The Fine Art of Seppuku - 997 Words

Seppuku is a Japanese suicide ritual. It is a â€Å"unique phenomenon only existing in Japan† (Li Jian-jun). â€Å"The word seppuku comes from the words setsu ‘to cut’ and fuku ‘abdomen’† (Kallie Szczepanski). This exquisite ritual was most common in the samurai, it gave the samurai an honorable death, and honor was the most important thing to a samurai. Samurai means â€Å"one who serves† and his main duty was to give faithful service to his feudal lord (Kallie Szczepanski). Seppuku is a stylized and strict ritualized practice of suicide and has been a form of suicide for centuries. It has also been a popular theme in Japan’s literature and theatre for years (Toyomasa Fuse). Seppuku is a great honor; the honor was reserved for only the samurai, even in†¦show more content†¦The samurai were mercenaries that were hired to serve in battle for a lord. The samurai were paid in rice and grain; the samurai are very big on maint aining honor and doing everything within their power to please their lords. For the samurai, the ultimate expression of personal honor was to die voluntarily, by one’s own hand (Traditional Japan). That kind of personal honor was gained through the ritual of seppuku. Another common reason for committing seppuku was to show ones disagreement with the lord. Seppuku is viewed as an honorable punishment; any other â€Å"commoner† would have been executed. It truly is amazing how seppuku lasted so long, it is considered one of the most gruesome rituals ever to be seen. The French captured some Japanese soldiers and opposed to surrendering, the Japanese soldiers requested that the French allow them to commit seppuku, â€Å"The French found the spectacle so horrible to watch they made their prisoners stop† (Jeffrey Hays). Japanese history is full of cases of seppuku, seppuku was considered as a grace. â€Å"With the final unification and pacifying of Japan under Tokug awa Ieyaso, 1543-1616, and the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate, seppuku was no longer officially supported† (Dieter Wanczura), but, the practice still continued to exist nevertheless. â€Å"The latest known case is from 1970, when Yukio Mishima, committed suicide in a seppuku manner. This act causedShow MoreRelatedLegacy of the Samurai: The characteristics, philosophy, and history of the samurai.2585 Words   |  11 Pagessometimes sent to village schools for basic education, but they received most of their samurai training from their fathers, older brother, or uncles. Training in martial arts was considered very important, and often began at age five. Sons of wealthy families were sent to special academies, where they were tutored in literature, the arts, and military skills. (Daidoji, Ratti, and Cleary 6-10) Swordsmanship was taught in a similarly relentless manner. The most recognized weapon of the samurai throughoutRead MoreComparing The Knight Of Europe And The Samurai Of Japan1157 Words   |  5 Pagesthemselves to be of divine origin. Later, the Yamato clans shown many military campaigns on the Asian mainland. The targets included Korea and China and these campaigns led to the importation of Korean and Chinese culture, technology and military arts. A comparison between the knight of Europe and the samurai of Japan may show how these two countries had more in common than one might originally suppose. Similar to the Samurai the knight was given land by county landowners and swore allegiance toRead MoreAsian History: Review2325 Words   |  10 Pagesgossip was abundant. The members of imperial households and leading aristocratic families lived in a complex of palaces and gardens which the Japanese saw as most appealing. There were artificial lakes and fine gardens in every courtiers living quarters. Writing verse and poems were valued art types and were full of Japanese Classics and Chinese allusions. C. What led to the decline of imperial power within Japan? While the emperor was goofing off, aristocratic families were trying to runRead MoreAp World Chapter 14 and 15 Outline Essay3611 Words   |  15 Pagessteel and other industrial productions. Paper manufacturers appeared in Islamic cities during the Abbasid era. Originally from China. Didnt spread until the Arabs beat them at the battle of the Talas River in 751 and took prisoners skilled in the art of making paper. Was very cheap. Kept records of administrative and commercial activities. By the tenth century paper productions were in Persia, Mesopotamia, Arabia, Egypt and, Spain, soon spreading to western Europe. Banking also stimulated the economyRead MoreModern-Day Adaptations of Shakespearian Plays3263 Words   |  14 Pagesreally is a strumpet. There is a reason why Auberon has horns on his head. Throughout the entire Sandman she is constantly throwing herself at Morpheus. The fact that the actors are performing to the real fairies is another example of reality and art. Throughout the performance, there is heavy mirroring between the fake fairies and the real fairies. In Shakespeares time when people believed in fairies, the fairies of their imagination were tricksters. They would pull silly pranks on mortals

