Day 1 After-Class Discussion

JuzhiZheng

Briefly describe one historical event or period that you find interesting. From what sources did you learn about it? Why do you find it interesting? (175-250 words)

An example for reference only:

I find the U.S. Occupation of Japan from 1945 to 1952 very interesting. I learned about it from primary sources such as the archival records of U.S. Occupation authorities and diary entries of Occupation officials, as well as from secondary sources like Embracing Defeat by historian John Dower. 

I find this period interesting because I am fascinated by the debate on the nature of the U.S. Occupation of Japan. While the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces aimed to purge Japan of its wartime totalitarian regime and thereafter establish a democracy, it had silenced and suppressed the left-wing factions of Japanese politics, which acted more radically than SCAP had allowed them to be. By suppressing the left-wing, SCAP managed to establish the pro-U.S., conservative Liberal Party (the later Liberal Democratic Party) as the center of postwar Japanese politics. Modern scholars remains divided on characterizing the U.S. Occupation of Japan: some find it an overall progressive reform, others an essentially reactionary domination. I look to more closely examine this period and hopefully join the academic discourse.

2020-08-02

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  成山河

  What interests me most is the period from late Qing Dynasty to the bulid of new China., People tend to care a certain period of history which they feel close to .  The generation of my grandfather has lived through that times. Since I was a child, I have heard a lot of stories about war , starving  and separations of family.It  gives me specific perception of that age.

  And it's an  age of drastic transition from tradition to modern, of course we are still in the course of it. Many of the intellectuals have a better understanding of traditional culture as well as the western culture.It could give us a good reference about how to understand our traditional culture to read their writings and biographies.

  I also like reading biographies of that age. Through that violenly changing times, I can learn a lot from how to make a choice in  the crictical time.

  2020-08-07 刪除 喜欢(0)

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  小张.
  I am very interested in the Han Dynasty. Especially Liu Bang, the legendary founding emperor of the Han Dynasty.A hero is known in the time of misfortune. Some people say that he is ambitious and resourceful, while others say that he is lucky and thick-skinned.He is a coward who can only weigh things up and then say "what to do". He is also a good leader with a broad mind.He is "incompetent" but has the ability to get capable people from all over the world to work for him. Zhang Wenyu

  2020-08-04 刪除 喜欢(1)

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  小张.
  I am very interested in the Han Dynasty. Especially Liu Bang, the legendary founding emperor of the Han Dynasty.A hero is known in the time of misfortune. Some people say that he is ambitious and resourceful, while others say that he is lucky and thick-skinned.He is a coward who can only weigh things up and then say "what to do". He is also a good leader with a broad mind.He is "incompetent" but has the ability to get capable people from all over the world to work for him.

  2020-08-04 刪除 喜欢(0)

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  旖然
  The historical period that interested me most is the Ming nynasity.  Actually this interest started when the book Those Ming Dynasity Stuff came out, which impressed me so much. It's a time of great changes, in which different figures came onto the history stage, under various conditions, and played their role as if they are the real actor of history. With the author's narrative, it seems that all of them has devoted themselves to a grand picture of that time and performed a facinating drama. Ming Dynasity was significant for ancent China, it's reformed political institution strengthened the monarchy,and attained remarkable accumulation of material prosperity. Although there had been wars, eventually victory brought us peace. In that time, we can witness the subtle balance between different powers, the stratagem in the open or in the darkness, the co-existance of humanity and inhumanity, the events which implies the destiny of the country from a giant perspective, the reaction of tiny individual when one's entangled with history...For me, given the literal and artistic inspiration of that book, I enjoyed the the beauty and charm of history. I learned so much when I buried myself in those papers and brought my mind back to 400 years ago. I found I acquired more understandings of the complexity history as well as the appropriate attitude we should held, and all those vivid events will always remain in my mind, like remembering a good drama. --by Wang Siyi

  2020-08-04 刪除 喜欢(0)

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  citn
  I find the history of the Cold War very attractive, especially several famous events like the war between India and China and Cuban Missile Crisis. I learned about it from some books. Since I am interested in International political relations, the Cold War is a perfect classical example. With more secret documents exposed, this is still a valuable research realm. I learned why president Mao decided to support Vietnam and what attitude the American government thought of us. Moreover, I learned the subtle time we chose to attack India and the delicacy of the international situation constituted our success. International political relations are so charming. We can feel this kind of delicacy and balance in the history of the Cold War.

