Fall 2011
History 341
Office Hours: MWF 11-12; Wed 8-9; 2-3
Tu/Thurs 12-1:30; Tues 1:30-3 by appt
bvanlandingham@cn.edu
Still holding out against Facebook
Dr. Beth Vanlandingham
History Building #5/Ext 3323
Confucian Tradition
Content and Scope of this Course:
This course provides a thematic approach to understanding what is often called
“traditional China.” This term, like the term “Confucian tradition” is something of a misnomer
because it implies that Chinese or “ Confucian culture” has been stagnant across the ages—
ossified into one clearly defined “Confucianism.” This is far from accurate. Chinese culture and
society have been in the process of dynamic transformation for over 3000 years. Although
Chinese civilization is grounded in Confucian philosophy this philosophical tradition has
undergone change over time as the economic, political, and social system of China evolved. Thus
this “tradition” has been in the process of constant “transformation.” This course does not
emphasize dynastic chronologies and the parade of emperors; rather, our emphasis will be on the
ways in which various aspects of Chinese culture changed and developed over the course of many
dynasties.
We will begin by examining the pre-history period of Chinese civilization and the
Confucian philosophy which emerged from it. We will also look at the ways in which other major
philosophical traditions, including Buddhism and Daoism, have challenged the basic ideas of
Confucianism and how these other traditions have been incorporated into Chinese society and
culture. From here we will look at the development of Chinese governmental traditions and
economic structures as well as Chinese traditions in education, the arts, family systems, etc. We
will also consider China’s changing relationship with the wider world throughout this time
period.
Required Texts for the Course:
Ebrey. Patricia, Cambridge Illustrated History of China, 2nd edition
Ebrey, Patricia,Chinese Civilization: A Sourcebook
Van Gulik, Robert (translator), Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee: An Authentic Eighteenth Century
Chinese Detective Novel
Louise Levathes, When China Ruled the Seas
Material on CN online as needed
Grading in the Course:
2 in-class exams (75 pts each)
Discussion (it is possible to get a zero)
Discussion Assignments (from the Ebrey reader)
Discussion of Judge Dee
Scholarly Book Review and presentation (8-10 pages)
Final Exam
150 points
75 points
100 points
50 points
100 points
100 points
Grading is a simple 10 point scale. 90-100 is an A. I divide the total number of points possible by
the number of points you accumulate. That is your grade.
Disability Accommodations: If you have a documented disability which requires special
accommodation to successfully complete this course you must notify me immediately. Dr. Becky
Van Cleave handles disability issues.
Attendance Policy of the Social Sciences Division:”Attendance at all class meetings is required
and a student is responsible for all the work, including tests and written assignments of all class
meetings. Students will be allowed to make up work with no penalty if the absence was caused by
documented illness, death of an immediate family member, or participation in College sponsored
activities. The policy for all classes in social sciences is that students who miss more than four
weeks of class meetings (for any reason) will not pass this class. Students will be notified when
they have missed the equivalent of two weeks of class and they will be dropped with an F if they
miss more than 4 weeks of class. Although all types of absences will be counted in this total,
students may (as stated above) make up work, they have missed for documented illness, death of
an immediate family member, or travel for college sponsored events.
Discussion expectations. You are expected to participate in the discussion of the primary sources
every time there is an assignment. Your discussion grade depends on this. So, you must read and
come prepared to discuss and ask questions.
Scholarly Book Review: You will choose a scholarly book on a topic of interest to you. You will
need to either purchase this book, borrow it from me, or request it through interlibrary loan early
enough to get it, read it, and review it by the due date. More detailed instructions will be given.
Students will also present a brief summary of their review to the class.
Section I: Ancient China 2205 BCE to 222 CE
1. Pre History: Myths, Legends, Climate and Archaeology
Shang Dynasty Culture: Bones, Jade, and the Ceremonial Bronzes
Read: Cambridge: Chapter 1 (to p. 30; special attention to 36-37)
2. Early Zhou Conquest: The Guys Confucius Looked Back to as “Models”
Read: Cambridge, Chapter 2 to p. 42
3. Later Zhou and the Warring States Era (Spring and Autumn Period: Confucius was here)
Read: Cambridge, Chapter 2, 42-46; also, Analects of Confucius
4.. Philosophical Traditions in Competition with Confucianism: Legalism and Daoism
Read: Cambridge, Chapter 2 46-59
From the Ebrey Sourcebook: Section I: The Classical Period
-------------------------------------------------------------------------5----------------------------------5. Qin and Han: Unification under the Bureaucratic Empires
(Qin--First Emperor of China: Terra Cotta Warrior Guy
Anti-Confucian)
(Han Emperors: synthesize Confucian, Daoist, legalist beliefs to create stable
government)
Read: Cambridge, Chapter 3
Reserve: Poems of Tu Fu and Li Bai
Ebrey Sourcebook: Section II: Qin ad Han Dynasties
FIRST EXAM
Section II China’s Golden Age: Middle Ages and the Chinese Renaissance
(222 CE to 1279)
1. The Chinese Middle Ages: Divison, Ferment, and the New Religion of Buddhism
Read: Cambridge, Chapter 4
Ebrey Sourcebook: Section III, documents 21-24
2. Sui Reunification and the Cosmopolitan Tang Dynasty on the Northern Frontier
Read: Cambridge, Chapter 5
Ebrey Sourcebook: Section III: documents 25-31
Read and Discuss Judge Dee
3. Chinese Renaissance: The Song Dynasty in Southern China
Read: Cambridge, Chapter 6
Ebrey, Sourcebook: Section IV: Documents 32-43
SECOND EXAM
Section III: Alien Invasion and Autocratic “Recovery”
The Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty
(1279-1368)
(1368-1644)
1. Mongol Invasion and Occupation: Resist or Accommodate?
Read: Cambridge, Chapter 7
Ebrey, Sourcebook: SectionIV, documents 44-46
Visual collections of Chinese scholar paintings
2. Ming Dynasty: Autocracy, High Culture, Booming Commerce, Prosperity
Read: Cambridge, Chapter 8 (to p. 212)
Read: When China Ruled the Seas
Read Pearl Sewn Shirt (a Ming short story—on CN online)
Ebrey, Sourcebook: Section V
3. The End of the Ming: How Does a Dynasty Collapse?
Read: Cambridge, Chapter 8 (212-end)
In-class presentations of book reviews. Discussion of book reviews.
FINAL EXAM