The Truth About Nuclear Power Free Essays

Nuclear technology has been the cause of more worry than hope. Since its very beginnin g humankind has exploited it for purposes of war rather than for the progress of humankind, but how good is nuclear power for the human race and the environment? By definition of the Merriam -Webster dictionary nuclear means â€Å"of , relating to, or powered by nuclear energy† and energy means â€Å"usable power (such as heat or electricity)†, therefore nuclear energy means usable power powered by nuclear energy â€Å". The reasons behind my choosing of this topic are because few know how nuclear really works and how good it is. We will write a custom essay sample on The Truth About Nuclear Power or any similar topic only for you Order Now Nuclear energy is the source of energy of the future therefore it is something that must concern us in terms of how safe it is for us as humans. Nations like china already have started very ambitious nuclear power plant projects that they hope can give them advantage in the future and I believe that very soon it won’t be just china but the whole world that will have this technology but the question still remains how good is it? All literature cited in this paper has been selected through means of internet and none of it through hard copy books Nuclear Energy At this point in time nuclear energy is something that is still unknown to most of the world, especially the third world. As of now only thirty -one countries in the whole world have nuclear power plants. Reasons for this that I am going to explain are three which are: Disposal of nuclear waste, dramatic accidents that have occurred and the mos t important reason is cost.  Nuclear waste is one of the three big factors preventing nations from considering using nuclear energy. According to the Merriam -Webster dictionary nuclear waste is † radioactive waste material, for example from the use or reprocessing of nuclear fuel†. The reason nuclear waste is such a big problem is that high level radioactive chemicals such as plutonium and uranium act as nuclear fuel for reactors in a nuclear power station but after they have been used they will produce high levels of radiation that is dangerous when exposed to. Nuclear waste is a problem not only for countries thinking about using nuclear energy but those that already do.Nations like the US and its allies foresaw this problem early on and have been making deals with smaller nations to pay them for storing their nuclear waste. Other methods of taking care of nuclear waste include encasing it in glass and putting it deep underground, and also storing it in specially made nuclear waste storage facilities. High level nuclear waste usually takes 40 to 50 years before its radiation levels have gone down to low. The second factor that makes it hard for nations to adopt nuclear power are  dramatic accidents that have occurred in the past due to nuclear power plants. There have been three majors accidents regarding nuclear power in the past with Chernobyl in 1986 , Three -mile island in 1979, and Fukushima in 2011. These three accidents caused much damage to their surrounding ecosystems and caused international shock. The Chernobyl Accident Around 31 years ago, in the soviet state of Ukraine, specifically the city of Chernobyl an accident caused the destruction of the of the Chernobyl 4 reactor. The exact nature of this accident has been a point of argument for many researchers and scientist globally but the most used says that April 25 1986 was a day that was scheduled for testing how long turbines would spin and supply power to the main circulating pumps following a loss of main electrical power supply. It turns out the operator made a series of unsound decisions such as leaving the automatic shutdown mechanisms disabled which left the reactor in an extremely unstable condition. When the operator came back to attempt and enable the mechanisms, the reactor was way too unstable. When the operator began by entering the control rods, it caused a dramatic power surge which led to a series of radioactive explosions which killed 2 workers instantly and a further 28 where killed in the weeks following the explosion. Three – Mile Island Accident In 1979, March 28 was the date of another nuclear accident on the three -mile island in Pennsylvania, United States. It is still largely unknown what exactly happened on that day and much of it is still speculation but the official story says that around 4 a.m. prevented the pumps from pumping water into the steam generators which meant that the cooling system had failed that led to the reactor automatically shutting down and the pressure in the primary system increased and the valve was supposed to contain the pres sure until it had lowered but it got stuck and the operators heard the alarm and thought they should cut off the emergency water supply unaware that the problem was the water being stuck already. Without any water the core overheated. Fukushima Acc ident Following the major earthquake in japan on 2011, a 15 -meter tsunami disabled the power and cooling supply of the Fukushima Daiichi reactors which had been built in the 60s. All three cores largely melted in the first three days. Cost The last reason why nations have a hard time adopting nuclear power is that there is way too much cost that goes with it. A single nuclear power station is $9 billion which is more than 50% of the GDP of many countries around the world not to mention the c osts of upkeep and the level of security needed. Conclusion Nuclear power may be the technology of the future and that is where I say we should leave it because as of now it is not practical for many countries around the globe because of the risks and costs associated with it. We should wait a little before we endeavour on this course. References Backgrounder on the Three Mile Island Accident. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nrc.gov/reading -rm/doc -collections/fact -sheets/3mile -isle.html The Cost of Nuclear Power. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear – power/cost -nuclear -power Energy. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.merriam -webster.com/dictionary/energy GCSE Bitesize: Radioactive waste. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/ocr_gateway/energy_resources/nu clear_radiationsrev4.shtml Radioactive waste management (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.world – nuclear.org/information -library/nuclear -fuel -cycle/nuclear -wastes/radioactive -waste – management.aspx Fukushima Accident (n.d.) . Retrieved from http://www.world – nuclear.org/information -library/safety -and -security/safety -of- lants/fukushima – accident.aspx Ch ernobyl Accident (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.world – nuclear.org/information -library/safety -and -security/safety -of-plants/chernob yl- accident.aspx Marcum, W., ; Spinrad, B. I. (2018, February 07). Nuclear reactor. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/technology/nu clear -reactor/History -of -reactor – development#ref307286 Martin, W. (2018, July 05). Nuclear power. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/technology/nuclear -power Touran, N. (n.d.). What is Nuclear Energy? Retrieved from https://whatisnuclear.com/nuclear -energy.html    How to cite The Truth About Nuclear Power, Papers

