Hist 4460
Fall 2006
TR 1:00-2:25 p.m.
Dr. Yüan-ling Chao
Office: Peck Hall 266 (898-2629)
E-mail: ychao@mtsu.edu
Office Hours: TR 11:10 a.m.-1:00 p.m. & by appointment
History of China
This course introduces students to some of the main themes in Chinese history. Beginning with
the formative age in prehistory and ending with the twentieth-century, we will examine some of
the philosophical, cultural, economic, and political developments, and assess the significance of
China’s contact with the outside world. The purpose is to give students a rounded picture of the
diversity and continuities of traditional and modern Chinese society.
The class will consist of both lectures and discussions. Students are expected to be responsible
for the weekly readings and come to class prepared to participate in discussions. Students will
also be responsible at times for leading discussions on the weekly readings.
Books Required for the Course:
Textbook:
Patricia B. Ebrey The Cambridge Illustrated History of China
Supplemental Texts:
Jung Chang Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China
Jacques Gernet Daily Life in China on the Eve of the Mongol Invasion 1250-1276
Frederick W. Mote
Intellectual Foundations of China
Jonathan D. Spence
Death of Woman Wang
Joanna Waley-Cohen The Sextants of Beijing
Articles and book chapters listed in the readings with a “*” are on reserve in the library. Articles
available through Project Muse or JSTOR can be accessed through the Library website. At the
Library website, go to Research Gateway, click on History, then select either Project Muse or
JSTOR, use browse journal to find the specific journal listed in the syllabus.
Course Requirements:
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1. 5% Class Attendance: Class attendance is required and roll will be taken each class.
(grades for attendance will be calculated as follows: 0-2 absences: A; 3-4: B; 5-6: C; 7-8: D; over
8:F)
2. 10% Class Participation
3. 15% Midterm Examination
4. 35% Two Critical Essays (5 pages each)
5. 35% 10-15 page Term Paper (Students select their own topics)
_________
100%
Make-up Policy
There will be NO make-ups and missed tests and examinations will count as F.
Statement on Plagiarism
Any form of cheating (including plagiarism) on any assignment or course work will result in a
grade of “F’ for the course and further disciplinary action by the University. “Plagiarize” is
defined in Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary as “to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of
another) as one’s own,” “use (a created production) without crediting the sources,” “to commit
literary theft: present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.”
Statement of Accommodation
Reasonable Accommodation for Students with Disabilities: If you have a disability that may
require assistance or accommodation, or you have questions related to any accommodations for
testing, note takers, readers, etc., please speak with me as soon as possible. Students may also
contact the Office of Disabled Students Services (898-2783) with questions about such services.
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Lecture Schedule:
Aug.
29
Introduction
Reading: (available through JSTOR, hard copy of journal on reserve)*Arif Dirlik,
“Chinese History and the Question of Orientalism.” History and Theory 35, no.4
(December 1996): 96-118
(Suggested further reading, not required)*Arif Dirlik, “Reforming the World:
Reality and Representation in the Making of World Histor(ies)” in the Journal of
World History, vol. 16, no. 4 (December 2005): 398-401, especially section on
China
31
Sept. 5
Early China: Shang and Zhou
Readings: Ebrey Ch.1; *David N. Keightley, “Early Civilization in China:
Reflections on How It Became Chinese,” in Paul S. Ropp ed., Heritage of China
(Berkeley: University of California Press, 1990), pp. 15-54
Philosophical Schools: Confucianism and Daoism
Readings: Ebrey Ch.2; Mote Chs.1-4; *Theodore de Bary et.al. ed., Sources of
Chinese Tradition (New York: Columbia University Press, 1960), Ch.2
(Confucianism) and Ch. 4 (Taoism)
7
Philosophical Schools: Legalism and Mohism
Readings: Mote Chs. 5-7; *Theodore de Bary et.al. ed., Sources of Chinese
Tradition (New York: Columbia University Press, 1960), Ch.3 (Mohism) and
Ch.6 (The Legalists)
12
Discussion on Early China and Philosophical Schools
Essay 1 due
14
Qin Unification of China: Imperial China
Readings: Ebrey Ch.3
19
Han Imperium: Emperor Wu and Han Confucianism
Readings: *Theodore de Bary et.al. ed., Sources of Chinese Tradition (New York:
Columbia University Press, 1960), Ch. 9 (The Economic Order)
21
Silk Road and Buddhism in China: Introduction and Assimilation
Readings: Ebrey Ch.4; *Arthur F. Wright, Buddhism in Chinese History
(Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1959), Chs. 2 & 3 (“The Period of
Preparation” and “The Period of Domestication”)
26
Discussion on the Qin, Han, and the Age of Division
Essay 2 due
3
28
Re-unification under the Sui and Tang dynasties
Readings: Ebrey Ch. 5; Waley-Cohen pp.1-37
Oct.
Nov.
3
Tang Cosmopolitanism
Readings: Gernet Chs. 1-3; *(Available through JSTOR) James T.C. Liu, “ Polo
and Cultural Change: From T’ang to Song China,” in Harvard Journal of Asiatic
Studies, 45:1 (1985), pp. 203-224
5
Civil Society in the Song: Rise of the Gentry, Commerce and Economy
Readings: Ebrey Ch. 6; Waley-Cohen pp. 37-41; Gernet Chs.4-7
10
Discussion on the Tang and the Song Dynasties
Essay 3 due
12
Mongol Interlude: Yuan Dynasty
Readings: Ebrey Ch.7; Waley-Cohen pp.41-45
17
Fall Break
19
Midterm
24
Ming Dynasty and Treasure Fleets
Readings: Ebrey Ch.8; Waley-Cohen pp.45-60; Spence Chs.1-2
26
Qing Dynasty: Issues of Trade and Sovereignty
Readings: Ebrey Ch. 9; Waley-Cohen pp. 60-165; Spence Chs. 3-5 & Epilogue
31
Reform and Revolution
Readings: Ebrey Ch. 10; Waley-Cohen pp.166-205
2
Discussion on the Yuan dynasty and Late Imperial China
Essay 4 due
7
Republican China and the New Culture Movement
Readings: Waley-Cohen Ch. 6; Chang Chs. 1-6; *Theodore de Bary et.al. ed.,
Sources of Chinese Tradition (New York: Columbia University Press, 1960), Ch.
24 (The New Culture Movement): read “The attack on Confucianism” and “the
Literary Revolution”
9
WWII and Japanese Invasion
Readings: Ebrey Ch. 11; Chang Chs. 7-9
14
Defeat of the Nationalists
Readings: *Theodore de Bary et.al. ed., Sources of Chinese Tradition (New York:
Columbia University Press, 1960), Ch. 25 (Chinese Communism): read Mao Tsetung’s “Report on an Investigation of the Hunan Peasant Movement”
4
Dec.
16
Communist Rule: Hope and Despair
Readings: Waley-Cohen Ch.7; Chang Chs. 10-12
21
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution
Readings: Chang Chs. 13-24; *Arif Dirlik, Marxism in The Chinese Revolution
(New York: Roman & Littlefield Publishers Inc., 2005) Ch.9: “Revolutions in
History and Memory: The Politics of Cultural Revolution in Historical
Perspective”
23
Thanksgiving holiday
28
China after Mao
Readings: Chang Chs. 25-28
30
Discussion on China after 1911
5
Review
Term Paper due
Final Examination: December 14 (Thursday): 1:00-3:00 p.m.
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