June 22-July 31, 2009, M-F 8:30 AM - 9:45 AM Uris Hall 254
Office hours: Tuesdays 10:00 – 11:00; I am also generally available after class each day by appointment
This is an introductory course intended for students with little or no background in
Chinese studies. It is expected, however, that each of you may know something about myths of some culture, and this will be helpful. Chinese myths may not always satisfy our expectations about what myths are or how myths are usually presented, so a comparative approach may sometimes help bring questions into focus. We will look at myth from a number of different perspectives, including the relationship between myth and history, between myth and literature, between myth and art, and between myth and religion. We will assume a critical stance in our study of Chinese myth at all times, in an endeavor to better understand the historical origins and social uses of myth, and to better appreciate the roles that myths have played in Chinese culture over the centuries. Our focus will be primarily on the earliest periods of Chinese history, and on formative myths from the classical tradition rather than folklore and popular religion, even though the lines dividing these areas will not always be absolutely clear.
WORK FOR THE COURSE
Students are expected to keep up with readings from the assigned textbooks and other sources (such as electronic journal articles and electronically distributed course materials).
Students should familiarize themselves with the course web page and visit it frequently for information about readings, quizzes, and other class news. The outline syllabus below provides the major reading assignments; other shorter or supplementary materials will be added as the course proceeds. I expect students to be prepared to discuss all

assigned readings in class on a regular basis: dates listed for assignments are dates by which the reading should be completed in order to keep up with lectures.
Grades are assigned based on the following percentages:
In-class quizzes: 4 x 25%
There will be four quizzes/short exams, each counting for 25% of the final grade. There will be no make-up quizzes or assignments given. Please plan to attend class regularly.
For Code of Academic Integrity, see www.cornell.edu/UniversityFaculty/docs/main.html
JUNE 22, INTRODUCTORY LECTURE: MYTH, THE PAST, AND THE PRESENT
UNIT ONE: COSMOGONY, RELIGION, AND MYTHOLOGY
June 23 to July 3
 Bodde, “Myths of Ancient China” (pdf)
Read by June 24
 N. J. Giradot, “The Problem of Creation Mythology in the Study of Chinese
Religion,” in
History of Religions vol. 15. no. 4 (available through JSTOR).
Read by June 26
*** QUIZ #1 in class Monday, July 6 th
UNIT TWO: FLOOD MYTHS AND SACRED GEOGRAPHY
July 6 to 13

Birrell, Chinese Mythology , “Introduction,” Chapter 1, “Origins” and Chapter 8,
“Myths of Yu the Great” (assigned textbook)
Read Intro and Chapter I by
July 6, Chapter 8 by July 8
 Lewis, “Flood Taming and Cosmogony” (electronic reading)

Shan Hai Jing , Selections (electronic reading)
Read
Read by July 10 by July 9
*** QUIZ #2 in class Tuesday, July 14 th

UNIT THREE: MYTH AND HISTORY
July 14 to 21

Lincoln, “Myth, Sentiment, and the Construction of Social Forms” (pdf)
Read by July14
 The “Yao dian” (electronic reading) Read by July16
 Sima Qian, “Basic Chronology of the Five Emperors (pdf) Read by July 20

Birrell, Chapter 16, “Founding Myths” Read by July 21
*** QUIZ #3 in class Tuesday, July 21
UNIT FOUR: MYTH AND PHILOSOPHY
July 22 to 24

Selections from the Mencius on Shun (pdf)
 Deutsch, “Truth and Mythology” (pdf)
Read by July 23
Read by July 22
UNIT FIVE: MYTH AND LITERATURE
July 27 to July 31

Fields, trans., Tian Wen Read Introduction and 1 st
half of the book by July
27, finish the poems by July 29
 Francisca Cho Bantly, “Myth and Cosmology in the Book of Poetry ” (pdf)
Read by July 27
*** QUIZ #4 in class, Friday, July 31