Mrs. Houng: Chinese girl, who works as a prostitute.
Mrs. Nana: Chinese girl, who works as a prostitute.
Mrs. Lili: Chinese girl, who works as a prostitute.
Wamping: The person who tell us the story.
Resume
The story is about the life of Chinese immigrants, whom live in a old house that is used as brothel. Also, is telling the love story which grown up between Houngand the person who tell the story. He recounts the problems that this tree young's ladies had to affront. How, they has to work as a prostitute for pay the debt to the Croc, help to their families and survive in a new country.
The story does not related to the title. The author uses to publicize what was happening inside the house.
End of the Story
It is telling us the end of the troubled life and the beginning off the new style of live for the central characters.
The person whom tell us the story, in the end, he run away with Mrs. Houng. They agree that the only way to escape form the slavery is run away. The Croc never it is going to give them the freedom for the new start.
VOCABULARY
1.Subsided: diminished.
2.Annoyance: Nuisance, trouble, hassle.
3.Conspicuous: Noticeable, clear, obvious.
4.Giggling: Laugh, chuckle.
5.Slightly: a little.
6.Obnoxious: Very offensive or rude.
7.Sultry: a woman who is sultry is very sexually attractive.
Every Chinese people have inherited the religion of the ancestors. Experts say that the primitive religion of the Chinese, and people living near them was the worship of ancestors and the forces of nature. There are three major religions in China, Daoism or Taoism (that is the same), Buddhism, and Confucianism.
The native religion was Daoism also known as Taoism. This religion was attributed to Lao-Tzu. The philosopher Lao Tzu may have lived between 571 and 490 BCE. His existence and dates somewhat uncertain. Probably at some time in the second or third century BCE a collection of writings called The Tao Te Ching appeared, attributed to Lao Tzu. This name means the old master. Zhuangzi (399-295 BCE) is considered the most influential Daoist writer after Lao Tzu. In 143 BCE, a man named Zhang Daoling transformed the ideas of these two Daoist philosophers into an actual religion.
Daoism focused in the abstract and mystical wisdom. Taoists (Daoshi) believe that everyone should understand and live by the laws of nature more than the regulations made by people. Therefore, they believe that the most important law is being in harmony and balance with nature. This law is symbolized by the principles of YIN and YANG (the Dark and Light). The YIN (the Dark side) is the side of women, the moon, things that are still like ponds, and completion and death. The YANG (the Light side) is the side of men, the sun, things that move like rivers, dragons, and creation and birth. Everyone has some YIN and YANG in them and, Taoism says that it is important to keep them balance.
In the other hand, Buddhism, was introduced into China at the end of the Han dynasty. The story of Buddha started in the sixth century BC in the city of Kapilavastu in India. He is descendent from a King named Suddhodana and a queen named Mahamaya. He was named Siddhartha Gautama. He grew as a prince having no contact with the outside world. He married a beautiful princess named Yashodhara and they had a son named Rahula. Siddhartha Gautama left them at the palace and set out to find the answer to how to release oneself from suffering in the world. One night, sitting beneath a banyan tree, he went to a deep meditation and emerged having achieved Enlightenment. From that point, he was known as the Buddha. For the rest of his life, Buddha travelled around sharing his teachings with many people. Buddha died at the age of 80. Upon his death he attained Nirvana. After his body was cremated, his ashes were divided up and taken to eight different sites. Buddhism gradually split into two schools: Theravada (means little vehicle) and Mahayana (means big vehicle).
Buddhism agrees with Hinduism on the basic principles of Reincarnation and karma. Buddhism believes that everyone was equal in spiritual potential. The final goal for Buddhists was archive Nirvana, a state of perfection that allowed the practitioner to escape the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth by detaching from all commitment to the desires of this world that led to suffering. It has precepts that's requires meditation and dedication to right living. Indeed, in Buddhism religion everyone has a purpose in life. Finding your positive purpose in life helps to reduce Karma's negative aspects and in so doing align yourself which the Law of Attraction.
Confucianism is developed from the teaching of Confucius (Chinese philosopher). Confucius was born around 551 BCE in the area that is now Shandong province in the Eastern China. According to the Records of the historian, Confucius was a descendant of a branch of the royal house of Shang. It was believed that Confucius’s father divorced his first wife at an advanced age, because she had borne him only daughters and one disfigured son.His father then married a fifteen-year-old girl from the Yen Clan, who gave birth to Confucius. It is very possible that Confucius was an illegitimate child, or a child born out of marriage, because the history refers to this relationship as a “wild union”. The principle idea behind the philosophy of Confucius involves the moral character of human relationships. Woman obeys and defers to men, younger brothers to elder brothers, and sons to fathers. Everyone respect obeys the Emperor. The family is considered the basic unit of society.
