Extra! Extra! News Article

Emperor Khan passes legal caste system

1046 BCE

China Messenger

            DUDU--    Emperor Kublai Khan, heir to the Mongol Empire of his grandfather Genghis Khan, passed a new decree last week and now it is official. The new caste system is said to be called the “Four Class System” and Khan has reported, “I am certain that this will help consolidate the ruling status of the true Mongolian Ethic Minority.” 

When Kublai was first given control over Chinese territories, he became Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. Once given power Kublai immediately began organizing groups of Chinese advisors, while he set up expeditions with the goal of unifying China under the Mongol Empire.

  In 1257, disappointed with the war against the Chinese sung dynasty, eldest son of Genghis Khan, Khagan Khan led on expedition into western China but was sadly killed three years later by the Chinese defense Army in 1259. In 1960 (after the death of Khagan Kublai was elected as Khagan’s successor, unfortunately his brother Arig Boge disagreed and announced “I shall be the Great Khan” In the years that followed Kublai fought his brother, eventually he defended him in 1964 and took over power.

 Under the rule of Kublai Khan, the Mongols and central Asians remained separate from Chinese life; life for the Chinese was basically left unchanged. Kublai was also thought and known for his acceptance of different religions, but too keep the Mongol minority assured Kublai divided the population of China into four social classes, which we now know as the ‘Four Class System’

In a recent interview, Chao Da clearly stated that “The social classes: are the Mongols ; central Asians; the northern Chinese and Koreans; and the southern Chinese and I for one believe these classes are fairly grouped, regardless of what everyone else thinks !”Although many are satisfied with the new social order, there are still many who feel mistreated. While roaming the streets one of our reporters was able to get a few words out of a local protester by the name of cheng Bo who reported: “unfair! Unfair! The real power is mainly in the hands of first class, and lower classes are receiving different treatment in political, legal, and military situations. Also third and fourth class must participate in more difficult test subjects and exams!”

Although we can’t predict what will happen next, It’s clear that there are many opinions towards the new decree but the majority of people are not handling the news too well. Maybe Kublai Khan has gone too far!

Editorial Page: Four Class System

Fair Treatment, NOW

            The great emperor Khan has passed a new decree for the people of his country. This was issued yesterday as a legal caste system, and states that it will help prevent the outnumbering of the Mongolian ethic minority, as well as strengthen the minority position and power. This decree will not only create an issue of conflict between social classes, but will also encourage lower class men to revolt against the emperor.

There are many reasons why China should not allow The Mongol legal caste system. Other countries allow their people important freedoms. Due to the new system the emperor has issued, China will not be able to grow and learn with the old beliefs that only the wealthy people are intelligent enough to participate in higher level jobs, as well as being the only ones that get a say. It will affect the entire country if the population of lower class men is forced to take much harder exams than they are capable of, because if they aren’t qualified to pass a test what makes us think that they will be good employees for the country, to the jobs there assigned to? How can we expect china to be productive and successful when the people that are tired of receiving different treatment than others above their social class, and it results in war? The people should have the choice of how they live their life.

Although creating social classes will help insure organization and efficiency for the entire country, it will only affect the lives of many individuals living in china as their ideas will likely be “trampled” and taken complete control over by the Mongolian minority. If this country follows through with the new edicts, foreigners and certain citizens will be restricted from fair opportunities or treatment. Rather than restricting people of their rights, the emperor should “distribute” equality among everyone, and spread peace throughout the country. This is the best way to maintain our strength.

China should focus more on establishing fair edicts that will benefit all social classes. Rather than losing privileges, and rights we will gain them. The emperor must not only back out of his new edict but encourage his people to unite as one equal social class.   

MAP

          The Song Dynasty (c. 1300) borders were smaller than the Yuan Dynasty, as shown on the map by the pink lines of the boundary of modern china. It is clear that creating more land for the Song Dynasty was of major importance for the emperor. The Song Emperors gained somewhat control of trading routes such as the Silk Road which gave the Mongols power and wealth. There were more landforms such as, deserts, mountains, and rivers in the Yuan Empire. Also on this map is the plateau of Tibet, Dadu, and the Grand Canal. The Plateau of Tibet bordered the Song Dynasty. Dadu was the capital which during the Yuan Dynasty was the Mongolian homeland. The Grand Canal was important because it connected north and south china and made transporting much easier. It is obvious that The Yuan Dynasty is larger than the Song, but the Song dynasty was the heart of the Mongolian people and there land.

