This blog is about the book called “Single Shard” by Linda Sue Park that I read for grade 10 inquiry project. This book’s story is fiction but, all foods or events are based on real history. This book was nominated for the John Newbery Award in 2002.

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First two section of the blog will introduce the main characters and a little bit of background information (history of the setting, traditional pottery and,traditional Korean food) which will help you as read through this blog.

The middle part of this blog contains these main essential questions.

• How do parents teach their children life’s lessons?
• How does wisdom get passed from generation to another?

Each question will explore and analyze this book.

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The second last section will be a reflection of this book.

At the last section of this blog, will be a list of all the links that I used for this blog.

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Main Characters

• Three-year

Three-year is one of the main characters in this book who is twelve-year-old and was adopted by Clane-man; who live in under the bridge when he was a little child. He has a good relationship with Crane-man like a best friend. He became to admiring to become a potter as he observes and assists Min’s work.

• Crane-man

Crane-man is the one who rises up Tree-ear and homeless who live with Three-year under the bridge. He has handicap since he doesn’t have one side of the leg like a crane. (this is how the name came from) Crane-man is pretty optimistic and insists to Tree-ear that “standing on one leg, cranes are also a symbol of long life.” (7)

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Where is Ch’ulp’o located?

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Ch’ulp’o (Chulpo-ri) is one of the small villages where is located in Dangjin, South Chungcheong, Korea. By facing front to the ocean, there is a certain place that potters can fill the kiln and “ the potters took turns using the kiln and keeping up the supply of fuel” (p. 19)  Ch’ulp’o is well known as celadon pottery village as main setting of this book. It will take 3-4 hours by driving from the capital city, Seoul to Ch’ulp’o.

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Kimchi

When Min’s wife serve the supper for Three-year and Min, there is a couple of time that Korean traditional food, kimchi is coming out at the table.

Kimchi is vegetables which are ferenting for four days to a week with room temperature. We can use any vegetable you went, generally, people use cabbage or cucumbers. Kimchi contain vitamin A, B and C which called “healthy bacteria” and same benefit as yogurt does.

Kimchi is eaten by many Korean people and, familiar as side dishes and eaten almost every single meal. Nowaday, Kimchi is well known as one of the super food.

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There are many different type of pottery, yet, I will introduce one of the main pottery which is cover picture and main pottery of this book.

Celadon Pottery

Prior to Korean celadon came, pottery was already flourishing in 12 century Ch’ulp’o. Korean celadon was originally inspired by Chinese counterparts at Koryo era. (A.D. 918-1392) Just because, Ch’ulp’o was located where easy to access from Yellow sea, Kangjin came over from all the way from China and disseminate the celadon pottery. That renovation has been changed Korean pottery history ever since they were distinguished the process and design; it was used to be pretty simple before. Moreover, the pottery which is “described in this book actually exists in a museum or private collection somewhere in the world.” (149)

During this period, Koryo celadon was eminent and valued by neighbour country, Japan. While Japanese investigator frequently came over to Korea, they “routinely sacked royal tombs” (150) What more, Japanese transferred the most expensive Koryo celadon to Japan. Not only that, Japanese brought back too many celadons, Japan had a world record of a number of the celadon. Japanese dedicated to the Korean pottery.

Like happened in this book, there were also happened that some professional came from government, speculate opus that potters made to such as small-town Ch’ulp’o during Koryo ear. Nevertheless, this event happening lessened every year. Therefore, the author wanted to mention and aware of the story.

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What does the parent expect children to gain from their lesson?

Based on New York’s Times survey, there are many facts that most of the parents are regarding and indicated by the number.

Every single parents are willing to discipline to their children, however, in the reality, it doesn’t mean that all parents are spending enough time with their children since they work or single parent.

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In the survey, most of the parents answered that they are working more than 40 hours a week (33 %) and  have no time to getting necessities (23%) Lastly, the parents don’t have time to spend time with children. (22%)

Also, the survey indicated that 75 percent of the lessons taught  are by their parents and that , 47 percent are from the teacher and school and 46 percent is from their family members.

As a conclusion, most of the children discipline from their parents, in fact, parents hard to find the time to spend some time with them.

In the book, Crane-man always considers about Tree-ear and trying to spend some time with Tree-ear even tho Tree-ear comes back home late after his work; helping out Min. They enjoy to chatting and joking together and, make Tree-ear relax because Crane-man “swipes, [Tree-ear’s] shame forgotten for the moment, as the day ended in laughter.” (p. 37)

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Some interesting facts that parents are trying to ensure the level of education for their child, is that 54 percent of them moved their home in order to provide a better education for their child.

As the time get passed, technology is one of the problems to parents because they didn’t learn when they were a child how to avoid internet problems such as computer violence and social media.

Even though the technology has been developed every day, an important lesson for the children hasn’t changed since their parent’s generation.

70 percents of the parents are anticipated that the society of the neighbourhood is important to the children’s lesson,  80 percents of the neighbourhood are willing to boost the children.

