Asian Seventeenth Century (Essay Sample)

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Asian Seventeenth Century
Introduction
Asia’s seventeenth century was one of the most memorable and most dramatic periods of the continent’s long history. It was a century characterized by both positive and negative features. China experienced decades characterized by long floods and droughts, peasant uprisings and the collapse of the Chinese imperial dynasty. On the other hand, a lot of attractive features were noted during the Asia’s 17th century. If one seeks the knowledge of the Asian continent, a thorough study of the seventeenth century will give much knowledge about the continent.
One of the very notable features in this century is the procession of the territorial lord. In their daily travelling, they used an advanced baggage train that had sedan chairs and led horses. The palanquin on which the lord sits is lifted by six to eight strong men. All of them are in uniforms, and this creates an attractive and honorary treatment to the lord. It is skillfully designed with and has three valets on either side that assist the lord in getting in and out the palanquin, also known as the norimono. This is seen in Japan. The valets serve another purpose of making available to the lord whatever he requires. Charming formations are made by all those accompanying the lord. Silence is the rule. No noise making if you are part of the squad accompanying the lord. The only sounds heard are from the transporting horses, the soldiers’ clothes and their feet. There is something special about the bodyguards. They are all uniformed and match all the way to the intended destination. Their walking style poses caution and also instills fear. It is a very wonderful and very attractive display.
The Junrei, a group of individual that visits 33 important temples in the country, is also noted. They walk in threes and twos singing very pitiful songs. It’s not easy for them to forget to pay a visit to any of the thirty-three most important temples in the country because they carry small boards tied around their necks. These boards have got a list of all the remaining temples that have not been visited. They are so much spiritual to the extent that a good number of them spend their whole lives paying visitations to the temples. They totally do nothing to earn a living. Around their chests, they have a linen cloth, and this makes them easily identifiable. During this century, the Asian people have strong beliefs in making vows. During the winter period, you will come across a strange group of individuals almost full naked. They have got a bunch of straw only covering their private parts. When they want to experience a certain favor or need to regain good health in times of illness, they vow to a certain temple to pay a visit. Although they live in poverty, no single day will you note them begging.
The mountain priests are the first notable beggars in Japan. They strictly follow strange behaviors of their founder. They adhere to strict rules and guidelines of their first pilgrims. They are very troublesome for travellers. They shave their heads and take their young ones together with them to beg. What causes trouble are these ever begging children of the mountain priests. They like singing, trumpeting, shouting and preaching that create a lot of noises. People do hire them to perform divination, incantations, prophesying and other superstitious magic. They never perform in the temples because they are never hired. The other types of beggars notable in this century are the Kannon beggars, who are found dressed in either religious robes or ordinary clothes. Their good and silent behaviors and characters persuade travellers to assisting them. On the roadsides are the silent beggars who have vowed to maintain silence. They convey their begging desires to onlookers and travellers through their pitiful expressions (Kaempfer and Engelbert, 1999).
Vendors are all over the place. There are ready group of porters and lower class servants with untidy horses ready to offer transportation services to already exhausted travellers. They only offer these services at a small fee. They also offer delivery services for letters and luggage between post stations. You will be confronted by petty merchants and farmers’ sons on the streets forcing you to buy their wretched wares e.g. biscuits, cakes, etc. they are all after making a living from their petty business and on-road transactions.
In small and large inns, roadside food and tea rooms and in the towns are prostitutes. They are present in those places both during day time and night time staring at the travellers with sexy eyes. They cause a lot of noises since they compete in persuading travellers to their inns. A lot of funny and sexy noises are made at such destinations that act as a bait to the travellers. Travellers are tempted to spend some of their nights with these prostitutes. It is a clear indication that prostitution is not a modern behavior but dates back to old eras like the seventeenth century.
In china, there existed educated elite by the name of literati that was solely responsible in the management of the empire’s governmental bureaucracy. They were the most learned Chinese people who had passed rigorous exams in the Chinese ...