Research Proposal Class

I guess I went over board yesterday due to an Error code 0004. I don't know what that means, and instead while calling the registar office i complained about last semester.

It was a mistake. But I'm getting calls for admittance into universities for an MBA, and if I can switch degrees or do a dual master's degree that would be ideal. But I'm going to finish my degree whatever it is, even if I'm getting no help from the department. They ignore me now. I was suppose to call the head of the advising team, but decided against it. I don't want to start a war.

I'm doing my research proposal on libraries and how to improve them to help the community. My focus is the public library, and I have to do a survey. So that is what I'm doing. I have 2 people lined up to interview, and I'm looking for a few more. I'm paying for lunch. I have a list of questions ready to be filled out on paper by them cause I"m bad at writing what people say. It's a hearing problem I have.

Saint Leo University called me for admittance into their MBA program, so did AIU, and Kaplan University. I just want something I can get a job in, and I found a job by managing my company with my MLS, but I need something for management. I also want more accounting classes, and stuff. I didn't do enough.

I might go to full sail after my usf education and get an AS in entertainment management. It might help with budgeting, line producing, and everything I'm missing in the production. It's hands on and what I need in an education. Books are great source of information, and the internet can't be put down. If your source isn't non fiction or non fiction online source then its fiction based.

That's why when i write papers i use journals and older books from the library. I'm going to UCF's library on saturday and paying for a library card. Driving to Tampa to use their library is rediculous. I need one in orlando and the public library has nothing to help me I'm finding. That is why my research proposal is on that situation.

Arielle

Businesses and Humanities Class

I have been busy this semester and did some cleaning to catch up on some personal things. I also am doing a lot of research and needed a little Rest and Relaxation. My weekend is to catch up on that, and during the week I normally stick to homework.

This semester I'm taking a Business and Law Information Class. It is teaching me everything is searching stock sites and coming up with reports, to finding information to come up with a business plan for a project. i'm doing a referencing project of sources on the web and answers.

then in my humanities class i had to write a bibliography guide. and it turned out really cool. I'm almost done. Single space its 14 pages, but i need more dictionaries. I only have one and its an oxford dictionary. I have a lot of guides and a few encylopedias and listed about 21 internet database scholarly resources for philosophy. so far when ever i go to my partner for advice, she shoots it back at me to do. so i've given up on counting on her to finishing it up. I'm not replying on google docs either. I'm coming up with deep descriptions of these school library internet databases, and see if there are references on these websites i can write in apa. i asked my partner to do it, but she claimed she didn't get the word document or maybe she wants it in google docs but i like it in word.

I'm also working on the introduction from three text. History of Libraries, Humanistic Tradition Text year 2002 edition, and Philosophy of Mind text book. I have to find the intro to humanities, and see what the history of libraries intro is, and see what Blazk's intro is. I don't just use one source thank you very much, that isn't scholarly or helpful to come up with your own edition.

I'm also doing site visits, and have to write that report this week. And I have to write a mini-grant proposal.

See all the stuff you do as a librarian and with my professors. by the time I'm done, I'll know more about academic libraries, then any other type of library.

Next semester I'm taking Research Methods only. I'm going to concentrate on one class, and graduate in spring 2011. I get stressed out taking two courses, and research methods I don't want to flunk.

I'm redoing my closet into a little office. I took out my collectibles in bins, and I might start cataloging what I have, and coming up with a list of their value right now. i have a lot. I ordered a small desk for my laptop, and i'm investing in a printer just for me. and i bought a closet organizer, and i bought new sheets, and i bought new pillows, and i did Hanukkah shopping. i bought four items so far at JCpenny this last weekend.

I bought Pajamas for my mom. my brother is getting an Arizona graphic tea, my dad is getting a sweater and a silk polo. I'm not done yet either. I don't have a job and just volunteer at different libraries and establishments to help the community out. There are so many veterans that need help so I just thought helping even one day a week would be something I could do.

i won't get a job at a library till I finish schooling cause i might think I know everything but I don't. I'm constantly learning new things, and I find that artist don't always agree with everyone and I've been a poet since 2001. i even have the book i was published it.

Arielle

Law Librarian Volunteership

I guess I need to update my blogs! Its been what months. Well things have been going well, I have been excercising like mad to loose pounds and they come right back once my doctor adds another pill. So I am too frustrated to even get on a tredmil.

