Author – Who created this? What do we know about the author? What might influence their opinions?
The author is Wu Bao, a local functionary that sne this letter in hope of forming a relationship with an official and have a position in the bureaucracy.
Place – Where and when was it created?
It was created in China during the Tang era.
Prior Knowledge What do we know about where this was created? What have we learned about this topic? Society that may be relevant?
While some had connections to the bureaucracy during the Tang and Song era (to get them a position just because they knew someone who could get them in), those who wished to apply to bureaucratic positions had to pass written examinations.
Audience Who is the intended audience? How might they receive this? – quotes to support your claims?
The intended audience is for the nephew of the Prime Minister. He might feel respected and might sympathize for Wu Bao because of the situation he is in.
“I have omitted to prostrate myself before you, my heart has always been filled with admiration and respect.” “So lacking in talent, I fear I am but poorly fitted to be selected for an official post; far less can I entertain the hope of some meager salary.”
Reason for Creation What is the purpose of this document? Read between the lines, support claims with a quote
The purpose of this document is for Wu Bao to try to get a position in the bureaucratic system by writing a letter to the nephew of the Prime Minister. determination to advance *
“If you will not overlook a man from your native place, be quick to bestow your special favour on me, so that I may render your service ‘as a humble groom.’”
The Main Idea Support with quotes
The main idea is that Wu Bao wants a position in the bureaucratic system, therefore he writes to the nephew of the Prime Minister in hope of winning his sympathy. However, he does show how he will be committed. “I, in my youth, devoted myself to study” “Reaching manhood, I paid close attention to the Confucian classics.” “But in talent I do not compare to the other men, and so far I have held office only as an officer of the guard.”
Significance How does this relate to the big picture? What can it tell us as historians? Relate to ESPIRIT if possible
This relates because all those who wanted to take on a role in the bureaucratic system throughout the Tang and Song era had to pass written examinations. Others however, had connections inside the system. Wu Bao wrote to the nephew of the Prime Minister because he had ties to him since they were both came from the same place.
Japan ESPIRIT
E
- Silk, hemp, paper, dyes, oils were used in the market, trade, made profits
S
- Nobles enjoyed luxuries, and followed strict codes of politeness. - Women were equally artist -Women tried and tried again to gain political power -Love affairs common - Warriors were high -valued for their protection against bandits. - Rise of samurais turned peasants to serfs - Women had power in feudal to manage guilds and businesses and had the ability to pass it on to their daughters. - Primogeniture in the elite class however limited the power of women
P
- Taika reforms -change the imperial administration to match China's - Women would never rule - capital -- Kyoto/Heian. - Kyoto/Heian banned all Buddhist monasteries and then monks built them on the hills surrounding Kyoto - Families with high political power further increased that power through increasing the number of estates controlled - Small kingdoms created - Bushi, military leaders, ruled kingdoms - Samurais, mounted troops, protected the court, loyal to Bushi - As local lords’ powers grew, the court and imperial administration had less power - Genpei Wars -forced peasants of farmlands to fight against each other - Feudal era began - the Minamoto won the samurai warriors in the Genpei Wars - Collapse of central government caused by civil wars
I
- Ideas, products, traditions, marketing all imported from China - Zen Buddhism grew and led to a reawakened interaction with China
R
- Buddhism failed in gaining large amounts of political power within the Japanese govt - Peasants/Serfs turned to pure land Buddhism in hopes of salvation - Zen Buddhism -> warrior elites
I
- Nobles and the govt officials tried to: learn Chinese, share ideas, and believe in Confucianism - Peasants admired the nobles and temples - Poetry: Chinese script - Seppuku was used to commit suicide - Scroll paintings that were original from Chinese influence
T
- New tools - Use of draft animals - Guilds to promote marketing
What do we know about where this was created? What have we learned about this topic? Society that may be relevant?
Who is the intended audience? How might they receive this? – quotes to support your claims?
“I have omitted to prostrate myself before you, my heart has always been filled with admiration and respect.”
“So lacking in talent, I fear I am but poorly fitted to be selected for an official post; far less can I entertain the hope of some meager salary.”
What is the purpose of this document? Read between the lines, support claims with a quote
determination to advance *
“If you will not overlook a man from your native place, be quick to bestow your special favour on me, so that I may render your service ‘as a humble groom.’”
Support with quotes
“I, in my youth, devoted myself to study”
“Reaching manhood, I paid close attention to the Confucian classics.”
“But in talent I do not compare to the other men, and so far I have held office only as an officer of the guard.”
How does this relate to the big picture? What can it tell us as historians? Relate to ESPIRIT if possible
Japan ESPIRIT
- Women were equally artist
-Women tried and tried again to gain political power
-Love affairs common
- Warriors were high -valued for their protection against bandits.
- Rise of samurais turned peasants to serfs
- Women had power in feudal to manage guilds and businesses and had the ability to pass it on to their daughters.
- Primogeniture in the elite class however limited the power of women
- Women would never rule
- capital -- Kyoto/Heian.
- Kyoto/Heian banned all Buddhist monasteries and then monks built them on the hills surrounding Kyoto
- Families with high political power further increased that power through increasing the number of estates controlled
- Small kingdoms created
- Bushi, military leaders, ruled kingdoms
- Samurais, mounted troops, protected the court, loyal to Bushi
- As local lords’ powers grew, the court and imperial administration had less power
- Genpei Wars -forced peasants of farmlands to fight against each other
- Feudal era began - the Minamoto won the samurai warriors in the Genpei Wars
- Collapse of central government caused by civil wars
- Zen Buddhism grew and led to a reawakened interaction with China
- Peasants/Serfs turned to pure land Buddhism in hopes of salvation
- Zen Buddhism -> warrior elites
- Peasants admired the nobles and temples
- Poetry: Chinese script
- Seppuku was used to commit suicide
- Scroll paintings that were original from Chinese influence
- Use of draft animals
- Guilds to promote marketing