  2020-08-03 刪除 喜欢(0)

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  用户580477
  Changzheng which is from 1934 to 1936, give me a deep impression. I believe that everyone kowns that history, because we study it by book or our parents or grandparents tell it in person. At there,I don’t want to describe details about Changzheng,as we all kown, Changzheng includes crossing Chishui river,crossing Jinsha River skillfully,flying to Luding Bridge,climbing the snow mountain and crossing the grass and so on. And why i am interested in it has two sides reasons. On one hand, on my view, this period of history is called Changzheng, and my name is Yuanzheng, we all have “zheng”,which means Changzheng represents my parents good wishes for me,I also try to bring out my best  in life. On the other hand, the history itself is very very meaningful,the spirit of it always encourage me to become brave and confidient. I think that if history give you a special sence at a special time ,it's the biggest value of it.     Yuanzheng

  2020-08-03 刪除 喜欢(0)

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  Jingying Xu
  （Continue writing）It was also during this period that the Tang Dynasty had very active foreign exchanges. The government encouraged foreign businessmen to trade and allowed them to live for a long time. Non-governmental activities began to travel abroad, such as Jianzhen’s eastward trip. In addition, allowing foreigners to come to the Tang Dynasty to take office, just like Abe Nakamaro, who served as an official in the Luoyang Classics Correction and was responsible for the compilation of the classics. Countless historical facts prove that the Tang Dynasty was once splendid. Some people say that the Anshi Rebellion ruined this flourishing age. My idea for this is that if there is no Anshi Rebellion, how long the Tang Dynasty’s flourishing age will last and what impact will it have on its economy and culture . I hope to study this period more carefully and hope to join the academic discussion.                                        ---Jingying Xu

  2020-08-03 刪除 喜欢(1)

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  Jingying Xu

  I think the Tang Dynasty from 717 to 756 AD is very interesting. Some people may wonder why this time period was chosen, because this is not only the Tang Dynasty in China, but also the Tang Dynasty in the world. This is the life of Abe Nakamaro, a student sent to Tang Dynasty during the Nara period in Japan. The reference book is Tang Feng He Yue-Abe Nakamaro Biography.

  This period corresponds to the Xuanzong period of the Tang Dynasty. This is a quite dramatic historical period. It continued the prosperous period of Zhenguan and pushed it to the climax of the prosperous period of Kaiyuan. Then it disappeared like a flash in the pan, and the entire dynasty fell to the bottom. Just as the posterity Bai Juyi said, the good things in the world are not strong, and the colored clouds are easy to scatter and the glass is broken.     ---Jingying Xu

  2020-08-03 刪除 喜欢(1)

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  张文佳
  I am quite interested in Northern Wei Dynasty(386-534) because during this period, Xianbei nationality experienced sinicization which is both a sensible choice made by Xianbei nationality and an inevitable result of historical development. I learned about this period mainly from my History class in senior high school, as well as the paper written by金家诗(2001) which mainly talks about the three big conversions made in the process of the sinicization of Xianbei nationality and the vital role people in He Long played during this sinicization process.The three big conversions mentioned in 金家诗(2001) include the conversion from tribal alliance to a feudal society, the conversion from nomadic civilization to agricultural civilization, and the conversion from advocation for militarism to advocation for civility. Actually, the three conversions all indicate the fact that at that time, Han culture was far more advanced and in order to better consolidate the rule, especially the rule of Han, Xianbei nationality had to equip themselves with some new systems and values. This brings me to an idea that in terms of a country’s development in the long run, compared with military power, the delicate economic, political and cultural systems can exert more profound influence. By ZHANG WENJIA

  2020-08-03 刪除 喜欢(1)

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  王宝玥
  The historical event which I am most interested in is the impeachment of Zhang Juzheng. I learned about it when I read the book A Year of No Significance written by Huang Renyu.   Emperor Wanli ascended the throne at the age of nine, and at the beginning of his reign, Zhang Juzheng assisted the imperial government. Zhang Juzheng, a jinshi(a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), was in charge of all military and political affairs. When his father died in 1775, zhang did not resign as other ancient officials did and also did not return to his hometown to mourn his father. Instead, the emperor put him in an important position. He enjoyed a glorious life when he was alive. On the ninth day before his death, he obtained the title “Taishi”(a person who own great power, similar to today’s prime minister),and became the first person who receive the title of Taishi during the 200 years of the Ming Dynasty.   However, in the six months since his death, he has been treated differently. His poverty was confisated and most of his family members were exiled.   Zhang Juzheng fell from the pinnacle of his power, which undoubtedly demonstrates the necessity of being honest and incorruptible. The twists and turns in this process also show the traditional historical background of Chinese society in the 16th century,  the side form before it conflicts with the trend of the world.

  2020-08-03 刪除 喜欢(1)