primary source analysis

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Primary source analysis 1

Primary Source Analysis.

[footnoteRef:1]This study will analyze the article ‘Sources of Chinese Tradition’ which was compiled by three authors, Burton Watson, Theodore de Bary and Wing-tsit Chan. The source is from Chinese literature and the study will mainly be aimed at finding a connection between the micro source and the macro source. The micro source will detail the source as an individual case whereas the macro will analyze the source as a large historical development. This will enable the reader to augment their understanding on the time and place where the source was written and further elucidate their understanding on both conventional and contemporary history. The question that will be posed by this study is; ‘how was the ancient Chinese administration structured and how did this influence the future Chinese administration structure?” (on the first part here, talk about the source more than just talking about the publisher of the book. It would be in the first paragraph of the source, who wrote the source (Announcement of the Duke of Shao) and why? when it was written and what is the purpose of it? Also talk a little bit about the Zhou dynasty and how it is related? Do some research outside the source use google or what so ever. To get an idea about some questions above here are some answers: we don’t know who wrote it, it was from somebody to his boss. The purpose of it was to report the building of the capital city. Use those answers but also go in details. Also remove the historical question to the paragraph when you talk about what happened and after you collect all the information, then ask the question.) This was the biggest problem in the paper, to write more about the source itself. [1: Wendy Conklin, “Analyzing and writing with primary sources,” (New York, NY: Teacher Created Materials, 2015). ]

The source as an individual case is mainly based on the introduction to oriental civilizations, a book that has been edited by Theodore de Bary and details the sources of Chinese tradition. Other authors who have contributed in the research include Wing-Tsit Chan and Burton Watson. The article was published by the Columbia University Press. The micro analysis reveals that the article was mainly aimed at announcing to the duke of Shao. (write more about the historical background and what happened or what is happening in this source. What is going on with the building of the city? and some background in general. Also where did you find those information in the reading? Identify where you found your statement from the reading it self, which is the attachment of the Announcement of the Duke of Shao)

The article is mainly based on the Confucius states, which include King Ch’eng who was in Feng and with the aim of fixing the residence at Lo (Conklin, 2015). The duke was sent to Shao in preparation for the survey of the local area. An announcement was made to the Duke of Shao. King ch’eng was the third king in the dynasty of Chou and was young at the time. The main advisors then were the duke of Chou and the duke of Shao. King Ch’eng was actually the second to serve at the reign and it is during his time that the city of Lo was mixed with the capital of the Chou State. The micro analysis details the tradition of the Chinese in the antiquity involving how the duke of Shao was announced.[footnoteRef:2] [2: 2 Katy Schiel, “Monarchy: A primary source analysis.” (New York, NY: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2003). ]

The macro analysis on the other hand reveals a larger historical development which involves the larger history of the Chinese state. In addition, it also reveals how the Chinese monarchy was developed and how it was structured. Furthermore, it revealed how the kings who are also known as the dukes were chosen and how the ceremonies took place in the Ancient China.

The article provides a larger picture of the China society in the pre-world war years and more so prior to the formulation and implementation of their current constitution. The article is therefore just a smaller picture of how China was in the past and readers can therefore look into this article as guidance into the Chinese history.

The limits of using the source are that it focuses just on the dukes and not on the entire structure of the Chinese society and therefore making it hard for the readers to get a comprehensive understanding of the historic Chinese society (Schiel, 2003). The source also failed to outline how the structure of the historic society was crafted and also how the transition from the historic period to the modern era was made.

This therefore means that many readers are left with suspense on how the later Chinese society or governance came into being. Nonetheless, the article aids in augmenting our understanding on the ancient Chinese society and further maggnifies aids us to fathom how the monarchial administration in China was crafted, all of which was an important information for analysis.

(P.S: the historical question is good, just move it after you talk about the background and after you gather all the information that led you to the question.)( use outside materials to help you find the information you need)

References

Conklin, W. (2015). Analyzing and writing with primary sources. New York, NY: Teacher Created Materials.

Schiel, K. (2003). Monarchy: A primary source analysis. New York, NY: The Rosen Publishing Group.