Reflection (How to start a movement)

After watching the video, I agree to the speaker that the most important person is the first follower, without the first follower's courage, whatever done by the leader would only be something psychotic and something which would never make sense. However when the first follower steps in, whatever the leader does start making sense as support was given. Upon approving of what the leader does, other supporters will follow, gradually what the leader does would be considered normal as there would be followers to back him up. This all comes down to the initiative of the first follower. Thus I think we should all strive for initiatives and become the first followers ourselves.    

- Clinton

Reflection (How to start a movement)

       After watching the video, i feel that it takes courage to be a leader and start a movement. The first follower also plays a crucial role. He or she is brave enough to show everyone how to follow, and transforms the lone person who started it into a leader. The first followers then emulate more followers and eventually as more and more people join, it becomes a crowd and a movement is formed. The leader is important in its way, but without the first followers, there will be no movement.
       We did this activity in class as well,  where we would all be standing and we had to each pick two people, and move so that we were in the middle, of equal distance, between the two people we chose. When they moved, you had to move as well, we were all interconnected. When A moved, B would follow, C in return would follow B, and it continues.
         - Shenice

Reflection (How to start a movement)

The lesson I learnt is that in order to get support from a lot people , the first follower is very important, as important as the leaders.  It's the first followers who create the leaders. Without the first followers, other people would not have the courage to step out and join in. As a group leader, it is important to gather support from people . As long as there is one person willing to support , it will influence others to join also, even if the decision seems ridiculous to them.

- GaoYunFan

Reflection (How to start a movement)

      From this video, I have learnt that we must have the initiative to be the first follower and the importance of its role. When there are followers, more people will start to join the movement as well, just like in the video, where people started gradually joining the crowd. The first followers of the 'leader' had encouraged and motivated other people to join in as well. Thus i've learnt as well that it does require some courage to be the first follower. The leader requires the first followers as it encourages other people to join in, hence they are important.

- PangWeiSiong

Terracotta Army

The Terracotta Army or the "Terracotta Warriors and Horses" is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of QIn Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BC and whose purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife.

The figures, dating from approximately the late third century BC, were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Lintong District, Xi'an, Shaanxi province. The figures vary in height according to their roles, with the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots and horses. Current (2007) estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried in the pits nearby Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum. Other terracotta non-military figures were also found in other pits and they include officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians.

To me, the idea of Terracotta Army is pretty cool as the background idea of how they are supposed to protect the Emperor in his after life amuses me. It shows how the Ancient a China has their own strange beliefs, whether the idea of having Terracotta Army works or not, nobody knows, but the China still have a strong believe in their superstitious culture.

We can learn that the China Emperors in the past possesses authority over his people and is highly respected. He even had his own army that could supposedly protect him in his after life. It shows us that he is demanding and takes pride in himself greatly. 

-clinton

Great Wall of China/ 万里长城

Length: 8,851.8 km (5,500 miles)


Construction Period: About 2,000 years from the Warring States Period (476 BC - 221 BC) to Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

   The ancient Chinese laboring people (common people, farmers, soldiers and slaves)
, had built the wall so as to protect the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups or military incursions by various warlike people or forces, such as the Mongols.

     Several walls were being built as early as the 7th century BC; these later joined together and made bigger and stronger, are now collectively referred to as the Great Wall. Especially famous is the wall built between 220–206 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. Though little of that wall remains, as the Great Wall has on and off been rebuilt, maintained, and enhanced.

      The Great Wall, one of the greatest wonders of the world, was listed as a World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987. Just like a gigantic dragon, the Great Wall winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus, stretching approximately 8,851.8 kilometers (5,500 miles) from east to west of China.

    The Great Wall of China is of great significance to the Chinese. Even including it in a part of their national anthem, “Let our flesh and blood forge a new Great Wall!”, proving it an iconic symbol of China. Many people died during its construction, due to the heavy work, short time limit and tough conditions, archaeologists having discovered many human remains buried under sections of the wall. The Great Wall serves as a monumental importance to the modern people of China today, a symbol of their ancestors’ patriotic act. The Chinese having a well-known saying that translates to: “If you haven’t climbed the Great Wall, you’re not a real man."

The Great Wall of China

http://www.shedexpedition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/great-wall-of-china.jpeg
Sources:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/facts/who-built.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Wall_of_China

Beijing Olympics 2008 (Beijing National Stadium) -Audrey

History 

Located at the Olympic Green, the stadium cost US428 million. The design was awarded to a submission from the Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron in April 2003 after a bidding process that included 13 final submissions. The design, which originated from the study ofChinese ceramics, implemented steel beams in order to hide supports for the retractable roof; giving the stadium the appearance of a bird's nest. Leading Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was the artistic consultant on the project.^[5] The retractable roof was later removed from the design after inspiring the stadium's most recognizable aspect. Ground was broken on 24 December 2003 and the stadium officially opened on 28 June 2008. A shopping mall and a hotel are planned to be constructed to increase use of the stadium, which has had trouble attracting events, football and otherwise, after the Olympics.^[6]

(Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing_National_Stadium) 

My Reflections 

From this iconic stadium that the Olympics were held at, I am able to see how China displays their sporty cultures. I believe in the eyes of many, China has have a very good sports records in which they hav earned many awards and medals from various international competitions.