Lennon_S

= = =School of Athens: Euclid= I decided to choose Greek mathematician Euclid (center-right, using drafting compass), as he is essentially the founder of geometry. I am a student at TVMSC, and I very much enjoy learning arithmetic, particularly geometry. He lived in Alexandria, Egypt following the death of Alexander the Great. Euclid's famous math book, //Elements//, was used to teach mathematics (geometry in particular) until the early 1900s. In fact, //Elements// was so famous that most philosophers referred to him as "the father of the //Elements//". His book contained many mathematical proofs that are still used today. Not much is known about him other than what we know about his mathematical works that were preserved by other mathematicians. Many of his works were translated into Arabic, thus, much of the information about Euclid are from Arabic sources. Euclid and his works are very much tied to the Renaissance; Euclid developed a plethora of revolutionary ways to look at geometry (and math in general), which is a very important thing, as math greatly aids us in understanding the world. Some people believe that the person depicted in Raphael's //School of Athens// is actually Archimedes of Syracuse. Archimedes was another great Greek mathematician, and was famous for his advances in physics. I find it more likely that the man in the painting is actually Euclid rather than Archimedes, due to the use of the compass (which is more prevalent in geometry). If my assumption is correct, then I think that Archimedes should also be included in the picture, as Archimedes was arguably more "Renaissance" than Euclid. Euclid was highly specialized in math whereas Archimedes studied a variety of areas (math, physics, engineering, and astronomy). Also, Euclid is somewhat obscure compared to Archimedes (due to the lack of information about the life of Euclid). However, the fact that Archimedes should be in the picture adds to the possibility that the man depicted is actually Archimedes and not Euclid. Excellent discussion! -SW =Class Starter:= This Japanese wood-block print from the 18th century portrays a Samurai about to perform the highly ritualised suicide method, known as seppuku. This document clearly illustrates that seppuku was a very important aspect of Japanese culture, particularly of the revered samurai class. =Seppuku: Honourable Suicide= By Lennon Shitara

//Seppuku//, known in the West as "hara-kiri", is a "highly ritualistic, exquisitely precise" method of honourable suicide in Japan (mainly by warriors and samurai). This method involves disembowelling oneself, followed by "partial decapitation". Japan, like most other East Asian nations, greatly values honour; one could say that those who have performed seppuku valued honour more than their own lives. Reasons to perform seppuku included (but were not limited to) "resistance, remonstrance, showing of loyalty, affirmation of one's own position, expiation of a crime and the wiping out of disgrace" (Mays). The supposed first instance of seppuku occurred during Japan's Classical Period, in which the mainland had the most influence upon Japanese culture. Since then, this method of suicide has become deeply ingrained within the Bushido code of the samurai. The Bushido code established proper etiquette for those who belonged to the samurai class, and taught warriors honour, respect, and humility.

The procedure of seppuku has received many misconceptions in western culture, often being associated with violent self-mutilation; However, seppuku is not as grotesque as some people think (if done properly). Before the ritual, a funeral-like ceremony is held for the warrior/samurai who is performing seppuku. During this ceremony, a last meal is given to the one who is going to commit suicide. This meal may include three slices of pickled vegetables, called //mikire//. The name //mikire// is a pun, as it means both "three pieces" and "to cut flesh". A last drink (often water or sake) is given as well. Traditionally, four sips are taken from the drink (another example of word-play, because 4 in Japanese is similar to the Japanese word for death). After this procession, a white kimono is worn and a //tanto-// blade on a wooden tray is given to the person about to perform seppuku//.// This blade is almost a foot in length, but some of the blade has cloth around it to prevent unintentional cutting of the hands. Then, the blade is plunged into the stomach and drawn from left to right; some seppukus include pulling out vital organs. After the disembowelling, the //kaishakunin// (typically a skilled swordsman previously selected by the one who performs seppuku) is signalled to partially decapitate the one who commits seppuku; this resulted in a quicker and less painful death. Since full decapitation was seen as dishonourable (only used on criminals in Japan), the head was not supposed to be entirely separated from the body.

A portrayal of a kaishakunin about to deliver the final blow.

To many Westerners, this suicide method is nearly incomprehensible. Psychologists in the West have tried to understand such suicidal behaviour in Japanese society ever since the Meiji Restoration; ritualistic traditions of the East remain a mystery to Westerners because of the isolation that lasted until the late 19th century. One could say that seppuku and other honour-related traditions have been passed down from Classical Chinese traditions; such strong zealousness for honour strongly reflects teachings of Confucianism. The "samurai way" is quite possibly a product of Confucian ideas and Buddhist philosophies that were brought to Japan. However, this "honour-lust" has evolved and changed due to Japan's separateness from the mainland, and the isolation that Japan had experienced in later centuries.

In modern times, seppuku is no longer practised in Japan; since seppuku was banned from use in judicial punishment in 1868, Japanese government no longer allowed the use of the honourable suicide. However, voluntary seppuku (not involving government) persisted in Japanese society. The kamikaze planes of Imperial Japan could be seen as a form of industrialised seppuku. After World War II, many soldiers and civilians committed seppuku because of Japan's surrender. Since then, cases of seppuku have greatly decreased (although the suicide rate has not changed much), although occasional seppukus have been reported in recent years. Some modern causes of seppuku include "failed businesses, involvement in love triangles, or even failing school examinations".