I am volunteering at a law library. It is a law firm that does real estate home ownerships. I'm learning filing (circulation), copying a law document, proofing them (which I'm realizing I need a law dictionary for), and then I am doing or teaching myself animation. Its fun. I added a film on this site for your pleasure, its nothing major.

I'm also going to be volunteering at a Holocaust Museum Library, I do it on July 5th and I'm going to do it every other week.

The law firm is expanding, and do a very good job at representing home associations. Everyone is very nice in these professional establishments, its nothing like working at a call center or service industry like I'm used to working in. They are expanding, and I'm glad they took me on. I meant to stay today in order to archive files, but I have to get in touch with an old professor to see if he has any advice on what to do. The Office Manager said its easy, but I plan on tackling it on Monday cause I work from 930-1. today i woke up later then usual, and got there at 10. I'm usually out of bed at 7, but my dog has been waking up later then usual.

The law firm I volunteer at is John L Di. Masi, PA. I do to put something on my resume besides working for my dad, and so far I like it as experience and as something to do. Its great to do something you normally don't do and find out you like it. In the Middle Ages, that was call Apprenticeship. Its too bad they don't do that now. It would give people a reason to get up out of bed, into the work force, and do something constructive and learn a new skill. I am.

Arielle Sag

Intro to Library Administration - The Direct Marketing Woes

I guess I forgot about this blog for a while. I need to update what I'm learning, and what I'm doing in my class and which class I'm taking right now.

I'm taking Intro to Library Administration, and I'm finding Libraries are 'not-for profit' intities. I'm also finding out that the budget allowance for a library in the government for public sector is only 8% of every tax dollar. I'm also finding out that librarians are the nuts and bolts to non-profit organizations that have libraries, which house web sources, technology, equipment, staff, and almost like a corporation. It's very hard to comprehend the amount of effort that goes into running a library, until you take a course like this, and actually do research on how a MBA is no match for running a direct marketing company, that I'm finding that deals with the retail world of delivering merchandise to the street. It's the inventory and budget costs that messes a company like that up, and usually currently librarians are trained to be leaders, not followers in their curriculum.

That is just a snap shot of my now 8 page paper for my Intro to Library Administration paper. I have 12 sources, and I'm waiting till doctor appointments wind down, and my cold goes away. I must go to the library to get books on management.

Arielle

50 minute Presentation on MetaData and My class In Copy Right Law

I guess it's about time I update people on the progress of my classes, and the reason why i haven't posted in a while. I'm an author, and I'm a student at the University of South Florida in now Media Specialist K-12 or I'll just get an MLS degree.

I dropped the Law Class, but I was learning a lot. I couldn't understand the readings, and the language in the reading was so dense with language I couldn't understand that I didn't want to mess up any more assignments. I messed up one, not because of my language but when I tried to explain what I got out of the assignment, it did not make any sense to the professor. So I dropped.

In my Organization of Knowledge Class So far I have a .94666666

I'm working on Library of Congress Subject Headings now. It's a tough subject. I just finished AARC2, and Access Points, Meta Data, and Authority Codes, and All the fields for cataloging. I got a 6 on one, and a 5.2 on the other. I"m waiting for the last grade which I know I did not pass with a 5.

I did my group presentation on the weekend, and I had to slow down my speech cause I noticed the time on the clock. I didn't want us to go under. It was a 50 minute presentation on Meta, and I did the Pro and Cons. It was a good speech I thought. I also got elected to press the button for power point. I don't know why either, it's easy to operate. But I'm short, so I didn't have a shadow.

I'm working on my next research paper, I'm 1350 pages into it. I have 5 sources. 2 from the books in class, and 3 scholarly journals from Wilson. It's for a 1600 word paper, and so now I'm just adding my problem two sections with more comments and examples with sample quotations from citation. Things I can't find, i delete. I used examples from our recent class as decisions on the topic. It's on the problems with the conflicting usages of MARCXML, MARC21, and MARC and with now the use of Dublin Core. I'm presenting it as a conflicting of search results from the consumers, with the librarians as well.

I'm using 2 books and 3 scholarly journals as supporting and conflicting evidence for against MARC. And now I'm looking for 3 scholarly journals for supporting and conflicting evidence against Dublin Core.

