Earth and Human Relations: The Good Earth

"The soil is the great connector of our lives, the source and destination of all."

Wendell Berry

Campbell and Maddie

Citation of Sources

The Good Earth Connection

Benefits of Rice:

http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=344&catid=9&subcatid=63

Earth God

http://www.bukisa.com/articles/161823_the-history-and-significance-of-the-chinese-earth-god

Spring Festival

http://www1.chinaculture.org/gallery/2007-05/23/content_632.htm

Quote:

http://www.landwatch.org/pages/perspectives/quotesontheland.htm

Wang Lung is a farmer in China who is very dedicated to his land and to his work with the land. He believes that all of his blessing come from the land and that if you treat the land with respect then the land will bless you. The land is a major part of Chinese culture, because the Chinese work on the land on a day to day basis to earn their living.

The Good Earth

Pearl S. Buck

Farmers in China

Personal Connections to the Earth

China is the leading consumer and producer of rice. It produces and consumes about one third of the world's rice, about 200 million tons a year. Rice grows almost anywhere making it very versatile and easy to provide jobs. Because of the high demand for rice, a great deal of the Chinese population are rice farmers. Between 1000 to 2000 man or women hours are required to raise a crop on 2.5 acres of land.

Fable: In ancient China lived an artist whose paintings were almost life-like. The artist’s fame had made him proud and conceited. One day the emperor wanted to get his portrait done so he called all great artists to come and present their finest work, so that he could choose the best. The artist was sure he would be chosen, but when he presented his masterpiece to the emperor’s chief minister, the old man laughed. The wise old man told him to travel to the Li River, perhaps he could learn a little from the greatest artist in the world. Reduced to tears with anger and curiosity, the artist packed his bags and left to find out this mysterious master. When he asked the villagers on the banks of the river for the whereabouts of the legendary artist, they smiled and pointed down the river. The next morning he hired a boat and set out to find the illustrious painter. As the small boat moved gently along the river he was left speechless by myriad mountains being silently reflected in the water. He passed milky white waterfalls and mountains in many shades of blue. And when he saw the mists rising from the river and merging with the soft clouds surrounding the peaks, he was reduced to tears. The artist was finally humbled by the greatest artist on earth, Mother Nature.

Chinese Culture

Chinese Nature Gods

Just like in Good Earth, the Chinese people are very close to their "roots" (;

They are very involved in family, and also in nature. One Chinese tradition is when the parents of the oldest male grow old, the oldest male son goes to take care of their sickly parents. The Chinese are also very close with nature, like Wang Lung. In fact, they celebrate the Spring Festival each year. It is a national carnival to celebrate the coming of a happy spring after the gloomy winter. It is a time for family to come together, in comparison it is much like Christmas to us. People attach great importance to Spring Festival Eve. At that time, all family members eat dinner together.The meal is more luxurious than usual. Dishes such as chicken, fish and bean curd are a staple of Spring Festival Eve.

In the Chinese countryside, Earth shrines are dedicated to the Earth God. Where farmers and villagers can praise the God whom gave them their blessings on the land. Each different village has their own named Earth God and Shrine. Respect for the Earth God was given by showing respect in praise. Most often farmers would pray for intervention in times of turmoil on their farms, such as a drought, flooding, frost, destructive bugs, or mildew, in order to make the god fully aware of the troubles his followers were suffering.

photo credit Nasa / Goddard Space Flight Center / Reto Stöckli