essay

pick one of following topic and write a 3-4 double spaces pages essay.

1.  Discuss the use of imagery in the Shih-ching/Shi jing.  Use concrete examples.  Hint: make sure to consult Waley, Book of Songs (on reserve/in our readings, his “Introduction”).

2.  Why did the poems of the Shi jing become so important in Chinese society? How were they used?  Hint: Make sure to consult Waley, Book of Songs, “The Allegorical Interpretation” (on reserve/ in our readings).

3.  Describe the character and personality of Confucius as seen in the Lun-yu/Lunyu.  What do you think of him as a person?  How does the Confucius seen in the Lunyu compare to your earlier impressions of him?

4.  When did Chuang-tzu/Zhuangzi live?  Describe the period during which he lived and how it may have influenced his thought.

5.  Briefly compare Daoism and Confucianism; which way of thought came first? Focus on early Daoism and Confucianism as seen in the Lunyu and Zhuangzi.

6.  Describe some of Chuang-tzu's favorite themes.

7.  Discuss the ways Chuang-tzu expressed his ideas---his approach and style of writing.

8.       Are you a Confucian or a Daoist?

9.  Compare yueh-fu/yuefu 樂府 poems and the “Nineteen Songs” 古詩十九首

10.  When you read Ts’ao Chih/Cao Zhi's poems, what do you think about him, who is he?  What do you think of his poetry?

11.  Was T’ao Ch’ien/Tao Qian happy?  What if any conflicts can you detect in Tao Qian?

12.  Why did T’ao Ch’ien/Tao Qian retreat from the world?  Could you live like Tao Qian?

13.  Pick a poem or group of poems that you especially enjoy or find interesting, and write a brief description of the poem---what you like about it, what you find striking.  Of course the works you choose be related to what we have covered in the course (if you are not sure, ask me).

14. Pick a story from Chuang-tzu/Zhuangzi that you especially enjoyed and discuss it.