If you ever want a copy of my work, don't feel shy. I'm on http://stores.lulu.com/asag82

Arielle

Information to Policy and Law: Copyright Constiutional Clause

Article 8: Section 8: Clause 8

Wow! I have to say, this is really out of it. I had to summarize this clause, and I think I got it down to a science. The class is really hard, but I will have fun. I"m so energized, but I think I have a stuffy nose now. Its causing me in comfort. I plan on calling my aunt to discuss. But I had to write a summary paragraph.

Here it is:

The following small discussion is about the progress of science and arts and their protection under the constitution in such limited and broad bases. This discussion is article 8, section 8, and clause 8 states as such; “to promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Rights to their respective writings and discoveries”. The sciences refers to the inventors and their discoveries, while the arts could refer to the writings of the discovers within the arts themselves.
The problem being is that clause 8 which states “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” dose not clarify what type of science and what type of art it is referring to. The article seems to be specific with stating “authors and inventors”, but its not clear in the clause. Nor does the clause discuss copyright law of property in detail; however, the arts after all are all inclusive when it does state “the progress of science and arts”. The meaning could be the fine arts, or any kind of artistic expression
Article 8, section 8, clause 8 states as such: to promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited Time to Authors and Inventors the Exclusive Rights to their respective writings and discoveries”. In sum, the article is unclear who or what the article is referring to. The clause that states, “authors”, “inventors”, “writings”, and “discoveries” is vague enough that the article would cover anyone in the science and creative field; but for legal discourse it’s not clear enough to cover anyone exclusively.

Organization of Knowledge: Computers, the Internet, and the Multitude of Bias

I guess I should begin by saying, WOW. What I've been reading in my text and articles that I've had to index and abstract is nothing compared to what everyday people have read in the newspaper and online street editions that are people who speak from opinionated versions of the truths.

I read from people who read other people's work, and then write their opinion trying to be objective about what they are doing, and where they are going in what they are about to write, and what they are writing about.

The subject this week in the book and in my articles were: The internet, computers, history of documentation, the word documentation, how people watch the dictionary when words change meanings, and legal discourse into what should be kept a secret cause the government is trying not to censor what the latest geek squad is finding out in their Ph.D to become published with their latest findings, and then the government trying not to have the latest findings get into the hands of the terrorist.

I have to say, the first two days of school have been a whirl wind of emotion and all I can say BRING IT ON.

My major assignments are as follows:

I must provide a persuasive paper that is an argument to prove that an issue within the literature of something in the context of the class is wrong, and provide a solution to the case, in a research form.

I'm picking something humanities and the lack of literature sources, and lack of cataloging humanities subjects correctly, and trying with finding the answer, to come up with a solution within the guidelines of the class.

This week, I'm coming up with a question and purpose, now I must find the answer!

Organization of Knowledge 101

I'm taking a break from personal blurbs, and blurs. I'm going to start the next semester on August 25, and I'll be very busy with my work. 

I'll post valuable information for you to know about the different ways of organizing knowledge and documents. After this class in particular, I'll know more about cataloguing, and filing documents according to numbers, subjects, alphabetical, and a combination of all to give me a way into getting an internship at a library. 

After fall semester, I'll have 15 credit hours completed. 

Monday my professor posted the syllabus, and I made an AGENDA to schedule everything in. And depending on when the group project is due dictates when and what happens ultimately, but since my last name is Sag, i'm probably in group 3 or 4. 

I plan on starting my research for the paper at the end of september, and come up with my biblio before I even start writing, so I know what sources I'll be using, so I can return the books I won't use.

Since I'm staying on campus now, I'll be reading the sources before checking them out. I might even photocopy them, so I don't loose the book. 

But first i need to know the topics, and subjects I'll be searching out. I'm a master about library research!

Arielle

Job Prospects

So What Is my Plan for Jobs... and School this coming year. I took the summer off due to my sister's wedding and I heard that summer school can burn you out. So now I'm preparing to go back to school in the fall by studying my books, read up on the subjects, and start selling some books so I can build up some extra spending cash. I also have to come up with a plan to get experience as a Librarian, not necessary in teaching assistant, but as a real librarian in the field of interest which is a Research Librarian, or Law Librarian, Paralegal, Fund Raiser for a Non Profit organization, and to get a list of recommendations beyond professors.

