How to inherit and develop our cultural heritage?-the feedback from "The influence of Chinese culture on Japanese culture

Here is the original article I read: The Influence Of Chinese Culture On Japanese Culture (http://www.char4u.com/article_info.php?articles_id=47 recess date 26/10) by Char4U.com

The Chinese civilization was a much older civilization than the Japanese civilization. The Chinese and the Japanese had cultural and commercial relations that date back to 200 A.D. Chinese culture flowed out of China and into Japan to influence Japanese culture in several waves. The degree to which the Japanese adopted Chinese cultural influences depended on the receptivity of the latter at that particular historical juncture. Chinese influence on Japanese culture is readily apparent. Some of these influences are: Language. The Japanese had no written language at the time of their first contact with the Chinese and their use of Chinese proved important for the purpose of political unification under the Japanese Emperor. Religion. Buddhism and Confucianism are important features of Chinese culture. As a systematic belief system, Buddhism forced the local Japanese religions, which were less coherent systems, to define themselves in relation to Buddhism. Confucianism, a systematic religious belief system, had a lot to say about governance and society and proved attractive for the Japanese. Consequently it had an important influence on Japanese culture. System of government. The method of organization of the Imperial Court, a significant element of ancient Chinese culture, was also adopted by the Japanese. The Japanese Imperial Court as well as its bureaucracy, including titles, ranks and functions, soon came to be modeled after Confucian principles. City-planning is also an aspect of Chinese culture borrowed by the Japanese. Kyoto and Nara, capital cities constructed along these lines, are examples. Several localities around these old capital cities reveal a system of fields and irrigation systems divided into even rectangles based on the ancient Chinese model of city planning. The use of a road system to hasten communication and control rebelling localities are also important features of this system of planning. Summery: This article argued that Japanese culture had been highly influenced by Chinese. It says Chinese culture and Japanese culture related to each other since 200 A.D. How much influence that Japanese people received? The author point out : " The degree to which the Japanese adopted Chinese cultural influences depended on the receptivity of the latter at that particular historical juncture." It conclude three main influences that China provided,language,religion and system of government. For language aspect, lots of Japanese words are from chinese complicated characters writing in that period. Secondly,Buddhism and Confucianism offered a huge impact to Japan, these religions originally from Chinese.Most importantly, Japan also had been affected with system of government. Imperial Court and City-planning, Japanese government gained lots of benefit from these methods Response: Firstly, I definitely agree that Japan and Japanese culture, had received a great influence and impact from Chinese. For illustration, " Ping Jia Ming "(ひらがな，Hiragana) is an important pronounce symbol, it originally from Chinese calligraphy. Wikipedia says:” The Japanese language is written with a combination of three scripts: Chinese characters called kanji (漢字), and two syllabic scripts made up of modified Chinese characters, hiragana (ひらがな or 平仮名) and katakana (カタカナ or 片仮名).” I'm not familiar with religion and government system, but one thing I can sure as a musician that Japanese music received lots of invaluable influences from China especially in Tang dynasty.Further more, the influences include almost every single aspect:music form,music score,music instrument even the basic music scale. I do not want conclude my response as " Japan received such a great influence", which is not benefit to our country. I just thinking about, all these exclusive cultural heritage are so important to ourself. How to inherit and develop them? These are the questions that we should to think about. Tang Renzhu

Genre of music by composers in different eras

Genre of music by composers in different eras

Generally we consider classical music has four different periods: Baroque period, Classical period, Romantic period, and Contemporary period.

This essay purpose to introduce the music style and genre in Baroque period, and how does it influence other period.

According to the music history book, we definite: Baroque is the term used generally to describe the art, architecture, and music of the period 1600-1750. (Craig Wright, Music in Western Civilization, USA)

The represent musicians in this particular period such like J.S.Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, and Claudio Monteverdi create a new music style that compare with Renaissance, which are “drama”, “opulence” and “grandeur”. These great composers enlarge the orchestra purpose to create dramatic and energy sound, a particular example is the orchestra playing for King Louis XIV even numbered more than eighty instrumentalist in a ensemble. People who read the score carefully will find these composers always created large-scale compositions, and lots of exuberant decorations. “Four seasons “ composed by Vivaldi, some motets composed by Corelli, vocal music by Bach… These great pieces really shows the music characters that this article mentioned before.

On the other hand, although today we admire these piece and composer for their “ grandeur” and “exuberant”, unfortunately people who live in that period consider these music revolutions are not necessary, they assume these pieces are extravagant and bizarre.

According to the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778),” A baroque music is that in which the harmony is confused, charged with modulations and dissonances, the melody is harsh and little natural, the intonation difficult, and the movement constrained.”

Nobody had predicted “ Baroque music “ could be a main stream even dominated for 150 years and influences whole music history.

In 19^th century, Mendelssohn explored many keyboard works composed by Bach and admired how divine these are.

In 20^th century, almost every composer had highly influenced by “Baroque” period.

