Tao Te Ching!

Tao Te Ching

 

Since my point of view, this reading is complicated because it has no logical order what makes all harder to understand what it say, is written like in a poem form and it talks about different things such as verses, rhymes and text quotes in abstract form, which I mainly capture about this reading was about the truth of God, also it mentions something about our return to the absolute reign, and also mentions that we need to bring the truth to practice according to our spirit so that our speech and actions we understand and conform to God's truth, then you will be subject to divine truth and a golden thread that connects us with heaven adn by this way you will be with God.

SUNDIATA

SUNDIATA

This history is told by many griots in Africa, and their stories vary depending on what each griot considers to be the most important aspect in the story. In Niana's version, we see a great deal of Sundiata's childhood and his upbringing. We learn that Sundiata's mother, Sogolon Kedjou, whose marriage to Maghan Kon Fatta foretells the immortality of Mali through her offspring.
When Sogolon is brought to the king by two hunters, he marries her despite her ugliness. When Sogolon becomes pregnant, she is treated with a great deal of favorability because of the prophecy. Maghan's first wife, Sassouma Berete, became jealous of Sogolon's and fears that her child will displace her own eight-year-old son. Sassouma later affects Sogolon's and Sundiata's lives when, following the king's death, she maneuvers to have her son placed on the throne, forcing Sogolon and Sundiata to flee in exile.
But before this all happens, several things occur during Sundiata's childhood. After Sundiata is born, he is unable to walk for many years. Sundiata didn't walk until after his mother was admonished when she asked for some baobab leaves from Maghan, whose own son picked the leaves from the baobab tree. When Sundiata learned what had happened from his tearful mother, he strapped two iron braces to his legs, stood, then dragged a baobab tree outside Sogolon's house.
This changed Sundiata in everyone's eyes as they began to realize that the prophecy was true and Sundiata was destined to become a powerful and important man. This incident would lead to Maghan's actions, who would consult with nine witches on how to handle the situation. Another incident during Sundiata's youth was when his griot, Balla Fasseke was taken away from him. Griots are extremely important to kings for they are the public records of the noble families lineages as well the great deeds committed by members within those families. Sundiata losing his own griot was the equivalent of emasculation.  This version of the Mali epic plays heavily on themes such as the occult, prophecy, and epic adventure. It takes its time in telling Sundiata's childhood, his rise to becoming a great leader, his years in exile, and his battles with Soumaoro and other enemies who cross his path.

"The tale of Genji"

"The Tale of Genji" tells the story of the Shining Genji, a beautiful son of Emperor but without category prince, from his birth to his death. The little son of Genji's favorite concubine of the emperor, so he lives in the palace, where he received multiple honors and developed a successful career as a courtier. Being a handsome man, the story devotes much of the narrative to tell his countless affairs, especially in the part of his youth. However, Genji is deeply in love with Fujitsubo, the concubine who has replaced his mother in the heart of the emperor, which will eventually have a child. Because of his love affairs, Genji will be condemned to exile, with return to resume his brilliant life at court. Special mention Lady Murasaki, his beloved niece of Fujitsubo, which Genji takes under his wing when still a child. Pygmalion As if it were, makes her a woman who excels in all the arts that a lady had to master at the time, to recover well from the defects found in most of her lovers.

The work is a brilliant tableau of the customs of the time. Abundant in descriptions, so most faithful recreates the dress, furniture and decorations of the rooms, customs or ceremonies and traditions in a cool courtly society of his time.

Popol Vuh!

Having read the Popol Vuh, we can say that is one of the top performances of Latin American literature, specifically of the Mayan culture, we can consider this work as a culturally significant eminence by indigenous Mayan civilizations. The historical legacy of the Popol Vuh is invaluable, because of the wide range of knowledge embodied in this work, with respect to various aspects of the Mayan world and its customs.

Summarizing the highlights that can be seen along the literary document, you can highlight issues such as imagination, creativity, linked to the religious aspect, cosmogonic theogonic, theological, mythological, political and social.

You can see that this literary work is oriented to entertain the audience, having great deeds of heroes unreal, knowing that all was fantasy. To describe customs, religious beliefs, origin of man, and origin of all things according to the culture that created it, the Maya-Quiche. On numerous occasions the man and the gods are set to the same level, interacting with each other in battles and various exploits. The gods are superior to humans, creatures created for the venerate, worship, otherwise they will be punished. During the entire work talking about a hero and an antihero, can be gods or humans, no one speaks specifically. In this literary work are very advanced concepts regarding the creation of the world and man by the gods.

