Hello, hope the week was well for us all because I had a good one. This week we talked briefly about foxes this week on Tuesday along with editing the textbook resuming from our standing of last week.
Miss Ren The Fox Lady- Zheng and Yin were both best friends who went to a party together but Zheng said he had private matters to attend to so he rode out south on the back of a donkey and Yin went east on a white horse. Zheng shortly after leaving a short ways finds a beautiful lady by the name of Miss Ren who he fell deep in love with, though after a night together he was told of her origins of being a mystical fox being a detractor for all who heard of it but Zheng did not care for it and stayed by his decision to eventually marry Ren. Ren after marriage becomes fiercely loyal to Zheng, even where Yin tried to subdue her but will not give in due to her loyalty to Zheng because “I’m all that he has” kind of logic. Sadly the same loyalty causes her death when Zheng pressures her into going against a prophecy of her death if she were to go westward, which becomes her demise. The story was a enjoyable experience on all fronts for the characters and the mythological history blend this class specializes in, I would go to say its my favorite story we have read so far right next to Mulian’s journey to save his mother from eternal torment’s. It is not shown in the summary because the majorly plot points that pivot the story in new directions come from the character of Zheng, but Ren is the most focused character that has multiple layers of depth making you ask questions about her which are never answered. “Why does she want loyalty now after so many years of trickery?” or “Did she ever truly love Zheng unlike how Zheng looked for beauty exclusively?”. I had these questions throughout the reading of the story which does get answered but not outright its mostly interpretation. I must say that its truly sorrowful to see that happen to Miss Ren who ultimately could have turned a leaf from her origins of a Mythical miscevious fox spirit. Miss Ren will be missed.
Thursday Chapter Editing- I cant say I have much to talk about on this day class wise considering the position I was in but here goes. We once again hop back into fixing the 2020 self made textbook with our groups, with minor differences to last weeks approach. The Fact Checking group was impacted most by this week however through the introduction of the Chinese History 5th edition now available to use as a source outside of links from the original student textbook. Our group will benefit from its introduction along with the rest of the groups surrounding the re-editing of the book. I might have been the only one in my group that day present (May they get better in health) but I made strides in developing changes for the textbook regardless and have shared the information I have learned and improved on with my fellow groupmates.
Friday Summary- It wasn’t an in class day but I think its worth talking about briefly. This is when we turned in our progress report for the second time this semester and I must say I feel I have made improvements in all the areas this class works in like, group involvement, communication, healthy schedule, along with minor mindset changes revolving around these topics going forward. I thought this class was going to be about Mythical Beasts in fiction and all that but I learned the truth of this class now. The History of China has always been intertwined with its myths just like the connection of the industrial revolution affecting us today (a bit of a stretch but I hope you know what I mean). It great to know this class is about history of China’s interaction with these stories and why they have gained such notoriety in Chinese beliefs today. I look forward to future classes and more stories about these creatures bordering on realistic to full on dream-like appearance.
