506-402 History Senior Seminar: Daoism and Chinese Society
Prof. Xun LIU
Email: xunliu@rutgers.edu; xmgnyz@gmail.com
Tel: 732-932-7398 (Messages)
Office: 002G Van Dyck Hall
Office hours: 8:30-9:30 pm Thu & by appointments
Course synopsis:
As China’s only indigenous religious and intellectual tradition, Daoism played a
vital role in the formation and development of Chinese society and culture for more than
two thousand years. Yet because of centuries of Confucian bias and western
missionaries’ misrepresentation, Daoism, especially its role and functions in Chinese
history and society have long been shrouded in either mystery or misunderstanding.
Through the common and accumulative research efforts by several generations of
Chinese and western scholars over the past few decades, Daoist studies have gradually
emerged as an exciting new field of research and inquiry that has significantly widened
and deepened our understanding of Chinese civilization, society and history.
This senior seminar explores various aspects of China’s indigenous religious
tradition known as “Daoism” and its relationship to Chinese society and culture from a
historical perspective.
The goal of the seminar is twofold. The first goal is to develop in students a clear
and firm understanding of the history of Daoism as an indigenous intellectual and
religious tradition from its inceptions to present, through guided reading, in-class
discussion and writing. Through close and critical reading of a carefully selected list of
introductory books, articles and research monographs, students will not only get a firm
grasp of the general history of Daoism, they will also become acquainted with a range of
issues and problems confronting the historical study of Daoism such as: Daoism and state
in early and modern Chinese history, Daoism and women, Daoism and local society,
Daoism and local cults, etc.
The second goal is to cultivate in the students the basic research and writing skills
by engaging them in actual research and writing about the issues and problems they have
encountered in their reading. Students are guided in their actual search, careful reading,
and critical examination of source materials either in the original or translation. They will
then produce a draft of their research papers and present it to the class for peer critique
and instructor’s comments for revision. After revisions, they will then turn in their final
research papers at the end of the semester.
This is a reading, writing, and discussion intensive class. Your weekly
attendance and participation is mandatory. Absences results in sever grade reduction.
No late submission of work will be accepted without proper documentation of the
medical or emergence situation. All late submission will be subject to grade reduction at
a full grade per day (weekend included).
Plagiarised papers will result in a failing grade and subject to university
administration for action.
A)Course Readings on history/historiography of Daoist Studies:
Articles (downloadable reserves at Alexander Library)
--Anna Seidel, “Chronicle of Taoist Studies in the West 1950-1990,” Cahiers d”ExtremeAsie, 5 (1991):223-48.
--Russell Kirkland, “The Historical Contours of Taoism in China: Thoughts on Issues of
Classification and Terminology,” JCR 25 (1997):57-76.
--Fanciscus Verellen, “Daoism: The State of the Field” JAS 1 (Marh 1996)
--Vincent Goossaert, “1898: The Beginning of the End of Chinese Religion?” JAS, 65.2
(May 2006):307-336 (To be sent to you via email)
Books (Available at RU Bookstore):
---Kristofer Schipper, The Taoist Body, Stanford, 2000.
---Livia Kohn, Daoism and Chinese Culture, Three Pines Press,, 2003
Daoism and Women, Three Pine Press,2004
B) Reference books (on reserve):
---Schipper and Verellen, The Taoist Canon: A Historical Companion to the Daozang, -Chicago, 2005.
---Livia Kohn, ed., Daoism Handbook, Brill, 2000
---Fabrizio Pregadio, The Encyclopedia of Daoism, 2005.
---John Lagerwey, Religion and Chinese Society, vols I&II, 2004.
C) Samples of Primary Sources in Translation (Libraries):
Victor Mair, Daodejing: The Way of Virtue and Power
Chan Wenjit: Sources in Chinese Tradition
Steven Bokenkamp, The Early Daoist Literature, Berkeley, 1999.
Livia Kohn, Daoist Monastic Manual: A Translation of Fengdao kejie, Oxford, 2004
Taoist Experience: An Anthology, SUNY Press, 1993
Taoist Techniques of Longevity and Health, Michigan, 1970s
Eva Wong, Seven Taoist Masters, Boston: Shambala, 1990.
Suzzane Cahill, Divine traces of the Daoist sisterhood : “Records of the Assembled
Transcendents of the Fortified Walled City,” Boston: Three Pine Press, 2005.
D) Grading:
Timely completed assignments:
(Book report/bibliographic review/paper proposal)
Participation in classroom discussion:
(Discussion/peer review/presentation)
Final paper (first draft, and final version)
25%
15%
60%
E) Weekly Schedule:
Week 1 1/16: Introduction to the Daoist Studies
Week 2 1/23: Readings/Historiographic issues of Daoist Studies
A. Seidel/R. Kirkland/F. Verellen
Week 3 1/30: Readings/Book reports/Research paper topic proposals due (1)
K. Schipper /L. Kohn
Week 4 2/6: Reading reports and Bibliographic research/methodology
This session is to be conducted at the Alexander Library
How to search for reference material on-line
Library and online resources on Daoism and society
Week 5 2/13: Bibliographic Research/Methodology
Progress reports on bibliographic research/writing plan progress
Library research and consultations
Writing plans reports
Week 6 2/20 Presentation of Research Writing plans/Bibliographic essay due (2)
Discussion and presentation of writing plans/bibliographic research
Week 7 2/27 Individual conference: progress reports and guidance
Week 8 3/6 Individual conference: progress reports and guidance
Spring Recess: 3/10-18
Week 9 3/20 First drafts due/Peer review and comments (3)
Presentation of draft papers and peer comments/feedback
Week 10 3/27 Feedback and suggestions on the writings
Sessions devoted to discussion of research/writing problems
Week 11 4/3 Individual conference:
Week 12 4/10 Individual conference
Week 13 4/17 Presentation and comments
Formal presentation of papers: 15-20 min each and peer review
Week 14 4/24 Presentation and comments:
Formal presentation of papers: 15-20 min each and peer review
Week 15 5/1 Final version due (4)
Week 16 5/8 Individual reviews