I have 4 recommendations as of right now from undergraduate studies and high school. I have three from the humanities department, and one from my NJROTC program. Right now, I'm going to be staying on campus at the magnolia apartments during the semester. Why I'm there, I'm going to be joining the film club, the habitat for humanity club and volunteer my time to do fund raising and public relations to go out there and do presentations to increase the volume of students and money going into each organization in hopes of a good recommendation after school, so I can get a job at a Law School's Library as a Research Librarian, Public relations, Fund raising, and admissions for any college in general.

Right now, my advisor is the head of the department at the University of South Florida. He gives me advice on what to take, and I figured out what I'm taking in the fall.

I'm taking a class on the different types of cataloging, and intro to public policy and law. I figure both are important foundation courses. I was going to take Intro to Library Administration, but the class was canceled due to budget cuts. So I had to register for something else. Already, I can tell this will be a long degree, but why I'm around I want to make a positive impact on campus.

I bought a new laptop on top of that for school and a Canon Z800 camcorder for the film club and the habitat for humanity club for fund raising. I'm going to make videos of our outings, and some movies to engage the students to volunteer, donate money, and get involved in their community. It's not a Mac Pro, but its a MacBook and I have Final Cut express already, so I'm going to install the program, with microsoft student edition 2003 i bought a while ago, and then I should be set.

I just need to transfer all my music onto Itunes on the apple, and all my word documents, then wipe out the hard drive on this laptop so my mom can use it.

Anyway, this is an update on me.

Arielle Sag

The Protagonist and Antagonist Self

Roland and The Story of the Grail both amplify the power of self throughout the lines and characters that are told in different styles and different formats. Self is a powerful protagonist or can be an evil antagonist in any story. Self is important to any story. In these stories, the Roland and The Story of the Grail, there is the need to show how self is a powerful protagonist but at the same time a really bad antagonist. First, before one can demonstrate that, self needs to be identified. Second, self will be identified as a protagonist in the Roland. From this, there will be identifications into the protagonist in The Story of the Grail and how it relates to the protagonist in the Roland. After this, there will be a few examples of self as an antagonist in both stories the Roland and The Story of the Grail.

The idea of self or the definition of self in the dictionary states: expressing reflexive action directed toward oneself or itself. This definition of self can mean a different variety of things. First, the word reflexive means action diverted to the subject. This means that self is when a person is doing something for oneself or for itself. Second, the action towards oneself or itself could be anything. For example, self could be jealousy. Jealousy is the action to the subject. This subject being self; the self is jealous. Thus, jealousy is the action that it has towards itself or for oneself. This simply means self is amplified by the action of itself or for oneself. In a sense, self can be identified as the protagonist or antagonist depending on the action it has towards itself or for oneself.

The protagonist self in the epic “Roland” are the courageous characters Charlemagne and Roland. I believe that the King Charlemagne has the most self and exemplifies the most growth of the characters in the epic. In laisses 13, Charlemagne’s protagonist self feels an urgency to win against the infidels. Wisely, he asks his knights for advice. “King Marsilion has sent me messengers, wants to give me a great mass of his wealth…but what lies in his heart?” His self, the action of its self or for oneself, is the religious battle with the Muslims, whom they think of as an inferior race “and the antagonist in the epic”. As stated in the first laisses, “Charles the King, our emperor, the Great…has conquered the high land down to the sea. No citadel left to break down…Except Saragossa, high on a mountain. King Marsilion holds it, who does not love God.”

Charlemagne’s self has characteristics that give him the traits and action of his sense of duty, sense of honor, loyalty, chivalry, sorrow, guilt, and sense of friendship. A good example of one of these traits is from his sense of loyalty towards his men, especially Roland. In Laisse 133, 134, 135 and in 136 have examples of Charlemagne’s self. In Laisse 136 Charlemagne feels responsible for Roland’s life. After Charlemagne hears the horn, and he turns around to go backs to Roland. Laisse 136… “If only we find Roland before he’s killed, we’ll stand with him and then we’ll do some fighting!”

