1
Japan during Europe’s Medieval Epoch This site examines the controversy as to whether Japan had a “feudal society” similar to that of medieval Europe.
http://hkuhist2.hkn.hk/hakasendo/g089.htm
Questions for discussion:
What elements of Japanese society 1000-1600 c.e. were similar to those of feudal Europe? What elements of Japanese society suggest that it was quite different. Why would historians find such comparative explorations useful or not useful in understanding the evolution of societies?
2
Samurai This site explores the history of samurai.
http://victorian.fortunecity.com/duchamp/410/main.html
Questions for further exploration.
Who were samurai and how was their service illustrated in Japanese art? Female samurai were rare, but left their mark. Who were they and how did some come to be revered?
3
Tale of the Genji These sites explore the life and times of Lady Murasaki Shikibu, the author of what is perhaps the world’s first novel, The Tale of Genji. http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/heroine9.html , http://www.sla.purdue.edu/academic/fll/Japanese/JPNS280/projects/Hines.htm , and http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/Japanese/fujiwara.htm
Questions for further exploration.
In what ways was Murasaki Shikibu unusual for her time, so much so that she was invited to court? She carefully documented the obsessively courtly behavior of nobles, but how did she regard their attention to perfect manners? How did court politics determine the life of Genji and reflect the high culture of traditional Japan?
4
Korean Art This site offers a brief synopsis of Korean art.
http://www.cris.com/~Jneuenfe/korean_art.htm
Questions for further exploration.
Like much of early Korean art, Koguryo frescos depict what kind of subjects and scenes? Under the influence of Buddhism, Koreans broadened artistic sensibilities, as reflected in what aspects of Korean art? What was the impact of increasing neo-Confucian Chinese influence on indigenous Korean art? What evidence can you find that supports the conclusion that after the 18th century, Koreans art returned to traditionally Korean stylistic expression? Find paintings in the exhibit that illustrate your answers to each of these questions?
5
Dong Son Drums These sites investigate one of the earliest phases of Vietnamese civilization, the Dong-son culture.
http://www.viettouch.com/dongson_drums.html , http://www.batin.com.vn/dbotweb/vcp/hs.htm , http://www2.hawaii.edu/~seassa/explorations/v2n2/art2/v2n2-art2.html and http://www.askasia.org/frclasrm/readings/r000061.htm
Questions for further exploration.
How have analyses of bronze-working in southeast Asia altered important historical pre-conceptions about civilization in Asia? How widespread was the trade in Dongson drums? What was the degree of their quality? How do they open a door to understanding everyday life, rituals and artistic motifs of the early Vietnamese people?
6
Hai Ba Trung These sites analyze the rebellion of the Vietnamese against the Chinese, led by two (Hai) sisters (Ba) of the Trung family.
http://www.viettouch.com/trung_sisters_main2.html#history , http://www.richmond.edu/~ebolt/history398/TrungSisters.html , http://www.boatpeople.com/heroes_heroines/trung_sister.html and http://www.ncsu.edu/stud_orgs/vsa/festivals/trungsisters.html
Questions for further exploration.
Why do Trung Trac and Trung Nhi hold a special place in Vietnamese history? Were they the only women involved in their revolt? How are they remembered today?
7
Trieu Trinh Nuong These sites offer short biographies of a Vietnamese woman warrior against the Chinese occupation of Vietnam.
http://www.boatpeople.com/heroes_heroines/trieu_au.html , http://www.viettouch.com/vietnam_heroes_heroines.html#trieu_au , http://www.viettouch.com/whois/images/trieuau.jpg (image)
Questions for further exploration.
Trieu Trinh Nuong is notable for more than pursuing a course of rebellion similar to that taken by the Trung sisters. How does her revolt illuminate the role of women in early Vietnamese society, particularly their relation to would-be male advisors and their acceptable as political leaders? Can you see any parallel between Trieu’s strategy and that employed by the Vietnamese much later against the United States?
8
The Kingdom of Champa These two sites provide brief histories of the kingdom of Champa, which once controlled much of what today is the central and southern portion of Vietnam.
http://mcel.pacificu.edu/as/students/vb/CHAm.htm , http://www.viettouch.com/champa_history.html http://mcel.pacificu.edu/as/students/cham/vietnam.html (map)
Questions for further exploration.
What elements of Hindu culture and society existed within Champa? What Vietnamese values regarding women, noted by Chinese historians, existed side by side in Champa with rather different Hindu concepts of the role of women?
9
Vietnam and China This site features an essay by noted historian of Vietnam, Alexander Woodside entitled Vietnamese History: Confucianism, Colonialism and the struggle for independence. Only the material here from the article’s beginning to the section entitled “French Goliath” will be utilized here. This section offers great insight into the shaping of Vietnamese culture and politics.
http://www.askasia.org/frclasrm/readings/r000057.htm
Questions for further exploration.
What historical processes, men and events can be cited to illuminate how and why Vietnam, while absorbing much of Chinese culture, remained a distinct civilization?
