Topics in World History: Imperial China

History 432 (11147)
Fall 2012
MWF 11:00–11:50 AM
Room: Public Affairs Building 403

Professor: Roger Hart
Office: Public Affairs Building 305C
Office hours: Mon. & Tues. 1:30–3:30 PM, and by appt.
E-mail: rhart@rhart.org
Phone: 713-313-7735

Please bookmark this syllabus—I will be revising it and making adjustments to the readings as the course progresses.

Course Description:

This course offers an overview of the history of China from some of the earliest historical records (about 1200 BCE) up through the late imperial period (about 1800 CE). We will cover the major historical events, developments, and trends -- social, political, economic, military, philosophical, literary, and cultural. One focus of the course will be on primary sources. We will read (in translation) the most important writings from the Chinese tradition. These include Shang dynasty oracle bone inscriptions (used for divination), early Chinese statecraft (including Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism), religion (Buddhism and popular religions), dynastic histories, historical biographies, philological studies, and political debates. We will take an interdisciplinary approach, integrating history with literary studies, philosophy, and anthropology, in order to better understand these texts in their historical context. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Grading:

Class attendance is mandatory.

The grade will be based on in-class quizzes and class participation (20%), mid-term and final examinations (30%), and a final paper (50%).

For suggestions on writing the final paper, see "Writing Term Papers."

Readings:

Required

Sources of Chinese Tradition, vol. 1, From Earliest Times to 1600, ed. William Theodore de Bary et al., 2nd ed. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1999. ISBN-10: 0231109393. ISBN-13: 978–0231109390).

Conrad Schirokauer and Miranda Brown, A Brief History of Chinese Civilization (Wadsworth Publishing, 2005. ISBN-10: 0534643051. ISBN-13: 978–0534643058).

Recommended

John R. Trimble, Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing, 2nd ed. (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000. ISBN-10: 0130257133. ISBN-13: 978–0130257130).

Electronic Reserves on Blackboard

All other readings will be made available through electronic reserves on Blackboard:

http://TBA

This electronic reserves page is password-protected; please email me if you need the password.

Schedule

Week 1 (Aug. 27, 29, 31): Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–c. 1027 BCE)

Background reading

Schirokauer, Brief History, pp. 3–16.

Primary sources

“The Oracle Bone Inscriptions of the Late Shang Dynasty,” chap. 1 of Sources of Chinese Tradition, pp. 3–23.

Week 2 (Sept. 5, 7): Western Zhou (c. 1027–771 BCE)

Background reading

Schirokauer, Brief History, pp. 17–23.

Primary sources

Classic of Documents (Shang shu 尚書 or Shu jing 書經, 6th? c. BCE to 4th c. CE) and Classic of Poetry (Shi jing 詩經, 1000? to 600? BCE), selections, trans. in Sources of Chinese Tradition, pp. 24–40.

Week 3 (Sept. 10, 12, 14): Eastern Zhou (771–256 BCE) / Spring and Autumn Period (771–453 BCE)

Background reading

Schirokauer, Brief History, pp. 24–38.

Primary sources

Analects (Lun yu 論語, 500?–250? BCE), attributed to Confucius (Kongzi 孔邱, c. 551–479 BCE), selections, trans. in Sources of Chinese Tradition, pp. 41–63.

Week 4 (Sept. 17, 19, 21): Eastern Zhou / Warring States Period (453–221 BCE)

Background reading

Schirokauer, Brief History, pp. 38–49.

Primary sources

Mencius (Mengzi 孟子, 300? to 250? BCE), attributed to Meng Ke 孟軻 (c. 371–289 BCE), selections, trans. in Sources of Chinese Tradition, pp. pp. 112–39 and 147–51.

Primary sources—optional

The Classic of the Way and Virtue (Dao de jing 道德經, 3rd? century BCE), attributed to Laozi 老子 (n.d.), selections, trans. in Sources of Chinese Tradition, pp. 77–87.

Zhuangzi 莊子 (350? to 50? BCE), attributed to Zhuang Zhou 莊周 (fl. 320? BCE), selections, trans. in Sources of Chinese Tradition, pp. 95–104.

Week 5 (Sept. 24, 26, 28): Qin Dynasty (221–206 BCE)

Background reading

Schirokauer, Brief History, pp. 50–55.