Nowadays, lots of musicians are still trying to explore the music elements in Baroque period and how does it related to whole music history.

How to play Baroque piece traditionally?

How to inherent Baroque spirit?

These are the question we suppose to think about.

what music means to me?

what music means to me?

Bach said: "Music is my religion."

Beethoven said:" I use music to tell people I can hold the throat of life" .

What's the music means to me? I start ask myself after I saw these logions. Maybe music is a kind of way to present our emotion and thought.

When we selected to be a musician.It means we already select a life style for ourselves.

I remember I learned music when I was six.Music for me just means "painful" in that time and I was suffered to much stress.No time for everything except practice.I still can remember how miserable I was,especially the time I perpared for the audition for Shanghai music middle school.That's really a part of horrible memory.

I spended six years in Shanghai music middle school and gained many exclusive experience for my music career.For me,music just a huge module that I suppose to work on.Perpare for major exam,perpare for performce,perpare for be professional.....

Now I study in NUS and become a professional music performer.I really try to be active and involve every opportunity about music.I do not know when Istart to enjoy music,it is not abstract anymore,it is not painful anymore.It already become a integral part for my life.I can not imagine if I live without music....

I remember a logion from Shakespeare,which originally describe for love.I believe it also suitable for music and I changed it for my signature on face book.

I would like to share it in the end of this journal-----" the power of music is the peace,despite the rational,etiquette and honor,it makes all the fear,shock and pain at the time was into sweet"

2010/08/25

Music lab

ది రెఫ్లెక్తిఒన్ ఫర్ ది essay

The pieces we heard last week

The Bradenburg concerto is a represent piece composed by Bach who considered the divine composer in Braque period.It”s a chamber work with the polyphony and terraced dynamic.The whole piece is quited square and active which the dominant reasons are the melody is quite smooth and rhythm is very precise.

Ravel’s is a impression keyboard work with sonata form.As we hearing,the swinging melody and colourful harmony purposing a kind of mood which is emotional and expressive.We also appreciate the rhythm is dance-like that give the audience a chromatic feeling with the changeable dynamic.

Prokofiev is bored in German who has been considered one of the greatest composer in contemporary period.His piece always reflect some social issues in that period such like the piano sonata NO.7.We can observed the piece is composed in A-B-A design and the first part is definitely contrast with the second part. The first part for me is very active but aggressive,the main reason is the disjunct harmony and the erratic rhythm.Obviously it reflect the the battle scene which is the from the Second War.

Makvokosmos is a famous modern piece composed by George Gramb.The piece use a kind of new technique which is struck the piano and mute the string.This keyboard work also used pedal sustained and glissando which are the main character of it.The rhythm is extremely free and the melody even is quite weir that present to audience a kind of mood which is creepy.

The status of classical music in nowadays for people

Some young critic believe classical music is meaningless and doomed to wane,finally the pop music will be the mainstream instead of classical music.The typical example is a book called”Who care classical music” written by a American critic who named Glenn Kurt. The book represent a series of reasons why classical music has been destroy and imply classical music finally will be replace by pop music.

Actually, the true is Classical music is become glam increasingly in our generation even eighty percent young people who live in Europe consider that the classical music is highly affect to people in different ways from the recently survey.

This thesis purpose to introduce the function of classical music and explore the status of classical music in nowadays society.

Firstly,I admit the fact which is classical music was not so popular in last twenty years ago just like the book said.But main reasons is not Classical music lack of fascination.The fact is there were too many things happened in these fifty years such like: The American revolution,first moon landing and so on.the economy of the world also was developing speedy.The whole world need a kind of spirit which is ebullient and wild,people need impact for their vision and hearing. But classical music always embody the mood implicitly and need people listen with carefully which is not quite possible in that period. That’s the reason why people enjoyed the pop music even the rock music enthusiastically and classical music is oblivious.

In nowadays,I believe classical is returning and definitely can be the mainstream in this period,not like Glenn Kurt predict” However, it's obvious that classical music is not important to most people.The implication is that classical music, like 19th-century narrative, is not popular because its form of narrative has become antiquated……………….. But the grand narratives of Beethoven or Melville seem alien to most people. This is not the form in which they understand their lives.”

People are suffering too many stress even many people have some mental illness such like melancholia or insomnia. They need a kind of way release the stress and purify their soul.Listen classical music is the most valuable solution for that.The famous philosopher Aristoteles said:” music(classical) has incredible power to form person”.

The reflection for english lessons

To tell the truth, My English is highly promoting in this semester especially the writing. The main reason of it is blog writing. Actually I did this before and here is my blog address: http://user.qzone.qq.com/272667954. I think I definitely will keep the blog writing next semester and I really want to say "thank you" to Chris. He really helped me a lot and I quite enjoy his teaching style. Hope he can be our English tutor next semester :)

For next semester, I hope the English lesson can pay more attention about academic writing and will read more academic article that our English can support other lessons better.

Thanks!