ENG08 Review: The Food for Paradise by Ibn Amjed

• The Food for Paradise*

Background

• Written by Ibn Amjed
• Deals with the story of hope and faith in divinity and religious beliefs towards Allah

Characters

• Mullah Ibrahim: a religious and questioning individual
• Princess: trapped in the castle due to the spells cast by her father
• Hermit: a source of information
• Pasha: the antagonist
• Adhem: a jinn who aids Ibrahim in breaking the magic spells
• King: the father of the former princess

Symbols

• Halwa: a delicious sweet treat, symbolizing the grace of Allah
• Silver Castle: a prison or confinement
• River: a mysterious and divine source of sustenance
• Cypress tree: a place of refuge and contemplation

Themes

• Importance of hope and faith towards Allah
• The Tao Te Ching*

Background

• Written by Lao Tzu
• Expounds upon the concept of the Tao (the Way) and offers guidance on living in harmony with it

Notable Quotes

• "The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth; The Named is the Mother of All Things"
• "By action without deeds May all live in peace"
• "Regards his body as accidental, And his body is thereby preserved"

General Idea

• The text encourages individuals to align with the natural order and live harmoniously with others and the environment
• The Man Who Spurned the Machine*

Background

• Written by Chuang Tzu
• Reflects Daoist values, contrasting them with the Confucian emphasis on practicality and efficiency

Characters

• Tsekung: starts with a practical mindset, valuing efficiency and technological advancement
• Gardener: values simplicity and purity over efficiency
• Confucius: represents the Confucian tradition

Symbols

• The Well-Sweep: represents technological advancement and efficiency
• The Pitcher and Ditch: symbolize traditional methods and the value of manual labor
• The Garden: represents natural simplicity and self-sufficiency

Themes

• Valuing inner peace over external efficiency
• The Old Man Who Moved Mountains*

Background

• Associated with early Chinese Daoist philosophy

Characters

• Yùgōng: the protagonist, nearly ninety years old, determined to remove the mountains blocking his home
• Yùgōng's family: his son and grandson, who help him with the monumental task
• Yùgōng's wife: voices practical doubts about the feasibility of the task
• Jīngchéng: a neighbor's widow's son, who joins Yùgōng
• Zhìsǒu: mocks Yùgōng's efforts
• Mountain god: fears Yùgōng's persistence and reports to the celestial emperor

Symbols

• Mountains: represent seemingly insurmountable challenges
• Yùgōng: symbolizes human perseverance and the belief that collective effort can overcome great obstacles

Themes

• Perseverance conquers even the greatest obstacles
• Tang Dynasty Poetry*

Wang Wei

• A musician, painter, poet, and politician of the middle Tang dynasty
• About 400 of his poems survived, and 29 are included in the 18th-century anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems

"Morning"

• Speaker's tone: calm and appreciative
• Mood: peaceful and serene
• Diction:
  • Redder: intensification, vibrancy, and freshness
  • Greener: implies lushness, vitality, and growth
  • Peach blossom: evokes feelings of springtime, renewal, and delicate beauty
  • Birds: freedom, joy, and the presence of nature

"Beside the Lake"

• Speaker's tone: reflective and perhaps tinged with sadness
• Mood: bittersweet and contemplative
• Diction:
  • Flute: peaceful music by the water
  • Sunset: time of beauty and endings
  • Lake: calm and peaceful
  • White cloud: soft and serene
  • Green Hills: fresh and alive

"After Long Rain"

• Speaker's tone: calm and curious
• Mood: peaceful and fresh
• Diction:
  • Long rain: fresh and cleans everything
  • Empty forest: feels calm and quiet
  • Smoke rises: cozy and smells good
  • Yellow heron: adds brightness and beauty to the scene

"In a Bamboo Grove"

• Diction:
  • Dark bamboo grove: mystery and solitude
  • Bright moon: clarity and beauty amidst the darkness

"Verses"

• Speaker's tone: curious and nostalgic
• Mood: one of longing and reminiscence
• Diction:
  • Old village: tradition and nostalgia
  • Chill plum blossoms: resilience and endurance
  • White window: purity and simplicity
• A Country Boy Quits School*

Background

• Written by Lao Hsaing
• Many Asian countries lacked modern textbooks for children, leading them to use translated British or other foreign books for education

Characters

• Country boy: 8 years old and hardworking
• Mother: strict
• Father: farmer, decided that the boy should quit the school
• Grandfather: suffering from chronic cough
• Teacher: believes in the essence of formal education

Cultural Implications

• The sons of the family are expected to help work
• Extended family

Symbols

• Books: education and transformative power
• Broom: humility and simple life
• Class record: growth and development
• School: place to learn or grow
• Family: help each other in times of need

Themes

• Do not take things too literally
• Education is important in our life
• Children are expected as the future of the country, to contribute productively
• Birth of the Sun Goddess*

Background

• Recorded in Japan's oldest chronicles (Kojiki)
• One of the central myths in Shinto

Characters

• Izanagi: male deity and one of the primordial gods, husband of Izanami
• Izanami: female deity, goddess of the underworld after her death
• Kagutsuchi: god of fire
• Amaterasu: sun goddess, ruler of the heavens, associated with light, purity, and prosperity
• Tsukuyomi: moon god
• Susanoo: storm god

Symbols

• Sun
• Cave
• Ame-no-Uzume's Dance
• The rooster's crow

Themes

• Light and darkness
• Divine kingship and duty
• Community and celebration
• The Sun Goddess and Susanoo*

Characters

• Amaterasu
• Susanoo
• Omoikane no Kami: a deity with profound wisdom who devises a plan to lure Amaterasu out of seclusion
• Ama no Soyune no Mikoto and Fur-o-dama no Alikoto: ancestors who play roles in the supplication of Amaterasu
• Ama no Uzume no Mikoto: a deity known for her jolly nature and the one who successfully lures Amaterasu out of the cave

