Analysis Of The Woman's Tale

Emperor K’ang-hsi was one of the greatest Chinese emperors of all time. Ruling from 1662 to 1722 he was also one of the longest ruling emperors in Chinese history and for that matter the world. K’ang-hsi brought China to long-term stability and relative wealth after years of war and chaos. Jonathan Spence writes from the eyes of K’ang-hsi getting his information from K’ang-hsi’s own writings. Though a little biased towards himself this book still provides important insight into his mind. Emperor of China is divided into six parts; In Motion, Ruling, Thinking, Growing Old, Sons, and Valedictory.

Through this insight, Jing-mei for the first time articulates her determination to live by her own self-definition, rather than those ill-fitting "selves" her mother continues to impose upon her: "I won 't let her change me, I promised myself. I won 't be what I 'm not." As the story progresses, Jing-mei becomes more and more openly defiant against her mother 's wishes. One night, she bursts out at her

She has previously become the empress dowager (the widow of the emperor with the power over all of his property), then the regent (the substitute for the emperor). However, after the emperor Gaozong suffered a stroke in 660, Wu seized the real power within China. Wu’s slyness resulted in the exile of members of the royal family that were heirs to the throne and in at least in one case, to be poisoned (Li Hong).

Empress Wu Zetian, the only woman to rule China, ruled during the Tang dynasty, but exerted cruel and malicious methods to gain power. She was born with the name Wu Zhao into a wealthy family and learned to write, read, and play music. Because of her beauty and intelligence, Wu became Emperor Tsung’s fifth favorite concubine, or

"She killed her sisters, butchered her elder brothers, murdered the ruler, and poisoned her mother," is a quote written about Empress Wu in the chronicles. Empress Wu Zetian was a very interesting historical figure with amazing character traits and many fascinating achievements. She had made an impact on many lives. Empress Wu Zetian had also been the first female to be crowned emperor.

In the Valedictory Edict Kangxi views death positively and as a relief from the everyday grind of virtuously ruling an empire. One of his most virtuous traits is he does not fear death and is comforted by the idea of relief from the responsibility of his reign through death once his sovereignty as a virtuous ruler is completed. One of Kangxi’s great tasks left to be finished is who is to succeed him. He views this as a great issue, and as a good emperor cannot neglect it. Kangxi understands the weight of his decision and I believe he truly wants what is best for China. The issue of an heir seems to be on the forefront of his mind and this dilemma weighs heavily on his conscience. Kangxi states he wrote a letter indicating his intention for an heir, but does not go into detail in his Valedictory Edict. There is a record that Kangxi’s son Yinreng was disinherited in 1708. There are stories that emperor Kangxi heard from his officials, that when touring the country, Yinreng would recruit young men and women as personal sex slaves as part of a major molestation scandal. This deeply saddened Kangxi and, while on his death bed, reportedly appointed Yinzhen; Emperor Kangxi‘s fourth son. Yinzhen’s claim to the throne was highly controversial and heavily disputed because Yinzhen and his followers were only ones present at the time of

Jing-Mei characterizes her mother as an ideal parental figure by showing how much hope she has in her daughter. Her mother’s only wishes are to give her daughter more opportunities than she had growing up in China. And by doing this she shows that no matter how many conflicts there is between a mother and daughter, a mother will never give up hope on her daughter. She will cherish her for who she is in the end.

The conservatism of both imperial authorities and their gentry supporters postponed any resolution of China’s peasant problem, delayed any real change for China’s women, and deferred any vigorous efforts

5. In Guangzhou what does Leah learn about the political situation in China? (page 22)

The emperor and minister relationship can be seen on page 284 of the text with the conversation Chunyu Fen has with the king. “ Now that he had to put up with groundless complaints and defamation, he was very unhappy”, this quote shows his obligation and respect that he has for the current king. Even with all the hard work he did in Southern kingdom he did not let this inflate his ego. He remind loyal to the king that has given Chunyu Fen his position of power.

In this time in China, the role that women and men had were very different from each other. Women were expected to be quite, obedient, and respectful. While men were the provider, the intellectual and the decision maker in the family. In Shen Fu and his wife, Yun marriage it started out like the typical relationship in eightieth century China, each one fulfilling the roles that society had in place for them. But as they became to know each other more, Shen Fu saw Yun real personality and wanted someone to experience life, so he started to encourage her to be herself and told her she didn’t have to live up to this gender stereotypes for women. They both were always

An-Mei’s mother may have dishonored her mother, but she came back to be with her on her deathbed, doing all she could to help her mother. “This is how a daughter honors her mother. It is shou so deep it is in your bones.” (Schmidt and Crockett,

Many people argued that Empress Dowager Cixi accelerated the speed of the demise of the Qing dynasty. Cixi might be a blasting fuse but she was not accounted for the final fall of the dynasty. The actions Cixi took had profoundly changed the foundation of feudal China so as to push China forward into a modern stage. Although many historical data suggested that whatever Cixi had done were to consolidate her authority and personal status. But no matter what, the impact on the country was obvious. Cixi broke the previous traditions from Confucianism that had been lasted for centuries. Tensions between the Manchus and Han Chinese had been greatly improved, which made a great contribution to China for later unification. Under the reign of the Empress Dowager, the social structure had undergone a series of changes. Qing 's demise is doomed, this was resulted from issues that had stacked up from previous generations. Moreover, Cixi did her best to secure China’s status in the world in such a chaotic period in history. She made undeniable contributions to China.

Wu Zhao was born into a family of nobility in Wenshuai the Shanxi province. Her father was Wu Shihuo had her educated in politics, history, and music, she had refused to do other things other girls her age would do. She had also traveled with her parents. She had come to be the Empress by becoming a concubine to the Emperor, Tang Taizong, in 638 C.E. the emperor had heard about her beauty so she was brought to him. After his death, she became a concubine to his son and successor. She soon rose above the other wives and became the emperor’s chief wife. She had given birth to two sons in 652 and 653 C.C., which angered the wife of Gazong, to get rid of her Wu Zhao accuses her of murdering her daughter in 654 C.E. she was found guilty. Wu Zhao

Despite Macartney’s wishes to establish diplomatic trade relations with China, he does not make much of an attempt to conform to the Chinese way of life. In such refusal, he implies that he must not change the ways in which he believe are superior to live by. In the days preceding Macartney’s meeting of the Chinese Emperor at the ceremony, he exhibits the ultimate action of disrespect. Macartney states as Wang and Chou discuss the meeting of the emperor, ‘it seems to be a very serious matter with them, and a point which they have their hearts upon. They pressed me most earnestly to comply with it, and said it was a mere trifle; kneeled down on the floor and practised it of their own accord to show me the manner of it, and begged me to try whether I could not perform it. On my declining it, they applied to my interpreter to do it, who though a Chinese, said he could only act as I directed him; they seem a little disappointed in finding me not so pliant in this point as they wished” (90). With the Emperor being the most important person in China, Macartney’s refusal to bow in honor of him seems rather counterintuitive, given that he is on this expedition for the purposes of establishing diplomatic relations