Chinese Cultural History
Fall 2008 (Wednesdays, 1:45-4:30 pm)
Dr. Q. Edward Wang
Office Location: History Department, Robinson Building, 2nd Fl.
Office hours: Wednesdays: 12-1:30 and 4:30-5:30 pm; and by appointment
Office Telephone: 856-256-4500 x 3990
Email: wangq@rowan.edu
COURSE TEXTS:
Valerie Hansen, The Open Empire: A History of China to 1600 (New York: W.W.
Norton, 2000);
Patricia Ebrey, Chinese Civilization: A Source Book (New York: The Free Press, 1993);
Confucius, The Analects, trans. Chichung Huang (Oxford: Oxford University Press,
1997);
Shen Fu, Six Records of a Floating Life (New York: Penguin Books, 1983);
D. E. Mungello, The Greater Encounter of China and the West, 1500-1800 (Lanham:
Rowman & Littlefield, 1999).
COURSE OBJECTIVE:
As an upper-level, global history elective, this course provides students with a general
knowledge of the main traits of Chinese civilization, one of the oldest and best
documented civilizations in the world. Taking a thematic approach, it covers important
aspects of Chinese culture and society and discusses their significance, interrelations and
changes from a historical perspective. It also aims to equip students with up-to-date
information on recent scholarly discussions on these subjects. By taking this course,
students will gain a better awareness of the diverse cultural traditions in the world as well
as the ability to read, comprehend and analyze historical source materials pertaining to a
culture markedly different from their own.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course describes the development of Chinese culture from its ancient origin (circa
2000 B.C.E.) to the mid 19th century, when it entered a new phase of more
comprehensive exchanges with the outside world. The main subjects under consideration
for understanding this long trajectory of cultural development are as follows: Chinese
philosophical thinking, religious beliefs, historical practices, political systems, social and
economic structures, family and gender relations, conflicts and exchanges with the nonChinese world, educational and cultural institutions, and literary creations and artistic
activities. These subjects will form the main themes of weekly discussions. Students are
expected to complete the assigned readings according to the schedule and demonstrate
their understanding in exams, book reviews and class discussions. In addition, they are
required to conduct their own research on a chosen topic (pending instructor’s approval)
and write a paper using additional source material found in the library and online
(databases and other electronic-based sources).
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Mid-term exam---------20% (short identifications and long essay questions)
Thought paper----------10% (in class reflections on certain sections of Confucius’
Analects)
Book Review 1---------15% (6-8 pages of D.E. Mungello’s Greater Encounter of
China and the West)
Book Review 2---------15% (6-8 pages of Shen Fu’s Six Records of a Floating Life)
(Book Review Instructions: Your review should demonstrate convincingly that you have
carefully read the book and comprehended its content. For that purpose, you should allot
about half of the space of your review to summarizing the book—its thesis or argument,
style and structure, and use and organization of sources. The other half of your review
should be used to state your opinion on whether or not the book under review helps you
better understand the part of the course the book is assigned for. Regardless of your
opinion, please always substantiate it with specific examples. If you feel that you need
additional guidance, please meet with the instructor and/or consult Conal Furay and
Michaeld J. Salevouris, The Methods and Skills of History: A Practical Guide for
additional information on writing book reviews.)
Final exam (take home research paper)-----30% (10-15 pages on a topic of your choice,
approved by the instructor, that shows your in-depth knowledge of ONE aspect of
Chinese culture, be it the teachings of Confucius, the impact of Buddhism, gender and
family relations, China’s relations with the outside world, etc. You are required to use
the primaries sources provided in Ebrey’s book as well as other primary and secondary
sources; the latter include books or articles written by scholars on the topic)
Participation---------10% (students are expected to attend all classes, read the textbooks
in advance, prepare questions, and participate in discussions. Absences in class
attendance and inactivity in discussions will be penalized on the course grade)
CLASS SCHEDULE:
Week
(1) Sept. 3
(2) Sept. 10
Assignment
Hansen, Introduction;
Topics
General Introduction
Ebrey, 3-5; 8-10; 57-59
a) geography and ecology;
b) language (spoken and
written)
Chinese History: An
Overview
Hansen, chapters 1, 3, 5;
Ebrey, 54-56-; 83-90; 112119
(3) Sept. 17
Confucius, The Analects of
Confucius;
a) China's unification (221,
B.C.E.);
b) Han and Tang Dynasties,
high points of Chinese
civilization
Confucianism
a) Confucius: life and ideas
Thought paper
Hansen, chapters 2;
(4) Sept. 24
(5) Oct. 1
Ebrey, 17-26; 42-50; 60-68
Hansen, chapters 4, 5, 6;
b) Evolution and
canonization
Buddhism
Ebrey, 97-104; 132-138
a) original tenets
Hansen, chapters 2, 3;
b) sinicization
Daoism
Ebrey, 27-31; 77-79; 142150
a) Laozi and Zhuangzi
b) Integrations with
Confucianism and
Buddhism
Chinese Worldview and
Foreign Relations
(6) Oct. 8
Hansen, chapters 4, 7, 8, 9;
Book Review of
Mungelo’s Great
Encounter Due
Ebrey, 54-56; 109-111;
139-141; 169-171; 192-194; a) “Culturalism” and Han’s
relations with northern
271-279
nomads
(7) Oct. 15
Hansen, chapters 7, 10;
Ebrey, 172-178; 195-204;
256-270
b) Maritime Expedition and
the Rites Controversy
Neo-Confucianism
a) Zhu Xi: Life and Ideas
b) Personality and
Education
(8) Oct. 22
Midterm Exam
(9) Oct. 29
Hansen, chapters 2, 5, 7, 10; Society and Individuals
Ebrey, 42-50; 64-71; 157163
a) “li” and family structure
(10) Nov. 5
b) “guanxi” and social
network
Hansen, chapters 3, 4, 7, 10; Women and Family
Book Review of Shen Fu’s
Floating Life Due
Ebrey, 72-76; 164-168;
245-255
(11) Nov. 12
Hansen, chapters 2, 3, 5, 8;
Topic of Research Paper
Due (Mar. 28)
Ebrey, 6-7; 60-63; 69-71;
91-96; 128-131; 151-154;
256-262
(12) Nov. 19
Hansen, chapters 7, 10;
Bibliography of Research
Paper Due
Ebrey, 60-63; 178-191;
213-225; 282-286
(13) Nov. 26
(14) Dec. 3
b) bound feet and inner
quarter life
Intellectuals and Political
Rulers
a) civil service exams
b) conflict and collaboration
Economy and Commerce
a) agriculture
b)"sprouts of capitalism"
Ebrey, 80-82; 105-108;
Popular Culture and
120-122; 208-210; 280-281; Religion
326-329
a) myriad beliefs
Hansen, chapters 2, 5
Class handouts and library
reserves
(15) Dec. 10
a) gender and family
relations
Hansen, chapters 2, 5, 7, 8,
9;
b) holidays and festivals
Tradition of Historical
Writings
a) Sima Qian and his work
b) Historiography Office
Literary Achievement
a) poetry and fiction
Ebrey, 11-13; 226-237
b) literati's paintings and
(16) Dec. 14-19
Research Paper Due
(email to me no later than
Dec. 17)
Finals Week
calligraphy
Finals Week