Cultural Implication

• Give importance to nature
• Rituals and offerings

Symbols

• The Rock-cave of Heaven
• The Rice Fields
• The True Sakaki Tree
• The Mimic Dance
• The Bottom-Tied Rope
• Fire and Offerings

Themes

• The importance of balance and harmony
• The power of communication
• The contrast between dark and light
• The Heavenly Grandchild and the Sea God's Daughter*

Characters

• Hiko-hoho-demi: the younger brother with a mountain gift
• Toyo-tama-hime: the Sea-God's daughter who marries Hiko-hoho-demi
• Hiiko-nagisa-take-u-gaya-fuki-aezu no Mikoto: the child abandoned by Toyo-tama-hime
• Shiho-tsutsu no Oji: the old man who aids Hiko-hoho-demi

Symbols

• Fish-hook
• Dragon
• Sea
• Child abandoned on the seashore
• Palace of the Sea-God

Themes

• Identity and self-discovery through interactions with the divine
• Trust and betrayal
• Redemption and forgiveness
• Tale of Heike*

Background

• Anonymous work
• Recorded in the 12th to 14th centuries in Japan
• Reflects the collective efforts of storytellers, poets, and chroniclers

Characters

• Choko: a leader of Shin, not following in the paths of the government
• Ono: a ruler from Kan who indulge in pleasure and not entering into the council nor heeding the disorders of their country
• Shui: a leader of Ryo who has no knowledge of the affliction of his people
• Rokuzan: a wise ruler in a distant country named To who is an arrogant leader
• Sumitomo, Gishin, and Shinrai: one of the arrogant and bold-hearted rulers in the period of Shohei

Cultural Implications

• Literary traditions
• Cultural identity and memory
• Political system
• Dynastic leadership

Symbols

• Bell of Gionshoja: transience of life

• The hue of Teak Tree Flower: fleeting nature of beauty and glory

• Fleeting Dream on a Spring Evening: fleeting achievements

• Dust in the Wind: transient human endeavors

• Ei-no-suke: loyalty and service

• Suzuki Fish: the rise and fall of the### Haiku Poems

• Youth In Spring: The speaker's tone is tender and affectionate, suggesting an emotional connection to the scene and its underlying themes of unity and companionship.

• A Mandarin Pair: The speaker's tone is initially wonder and admiration, but later becomes more sober with a subtle undertone of concern for the safety of the mandarin pair in the presence of the watching weasel.

• A Tormented Fly: The speaker's tone conveys a sense of urgency and a desire to prevent harm or suffering to the small creature.

• Beauty's Power: The situation is a moment when the daimyo is moved by the cherry blossoms to dismount from his horse, and the speaker's tone carries a sense of intrigue and curiosity.

• The Travelling Priest: The situation is a sermon being given, suggesting a moment of spiritual or moral reflection amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, and the speaker's tone conveys a sense of tranquility and acceptance.

Kobayashi Issa

• Known for his mastery of haiku, a traditional form of Japanese poetry characterized by its brevity and focus on nature and the seasons.

Earth & Soldiers (tsuchi to heitai, 1938) by Hino Ashihei

• Characters:
  • Kichizo: a big, fine chestnut horse commandeered by the army.
  • Yohida Uhei: a soldier past forty with no children, who loves his horse like his own child.
  • O-shin: Uhei's wife, providing a link to the home front, kind, caring, and empathetic.
  • Narrator: a brave and caring soldier who felt pity for Uhei and his horse being separated because of the war.
  • Corporal Tachibana: an atheist who likes to talk about his ideas and provoke arguments.
• Symbols:
  • "Thousand-stitches belt": symbolizes protection and luck for the wearer.
  • Boat: represents a physical and emotional journey where they confront their fears, discover inner strength, and undergo personal growth amid adversity.
  • Banner: symbolizes victory or achievement.
  • Blue sky: limitless possibilities and a sense of hope or optimism.
  • Blue water: calmness, purity, and depth.
• Themes:
  • Power Dynamics and resistance
  • Legacy of War
  • Identity and Belonging
  • Affection and Familial relationship
• Implication of the title: The title "Earth and Soldier" encapsulates the intertwined relationship between human conflict and the natural world, while also emphasizing the personal and collective experiences of soldiers during wartime.

The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu

• Author: From a mid-ranking aristocratic Fujiwara family during Japan's Heian period, served as a lady-in-waiting to Empress Shoshi, and was highly educated.
• Background of the work: One of Japan's greatest literary works, world's first novel, and was written during the early 11th century.
• Characters:
  • Hikaru Genji: beautiful son of the Emperor and Lady Kiri-Tsubo, charming and talented young man.
  • The Emperor: father of Genji.
  • Kiri-Tsubo: Emperor's lover, beautiful and accomplished, but she does not have important family connections.
  • Lady Kokiden: jealous and politically savvy, she wields a great deal of power, showing how women could be political forces in this era.
  • Lady Aoi no Ue: Genji's wife.
  • Wistaria/Fujitsubo: Emperor's second lover.
• Symbols:
  • Cherry Blossom: fleeting nature of beauty and life.
  • Moon: emotional turmoil, romantic longing, and the passage of time.
  • Rokujō Mansion: Genji's wealth, status, and cultural refinement.
• Themes:
  • Joys and challenges of romantic relationships, showing how love can bring happiness, but also heartache and complications.
  • Social status and family background shape people's lives and influence their opportunities, relationships, and sense of self-worth.

Review quiz on Ibn Amjed's 'The Food for Paradise', a story of hope and faith exploring divinity and religious beliefs, featuring characters like Mullah Ibrahim and a princess.