Roland is the second main protagonist. He is different from Charlemagne as he is trying to fight an outer battle and an inner battle for his self. This inner battle is the battle of pride, honor, duty, courage, and commitment, with an emphasis on pride. A good show of Roland’s sense of pride for his defiance in front of the enemy is from Laisse 85 from his friend Oliver. He says, “Roland, Companion, sound your olifant now, Charles will hear it, marching through those passes. I promise you, the Franks will come at once.” Roland replies. “May it never please God that any man alive should come to say that pagans … made me sound this horn: no kin of mine will ever bear that shame.” He refuses to blow the horn in order to bring Charlemagne back to help. He refused in face while facing the masses of the enemy to sound for help. It was in desperation at the brink of death that he sounds the horn. His self changes as the action or the story unfolds. His pride dwindles, and he dies.

Ganelon and the Muslims are examples of the antagonist self in this epic. The antagonist self is someone that has traits such as jealousy, greed, the idea of fortune, hatred, thoughts of murder, ill will towards others, lack of honor, lack of chivalry, lack of duty, lack of friendship, and lack of virtue. The dealing between the Muslim King and Ganelon takes place in Laisse 42. Ganelon starts to sell his nephew out by saying, “while one man lives: Roland!” Muslims are seen as the pagans. They make a deal with Ganelon to kill Roland. Marsilion the King of the Muslims asks of Ganelon from Laisse 49, “Show us the way to put Roland to shame.” They set a trap. Ganelon betrays Roland. Betrayal is an action of self at oneself or itself. The Muslims are shown to have no honor, and have no virtue. Naimon announces Ganelon’s betrayal in Laisse 135 by saying, “It is a baron’s breath…. He betrayed him! And now asks you to fail him!” Ganelon is the traitor and dies for his betrayal. The ultimate antagonist self is one that lets their jealousy, hatred, lying, lack of duty, lack of friendship, and lack of virtue lead their actions towards the destruction of one self. As one can note from above, the epic “Roland” has its protagonist and antagonist selves.

The Story of the Grail also has two characters that show the self in a protagonist way. In this story, the plot line is more complicated and there is greater character development. It’s not a story driven by the action against the Muslims. This is a story of bad Knights, a journey, and a myth from the Celtics. This story is also about King Arthur. This story’s selves exhibit knight traits such has honor, duty, commitment, loyalty, courtly behaviors, and religious faith towards God. Both characters Perceval and King Arthur are the protagonist self. The antagonist selves are the knights that go against the honor code of knight traits. Lets look at King Arthur as a protagonist and what his importance to the story is, and how his self shows the traits of a good king.

King Arthur is the king of Britain as the legend goes. He is one example of a protagonist for The Story of the Grail. His action towards oneself and on itself is his honor toward his knights. From page 1337 King Arthur says,

“Good brother, welcome! Pray do not take it ill that I met your greeting with silence. Anger kept me from replying. My worst enemy, who hates and terrifies me most, has even here laid claim to my land, and is so mad as to threaten to take it, whether I will or no […] That knight would not have roused my anger, whatever he said, but he snatched the cup before me and raised it so widely that all the wine with which it was filled poured over the Queen. That was a vile and churlish deed.”

King Arthur’s commitment to his knights and his company of men show he is a good king. People love him. There are people who are jealous. There are knights that want to take his lands. He has fear as a leader. He is not a weak leader. He shows this through his actions and his words. He has deep regrets and takes no pleasure in killing. Killing for King Arthur in this story is the last resort. King Arthur’s self as a protagonist is he is the good king. He is the king anyone would want. He was admired for centuries, and stories were written about him across the channel. The Celtics and their legends are well known. Perceval is another protagonist in “The Story of the Grail.”

Perceval’s trait as a protagonist self is in the way he is naïve to his situation. He has no clue as how to become a knight, or what a knight is. Perceval’s mother states his ignorance on page 1333.

“You will go to court of the King and ask him to give you arms. There will be no refusal. I know he will give them to you. But when you try to use those arms, what will happen? How will you know how to do what you have never done before and never seen others doing? I fear you will do badly; you will be wholly unskilled, and it does not seem strange to me that one does not know what one has not learned.”

His other traits make him a flip flop as an antagonist as well as the protagonist. He serves two purposes. At the beginning he has no knowledge of the honor code of a knight, and has no honor code towards the advice of his mother towards women. He shows this on page 1335.

“The youth had strong arms and embraced her clumsily, knowing no better and stretched her out under him, and though she defended herself and struggled to escape as best she could, her effort was in vain.”

He grows throughout the story and learns the Chivalry code of honor, commitment, virtue, duty, and taking out knights who are the antagonist. There is also the question of faith as a part of the protagonist self in this story. The antagonist knights in this story are a bit darker then Perceval’s mistakes along the way.

