourage those that stay away from traditional art and the likes to give it a try. Dig a little deeper into those individual pieces, find out some more about their origins, and you might just find your own little 'utopia'. 

Works Cited

Birch, Cyril, and Donald Keene. Anthology of Chinese Literature: from Early Times to the Fourteenth Century. Grove Press, 1967.

Fong, Mindy. “Lucky Peach: A Chinese Symbol of All Things Good.” Jadechocolates, Welcome to Jade Chocolates, 21 May 2017, www.jadechocolates.com/single-post/2017/05/20/Lucky-Peach-A-Chinese-Symbol-of-All-Things-Good.

“The Peach Blossom Fishing Boat - Wang Hui (1632-1717) - Google Arts & Culture.” Google, Google, artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-peach-blossom-fishing-boat-wang-hui-1632-1717/RAFjhAbruZWU6A?hl=en.

“Qing Dynasty Art (1644-1911) History, Types and Characteristics.” Qing Dynasty Art: Characteristics, Types, www.visual-arts-cork.com/east-asian-art/qing-dynasty.htm.

“Wang Hui: Chinese Painting.” China Online Museum, 5 June 2016, www.comuseum.com/painting/masters/wang-hui/.

“Wang Hui: Peach Blossom, Fishing Boat.” China Online Museum, 2 Mar. 2019, www.comuseum.com/product/wang-hui-peach-blossom-fishing-boat/.

Inside the Shubox: The Bhagavad Gita

    This post is a review about the English translation version of the Ancient Indian work of literature named Bhagavad Gita. This English version was translated by Jack A. Hawley in 2001. Hawley is a consultant and writer as well as a student, teacher, and lecturer of the infusion of new energy, heart, and spirit into everyday life. Before his career as a consultant, Hawley spent ten years as an executive in the high-tech and service industries. He studied at Cornell University and Columbia Pacific University, and holds a doctoral in organization behavior and has taught part time in several universities. In the late '70s, Hawley took his studies to India, where he fell in love with Eastern wisdom. Jack and his wife now lives half of each year in an ashram of rural southern India and the other half teaching executives and others the wisdom they have obtained. This translation of Gita is one of Hawley's most successful and praised works in his collection. The Gita, categorized as a self help book, is an Ancient Indian scripture containing many philosophical and logical theories and passages. Its message is for all, as the meanings woven into its sentences are wide and fits everyone's life, regardless of where they came from or who they are. The messages are broad and general yet still so penetratingly impactful to one's life and morals. Thus, the intended audience can be anyone. Ones that need motivation, ones that may need a push in the direction, anyone looking for clarification in life. 

Jack Hawley, 2018

 

Its influences are wide and far, inspiring and impacting historical figures across centuries. Heinrich Himmler kept a German translation of the book by his side at all times and considered himself as Arjuna, and Hitler as his Krishna. Julius R. Oppenheimer, American physicist best known for being the director of the Manhattan Project, quoted a verse from the Bhagavad Gita while witnessing the very first nuclear detonation test in history. The book was an inspiration for Ghandi, a revolutionary for Indian culture and history. Ironically enough, it even inspired his assailant to carry out his actions, citing the Gita as one of his motivators. A seemingly small novel containing hard-hitting truths and tales about life and its mysteries, about Hinduism and what it all revolves around, about the inner soul and how to recognize oneself. A stack of pages offering precious knowledge that can be interpreted in any way possible leading to world-changing effects by ripple. That, is what the Gita is.

J. Robert Oppenheimer's Remarks After the Trinity Nuclear Test

A Pair of Black and White Dice, Small yet Powerful. 
 