Primary sources

Legalists: Guanzi 管子 (7th? century BCE to 100? BCE), attributed to Guan Zhong 管仲 (d. 645 BCE); Book of Lord Shang (Shang jun shu 商君書, c. 350?–200? BCE), attributed to Shang Yang 商 鞅 (385–338 BCE); Han Feizi 韓非子 (250?–c. 233 BCE), by Han Fei (c. 280–c. 233 BCE); and memorials by Li Si 李斯 (280?–208 BCE). Trans. in Sources of Chinese Tradition, pp. 190–212.

Week 6 (Oct. 1, 3, 5): Han Dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE)

Background reading

Schirokauer, Brief History, pp. 56–70.

“The Codifying of the Confucian Canon,” Sources of Chinese Tradition, pp. 311–18.

Primary sources

Records of the Grand Historian (Shi ji 史記, c. 100 BCE), completed by Sima Qian 司馬遷 (145?-86? BCE). Trans. in Sources of Chinese Tradition, pp. 227–234 and 278–282.

Week 7 (Oct. 8, 10, 12): Han Dynasty (cont.)

Required reading

John R. Trimble, Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing, 2nd ed. (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000).

Background reading

Schirokauer, Brief History, pp. 71–81.

Primary sources

Han ideologies: Lu Jia 陸賈 (?-170 BCE), New Discourses (Xin yu 新語); Jia Yi 賈宜 (201–168? BCE), New Writings (Xin shu 新書); Dong Zhongshu 董仲舒 (195?-105? BCE), Luxuriant Gems of the Spring and Autumn Annals (Chun qiu fan lu 春秋繁露). Selections. Trans. in Sources of Chinese Tradition, pp. 283–305.

Midterm review Friday, Oct. 12, after class.

Week 8 (Oct. 15, 17, 19): Period of Disunity (220–581 CE)

Background reading

Schirokauer, Brief History, pp. 85–106.

Primary sources

Buddhism: Mouzi 牟子, Disposing of Error (Li huo lun 理惑論); writings of Huiyuan; Fanwang Sutra; Jizang, The Profound Meaning of the Three Treatises; Xuanzang, Confimation of the Consciousness-only System; Lotus Sutra. Trans. in Sources of Chinese Tradition, pp. 415–55.

Outline due Wednesday, October 17, in class.

Midterm Examination Friday, October 19, in class: open book, open notes.

Week 9 (Oct. 22, 24, 26): Sui (581–617) and Tang Dynasties (617–907)

Background reading

Schirokauer, Brief History, pp. 106–35.

Primary sources

Social and political documents: House Instructions of Mr.Yan (Yanshi jiaxun); Zhangsun Wuji (?-659), Great Tang Code (Tang lü); memorials and essays by Yang Yan (727–781), Lu Zhi (754–805), and Liu Zongyuan (773–819). Trans. in Sources of Chinese Tradition, pp. 539–64.

Han Yu (768–824), Essentials of the Moral Way (Yuandao), selections, and other writings. Emperor Wuzong’s (r. 841–46) edict to suppress Buddhism (845). In Sources of Chinese Tradition, pp. 568–86.

Writing sample due (in class).

Week 10 (Oct. 29, 31, Nov. 2): Song Dynasty (960–1279): Northern Song (960–1127)

Background reading

Schirokauer, “China During the Song,” chap. 6 of Brief History, pp. 136–55.

Primary sources

Essays and memorials on political reform: Ouyang Xiu (1007–1070), “Essay on Fundamentals” and “On Parties”; Cheng Yi (1033–1107), “Memorial to the Emperor Renzong”; Cheng Hao (1032–1085), “Ten Matters Calling for Reform” and “Remonstrance Against the New Laws”; Zhang Zai (1020–1077), “Land Equalization”; Su Xun (1009–1066), “The Land System.” Wang Anshi (1021–1086), “Memorial to Emperor Renzong,” “Memorial on the Crop Loans Measure,” and “In Defense of Five Major Policies”; Su Shi (1037–1101), “Memorial to Emperor Shenzong”; Sima Guang (1019–1086), “A Petition to Do Away with the Most Harmful of the New Laws”; Zhu Xi (1130–1200), “Wang Anshi in Retrospect.” In Sources of Chinese Tradition, pp. 609–626. In Sources of Chinese Tradition, pp. 587–609.

Week 11 (Nov. 5, 7, 9): Southern Song (1127–1279) and Yuan (1279–1368) Dynasties

Background reading

“The Mongol Empire and the Yuan Dynasty,” chap. 7 of Schirokauer, Brief History, pp. 155–89.

