Before and After Project

For Grace's Project she made a makeup powerpoint about the Oyster Catcher that shows the damage she suffered after Clouc Cuckooland comes to fruition.

Bird Research

Oystercatcher

Pinterest Board: https://www.pinterest.com/gracejun2022/_saved/

Location (Places around the world):

1. Eurasian Oystercatcher

a. Europe

b. Asia

c. Northern Africa

2. American Oystercatcher

a. North and South America

3. Black Oystercatcher

a. West Coast of North America

4. Sooty Oystercatcher

a. Australia

5. Magellanic Oystercatcher

a. Southern South Africa

6. Blackish Oystercatcher

a. South America

7. Canary Islands Oystercatcher

a. Canary Islands

8. Pied Oystercatcher

a. Austrailia

9. South Island Oystercatcher

a. New Zealand

10. Chatham Oystercatcher

a. Chatham Islands

11. Variable Oystercatcher

a. New Zealand

Home (Habitat): Oystercatchers only live on the coast; more specifically, coastal beaches, tidal flats, dredge spoil islands, and salt marsh. This environment makes it easy for the birds to have access to food.

Behavior:

• Oystercatchers are monogamous. They often travel in pairs and mate in the spring

• Oystercatchers are incredibly territorial. They drive away intruders with calls, chases, and aggressive flight.

• Young Oystercatchers escape predators by diving underwater.

Symbolism:

1. In Austraila, the Oystercatcher symbolizes concealment

   1. Concealment is also derived from Christianity (More specifically a Christian legend) that an Oystercatcher concealed Jesus when he was in danger. Therefore, it recieved the mark of the cross on it’s back.

2. Indigeonous American Culture

   1. Spirit Walkers believe the Oystercatcher symbolises a selfless act of concealment and a need to protect children is also a symbol

   2. Another way the Oystercatcher is interpreted is that one is hiding a portion of themselves

      1. In general, birds are seen as divine messengers and symbolise freedom as well as spiritual growth

General information:

• The Lifespan of an Oystercatcher is 40 years on average

• Average length is 15.8 to 17.3 inches

• Average weight is 14.1 to 24.7 oz

Lineage Research

The People Of Silla

*Disclaimer: I am adopted and know nothing about my birth parents’ lineage. I have chosen a pre-colonized civilization from South Korea as a substitute.

Pintrest Board: https://www.pinterest.com/gracejun2022/silla-board/

1. Founding/ History

   1. Silla was founded in 57 B.C by Bak Hyeokgeose (57 BCE- 4 CE) of Silla (This is often referred to as “Ko-Silla” (Old Silla) to differentiate it from the future period of un-unity)

      1. The myth behind Bak Hyeokgeose of Silla is that the ancestors of the six bu were climbing up-hill and saw a lightning-like glow come from the sky. When they went down the hill they found a white horse kneeling to offer a gift. They found a red egg beside it and out of it came a young boy. They bathed him at Dongcheon and afterwards he emitted a beautiful glow and birds and other animals danced with the light. Soon after this the earth and heavens shook and he was named the new king.

      2. His wife (The first queen of Silla) was born later that day out of a half-fowl-half-dragon’s left rib. In the folk tale she is said to be beautiful, but to have had the beak of a fowl for her mouth. However, after she was bathed the beak fell off.

      3. It’s said that he later fortified Saro, the capital, which is later known as Geumseong (modern Gyeongju/ Kyongju)

   2. The First Leaders

1. The first leaders had the title of chachaung (translates to shaman or priest) which infers that they were selected because of their religious roles as shamans.

2. There were various clans in Silla

a. some of the most dominent ones during the early period:

i. Pak

ii.Sok

iii.Kim

3. Power was transferred through inheritance

C. Battles

1. Silla was constantly battling for more control over the Korean peninsula

against neighboring kingdoms: Goguryeo, Baekje, and the Gaya

confederation.

2. Unlike the other kingdoms, Silla, unfortunately didn’t have the protection

of mountains to isolate it from other Korean states

3. In 554 CE, Silla defeated Baekje and killed their king in the battle of

Gwanson. Therefore, they gained more access to the Western Coast and

the Yellow Sea. This led to Silla forming connections with China.

D. Periods of Sucess and Prosperity

1. During the reign of Jijeung (500-514 CE) Silla prospered because of their

agricultural success following the invention of oxen-drawn ploughs and

introduction of irrigation systems.

2. The Silla Kingdom saw more success in the south after they attacked the

Gaya ruling city- state Bon-Gaya (fell in 532 CE). Soon after, in 562 CE

Daegaya fell and along with it all of Gaya was taken by the Silla Kingdom

3. From 618 CE to 676 CE, Silla and the Tang Dynasty of China worked

together to rule Korea; by 676 CE, Silla was the sole master of Korea

II. Location

III. Language

1. The people of Silla spoke Old Korean (the ancient Koreanic language of the Silla State)

1. Old Korean is the first documented stage of korean language.

2. There were two writing systems: Idu and Hyangchal

IV. Lifestyle

A. Government and Social Class

1. Under the royal court, a central government controlled Silla by appointing officals to oversee the six provinces (pu).

2. Although there were kings, they didn’t have all the power. They shared power with aristocrats.

a.The aristocrats were the ones who made the final decisions on going to war.

b. They were called “hwabaek” (ah-buh-kuh)

3. Two queens ruled during the Silla Kingdom’s reign.

a. Seondeok (r. 632-647 CE), she gained the throne because her father had no

male heir. The most significant contribution she made was the integration of

Buddhism as the state religion.

b. Jindeok came after her cousin, Seondeok. Her biggest contribution was helping

dominate and take control of the Korean Peninsula.

4. Most of the king/ queen’s subjects were farmers who took care of both their individual

land and government projects (most commonly building fortification during war).

5. Bone Rank System (Golpum or Kolpum): classification system of social ranks based

on birth. This affected the jobs you could occupy in the government system as well as

how much taxes you paid.

a. ‘Sacred Bone’ (seonggol), ‘True Bone’ (jingol), ‘Head Rank’ (tupum) were

three levels in the original Bone Rank System.

b. The Bone Rank System determined almost every aspect of subjects’ lives down

to what kind of clothes they were allowed to wear, how big their houses were,

and the transportations they were allowed to use.

c. Similarly to the Caste System, the Bone Rank System allowed for very little

movement between classes, which is a big contributor to the fall of Silla.

VI. Higher Power/ Religion

A. The people of Silla practiced Buddhism.

1. Buddhism originated in India, but spread throughout Asia via the Silk Road and eventually made its way to Korea.

a. Ado, a Buddhist Monk, introduced Buddhism to Silla.

2. Buddism was important in the Kingdom’s society politically. Silla kings started to adopt Buddhist names and were self-proclaimed Buddhist-Kings.

a. Their strong Buddhist faith is seen through the various Buddhist stone

sculptures and figures.

b. The king was always seen as the link between mankind and the gods

c. Although the people followed and preached Buddhism, they often engaged in a

lot of war ironically.

d. I could not find much on Buddhism and how it specifically affected my roots.

VII. Weapons

A. Generally, Silla used swords, arrowheads, socketed spearheads, armor, and helmets.

1. All their weapons and armor were lavish and had gold and or silver integrated into

them.

VIII. Then vs. Now

1. The Silla Kingdom is long gone now, but architecture still remains and is appreciated. Most artifacts have been found in ancient Silla tombs and help people understand and uncover the lifestyle the people of Silla lived.