The Gita opens with a story about a grand battle that takes place in Northern India. Two sides, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, clash at what is presumed to be an internal conflict, a civil war for control over the kingdom. All of this happened due to Yudhishthira, one of five brothers of the Pandavas, losing everything they ever owned in a series of dice games. It would be known that Yudhishthira had a huge gambling problem, and the dice games were rigged from the start by Sakuni, an uncle of Duryodhana, the leader of the Kauravas. Enraged by this aggression and left without choice, the Pandava brothers were exiled for thirteen years into the wilderness, away from the kingdom. Thirteen years later, they returned and demanded the kingdom back. Duryodhana however was firm as can be and would not give up a millimeter of land. Thus, the two sides had no choice but to go to war. On the day of the battle, a warrior by the name of Arjuna, known to be the greatest archer of all time, leads the war band of the Pandavas. Before the fight, he asks his charioteer to carry him out into the battlefield to get a good look at what he's going up against. Shockingly, he sees the faces of old friends, teachers, patrons, peers. Faces he recognized as friendly and dearing to him, now on the opposite side of the battlefield ready to do what it takes to kill him. Arjuna throws down his bow, and refuses to fight. Krishna, a Hindu god, just so happens to be Arjuna's charioteer. He thinks for a moment, then starts speaking to Arjuna. The proceeding conversation would be known as The Gita.

The Gita would offer some extraordinary advices and theories that everyone and anyone can apply to their lives. Here are some of my favourites. "It is even better to die doing one's own duty than attempt to do the duty of another." (Hawley 35). A rough translation of the original Sanskrit, but approximately meaning that it is better to live your own life with imperfections rather than to imitate another life flawlessly. This quote refers to the concepts of dharma, one's duty, and atma, one's true inner self. Later in the story, Arjuna tests Krishna by asking what if his efforts of meditation and spiritual dedications are wasted due to his eventual and unavoidable mortal death. Krishna laughs and responds with, "Through constant spiritual effort over many lifetimes a person becomes purified of all desires and achieves the ultimate goal of becoming one with God." (Hawley 64). This quote refers to the concept of reincarnation and the 'ultimate goal' in Hinduism, which is to transcend above this materialist world and become eternally one with God, the creator of all. Spiritual work is never wasted. It is instead carried over with every mortal form in one's atma, and follows them throughout their journey. The human form, the one with the most opportunities when it comes to spirituality, is the top of the ladder and an opportunity for those at the verge of enlightenment to finally step across and cross worlds. After transcendence, the painful cycle of birth, disease, suffering, and death finally ceases, and one will finally become united with God. After an eventful conversation with Krishna and a convenient freeze in time, Arjuna picks up his bow and morale fills his heart once more. He is ready to abide by Krishna's instructions and prepared to fight. 

Krishna Followed by His Disciple, Arjuna

These quotes, although simple at first glance, offer so much in terms of interpretation and messages. One can interpret them at face value, another can compare them to a real-life dilemma as an analogy and seek their own path from there. One can gather the fruits of these texts as peace and seeking welfare for all, another can use these texts to justify their violent and discriminative actions. The way one can take these quotes can have astronomical effects on them and the world around them. This is what makes the Gita so powerful, so inspiring, such a monumental giant in the development and formation of the world to what it is today. Thus, I encourage you all to pick up a copy of the Gita and have a thorough read at it, or just skim online for some interesting chunks of texts and quotes. It's a gem in the world of literature, and I hope you all have an eye to appreciate it for what it offers.

Works Cited

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Krishna.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 12 May 2020, www.britannica.com/topic/Krishna-Hindu-deity.

Ghosh, Palash. “Heinrich Himmler: The Nazi Hindu.” International Business Times, 9 Nov. 2012, www.ibtimes.com/heinrich-himmler-nazi-hindu-214444.

Hawley, Jack. “The Bhagavad Gita A Walkthrough for Westerners.” About the Author Jack Hawley, 2006, www.gitawalkthrough.com/jhawley.htm.

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

Rossenfeld, Carrie. “J. Robert Oppenheimer ‘Now I Am Become Death...".” J. Robert Oppenheimer "Now I Am Become Death..." | Media Gallery, 2013, www.atomicarchive.com/media/videos/oppenheimer.html.