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LESSON 2: USING SYMBOLS TO EXPRESS THE POWER OF THE EMPEROR
| Part II Intro | | | Lesson One | | | Lesson Two |
3 40-minute sessions and homework time
Materials Needed:
Student Objective
In China the power of the emperor was often expressed in symbols which could
be understood by all educated people. Elaborate embroidery on the clothing--called
dragon robes-- of the emperor and his family and associates expressed the symbols
associated with the emperor’s authority to act as intermediary between
heaven and earth. Students will learn to utilize these symbols and symbols of
their own creation to express information about a particular emperor.
Activities
1. Introduce the idea of the close association between the symbol of the dragon
the the power of the emperor by reading Deborah Lattimore’s The
Dragon’s Robe which introduces other powerful symbols as well:
tiger, phoenix, rain storm. Note that like the dragon, the emperor’s role
is to mediate between heaven and earth.
2. Review the concept of the Mandate of Heaven and show slides of
Imperial dragon robes, largely from the Qing dynasty explaining how court
robes were used. Pictures of dragon robes can be found at the following linked
internet sites:
3. Student teams research and prepare homework report on an emperor from the
list or of their own choosing:
Shi-Huangdi (Qin, 221-207 BC) Liu Bang (Han, 202 BC)
Wu Di (Han, 141 BC) Empress We Zetian (Tang, 625)
Chao K’uang-yin (Song, 960) Khubilai Khan (Yuan, 1279)
Zhu Yuanzhang ( Ming, 1368) Zhu Di (Ming,1402)
Kangzi Emperor (Qing, 1661) Qainlong Emperor (Qing, 1736)
4. Students prepare character maps of their emperors and develop symbols which
reflect their rule, incorporating as well the symbols used in traditional dragon
robes.
5. Teacher discusses the meaning of the word “symbol” and why one
might use a symbol to express an idea. (See Minneapolis
Institute of Art,San
Diego Museum of Art or the MFA exhibit
“Draped
in Dragons”for discussion of symbols in court
robes.
6. Teacher distributes charts of Imperial symbols and links of outstanding
Imperial Dragon Robes and portraits of various emperors in their royal robes.
See San Diego Museum site for excellent glossary
of robe symbols or see the book, Chinese Dragon Robes
or Dragons and Silk from the Forbidden City available at the Primary
Source Library. Slides are also available at Primary Source Library.
7. Selecting a picture of one robe, students and teacher use symbol charts to
decipher symbols on the robe. Discuss what the choice of symbols said about
its wearer.
5. Reviewing their character maps, student teams brainstorm and create a set
of symbols which represent the personality and accomplishments of the emperor
they researched. Subsequently the team designs a dragon robe for their emperor
by projecting an overhead transparency--on which they have placed their designs--on
to a large piece of white paper. Pattern is traced and life-size robe is decorated
and cut out. Culminating activity is a fashion show in which one student is
the model and the other the commentator. Overhead pattern for robe included
at end of Part II.
Assignments
1. With a partner, research the life and accomplishments of the emperor selected
and prepare a character map.
2. With a partner, devise a set of symbols which represent your emperor’s
personality and accomplishments. You may incorporate traditional Chinese symbols
as well (see
San Diego web site). Incorporate these symbols into a design
for a dragon robe. A sheet is included for that purpose. Construction of the
robes will occur in class.
* Extension Activities: One source suggested decorating tee shirts with
symbols. This could be a substitute for the actual dragon robe. Students could
also make masks --using portraits of their emperors --to make the fashion show
more convincing.
BACK OF CHARACTER CHART
Name of book used for research______________________________page___
Notes:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Name of book used for research______________________________page___
Notes:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LESSON WORKSHEET: The following assignment is best viewed
and printed as a PDF file. The link below will open the worksheet in a new window.
LESSON WORKSHEET: The following assignment is best viewed
and printed as a PDF file. The link below will open the worksheet in a new window.
LESSON WORKSHEET: The following assignment is best viewed
and printed as a PDF file. The link below will open the worksheet in a new window.
Go to Unit Conclusion and Bibliography
| Part II Intro | | | Lesson One | | | Lesson Two |