Those knights that Perceval meets along the way as a knight are the antagonist self. They go against honor, commitment, virtue, duty, and their treatment of woman. There is also the use of woman as antagonist in some situations. Like when Perceval takes a woman that has a lover, and the lover blames the woman. The woman is seemed to be the antagonist self. She cheated and should have been able to stop Perceval. The lover comes back to the maiden. On page 1336 he states the following.

“Say rather that you took pleasure in it and refused him nothing! […] Surely, I know you too well and am not so blind or so squint eyed that I do not see your falsity. You have started on a wicked path; you have taken a painful road. […] The clothes which you are wearing shall not be changed, but you shall follow me on food and naked until I have his head. No other punishment will I choose.”

There is also the self of lying being an action for oneself or at itself. The action of lying, the action of being too forward is an attribute in the antagonist self. Perceval has some of these traits.

I believe the epic “Roland” and in The Story of the Grail contain examples of both the protagonist self and the antagonist self. These two stories amplify the self and the definition of selves. Throughout both, there are challenges and instances where the traits can be found in the characters in the two stories. While The Story of the Grail is a novel and Roland is a poem, they both deal with Chivalry and knights. They both deal with jealousy, hatred, anger, lying, faithfulness, honor, duty, and love of both antagonist and protagonist self. The self as defined is expressing reflexive action directed toward oneself or itself.

I hope you liked the read

Hey. I hope you liked the last few posts. If you want the rest just email me, it's really in a microsoft publisher format, in a newsletter with images of tea, and advertisements for tea, it was a project i did in undergraduate.

If you want my reference list, let me know and I can email you where I got ALL my information.


Thanks
Arielle Sag

Tea Gatherings

Tea gatherings

When being invited to a Japanese Tea ceremony the room only holds four people. This ceremony being invited to is considered a great honor. A tea ceremony would involve food, and the drinking of tea and the washing of hands. The tea room is separate from the house, and the guest would do the following things.

They would first wash their hands in either cold or warm water. The warm water being during the winter. They would enter the garden, where the tea would be stationed. From this, they would put their knives and their fans in a cupboard outside the tea room. They would then be given the treatment of drinking tea and eating one meal. This ceremony was developed by the Japanese as a special gathering and a great way of having entertainment. Being invited to a tea ceremony was thought of high honor, and high esteem. The host would be absent from the ceremony, and point of this ceremony is not just for entertainment.

The host is being judged from how they present the tea, to the tea room, how the tea taste, and the food that is eaten. Because of this, there is higher quality of food, there is better tea, and ceremony in general is getting more aesthetic.

Britain and Tea

Britain and Tea

Tea was brought to England in the late seventeenth century. The drink became a national drink replacing the gin. Gin was bought for so cheep, but was a disgrace to the English people. People turned to black tea. The expensive tea was more preferred and was bought for its taste, and its essential virtue. The good tea cost at least 60S a pound. The cheapest sort one could legally buy cost 7s a pound. That is about the amount of money one made in a week worth of wages. Just across the Channel or the North Sea the cost was 2s a pound and the inferior for much less. The free traders made a profit of 350 per cent and they weren’t slow to begin this sort of game with other people. This resulted in publicized tea as nothing else could have done, and the illegal sale of the tea flourished and accounted for two-thirds of the tea drunk in England had been smuggled. (The great tea venture, 29-3

John Company and China

John Company and China

There was a monopoly of trade into China for tea. This monopoly was by the company John Company. There was one port that China had opened the door to trade, this port was Canton. The John Company was the Honorable East India company, which was granted a monopoly of Oriental trade in the 1600. It was during the late seventeenth century and throughout the eighteenth consolidated and built up its position until it was the biggest organization of any foreign power. This was the greatest trade monopolies in the world.

The growing army of private traders persuaded Parliament that it should not be renewed for China after year 1833. The John Company lost its monopoly on China in 1813. (The great tea venture, 44)

Early Chinese Tea

Early Chinese Tea

Accounts of when the tea tree was found has two contradicting accounts. One says that it was found during the reign of Emperor Shin Nong, three thousand years before Christian era. Though people doubt the discovery of the tea has been around that long, or at least the western historians doubt that. They mostly believe that the plant was discovered in the fourth century A.D. This from a historical reference written down to the acknowledgement of drinking the drink.

