Printer Problems

Shane Myers

3rd

Study Questions 9-25-08

1) Many significant developments were made in the Shang dynasty. These included bronze working, a decimal system, a twelve-month calendar similar to what we use today, and their own system of writing. The Chou dynasty was able to develop schools of thought of Taoism and Confucianism.

2) The opening stanza reveals that T’ao Ch’ien believes in the rejection of shadow as well as substance; however, he cares more about spirit.

3) Substance fears death. This is due to the fact that you only live once and you should make the most of it and should live to excess. Shadow, however, believes that all memories will eventually fade, and turn to dust.

4) The overall theme revealed in lines 54-58 is that it is best to let life take its course, go with the flow, and don’t worry about the other things in life.

5) The nameless are mysteries, or things that are not concrete, that we, the named, are unable to understand. The named are concrete things and beings that we are able to understand. The nameless are more complex concepts that are not easy to understand.

6) The key value stressed in section III is that it is better for a government to rule the people with less force rather than to use excessive, overpowering force. A nation that enforces its own rule will not fall from its excessive greed, though those who keep trying to obtain more land power will end up dissolving.

7.) The main beliefs in the four sections are that one should check their own desires to make sure they are not too excessive, as well as keep them in balance and not go too overboard with them.

8.) Being cautious when giving promises means that you should not make promises that you can’t keep. He says this to inform others on how to be a gentleman. These relate to each other because a gentleman only makes promises that he knows he can keep.

9.) Confucius says that in the presence of a bad man, it is essential to examine within ourselves to see if any qualities of that bad man also resides in us. This allows us to rid ourselves of any bad qualities we see in the bad man.

10.) Confucius believed that a ruler should govern with regulations as well as morality. This means that rulers should lead by example. The rulers need not use strict force, and they should have their own regulations so they don’t stray from their own much needed morality and integrity.