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Description
Students research Taoism in China, Korea, and
Japan to create a "Way of Knowledge"
display and/or timeline.
Grade Level: grades 6 or 7
Activity
Using as a starting point three works of art in
the Detroit Institute of Arts' Asian collection,
Money Tree, Embroidered Screen with Longevity
Symbols, and Noh Mask Box with Design of Insects
and Mount Horai, students learn about Taoism and
its impact on China, Korea, and Japan. Students
build a Way of Knowledge display incorporating a
timeline. The completed display includes images
and information gathered on the art and
philosophy of Taoism from China, Korea, and
Japan. Student research can focus on one culture
or on comparing similar elements from different
cultures.
This project takes a total of eight lessons: two
lessons for preparation, including one lesson to
introduce Taoism and its arts, the other to
visit the DIA (see Preparation and
Resources),
five lessons to construct and fill in the Way of
Knowledge display, and one lesson for class
presentations. The art teacher's lesson Yin and
Yang Harmony Fans follows for an additional five
lessons. Class periods are fifty minutes long.
Materials and Tools
spiral notebook for general note taking
a map of ancient China, Korea and Japan
a large wall map of modern Asia
a wide roll of brown paper to construct the
Way of Knowledge
an assortment of construction paper
scissors
rulers
masking tape and glue
pens/pencils/highlighters
watercolor felt pens or crayons (optional)
Introduction
Taoism
Students will learn that Taoism is a system of
beliefs explaining the Tao (pronounced Dao,
literally meaning "the way") as the
origin of all creation and the force that lies
behind the functions and changes of the natural
world. The Tao generates qi (pronounced chee
as in cheese), the constantly moving energy
found in all things, as well as the two
complementary forces of yin (pronounced yeen,
rhymes with seen) and yang (pronounced yauhng
with an A as in father). To realize the Tao, one
must live simply and virtuously, in harmony with
nature. When understood or discovered, the Tao
provides strength and is believed to lead to immortality.
Books and Web sites in the Resources
section provide teachers with more detailed
information on this subject.
Preparation
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Lesson
1
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Student sketching
the Way of
Knowledge |
Activity
Begin Way of Knowledge display
Divide the class into two groups. Appoint a
project manager for each group. Explain that
each group is responsible for constructing one
half of a Way of Knowledge display on a wide
roll of brown paper. Using other supplies (copy
or construction paper, ruler, scissors, glue,
highlighter, etc.), each group can divide the
Way of Knowledge into centuries, beginning with
300 BC and ending with 1900 AD.
Review the information learned in Preparation. Ask students to identify
on the Way of Knowledge display the correct
chronological placement for each of the
dynasties or periods of China, Korea, and Japan
related to the works of art at the DIA. Explain
that these displays will be used as backdrops
for students to post images and reports that
result from their research during the next few
lessons.
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Lesson
2
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Building on lesson one activities,
assign the first fifteen minutes of class (if
necessary) to complete the background
construction of the Way of Knowledge display.
Then divide students into smaller cooperative
learning groups (four to six students per group
recommended). Assign to each group a research
subject or a symbol design related to Taoism in
China, Korea, and Japan. Suggested subjects and
designs include:
- Taoism as a philosophy or Taoism as a
religion
- Auspicious symbols from China, Korea, and
Japan
- Yin and yang symbols of duality which
create harmony
- The Han Dynasty (China) and symbolism
- The Choson Dynasty (Korea) and symbolism
- The Edo Period (Japan) and symbolism
- Taoist Symbols on the Money Tree (China)
- Longevity symbols on the Embroidered
Screen with Longevity Symbols (Korea)
- Longevity symbols in the Noh Mask Box with
Design of Insects and Mount Horai (Japan)
- The Taoist deity Queen Mother of the West
(China)
Using textbooks, resource books, and
information from Internet searches (see
Preparation and Resources), students gather
knowledge on the assigned topic. Students also
evaluate and appraise the accomplishments of the
cultures they research. Students produce or
reproduce drawings of images relevant to their
research topic, which will be included in the
Way of Knowledge display.
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Lesson
3
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Students continue research on their assigned
subjects. As each group finishes with their
research, they can be assigned a different topic
to research. At the teacher's discretion, the
second topic can be related to the first by way
of culture (Taoism in China, then auspicious
symbols in China), or it can contrast with the
first to stimulate a comparison between cultures
(Han Dynasty and symbolism, then Edo Period and
symbolism). Remind students to summarize and
present the information and images they gather
in independent research reports.
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Lesson
4
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Student
with display |
Students continue research on their assigned
subjects. If time allows, the teacher can assign
a third topic for each group to research. Ask
students to devote the last fifteen minutes of
the class to gathering and reviewing their
research results, reviewing their written
reports, and producing drawings of images.
Students also need to begin thinking of where to
place their reports and drawings on the Way of
Knowledge display.
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Lesson
5
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Placing image of Money Tree
on the
Way of Knowledge |
Students complete all the research and make
final adjustments to their drawings, proofread,
and make any necessary changes. Having completed
this task, each team places their reports and
symbol drawings on the Way of Knowledge display.
Any adjustments in the time frames, as they
refer to government, daily life, and artistic
achievements, are made at this time.
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Lesson
6
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After noting and comparing their reports and
drawings with those of other teams, the students
are now ready for the final phase of the
project, which is the presentation. Each student
group gives a short presentation of what they
learned from the project.
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