Jeez, it's hard to imagine this as a regular occurrence. This is really fascinating, and exhibits the glaring differences and examples of the isolation of China and the rest of the world at the time. I wonder if the brutal nature of the region of the time has permanently altered the way Asian culture perceives honor and failure even today? The fact that the suicide rates are still high and seppuku had to be outlawed just around 200 years ago pushes me towards the idea that Asia's culture has been altered in a violent way that still affects its members today by its so-called "divine rulers" possessing the mandate of heaven. The correlation of the samurais who performed Seppeku and WWII is a great idea to consider, Lenin! -Sydney Jones

=Works Cited= "The Deadly Ritual of Seppuku | Samurai Weapons." //The Deadly Ritual of Seppuku//. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2013. .

May, Nick. "Editor's Picks: Seppuku - Practical Guide." //Editor's Picks: Seppuku - Practical Guide//. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2013. .

Fuse, Toyomasa (1980). [|"Suicide and Culture in Japan: a study of seppuku as an institutionalized form of suicide"]. //Social Psychiatry 15, 57-63//.

=Video=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVE7aqrva0g (It should be noted that this "seppuku" was performed by actors) I would hope so.....a real video of it would be somewhat gruesome. SW

=**Unit 2 Primary Source: Ooops, what happened to the source? -SW **= A depiction of Joan of Arc from a manuscript from 1505.

=Joan of Arc: French Heroine, Saint, and Military Leader= By Lennon Shitara

Joan of Arc, know in France as "Jeanne d'Arc", was an important female figure in medieval France. Joan was born circa 1412 into a peasant family in Domrémy, Bar, France. Her parents were devout Catholics, and at age 12 she apparently had communicated with famous saints, such as Saint Michael and Saint Catherine. Joan would continue to have divine encounters such as these for the remainder of her life.

Before going on about Joan of Arc, one must know about the dispute that was happening at the time. England and France had been fighting for the French Crown over the French Crown since 1337, and it was not until 1453 that this conflict had been "resolved" (France had won after 116 years). Before the war, William the Conqueror came from Normandy and had conquered England, thus resulting in English Kings paying homage to the French Crown. This war which became known as the "Hundred Years War" was caused by King Edward III's refusal to pay homage to France's King, Phillip VI.

At the start of the war, England had been winning and signs of weakness in the French monarchy began to show. By 1429, English forces (combined with forces from Burgundy) had owned won many victories and had much of France under their control. At the time, dauphin (a title given to heirs of the French throne) Charles was leading France against the English. Although it had already been five years since his father had died, dauphin Charles (later known as Charles VII) was not yet crowned king. In May of 1428, Joan (who was only 16 years old at the time) went to Vaucouleurs and requested to join Charles, but was dismissed and sent home. A year later, she returned and successfully had predicted the military actions performed at

Joan of Arc's strategy was much more aggressive than that of the French leadership's primarily defensive tactics; Joan had clearly noticed that he overly-cautious French strategy was not working. Her aggressiveness in battle completely changed the tide of the war, and France began winning more battles. In May 4th of 1429, Joan and her forces attacked and captures the fortress of Saint Loup (which was being held by England) and the next day she led a march to another fortress called Saint Jean le Blanc. Later, she went to a French war council and demanded yet another offensive against English forces, but was denied. Ignoring the denial, she unbolted the gates of les Tourelles (an English-held stronghold) on May 7. During this battle, she was shot through the neck with an arrow and returned to the fight.

On September 8, English stronghold Paris was besieged by Joan's forces and she was shot in the leg by a crossbow. Despite being injured, Joan once again continued giving orders to the troops. Joan was given the order to retreat from Paris, and did so. In October, she assisted the Royal Army of France in taking Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier. Soon after this victory, Joan of Arc and her family were granted noble status.

After a brief truce with Burgundy/England, Joan was captured by the Burgundian forces after attempting to defend a city from an English-Burgundian siege. She was sold to the English government by Duke Philip of Burgundy. In England, she was tried for heresy, and signed a document stating that she would not wear clothes intended for men. However, she continued to wear such clothes and was burnt at the stake at the age of 19 for doing so. It is suggested by some historians that Joan did not fully understand the document due to her illiteracy, and unintentionally violated it. After her execution, the executioner feared that he would be "damned" for putting Joan of Arc to death.

An artist's interpretation of a painting of Joan of Arc that was made around 1485, since the original had not survived.

Still celebrated today, Joan of Arc was perhaps one of the most influential women of Western Europe during the Post-classical period. Her actions not only inspired the French to win the Hundred Years War, but also cemented Joan of Arc as a martyr and a patron saint of France. Joan's claims about divine encounters and her uncanny ability to foresee English military actions

=Works Cited:=

"St Joan of Arc." 2013. //The Biography Channel website//. Dec 08 2013, 07:56 [].

Keen, Maurice. "The Hundred Years War." //BBC News//. BBC, 17 Feb. 2011. Web. 07 Dec. 2013. .

"Charles VII". //Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.// Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 08 Dec. 2013 <[]>.  [|I was in my thirteenth year when I heard a voice from God to help me govern my conduct. And the first time I was very much afraid.] Read more at [|http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/joan_of_arc.html#qx0gIPDLZuz1gFTw.99]  [|I was in my thirteenth year when I heard a voice from God to help me govern my conduct. And the first time I was very much afraid.] Read more at [|http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/joan_of_arc.html#qx0gIPDLZuz1gFTw.99]