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INST 203
Spring, 2010
CHINA AND JAPAN
International Studies 203 is designed to highlight the rich cultures of China and Japan in the
modern era. We begin by looking at the traditional religious heritage, and then discuss such
controversial issues as the Chinese and Japanese reaction to the West, the effects of World War
Two and the huge economic and social changes that are affecting both societies today. Note that
our attempts to show how many Chinese and Japanese feel about these issues should not be read
as either our approval of disapproval of these issues. Our aim is to understand; you must judge.
Readings include Mak, James, Japan: Why it Works, Why it Doesn’t, Li Cheng, Rediscovering
China; Dynamics & Dilemmas of Reform, some web sites, and the offsets listed on Blackboard.
Course requirements include (A) class
participation, (B) two 3 page "reaction
"papers" due February 11 and April 1
(C) two quizzes due the same dates
(D) a Midterm Examination on March
4 and (E) a Final Examination.
Details will be discussed in class, but
note the paper writing comments
listed at the end of this syllabus.
While each of these requirements will
be weighed equally, we will also consider your effort and try to credit both
significant effort and improvement on
on your part.
Professor Frost’s office is Croft 218.
Phone 3771, e-mail pkf@olemiss.edu.
Office hours are after class or by
appointment. Professor Howard's
office is Bishop 313. Phone is 5794,
e-mail jhhoward@olemiss.edu. His
office hours are Wednesday 11-12
or by appointment.
.
Poster: "The Story of the Youthful
Hero Tong Tsung-jui", Beijing, 1975.
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CLASS SCHEDULE
TRADITION: Here we introduce some of the traditional values of China and Japan.
1. Introduction: Land, Peoples and Religions (Jan. 21)
No assignment
Topic: What impact does ecology have?
2. Buddhism (Jan 26)
Mullins, Suzuki
Topic: What does Buddhism do?
3. Confucius and Confucianism (Jan. 28)
Analects, Miyazaki, Wu Jingzi
Topic: How radical was Confucius?
4. Qing China (Feb. 2)
Qian Long, Chinese Interpreter
Topic: What problems does the Qing Dynasty face?
5. Tokugawa Japan (Feb. 4)
Nakane, Arai, Cook
Topic: How did the Tokugawa regime differ from the Qing?
6.
Focus Class: The Reaction to Christianity (Feb. 9)
Schirokauer, Rites Controversy, Elison, Chiang K'ai-shek
Topic: What problems did Christianity face?
CHALLENGE: Here we consider how China and Japan responded to the West.
7. Introduction: Imperialism (Feb.11)
3 page Reaction Paper due. In-class quiz #1
Lin Zexu, Bingham, Feng Guifen, Wo Ren
Topic: How should China deal with the West?
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8. Mao Zedong (Feb. 16)
Lu Xun "Preface" and "Kong Yiji", Chiang K'ai-shek & Mao Zedong
Mao "Report from Hunan, " "Three Venerable Articles"
Topic: Why the revolution and what kind?
9. Japan's Road to War (Feb. 18)
Lipman, Trefousse, Tamogami
Topic; Why go to war?
10. Rebuilding (Feb. 23)
MacArthur, Li Shuang-shuang
Topic: What were the different development strategies?
11. Nanjing & Hiroshima (Feb. 25)
Stimson, Wang, Hata
Topic: What happened?
12. Focus Class: Memory (Mar. 2)
Hogan, "Nanjing Massacre Memorial Museum" [Google]
Topic: How is the war remembered?
13. MIDTERM EXAMINATION (Mar. 4)
CHINA: We turn now to China since 1949.
14. Village Life (Mar. 9)
Goldman & Nathan, film "Small Happiness" in class
Topic: Has the revolution been postponed for Chinese women?
15. Decollectivization and the Peasants (Mar.11)
"Chinese Communism" documents, Perry
Topic: How well have economic reforms worked for peasants?
SPRING BREAK
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16. Industrial Reforms, Migration and Labor (Mar.23)
Cheng Li, chapters 3-9
Topic: Why are the winners and losers of the reforms
17. Film Class (Mar. 25)
Film "The True Story of Qiu Ju" Wednesday, March 24, 7:00 Croft 103
Topic: What is the issue?
18. Focus Class: Life in China Today (Mar. 30)
Self-directed reading
Topic: What is life in China like?
Three page Reaction Paper and short quiz next class
JAPAN: In our final section, we discuss the same issues for Japan since 1945
19. Japan: The Political Economy (Apr.1)
Frost, Mak, 167-171, 185-193
Topic: How strong is Japan's economy?
20. Law (Apr. 6)
Upham, Kaplan & DeBro
Topic: How is Japanese Law Different?
21 Education (April 8)
Rohlen, Mak 21-26, 73-81
Topic: Why Examination Hell?
22. Women (Apr. 13)
Alison, LaFleur
Topic: How does modernization change women's roles?
23. Film Class (Apr. 15)
Film "Taxing Woman" shown Wednesday, April 14, 7:00 Croft 103
Topic: What is the film's image of Japan?
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24. Focus Class: Life in Japan (Apr. 20)
Self-directed reading, Mak 51-58, 157-166, 195-204
Topic: What is life in Japan like?
CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE: Here we compare problems both countries face
25. Hot Button Issues (22)
Economist, Google "China at Copenhagen" for PRC responses.
"Obama bows.... [Google, Boots & Sabers], Possible short article (TBA)
Topic: How much cooperation can the US expect?
26 Youth (Apr. 27)
Watson, Zhu Wen
Topic: How big is the change?
27. FOCUS CLASS: WRAP UP (Apr. 29)
Possible short reading (TBA)
Topic: What's on your mind? Bring questions!
[Note: one afternoon section will change]
FINAL EXAMINATION
Paper Notes:
1. Unexcused late papers will be penalized 5 points every 24 hours.
2. Allow time to proofread. The Chicago Manual of Style is a good guide. Good writing
is essential.
3. Footnote any source that is not common knowledge, including help (which we
hope you will seek) from classmates. Use footnotes or endnotes, but NOT
notes in the text itself.
4. Underline foreign terms without capitals (li, tatemae), but not names.
Remember that Chinese and Japanese family names come first; thus
Mao Zedong is Chairman Mao, not Chairman Zedong, and Tojo
Hideki is General Tojo, not General Hideki.
5. Be sure to recognize all sides of an argument before giving your opinion. One-
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sided bombasts are not scholarly.
6. Finally, please note that academic honesty is not only a mark of a good
scholar, but also a good person.