  

At the same time we can see how these gods make mistakes and fail multiple times, that is not perfect. For example, the creation of man from clay, wood and corn finally man. It also highlights the religious and polytheism marked with their respective beliefs, rituals, worships, sacrifices, offerings and dances.

Mahabharata Storie!

         

         I personally like a lot this story  because it`s very interesting and reflect a very popular story that happen many years ago.. It is about a  King named Pratipa, one daywhen he was traveling at the country side he met a beautiful woman, she was collecting mny flowers from a tree besides the street, then he saw that pretty woman and inmediatly stop his carriage, get down of it and talk to her asking her who she was?, she was very surprised and replied him with a question: What do you want to know about me? -Then the King told har that she look different than other womans and very atractive he said, meanwhile she was surprised, after that he told her that he was the Knig from there, also asking her if she would want to go with him and became the Queen, -She was surprised and didn`t reply anything, then he ask -Aren`t you interested in me?, She replied -Really King? I`m Ganga, and told him that she was ready for marring him if he makes her a promice: You sould never question me about the reason of my actions! to which he replied: all right, then he take her to them Castle and married Ganga making her the new Queen, they had lots of sons but there was a problem each baby that was born she threw it into the river, The King fall in depresure by the actions of Ganga and talked to her, after that they had their number eight kid, but Ganga didn`t threw him into the River because he told Ganga to stop it! Then she got mad and explain the reason, after that she gave him the baby and leave him, by going far away. The king names his son Mahabharata. Santanu, after the disappearance of his wife, returned to his capital with a sorrowful heart. I shall now recount to thee the many virtues and the great good fortune of the illustrious king Santanu of the Bharata race. Indeed, it is this splendid history that is called the Mahabharata.

Aegean Art!

The first samples of art found around the Mediterranean Sea before being populated by Greeks are white stone figurines represent goddesses (famous statuette of a priestess of the snake) and some male characters, standing or seated, with limited visibility and highly stylized strokes. Small idols are probably related to cults of which we know nothing. These figurines have been found in the Cyclades, and the oldest dating back to the mid-third millennium BC It is the stage known as Middle Helladic art.

In architecture was used stone, adobe and brick, plaster-like high quality alabaster sustainable element was used as the pillar of square base and column Aegean (forerunner of the Greek Doric column), circular base and stem smooth thicker at the top than at the bottom or Knossos Palace Knossos palace Crete characteristic, so aberíntica built on terraces on top of hills, with a central courtyard 60 meters long by 29 wide, here is a sample of painting, paint a mural very naturalistic and realistic, not merely reproduce typified positions, but seeks the expression of movement as cool Bullfighting.

There are very few specimens of sculpture, but found small ceramic statues, gold or ivory, such as Goddesses or Priestesses of Serpents. v-representations is a goddess probably of fertility or of a priestess , the figures are the characteristic suit, tight bodice with short sleeves to the elbow, and low-cut that leaves the chest bare and ruffled skirt, the hit may have different forms: a turban, as
tiara, etc., and may be horned animal with a religious sense, the arms are separated from the body, in prayer, creating a good space and making the figure lose rigidity.

Islamic Art!

The Islamic era, Hegira, begins in 622, when Muhammad march from Mecca to Medina to escape the intransigence shown by his preaching. From that date, together with religious faith, emerged a new social and political attitudes, in less than a century, expanded from the Bay of Bengal to the Atlantic Ocean.

Islam is based on a holy book, the Qoran, which contains the word of Allah that in this case is their God revealed to Muhammad or sent his messenger. The communication of the divine message was conducted in Arabic which went on to become the official language and the vehicle unit.

Islamic art is known by the artistic style developed in the culture generated by the Islamic religion.

Islamic art has a certain stylistic unity, due to the displacement of artists, dealers, patrons and workers. The use of a common script throughout the Islamic world and the development of calligraphy reinforce this idea of ​​unity. Attached great importance to the geometry and decoration that could be of three types:

     Kufic Calligraphy: using verses from the Koran.
     Lacería: using interlaced lines or polygons forming stars.
     Ataurique: using plant designs.

