Pages 83-103
History 8 China The Examination
Great summary but you did not highlight the concepts of Mencius,Mandate of Heaven, importance of Confucius, number symbolism and honor and trust. RB
While Chen was waiting in line at the examination compound, his brother Hong was wandering through the streets of Chengdu. He wandered through the markets and ate a large variety of food, and after he was done looking through the city, he retired to his living space. The next morning he awoke, and set out in search of the recipient of his delivery from the schoolmaster. The letter said "Ye Pan Southwest Chengdu." He finally found Ye Pan near the Southern side of Chengdu, in a barber shop. Hong and Ye Pan have a short conversation, and Hong asks if he can trust Ye Pan. Ye Pan sends everyone out of the shop, and Hong tells him his story. Ye Pan tells Hong how believes that the system for the examination is corrupt. Hong is quietly frightened but he stands steadfast, and when Ye Pan begins to trust Hong, he praises him, and tells him of serving a great cause. He then tells Hong about brotherhoods who worked in secret to root out corrupt governments, and he specifically talks about the White Lotus. Hong becomes interested and wishes to hear more. Hong then gives Ye Pan the letter. Ye Pan takes it and reads it, and he then asks Hong why he took it, if the schoolmaster said that it was dangerous. Hong states that he must respect the wishes of his teacher, but he also reveals that he wanted a reward. Hong also told Ye Pan that he didn't run of, because he was curious about the letter. Ye Pan pays Hong, and Hong tells him that he wishes to fight injustice. Ye Pan instructs him to come back the next day. Chen on the other hand, finishes his exam the earliest, the next day. Chen returns to the boarding house and falls asleep. He awakes and sees Hong, and they have a conversation about the exam. Shen Ding then returns, and becomes full of dismay, believing that he had chosen the wrong book to write about in the essay. Chen reassures him, and then they all drift of to sleep. Chen awakes the next morning to the sound of the cannon. He then wakes Shen Ding up, and they make their way to the compound. Chen and Shen Ding continue their examination. Meanwhile Hong returns to Ye Pan, who tells him more about the White Lotus, and tells him the significance of numbers, particularly 15. Hong reveals that he wishes to join to Lotus, and Ye Pan tells him to return the next day. Once again, Chen finishes his test the earliest and wanders back to the boarding house. Chen and Hong later have another discussion about the exam. Hong tells Chen that he had delivered the letter, but he doesn't go into details. Chen reveals that he is worried for Shen Ding. The next morning, the pair arise at the sound f the cannon. As they are asking to the compound, Shen Ding tells Chen to put money in his folder for bribery. Chen contemplates this, and at the end of the exam, when he is finished first once again, it is revealed that he did not put money in for bribery, because Confucius would have despised it.
-Sam Schneider
-Chengdu
