CHINA+2

CHINA - CORE #2 [|China core 2 paper link] China Politician- Sharadyn Economist- Maddy Geographer- Tricia Innovator- Maxx Socialite- Joey Laborer- Carrie Leader- Carley Oracle- <span style="background-color: #ea9999; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Grace

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dear Sir, China is a fascinating country that has contributed many innovations to the world, has a rich culture, and has breathtaking land features and landscapes. This has made it the most interesting and best ancient civilization in history. China is located in Eastern Asia by the Pacific Ocean. One of China’s most interesting features is the <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline;">__Great Wall of China__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. It is located in Shanghaiguan (which is in the east) and travels all the way to Lop Lake (which is located in the west). China’s variety of weather and climate is also extremely vast and one common factor is <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline;">__monsoons__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ea9999; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">China also has a huge diversity of land features and animals. They have land features that range from mountains, to deserts, to rain forests. There are animals that range from panda bears, to camels, and to blue sheep. Overall, we'd just like to say that China is an extremely unique environment, possibly the most unique, and deserves to be featured in your museum. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff9900; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> In Ancient China. they made money from what they import and export and from their jobs. China is the best because they are different. They have a money system called Peng. One Peng is equal to one cluster of ten shells. They also use a metal string with beads on it, called cash. They used this for a very long time, since 1800 BC! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Currently, China uses <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline;">__yuan__ <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> as their currency. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff9900; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Their exports are a very big part in our world and that’s another reason why they are the best. They export ginger, silk, amber, cinnamon, silver, copper, and textiles. China exports more now then what they used to. The goods they import are cloves, nutmeg, elephant tusks, rhino horns, pepper, and pearls. In the early years, the basic job was farming. They would also trade. They traded silk, live stock (cattle), iron, fish, and salt. They mostly traded with Greece and India. In China today the average person makes $30-$40 a month. Highly skilled workers make $70-$80 a month. The average family only needs $30 dollars a month to survive.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> In Ancient China, they used to make porcelain which was very difficult to make. It took them many years for them to perfect it. Around 200 AD, Chinese scientists discovered that an explosive mixture could be produced by combining sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter (potassium nitrate).The explosive mixture, called huoyao, was used by the military in the 900's during the Tang Dynasty. Imagine their enemy's surprise when the Chinese first demonstrated their newest invention. New weapons were rapidly developed, including rockets that were launched from a <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline;">__bamboo__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> tube. In 500 BC, Chinese scientists had studied and learned much about magnetism in nature. For example, they knew that iron ore, called magnetite, tended to align itself in a North/South position. Scientists learned to "make magnets" by heating pieces of ore to red hot temperatures and then cooling the pieces in a North/South position. The original lacquered earth plate, dating to the 3rd century BC, is currently on display at a Museum of Chinese inventions. China's amazing innovations and creations are what are helping us today.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> In China, they used to use dynasties. A dynasty is a series of rulers from the same family or group. The first dynasty was the Shang Dynasty and it lasted from 1766 to 1122 B.C. Then came along the Chou dynasty that lasted from 1122 to 221 B.C. The very last dynasty lasted from 1644 to 1911. China had dynasties only because it was one of the best politic ideas ever. Having dynasties made China the best because it helps you know who is next in line to be the ruler <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Also, it just goes down the family line. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">One cool place in Ancient China was the <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline;">__Forbidden City__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. The Forbidden City was where the emperors used to live. It consisted of many palaces. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #00ff00; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In China they practice Buddhism. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #00ff00; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline;">__Buddhism__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #00ff00; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> is the practice of meditation and calming your self. This also helps you develop the qualities of awareness wisdom and kindness. The experience developed within the Buddhist tradition over thousands of years has created and incomparable resource for all those who wish to follow the path. This makes most of the people in China practice kindness and being nice to others, which makes this civilization the best one possible. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">They also used to build religious buildings called <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline;">__pagodas__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> where they stored religious artifacts. They alse worshipped <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline;">__Shen Fo__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, the Gods of Buddahs. They still also currently celebrate the <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline;">__Lantern Festival__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, which is when the Chinese used to go out in the night with lanterns and search for spirits.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> In 1840, the Opium war opened up China to the world. Before this China was very isolated. From 1965 to 1968, they had a <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline;">__cultural revolution__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. This is another name for one’s attempt to reassert his beliefs in China. It is pretty cool that in China, you only have to be in your 20’s to be married. It is awesome that once you are 18 years old, you are considered a major, a person of full legal age. In 1996, they signed the International Covenant on Civil and political rights to have better control over their country.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Thanks to China and their farmers, we are able to make many foods with rice which is used in a lot of dishes. In Ancient China, wheat was not native so the people of Ancient China could not eat wheat because it took a while to import it. People used to speak many different variations of Chinese. Most children did not go to school, only the boys would go if their dads could spare them from the fields when they were at school. Children wanted to go to school to study very hard and get a good job. The person with the highest test scores would be able to get a well-paying job.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> In China, there are so many beautiful landmarks and landforms. China has contributed to the world so much. That’s what makes them the best. Many people take what they've given us for granted but we hope that China's many contributions, unique qualities and amazing characteristics will be displayed at your museum.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Kindest Regards, Sharadyn Ille, Maddy Young, Tricia Sarkar, Maxx Kunkemoeller, Joey Grace, Carrie Landers, Carley Sulken , and Grace Spencer. Ms. Heimbrock and Mrs. Johnston

<span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: -25px; width: 1px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff9900; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Politician- <span style="background-color: #ff00ff; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sharadyn <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: -25px; width: 1px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff9900; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Economist- <span style="background-color: #ff9900; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Maddy <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: -25px; width: 1px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff9900; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Geographer- <span style="background-color: #45818e; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tricia <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: -25px; width: 1px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff9900; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Innovator- <span style="background-color: #9900ff; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Maxx <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff9900; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Socialite- <span style="background-color: #ff0000; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Joey <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: -25px; width: 1px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff9900; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Laborer- <span style="background-color: #6fa8dc; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Carrie <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: -25px; width: 1px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff9900; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Leader- <span style="background-color: #00ff00; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Carley <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: -25px; width: 1px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff9900; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Oracle- <span style="background-color: #ea9999; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Grace