Pages 1-20

History 8 China The Examination

Throughout these pages several examples of Chinese ideas were brought up. The idea of the Zodiac is to a sign a symbol to a child at an early age that tells the personality of the child. In The Examination on page 1, "Lao Hong was born under the sign of the Tiger, so he ought to be strong, if reckless; loyal, but hot-tempered; compassionate, though with little respect for authority.” The Examination describes Lao Hong using his Zodiac sign, and says that he fits the Zodiac sign completely. Another idea that is used in the book is class distinction. In China people were separated by class and society ranking. Class distinction was decided by what you wore, how you acted, your profession, and the beauty of your home. On page 5, Lao Hong visited his friend Wujiang, a friend who lives in a higher class, and while in his house, Hong thinks, "[he] never came here without recalling that his own family had once lived in a house nearly as grand.” Thus showing that a nice house can symbolize a higher class. A third idea brought up in the book is fraternal piety, or a piety with brothers. Hong believes in his brother and has a strong bond with him. Because he is his brother and Hong must respect him, on page 7 Hong decided, “in defense of his older brother, Hong was quite prepared to take on anyone.” A fourth idea expressed throughout the novel is Filial piety, or respect for your parents or father. Hong is ashamed in his father because he is a drunk and a gambler, however Chinese believes require him to respect his father and abide to his wishes. When thinking about this idea, Hong recalls, “Of all debts owed in this life by a man, the greatest was to his parents. Everlasting shame to anyone who neglected his father or mother.” The final idea expressed throughout pages 1-20 is the idea of ancestors. Chinese ancestors are very important and people think that ancestors contain answers for those still living. As Hong walks back to his shack of home he thinks of his deceased mother and what she would think if she saw how her family lived now. On page 20, Hong “imagined her ghost crying bitterly.”

Ideas from Class Reading Guide and the Examination. Sophie Worscheh