Life as an Intellectual Under Mao Tse Dung essays

Life as an Intellectual Under Mao Tse Dung essays When Mao Zedong first came into power, we all thought that it was a great thing- he was a strong leader, and he would pilot China from lowly pit of humiliation into a higher place, where we would regain our power and respect. Mao became the driving force behind extreme alterations in China. For centuries, operas had been a traditional form of Chinese arts. These operas featured legends of emperors, princesses, ministers, generals, demons, romance, treachery, and murder, topics which Mao deemed unsuitable for audiences of peasants and farmers. Under the careful watch of his third wife, Mao commissioned a group of writers to create new operas, ones about peasants and farmers, where the audience could see themselves portrayed as the heroines, and their detested landlords as the villains. Mao abolished traditional forms of Chinese art in favor of more vain, self-concerning plays that he claimed were more appropriate to the interests of the masses and more with the party line. Censoring the arts was not just limited to our own plays, however. All visiting groups were required to perform first for Mao before they were allowed to perform for a Chinese audience. More often than not, Mao forced the groups to edit their program. A visiting Portuguese ballet company was driven to remove over half of their program, as he felt it to be too modernistic. It wasnt long before Mao began censoring not only what we could see and do, but also how we could do it. All writers were to be trained in by government writing officials- the desired effect being, of course, so that they all wrote in the same style. All writing was to be, like the operas, concerning topics of interest to its audience. None of the usual drama and royal scandals, only stories about peasants and farmers. Only literature that seemed to contribute to the achievement of Communist goals. He stated publicly that ones endo...

What to Expect From a Chinese Fortune Teller

What to Expect From a Chinese Fortune Teller Having one’s fortune told through Chinese fortune telling (ç ®â€"å‘ ½, suan ming) is a routine practice in Chinese culture. Consulting a fortune teller is nearly compulsory before major events, like Chinese New Year, wedding engagements, and the birth of children. Whether for entertainment or out of a strong belief in superstition, getting your fortune told by a Chinese fortune teller can be a memorable experience. Here is what to expect when it comes to prices, methods, and more. Cost The cost of a fortune telling session varies based on the city, fortune telling method, and what specifically the recipient wants to know. Getting an answer to one question, like finding a lover or a job, costs less than getting an overall fortune for the coming year, decade, or life. Basic fortune telling in Taipei starts at $15. Where to Find a Chinese Fortune Teller Fortune tellers can often be found in or near Buddhist and Taoist temples in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Outside of China and Taiwan, fortune tellers can also be found in Chinatowns around the world. What to Expect The fortune telling session takes place at a table or desk with the fortune teller and customer sitting across from or next to each other. In many instances, there is little privacy as fortune telling tables or booths are located next to each other with just a flimsy wall to partition them. In many large cities like Beijing, Hong Kong, and Taipei, it is possible to have your fortune told in English. Methods There are over a dozen types of Chinese fortune telling methods, but nearly all are based on the Chinese Almanac. The most basic method of Chinese fortune telling in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other countries like the U.S. remains virtually the same regardless of location. All a person needs to have his or her fortune told, or that of a friend of family member, is the  first and last name, birth date, and age. For Westerners, be sure to add one year to your current age because the first year of life in Chinese culture is counted at birth whereas babies in the West do not turn one until a year after their birth. Additional information like time of birth and a person’s address is sometimes required for certain fortune telling methods. Oftentimes, fortune tellers use one or more methods to reveal your fortune. For example, palm and face readings or ‘bean’ fortune telling may be combined with  basic fortune telling  to generate a more accurate reading. Other methods that a fortune teller might use include coin divination,  Chien Tung or Chinese fortune sticks,  bird fortune telling, or using  red divination blocks to tell your fortune.