Like the Japanese, the Chinese drank the drink for its healing properties, and for its popularity for its flavor. Soon the government put a tax on the drink, for it became so popular that the government tried to levy a heavy tax on the drink. (The history of the Indian Tea Industry, 4)

Chinese and Making Tea

Chinese and Making Tea

In the eighth century, there was a tea drinker by the name of Lu Yu that wrote a book on tea. There is the plucking and manufacture of tea, to the different kinds of tea leaves. He talks about when the tea was popular to be drunk. For instance, he says drinking was very popular in the T’ang dynasty. He says there is ordinary tea and ground tea.

There is cake tea which is put in a jar or bottle after being pounded and the boiling water is poured over it. Lu Yu talks about the beneficiaries of drinking tea.

He claims the tea is well suited for individuals of self restraint and good conduct. Tea is to avoid sleepiness. (The history of the Indian tea industry, 4-5)

Tea and Persia

Tea and Persia

Tea was regularly drunk throughout Central Asia as early as the beginning of the eighteenth century. Duke of Holstein to Persia, refers to tea drinking in some detail.

He says “that instead of drinking wine in taverns, they drink this drink which they call tzai, or tea. The people with a good reputation drink this drink. They buy their tea from Chattai, and explains what the herb looks like”. (The history of the Indian tea industry, 10)

He comments about the Indians, from India, “that they only put the tea into seething water, from Brass or earthen pots very homely made, which are put to no other use. They drink it really hot to the touch that they can’t hold their dishes, which are either Porcelain or Silver.” (The history of the Indian tea industry, 10)

Moving the Tea Plant to India

Moving the Tea Plant to India

The British was determined to move the tea plant to Calcutta in the eighteenth century. The East India Company had a monopoly on the trade of tea but had no interest in growing the plant. But the British wanted India to grow the plant. So they sailed seeds of plants to Calcutta.

In Assam, there was interest to grow the tea plant. The botanist Dr N. Wallich of the East Indian Company asked for Chinese tea plants and seeds from the Botanical Garden company in Calcutta. The plants died in transit. There was back and forth between getting the plant and not getting the plant.

During the Burmese war, they acquired a tea tree seed. They doubted the seeds acquired were the real plant; thus the tea plant was never planted. After which, Bentinck the new Governor, was told to try to grow tea in a new region. Coming to a conclusion, they ended up growing the tea plants in Rio de Janeiro, St Pauls, and St Helena and the tea plant have been found in Nepal. (The history of the Indian tea industry 36-38)

Art Work

Art Work

With the Japanese tea ceremony, there is different type of art genres that developed over the years. One of the types of art is calligraphy. Calligraphy was a popular type of art that the Japanese did during the ceremony. The calligraphy developed into love for this art made the script more popular then regular print.

Another genre that is popular with the Japanese is paintings. They liked paintings in their rooms and on their screens. These paintings were in Chinese style in the beginning. They liked paintings and this love for Chinese artwork.

The other type of artwork they liked to do is poetry. They were very fluent in writing poetry and why I can’t find much information on the poetry composed, I did find that they wrote poetry in Haiku style.

They wrote poetry for others to read and for the comfort of their home. This was the art style of their artwork in the Japanese Tea ceremony. (Tea in Japan 28-29)

The coming of Karamonos

The coming of Karamonos

The art that was coming into Japan was Chinese objects. These Chinese objects were called Karamonos. Karamonos were bowls, kettles, spoons, and equipment used for making the black tea in the shoin form of chanoyu. The way the Karamonos came to Japan was by the Chinese Zen Monks, and the Japanese Monks that were traveling between the two separate countries. This exchange was taking place during the Ming Chinese Dynasty and the reign of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. This happened during the early fifteenth century. There have been previous priest that traveled to and from the two countries bringing trade between the two countries.

Most of the Karamonos were made use for religious purposes and were used in Zen Buddhist temples. There were times of strain of the importation of goods, like during the Mongol rule. The trade was severely. Despite this lack of trade, there were some small boats that were able to get the Karamonos from China and bring them back to Japan.

This is how the transmission of shingi was brought to Japan. This transmission of shingi brought things like painting, scrolls of calligraphy, and tenmoku tea bowls. When they acquired these utensils, they became aesthetic appreciation. (Tea in Japan, 15)