Forbidden City?

My students and I just got back from China. While we were there I was told we would be visiting the Forbidden City. I thought that would be great, but what I really wanted to visit was the Imperial Palace. I believe I am not the only westerner who is confused about this. The Forbidden City and the Imperial Palace are the same thing. The different names assign a different meaning to the palace complex.

From a Chinese perspective the Imperial Palace was where the emperors of China's past reigned from. There were 24 emperors who ruled from this location. The purpose of the great wall was to protect the Imperial palace from invaders. Sun Yat Sen is considered the father of modern China because he overthrew the Qing Dynasty and removed the emperor from power. Mao Zedong is considered the last great emperor because he united China as the emperors of old were able to do. China is one of the most ethnically diverse nations in the world. The country has 55 different ethnicity s according to Wikipedia, but I always hear about 57 from the Chinese themselves.  The Chinese know that without a strong leader there would be much conflict and even civil war. They respect someone who is able to unite them. This is why Mao's picture appears on the entrance of the Imperial Palace.

The Forbidden City is a westerners view of the palace complex. What is forbidden about the city? A number of things are forbidden. You could not enter the city unless you were a feudal lord, or lady. You could not leave the city if you were chosen by the empress (or principal wife)  to be a concubine for the emperor. Perhaps you remember the gilded cage at the back of the palace complex. The concubines spent there entire lives in this garden, and where never permitted to leave. So from a western perspective there were many things forbidden. From the Chinese perspective things are controlled and orderly to maintain peace and harmony. The Chinese Characters at the top of the pagodas reflect this theme of harmony and peace.

What happens when this order is overturned? Perhaps one of the most interesting stories in Chinese history is the story of how one concubine  became empress and ruled China. Here is a link to her interesting story. 

Please enjoy the video of our visit to the Forbidden City and shopping near this historic area of Beijing. 

Are you looking for Grad credits that align with the new core PA standards?

April 12, 2012

I hope you are well and doing well as an Entrepreneurial Educator.

When we consider all the challenges facing the American Educator today, we can say the times are trying.  But when we look to the Future, what an exciting vision we can embrace and it’s nearly in our grasp!  The 21^st Century is HERE, and along with it, all the amazing things we have been calling 21^st century technologies, skills, dynamics and opportunities are upon us. 

The time was never better to learn something new – something to recharge your own thinking, reconnect you with your passion for teaching, and help you inspire your students in their learning.

The time was never better than now to join the 3E Institute for a summer graduate course or two:

·        EEE500 Entrepreneurial Educator helps you turn your big idea for a learning project into a reality, including planning, making connections, goal setting, aligning standards, getting buy-in from others.  

·        EDE563 Teachers as Leaders will be delivered fully ON LINE, featuring both synchronous and asynchronous learning and interactions.

·        EEE504 21^st Century Educator Externship will also complete its migration to ON LINE soon.  Study a 21^st century workplace up close and learn what opportunities and requirements your students will experience as new hires. New companies include Bentley Systems, American Helicopter Museum, or the company of your choosing, if you sign on early enough.

·        EEE501 Emerging Science and Technologies will feature a NEW SCENARIO based on the Marcellus Shale energy situation.  This course will also be migrated to ON LINE format later in 2012.

·        MAT595 Quantitative Literacy gives a very APPLIED experience in decision making using data and numbers and features teacher devised, technology assisted projects that emphasize the practical applications of mathematics. 

·        EEE503 Applied Learning Seminar is an opportunity to create your own PBL’s using technology and benefitting from colleagues’ feedback and interaction.

If you are going for the new 18 graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurial Education, you may pick up to 6 credits in electives from the entire WCU graduate catalog. Contact us at 3E Institute to discuss or just sign up…TODAY…PRE-REGISTER.

 We look forward to seeing you at a 3E Institute this summer.

Patricia L. Beneš, Executive Director

3E Institute

610-738-0582   www.3einstitute.org