Early Historical Writings

The Cou (Tso) Commentary

How can we understand this excerpt? It is not a story but history or a commentary on history; therefore, what is it saying to its future readers?

From Conversations from the States: The Downfall of Prince Shen-sheng

Overall, what is the rather convoluted plot of this intrigue?

The three ministers each has a response to the situation, what does each represent?

What method does Lady Li's messenger, the actor, use to convince Li K'o not to interfere with her plans?

What is Shen-sheng's character as shown by his final explanation? How about Lady Li? Can you see her as an eternal type in Chinese history?

From Intrigues of the Warring States: Three Persuasions

The arguments of the minister shown in the first section are to what purpose? Would you be persuaded?

The story of Sable P'o (Bo) revolves around definitions of loyalty; what different illustrations of this, including the one Sable P'o himself uses to persuade Tien Tan, can you find here? What is Sable P'o's ultimate end game?

The last story here is of the queen of Chao (Zhao), her love for her children, and the necessities of rule. What lesson is taught here and how does her minister, Ch'u Che (Chu Zhe) bring her to see it?

The Faults of Qin (Ch'in)

What are the faults of the Qin dynasty as described in the essay?

Sima Qian (Ssu-ma Ch'ien) and the Classic of History( Shiji/Shih Chi): Biographies:

From his letter to Jen An, what do we know of Sima Qian's background and life: in which dynasty did he live and what is his personal story?

From the selections, who did Sima Qian write about, what are the characters of each of these men?

What other points was the author trying to make in each of these biographies other than telling us of these peoples' lives?

Compare the story of Ching K'o (Jing Ko) the assassin with the movie Hero: what themes do they deal with that are the same? Does the director of Hero have other points to make and if so what are they? On what thought does the force of Sima Qian's biography turn? How do the main characters compare?

Writings after the fall of the Han; Buddhism in China:

Xi Kang (Hsi K'ang) Letter to Shan Tao/T'ao

After the fall of the Han Dynasty, many civil servants withdrew from government; how does this letter explain one man's decision not to serve? What are his reasons and how does he argue them?

Tao Qian:

According to the essay "The Peach Blossom Spring", what makes a Chinese Utopia? On what is it modeled?

Do you find anything interesting or unusual about this choice of situation for a Utopia?

Han Shan:

What is the frame for these poems? (See the prose introduction)

The time after the fall of the Han Dynasty was a time of turmoil and rejection of the Confucian ideals, which had upheld the Han; how do these poems reflect the character of the age in which they were written? What philosophies do they illustrate?

What are some of the metaphors used, do any images strike you?

Buddhism in China

How is the character of Mahayana (The Greater Vehicle) Buddhism, the type that came to China, Korea, Tibet, Japan and Vietnam, different from Hinayana (The Lesser Vehicle) Buddhism, which found a home in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand and Cambodia?

How was Buddhism in many ways contrary to the values of Chinese society at this time? What are some examples of the effect had on philosophical thought in China?

Poets of the Tang and Song

Wang Wei, Li Bai and Du Fu are all poets of the Tang Dynasty. How would your characterize their poetry as different one from another?

Choosing one of these poets, what sorts of images does he typically use?

Su Dongbo and Red Cliff I and II

Su Dongbo wrote the Red Cliff I and II. These essays are very famous and also difficult to talk about. Here are some questions to get to an understanding of them:

What overall themes do you find?
What is the setting of Red Cliff I, what historical references and metaphors are used?
What is the atmosphere in Red Cliff I, how does it end?
How is Red Cliff II different? Compare setting (including season), metaphors, feeling.
Does Red Cliff II change how you see the previous essay?
How would you respond to Su Dongbo's essays as a whole?

Shen Fan's The Classroom and the Wider Culture: Identity as a Key...

After reading this explanation of Chinese composition and aesthetic criticism, what is your understanding of the term yijing?

Can you apply it to Su Dongbo's Red Cliff I and II?

Short Stories of the Tang

Yuan Zhen (Yuan Chen)'s The Story of Cui Yingying/Ts'ui Ying-ying

Describe the two main characters in this story, Yingying and Chang (Zhang), what are their circumstances and characters? What is the plot?

How do Chang and Yingying each respond to the attraction he or she feels for the other and is that response constant for both of them throughout the story? What for instance do you think of Yingying's letter and Chang's actions after he reaches the capital?

This story is believed to be based on an incident in Yuan Chen's life, who later went on to marry in a politically advantageous way; in this light how might you interpret this story?

Du Guangting (Tu Kuang-t'ing)'s The Curly Bearded Hero

Who are the characters and what is the plot of this story?

This story is based on history, why would it be interesting for Chinese readers of the time?

What is Miss Chang's role in the story?

What is the author's lesson?