Primary sources

Zhu Xi (1130–1200), Complete Works of Master Zhu. Selections. Trans. in Sources of Chinese Tradition, pp. 697–714.

Zhu Xi, Great Learning by Chapter and Phrase, The Mean by Chapter and Phrase, and proposals and proclamations. Selections. Trans. in Sources of Chinese Tradition, pp. 720–751.

Week 12 (Nov. 12, 14, 16): Ming Dynasty (1368–1644)

Background reading

“The Ming Dynasty,” chap. 8 of Schirokauer, Brief History, pp. 190–217.

Primary sources

Founding of the Ming: Ming Taizu, “August Ming Ancestral Instruction”; selections from the Ming Code, Commandments, and Great Pronouncements. In Sources of Chinese Tradition, pp. 779–799.

Wang Yangming (1472–1528), selected writings; Li Zhi (1527–1602), selected writings. In Sources of Chinese Tradition, pp. 842–855 and 865–874.

Week 13 (Nov. 19, 21): China and Europe in the Seventeenth Century

Background reading

“East Asia and Modern Europe,” chap. 9 of Schirokauer, Brief History, pp. 218–233.

Primary sources

Christianity in China: Matteo Ricci, Introduction and chap. 1, “A Discussion on the Creation of Heaven, Earth, and All Things by the Lord of Heaven, and on the Way He Exercises Authority and Sustains Them,” in The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven, pp. 57–97 (English translation is on odd-numbered pages). Li Zhizao (d. 1630), Preface to The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven; Xu Guangqi (1562–1633), “Memorial in Defense of Western Teaching”; Yang Guangxian (1597–1669), “I Cannot Do Otherwise.” In Sources of Chinese Tradition, vol. 2, pp. 142–152.

Term paper due (in class).

Week 14 (Nov. 26, 28, 30): The Qing Dynasty (1644–1911)

Background reading

“The Qing Dynasty,” chap. 10 of Schirokauer, Brief History, pp. 235–257.

Primary sources

Han Learning: Dai Zhen (1724–1777), “Letter to Shi Zhongming Concerning Scholarship” and “Letter in Reply to Advanced Scholar Peng Yunchu.” In Sources of Chinese Tradition, vol. 2, pp. 41–52. Qing statecraft: Chen Hongmou (1696–1771), selected writings. In Sources of Chinese Tradition, vol. 2, pp. 156–68.

Week 15 (Dec. 3, 5, 7): Qing Dynasty (cont.)

Primary sources

Documents on the Opium Wars and the Taiping Rebellion, in Sources of Chinese Tradition, vol. 2, pp. 198–223.

Rewritten papers due (in class).

Final Examination

The final examination will be scheduled by the University Registrar approximately one month before the end of the semester. Please note that the University allows exceptions only by petition to the Dean. Make-up examinations and incompletes will be given only for documented emergencies.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Through successful completion of this course, students will learn the following:

1. Understand basic facts of Chinese history—important social, political, economic, cultural features.
2. Summarize and evalute secondary sources.
3. Summarize and critically analyze primary sources in their historical context.
4. Write a fifteen-page critical analysis of a primary source in historical context. The paper should present (i) a well-formulated thesis, (ii) clear supporting arguments, (iii) persuasive evidence for each supporting argument, and (iv) a conclusion that synthesizes the central arguments.

University Policies

Academic Integrity

Students must maintain a high standard of honesty in their academic work. They should avoid all forms of academic dishonesty, especially the following:

1. Plagiarism. The appropriation of passages, either word for word (or in substance) from the writing of another and the incorporation of these as one’s own written work offered for credit.
2. Collusion. Working with another person in the preparation of notes, themes, reports, or other written work offered for credit unless such collaboration is specially approved in advance by the instructor.
3. Cheating on an Examination or Quiz. Giving or receiving, offering or soliciting information, or using prepared material in an examination or testing situation. On examinations and quizzes students are expected (a) to remain in the examination room until the examination is finished, (b) to refrain from talking, and (c) to refrain from bringing notes and books into the examination room.
4. Impersonation. Allowing another person to attend classes, take examinations or to do graded assignments for an enrolled student under his or her name is strictly forbidden.

Academic Accomodations

Students with disabilities should request appropriate academic accommodations by registering with the TSU Office for Disability Services. TSU fully complies with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.