China’s Magical Creatures Week 8 Report

• Lauren B
• 0
• on Oct 20, 2022

This week we only read two things, a textbook chapter and a Tang Dynasty story. The chapter titled “Explaining the Extraordinary and the Creation of Fiction” talked about stories and fiction. Giving the many reasons why people would compile and record stories but I found the Buddhists reason for doing it very interesting. Essentially Buddhists would use the stories in a way to get more followers and educate people about their beliefs. They would add portions that would significantly suggest a Buddhist belief and would encourage more people to become Buddhist. The story “World in a Pillow” follows a magical Taoist priest who comes across a young man bemoaning his life. He feels as if he’s accomplished nothing. After giving the young man a pillow he experiences success and what he believed to be a good life but it didn’t last. His colleagues were jealous and accused him of acts he didn’t do, causing him to regret everything he’s accomplished. When he finally dies the young man wakes back up in front of the Taoist priest and thanks him for opening his eyes to what the good life really is. To me, the story serves a warning for what you expect versus what actually happens. A good life may not always be good, it will always come with consequences. 

So far my group and have planned to have a talk with Tim Clarke on where accessibility should be and how it works across multiple areas like pictures and color schemes. We also want to ask pressbooks people about screen reader and how pressbooks can be compatible towards that.

I don’t really have anything on my to-do list aside from what work I have to do for my group.

I also don’t have any questions this week.