Free choice blog page: Interview

My Interview With Wu Zhen

Famous Chinese Artist! 

Q. How do you think Your Childhood influenced your decision on becoming the magnificent artist you are today?

A. Well, as a young boy I always felt like I was different than the rest of the kids in my neighborhood. While they were outside running around, I spent my time inside perfecting my artwork. After the death of my father I always felt like there was a part of me missing, and expressing my feeling through my paintings was only thing that would make me feel better. Therefore the more I drew the better I got.

Q. How well were you in school? Do you think that if you couldn’t become an artist there would still be a good future yourself?

A. sadly no, I failed almost every exam and I was hated by all my teachers and classmates, because I did so poorly. I was called lazy and stupid several times, but the truth was not because I was stupid or too lazy to do my work but the fact that none of it interested me! I was convinced that becoming an artist was the right path for me.

Q. Who helped or influenced you the most? Why?

http://zakhor-online.com/?attachment_id=1748

A. Well, a couple years after my father died I found a job that didn’t pay much, but it was enough to pay for the Dong Yuan School of painting that I attended. While studying there I was blessed with the most passionate professor, who became a second father to me. Along with teaching me many new skills for my artwork, he also gave me advice and drilled it in my head that nothing is impossible if you want it enough.

Q. What is your artwork mainly about? And what did you want people to get out 
 of it?

A. I would say that my work tended less toward naturalism and more toward abstraction. I wanted people to focus more on the dynamic balance of elements, and personifying nature.

Q. Thank you so much for being here with us today! On personal note, how are you doing?

A. So far I would say I’m doing okay, and I’m very grateful for all the things I was able to accomplish throughout my life. I hope to one day “unite” with my parents, and I pray that my works will be remembered once I’m gone.

Free choice blog page: Invention

                                                                                                              

                         Gunpowder!!                                             

Gunpowder was invented in china during the Yuan dynasty. Gunpowder was mostly used to make very simple grenades, and was thrown at the enemy’s during war. During the time of the Song Dynasty, gunpowder was used in rifle guns. Since gunpowder contained many toxic substances such as arsenic compounds, it was considered a form of chemical warfare. 

This invention was created when people began to know more about chemistry and the knowledge about the nature of different mineral materials. Many Chinese necromancers tried to find the elixir of immortality from certain kinds of fuel. Unfortunately they failed numerous times, but instead they discovered an explosive mixture that could be produced by combing sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter. This mixture resulted in the invention of gunpowder. Although the exact date of gunpowder remains unknown, some historians date the invention of gunpowder at 850AD.

         

In the Yuan Dynasty gunpowder making was first introduced Europe and the Arab. This invention changed lives for many because it began a revolution to weapon manufacturing. Starting from Italy the making of the powder spread throughout different countries, and later became an effective weapon used on the battlefield till this very day.     

Free Choice Blog Page

 Kublai Khan’s beliefs/traditions

            The Yuan Dynasty was founded by the Mongolian leader Kublai Khan who ruled most of present-day China. However, Kublai Khan was not a typical Mongolian leader; he valued Chinese culture and encouraged his people to learn traditions/culture as well. Along with adapting to Chinese, Khan also dressed for the part, he wore Chinese robes for special occasions, such as the Confucian rituals and performances of music and dance that he sponsored. Many Scholars were employed by Khan to translate old Chinese classics/history into the present day Mongolian language. Kublai Khan admired Confucius, and allowed Confucianism to stay as the foundation of Chinese society.

             Khan saw to it that the ancient ancestral tablets were made for his Mongolian ancestors near his palace grounds, so he made it of importance to follow the ancient religion of the steppes. For this religion Khan also followed a few rituals to show his respect. Some rituals that were required was that he perform the scattering mares milk, while bowing to the sky as he yelled out names of his past ancestors. He thought that this was said to bring good luck for the upcoming year.  

Bibliography

Four Class System

1.) http:// www.travelchinaguide.com/history/yuan/fourclass-system 

Möngkwke   

2.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/m%c3%b6ngkwke

The Yuan Dynasty    

www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/culture/the-yuan-dynasty.htm

 Kublai Khan

4.)http://search.chinaculture.org/search.jsp

 Invention of Gunpowder

5.)  http://asianhistory.about.com/od/asianinventions/a/InventGunpowder.htm

 Four Great Painters of the Yuan Dynasty

6.) http://www.chinaculture.org/library/2008-01/14/content_39594.htm

History of China

7.) Picture of Map: http://www.history-of-china.com/yuan-dynasty/politics-of-yuan.html