I recently returned from a school trip to Xi’an which had strong elements of history and culture as well as service. Generally, I enjoy these trips as they are well run by the vendors and allow me to do things I would not otherwise do on a family vacation. On this trip, this ended up being the Guanzhong Folk Museum, located about an hour outside of Xi’an.
When our vendors mentioned the museum, I was skeptical of its engagement value for students. They said that the museum was privately owned and that the founder had begun his journey of cultural preservation by collecting antique horse tethering posts. He then expanded his collection to buildings that showcased particular architecture styles, as well as other antiques like bells, weapons, tools, etc. Leading with centuries-old horse tethering posts is not exactly the way to capture high schooler’s interest.
The countryside around the museum was quite stunning, matching the beauty of the late Ming and Qing dynasty buildings in the museum itself. The buildings had all been painstakingly relocated, piece-by-piece, to the museum grounds, and organized in a way that created the feel of a historical village. Each courtyard was accessible from a main street, and various paths and stairways connected all of them creating a small sense of adventure as you wander through and allow yourself to get lost.
In these moments, I am on the lookout for interesting primary sources that I can integrate into an AP World History lesson. The museum was filled with many of them, but not all of them could be easily integrated into the curriculum. I was also limited by time, since it takes a couple minuted to translate the Chinese characters and estimate how I might use it in class. Still, I did manage to find a few good ones.
Translation note: I used the built in translator of the WeChat app, which works from images. It has improved dramatically in the last few years and was super helpful. I have not yet checked these translations with someone who reads traditional characters.
Photography Note: Please forgive my terrible photography skills…
Calligraphy
One of the side buildings was filled with framed calligraphy. Most of the pieces that I was able to translate were late Qing or early Republic prints of poems and literary analysis of Tang and Ming Dynasty writers. They were interesting, but I did not see an immediate use for them. There was one (pictured) from the very late Qing that I thought would be useful in units 6 and 7.
Inscription Translation: Written in the early autumn of the Gengxu year of the Xuantong era (1910) by Bai Yudao, courtesy name Wuzhai.
Main Text Translation: Master Zhu (Zhu Xi) once said: “What is the use of having a complete essay or a whole volume of ‘time-articles’ (examination essays)? They merely ruin the spirits of countless scholars. Alas! How few are the scholars today whose spirits have not been corrupted by these examination essays! Those with quick feet (talented ones) take a single hunt (succeed in an exam) and then discard high honors as if they were worn-out shoes. The slow and dull ones, however, begin their studies in their youth and only mutter over books until their hair turns white. This is truly a cause for lamentation!” — Remnant Writings of Shen Yu.
Master Zhu was a famous Southern Song Dynasty Neo-Confucian scholar. He was a critic of the state and the formulaic nature of the examination system. The “time articles” refers to the examination essays which were known as “eight legged essays” during the late Ming and Qing.
The passage the author quotes comes from a late Qing Dynasty book, Remnant Writings of Shen Yu, which was written by the high-ranking government official Zhao Shuqiao. It was published posthumously; he was forced to commit suicide after the Boxer Rebellion.
This piece’s composition, five years after the abolition of the Chinese examination system and a year before the fall of the Qing, makes this sources rich with possibilities for contextualization. I also think this helps understand why the author is choosing to quote Master Zhu; he is frustrated with the traditions that crippled China’s intellectual class throughout the century when China faced its biggest external threat.
Mao Zedong
The second-floor of one of the larger buildings was filled with various woodworking and farm tools laid out on large tables and shelves. Around the room, there were also dozens of cultural revolution era art celebrating Mao Zedong. The pictures above are the ones I found most interesting.
The bottom text of each plaque translates to “Long Live Chairman Mao.” The inscriptions on the right side of the plaques offer more detail. From left to right, the translations are below:
- The Red Army fears not the trials of the Long March
- Do it yourself and you will have ample food and clothing
- Limitless scenic beauty lies at the dangerous peak.
- The four seas are rolling, clouds and waters rage
- Having trodden all the green mountains, one remain unaged
- The enemy surrounds us in thousands of layers; yet I stand immovable
- For all things, one should always take a long view
- Count the truly great figures; they are to be found in the present day
- There are no difficult things in the world, as long as one is willing to climb
- Swimming across the ten-thousand-li Yangtze
Many of these phrases are references to famous poems, slogans, or other writings by Mao. The combination of text and image create some great sourcing or contextualization opportunities.
Other Stuff…
This museum had 8000 horse tethering posts, or at least that is what I was told. I admit I did not count them all. I found the bells interesting, but did not translate any of the inscriptions. There was an entire room for the display of dozens and dozens of opium pipes and hookahs from the Qing and Republic eras. The hookahs were interestingly translated as “hubble-bubbles” on the plagues under the display cases. The same room also had a couple currency printing plates from the Republic era.
I am not entirely sure who the woman in the picture is meant to be. Initial research suggests it might be a late-Ming portrait of a wealthy woman who would have been married to someone with rank. Whether it is an original or reprint, I have no idea. I took a picture because it was out of place as the only portrait in the room of calligraphy.