In architecture, buildings created with specific functions such as mosques and madrassas, following the same basic pattern, but with different shapes. Virtually no art of sculpture but the achievements of any metal, ivory or ceramic, often reaching high technical perfection. There is also a painting and book illumination in the sacred and profane.

Egyptian Art!

Egyptian art is unquestionably the art form that has captivated modern man. Hieroglyphs were a writing system invented by the ancient Egyptians. It was used from the predynastic until the fourth century. The ancient Egyptians used three basic types of writing: hieroglyphic, hieratic and demotic, the latter corresponds to the Late Period of Egypt.

Egyptian civilization not only created an architecture, sculpture and painting of breathtaking beauty, but also a culture that has made dream researchers, writers and ordinary people, where it melts the historical, the mythical and mysterious.
 

Egyptian art is an art that is closely related to the environment in which it operates. This media influences different aspects: firstly the geographical environment determines a closed culture that makes an art impervious to outside influences, it will evolve just as they will do will be on their own ways due to lack of communication with the outside.

On the other hand, the medium will determine some materials that indicate a disregard for earthly life and a desire to perpetuate the moral and the god of the dead, so that art is often a function of temples and tombs. This relates to both art determinants also are given by the media: the monarchy and religion.                                  

Thus, Pharaoh and nobles from that time and priests will be the main customers. This is an official and courtly art, developed under the religion mainly because it is linked Pharaoh. It is therefore not an autonomous art.

Egyptian art is always subject to rules, so it is very similar and monotonous, so homogeneous. It's a stereotypical art is valued at more accuracy than the original finish. They also have a symbolic nature and magic.

Greek Art!

Greek art sets a benchmark for Western civilization endure to this day. The ancient Greek models are regarded as classics and canons sculptural and architectural styles have been recreated over and over again throughout the history of the West. To speak of Greek painting is necessary to refer to ceramics, since precisely in decorating vases, plates and bowls, whose marketing was a very productive business in ancient Greece, where he was able to develop this art.

Early designs were elementary geometric forms-hence the name of the geometric receive this first period (ninth and eighth centuries BC.) - That just stood out above the surface.

 SCULPTURES:

The first Greek sculptures were taking place in the ninth century BC. Firstly sculptures were small human figures made ​​very malleable materials such as clay, ivory or wax. It was not until the Archaic period on the seventh and sixth centuries BC. There was where Greeks began to work the stone. The most common of the early works were simple statues of boys named kouros and girls who were Kores. Smooth, rounded shapes, these figures in stone plasmaban a beauty ideal.

These figures bore a strong resemblance to the Egyptian sculptures that served as a model. With the arrival of classicism V and IV centuries BC., Greek statuary was taking a character and finally abandoned the primitive oriental patterns. By studying the ratios could copy faithfully the human anatomy and faces definitely gained in expressiveness and realism.

Greek painting:

The last major school of Greek pottery painting was red-figure, in which the black-figure technique was reversed: orange silhouettes were formed by painting around them in black, allowing interior details to be painted rather than incised. This gave the artist much more control in drawing smooth curves or varying the thickness of lines when adding details. It also allowed for gradients of colour, since the black paint could be diluted to acquire shades of brown.

Indian Art.

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The art of India is mainly characterized as a reflection of the complex Indian society, multiethnic and multicultural. Also has a primarily religious character, serving art as a means of transmission of the various religions that have marked India: Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, etc.. I personally noticed as a feature of Indian art that it drive towards integration with nature, as an adaptation to the universal order, considering that most of natural elements (mountains, rivers, trees) have for the Indians a sacred character tha same as the cow that is also sacred for them.

It is characterized by the distinctive styling of their figures.
 

Features:
• Indian Drawing seems to be very sensual and sensitive.
• Decorativism in clothes, landscapes, objects, various ornaments, etc.
• colorism harmonious and pleasant which gives beauty.
• The line as a key element in the compositions. The contours give it personality and style generate much visual linking the whole game.
• Thematically are representations of their gods and their stories or legends.
• Animals are present in many works: Birds, elephants (as you can see on the image), fish and many others more.
• Notable and erotic themes of love between the gods and their loved ones.

India has been the cradle of a great civilization that spread, thanks largely to the spread of Buddhism throughout central and southeast Asia, reaching influence even powerful cultures like China and Japan. In West was known mainly after expedition to India by Alexander the Great, when news arrived of technical advances, cultural and art developed in the Indian subcontinent.