Confucianism believes that the human beings are teachable, improvable and perfectible. They do not involve a belief in the supernatural or in a personal God. It works with self-cultivation and self-creation. The main principles of Confucianism are: REN (altruism), YI (moral disposition), and LIN (propriety). Ren and Li are the two major concepts behind all Confucian philosophy, Ren provides people with the dignity needed to coexist in society, and Li provides the proper rules of action for human activities, so that everything remains balanced and in line with the natural Tao. Confucius believed that a well-ordered society by means of Li was needed in order for Ren to be expressed. Moreover, the Confucius teachings are found in THE ANALECTS, the sacred book. The Analects are a collection of 25 books that also teach piety and are probably the most widely read work from Chinese history. To sum up, Confucianism believes in the personal achieve of the human beings and express this idea in their secret book: The Analects.
These three religions during 1949 suffered a significant impact in China most of them happened during The Great Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). Religions were seen as a part of the Four Olds (old culture, old beliefs, old customs, and old habits) or the remnants of the old China. Normal religious life was halted, and many churches, monasteries, temples, and mosques were destroyed or converted to secular use. Religious leaders were openly criticized and persecuted. All mention of religion disappeared, and religious artifacts even disappeared from museums. The cult of Mao Zedong reached its zenith. Mao became the center of the worship, and pictures of Mao were hung everywhere. Mao’s Little Red Book became Holy Scripture, and the Mao badge testified to one’s personal belief in the great leader. The death of Mao Zedong marked the end of the Cultural Revolution, but the normal religious life was revivedonly after Deng Xiaoping’s reforms. Traditional religions began to resurfaces in Chinese society. The government officially denominated five religions in china: Buddhism, Daoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism.
The Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism at the moment of the resurfaces have been treated by the government differently.The revival of Buddhism has been extraordinary and the Taoism even though is officially recognized by the government it is seen to be too individualistic and antisocial. Although, Confucianism is not regarded by the government as religion, its practices are widespread and the basic principles remain central in regulating social relationships.
In conclusion, they are suffering social and political changes but retain their basic principles that are for the Taoism, the believe that the most important law is established by nature, to Buddhism the achieve the Nirvana, and for the Confucianism believes in the development of the human beings.
Works Cited
MLA Citation
· Luo, Jing."Chinese Spiritual Life in the Post-Mao Era: Modern World."Daily Life through History. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 27 Oct.2011
· Salisbury, Joyce E. "Religious Beliefs in China: Medieval World. "Daily Life through History. ABC-CLIO,2011. Web. 27 Oct. 2011.
· Luo, Jing. “Confucian Tradition and Christianity in China: Modern World. Daily Life through History. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 27 Oct 2011.
· Lightstone, Dana. “Religion in China.” Daily Life through History. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 27 Oct 2011.
I. There are three major religions in China, Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.
II. A. The native religion was Daoism.
1. This religion was attributed to Lao-Tzu but was developed more fully by Chuang Tzu.
2. Daoism focused in the abstract and mystical wisdom.
3. Daoists believe that everyone should understand and live by the laws of nature more than the regulations made by people.
4. Therefore, they believe that the most important law is being in harmony and balance with nature.
5. This Law is symbolized by the principles of YIN and YAN (the Dark and Light).
B. Buddhism which originated in India was introduced into China at the end of the Han dynasty.
1.They agree with Hinduism on the basic principles of reincarnation and karma.
2.Buddhism believes that everyone was equal in spiritual potential.
3.The final goal for Buddhists was archive Nirvana, a state of perfection that allowed the practitioner to escape the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth by detaching from all commitment to the desires of this world that led to suffering.
4.It has several precepts that’s requires meditation and dedication to right living.
5.Most of the Buddhists are vegetarians for they believe it is forbidden to kill animals.
C.Finally, Confucianism is developed from the teaching of Confucius (Chinese philosopher)
1. They believe that the human beings are teachable, improvable and perfectible.
2. The Confucianism does not involve a belief in the supernatural or in a personal God.
3. It works with self-cultivation and self- creation.
4. The main principles of Confucianism are: REN ( altruism), YI ( moral disposition), and LI (propriety).
5. The Confucius teachings are found in the ANALECTS, the sacred book.
III. To summarized, the three major religions in China are Daoism, whom believe that the most important law is established by nature, Buddhism, which focused in the Karma, and Confucianism, believes in the human beings.
References:
Works Cited
MLA Citation
Luo, Jing. "Chinese Spiritual Life in the Post-Mao Era: Modern World." Daily Life through History. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 27 Oct. 2011.
MLA Citation
Salisbury, Joyce E. "Religious Beliefs in China: Medieval World ." Daily Life through History. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 27 Oct. 2011.
