Orphan Boy- Curiosity

Is curiosity good or bad? In the story of Orphan boy, it speaks of an old man who comes across a lonely small boy named Kileken who has special powers.

During the drought, the cattles were well fed by the boy. Thus the old man was

curious. But Kileken said "you must never seek to know... discover my secret will be the end of your good fortune." But the old man was overwhelmed with curiosity. 

He discovered Kileken's secret and Kileken "exploded into a star." The old man knew he had abused the boy's trust. True enough the old man returned to his lonely and poor life. Is it really that important to always know the truth? I guess in the old man's case, it's not.

My Name

My name, like most chinese names has three characters (李毅凱). The first character is my family name which is Lee (李). It is made up of two other chinese characters, that is, wood（木） on son（子). It doesn't really have a meaning. But this surname was a royal surname from the Tang Dynasty. The middle character which is Yi, meaning perseverence in everything I do. The third character is Khai（凱), which means victory. This word is taken from a chinese noun: kai xuan（凱旋). Kai xuan are songs which was sung after a victorious war. In chinese names, besides the surname, the next most important name is the third name. My second name Khai was actually taken from my grandfather's second name. This is to create a relationship between us. My grandmother and parents also put in a lot of effort to give me this name. Why do I say that? This is because they have to calculate every strokes and make sure it matches my birth date. The chinese believe that this name would bring me luck for the rest of my life. So far, my name seems to be working as I'm feeling really happy and lucky.

Common Elements in Creation Myths

Myths come from all around the world. Although they emerged from different cultures, they all leave the same common factors which makes creation myths so great. The mythical supreme being forms the land, from nothing to something. For example in the Chinese myth, it speaks of a dragon called Pan Gu who molded the land with his bare hands. He died 18,000 years later but the world was still incomplete. There was no life. But following his death, the half dron goddess came to the world that Pan Gu created. Picking up the clay, she molded a creature with a pair of arms and a pair of legs. Thus began the human race. Another myth that emerged from a different culture is the native American myth which mentioned about Skywoman falling through a hole caused by the uprooted tree in heaven. She landed on a giant turtle that formed the land and there she gave birth to the first human. Thus besides common factors about a supreme being and creation of earth from nothing to something, another common factor is mentioning of an animal and human being. Although there is a difference in culture, however, in the myths, we can still see common factors in the creation myths which speaks of the beginning of the world.

The Departure of Ceyx

probably

about 1502-7, Vittore Carpaccio

“Those that live must die, passing through nature to eternity.” – William Shakespeare

This panel, which appears to have been cut down, illustrates the story of Alcyone from Ovid's 'Metamorphoses' (XI: 410-748). Ceyx's departure to consult the oracle of the god at Claros was delayed by his devoted wife Alcyone, who had foreseen a stormy sea and winds. A companion panel in the Philadelphia Museum of Art shows the body of Ceyx (who reluctantly set off despite his wife's protestations and whose ship was destroyed in a storm as predicted) being carried back to Alcyone upon the waves. When she recognised her husband's body, Alcyone hurled herself into the sea. The unfortunate pair were transformed by a pitying god into birds, which are shown on the left of the Philadelphia panel.