In the book Since Tree-ear collapsed the box of Min’s opus accidentally when he sneaks into his house, he got a chance to work with his longing potter Min but, there is a lot of things to overcome. Tree-ear surprised because he feels that Min is reading his mind and Tree-ear  “ slowly shame hot in his breast. It [is] true. (p. 18)

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Top 10 life lessons parents want to teach their children

• Be respectful
• Be thankful for what you have
• Honesty is the best policy
• Never give up
• Learn from your mistakes
• Don’t be quick to judge people
• Admit mistakes
• Take care of your physical health
• Listen before you speak
• Spend time with the people you love

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Be thankful for what you have

Most people might have a reluctant opinion to living under the bridge. Their inhibiting style isn’t easy to survive. Nevertheless, Tree-ear and Min always live in the moralities and respect for other parsons even their life is not as wealthy as normal people do.

Three-year rise up like a little Crane-man since Clane-man discipline Tree-ear well ever since he adopts Three-year who was an orphan. One day, when Tree-ear helped the farmer who was carrying around the jiggeh; rice was spilling from the jiggeh, he could keep correcting the rice if he didn’t tell him to the farmer, but Tree-ear couldn’t keep his mouse shut since he behaves. The farmer thanks Tree-ear and Crane-man remind Tree-ear often said that “ stealing and begging made a man no better than a dog. Work gives a man dignity, stealing takes it away” (p.6) Clane-man and Three-year never act like disgraceful or greedy, they always have dignity and respect to other people despite their circumstance is rigorous. Three-year became a guy who can concern to other people and thank his best friend; Clane-man for life.

As “be thankful for what you have” has lank into one of the lessons, these lessons are essential because those skills can adopt in any circumstances.  

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Never give up

Never give up- is one of the lessons that Three-year learned from Crane-man. As Tree-ear helped for the Min for a long time and hard working since Three-year broke Min’s pot accidentally and bowed in agreement, he started actual work for the first time in his life. Working under the potter was anguish beyond all his imagination like he doesn’t even have enough time to put some food on his mouse. Clane-man assigns to collect the clay or wood which were required a lot of power. Therefore, Tree-ears body was mentally and physically damaged but, Three-year never gives up and did not runway form the reality. The reason why he can keep up with this work was his pressure to help out under the famous potter; Min. As a result, those efforts raise him up through the work.

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It can also apply to this scene when Three-year went to Songdo in order to deliver the pottery which Min made, to the emissary it over the mountain to mountain. Unfortunately, when it was nearly Songdo, Three-year met robber by the accident and the beautiful pot was shattered by them. Three-year was musing whether he should go back Chupo or Songdo since there was no point of going to emissary without pot. After that, Tree-ear thought that Crane-man was talking from somewhere to him by saying “leaping into death is not the only way to show true courage.” (126) Tree-ear reminds himself that he can’t face to Clane-man, Min and Ajima who support Tree-ear if he gives up now. Thus, he made to Songdo barely. Despite, Terr-ear was yelled and yanked by the embassy because the most essential thing wasn’t there. But Terr-ear did best to showed a single shard as a testimony and finally they accept the offering. His brave behaviour and his stubbornness of heart moved the Emissary’s heart.

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All parent has the same wish to own children, that is to be successful in their life. Parents are always doing their best to raise their children. Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean that all parents can teach children without a doubt. Some of the parents are agonizing to discipline along the way because there are no absolute answer keys since every single child is different. It doesn’t mean that only children are the ones learning from parents, parents also rising up with their child. In the book, Crane-man often said to Tree-ear that  “scholars read the great words of the world. But [Tree-ear] and I must learn to read the world itself.” (p. 7)

We can divide parents into two kinds, good parents and bad parents. What does make parents different and how does that affect their parenting? And how did Crane-man do and treat Tree-ear?

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Things that good parents do

Good parents understand and guide the way for childrens to follow which are their experiences or problems that they have to deal with. Good parents know how to treat their child’s conflicts and different stages; parents discipline and lead the children when the time comes. When Tree-ear has to overcome the situation, mentally and physically during his journey to Songdo, Tree-ear reminds that  “Crane-man [has] never even [hints] that Tree-ear should not make the journey.” (p. 145) Crane-man lets Tree-ear do everything since he knows that it will be a great opportunity for Tree-ear.

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After I finished this book, made me think about what the family is like again. I am able to see more of society and humanity widely. I start to recognizing that, there is a different kind of family structure in the book and reality now I inhabit in. It doesn’t mean that kid always had both mother or father like Tree-ear does; it could be single parents or adopt by someone or some time could be more complicated. However, I discover that there are some same points that all nice kids behave if their parents teach them basic life skills to survive and how to treat other people. No matter who their family is like, kids can survive in anywhere and be independent. Additionally, there are many supporters to assist them to in order to accomplish their goal as Tree-ear got a lot of support from Crane-man, Min and Ajima.

I can not imagine how my mother and father; other family member told me a lot of lessons that I’ve been through and be patient with me. I am not sure that I can keep being dedicated to my kid’s discipline when I become a mother. Moreover, if I were a mother, I am pretty sure that I am not going send my child over the sea; study abroad by itself. I really appreciated how my parent understands my passion to studying in Canada and support me all the time. Therefore, I want to be a mother who can emphasize and have dignity, as Crane-man and Tree-ear do.