Question of the Day

Five hundred years from now, what primary sources will historians use to learn about the “lower classes” of the U.S. in the 2000s?

(For example, will they use music and if so what type?)

Group 1 - Read “Two contracts from Dunhuang” p203

Group 2 - Read the poems of the Tang period

p200-202

A. From Bo-Zhuyi-Watching the wheat reapers

B. From Bo-Zhuyi – The Old Man of Xinfeng with the Broken Arm

c. From Liu Zongyuan –Farmers

Group 3 - Read the poems

from Song period

p203-204

A. From Sushi – Lament of

the Farm Wife of Wu

B. From Zhengda- Untitled

Poem

C. From Yang Wanli –

Watching a Village

Festival

What do these documents tell us . . .

about the lives of peasants?

about the relationship between the government

and the peasants?

about the beliefs of the peasants? Or the

influence of Confucianism and/or Buddhism?

Do you think these peasants were poorer or

better off than peasants in other parts of the

world during the post-classical period?

Question of the Day

What are the main characteristics

(choose 2) our society uses to

determine beauty for women?

Is this a characteristic that has

always been used to determine

beauty in the U.S.?

Is it a characteristic that has been

used in other times and places

in the world?

Gender Roles

Women’s status slowly declined

(despite attempts at reform by

several empresses).

The Song Period saw women

at a very low social status.

Seclusion, lack of property

rights, footbinding, and exclusion

from education are

all examples of their lowering

status.

“A girl's beauty and desirability were counted

more by the size of her feet than by the beauty

of her face. Matchmakers were not asked, 'Is

she beautiful?' but 'How small are her feet?' A

plain face is given by heaven but poorly

bound feet are a sign of laziness.”

Ning Lao

Quote“All good is difficult. All evil is

easy. Dying, losing, cheating, and mediocrity is easy. Stay away from easy.”

Scott Alexander