Drama Research Paper free essay sample

The structure of dramatic texts, unlike other forms of literature, is directly influenced by this collaborative production and collective reception. ELEMENTS OF DRAMA * Music/Rhythm: Aristotle the rhythm of the actors voices as they speak. Spectacle:Â  the visual elements that the audience sees as they watch the play (sets, costumes, special effects, etc. ) * Plot: the basic storyline action that happens in the play. * Theme: the meaning, and main idea or lesson to be learned from the play. * Characters: the people, animals, or ideas portrayed by the actors who move the plot. * Dialogue:Â  the words written by the playwright and spoken by the character which helps move the action of the play along. Convention: the techniques and methods used by the playwright and director to create the desired stylistic effect. Genre: the type of play (comedy, tragedy, mystery, historical play, etc. ) * Audience: the group of people who watch the play considered most important by playwrights and actors: all of the effort put in to writing and producing is for the enjoyment of the audience. We will write a custom essay sample on Drama Research Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page DRAMATIC SPEECHES: types of dialogue used by playwrights * Aside: a brief comment made by one character that is not meant to be heard by other characters, spoken to the audience or to another character. Soliloquy: a longer speech unheard by other characters in which a character reveals his or her true thoughts or feelings, the speaker is alone on stage. Monologue: a long, uninterrupted speech by one character, to which other characters usually listen. CONFLICT: an inherent incompatibility between the objectives of two or more characters or forces that creates tension and interest in a story by adding doubt as to the outcome (Man vs. Himself, Man vs. Man, Man vs. Nature. ) STAGE DIRECTION: the precise movement and positioning of actors on a stage in order to facilitate the performance of a play, ballet, film or opera, usually determined by the director for the proper dramatic effect to ensure sight lines for the audience and work with the lighting design of the scene. Up-stage: The rear of the stage; from raked stage, sloping up away from the audience. Down-stage: the front of the stage. * Stage left (prompt) amp; right (bastard/ opposite prompt): the actors left amp; right facing the audience. * House (camera) left amp; right: how the audience perceives the stage. THEATRE: a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance. SET: constructions indicating where the drama takes place; consists of all the scenery, furniture and props the audience sees at a play production. It should suggest the style and tone of the director’s whole production concept, create mood and atmosphere, give clues as to the specific time and place of the action, and offer creative possibilities for the movement and grouping of the actors. PROPS; property: moveable objects used on set, stage, or screen distinct from the actors, scenery, costumes, amp; electrical equipment during a performance or screen production. CHARACTERIZATION: the art or process of conveying information on and creating characters for a narrative. * Direct or explicit characterization: the author literally tells the audience what a character is like; via the narrator, another character, or by the character himself. * Indirect or implicit characterization: the audience must infer for themselves what the character is like through the character’s thoughts, actions, speech (choice of words/ way of talking), looks, and interaction with other characters, including other characters’ reactions to that particular person. TYPES OF DRAMA: Comedy: plays that are light in tone; usually with happy endings, to make the audience laugh; ranging from realistic stories (humor from real-life situations), to outrageous slapstick humor. Tragedy: one of the oldest forms of drama; rarely have a happy ending; in ancient times, often a historical drama featuring the downfall of a great man; in modern theater, has a bit looser definition involving serious subject matter and the death of one or more main characters. Farce: a sub-category of comedy; with greatly exaggerated one-dimensional stereotypical characters amp; situations (mistaken identities, physical comedy, and outrageous plot twists. ) Melodrama: exaggerated drama; with simplified and one-dimensional characters (a hero who must rescue the heroine from the villain. ) Musical: the story is told, not only through dialogue and acting, but through music and dance; often comedic, although many do involve serious subject matter. Most involve a large cast and lavish sets and costumes.