Fall 2015
CGIS South S020
Societies of the World 12
China
China today is a country in the midst of the most extraordinary economic transformation the
world has seen since the European Industrial Revolution. This development comes on top of
far-reaching political, social, and cultural revolutions that dramatically changed people’s lives
in the course of the 20th century. Yet all these transformations have occurred and continue to
occur against a deep historical background still much in evidence. With study, we can see the
ways in which the world's largest and oldest bureaucratic state has coped with long-standing
problems of economic and political management and how responses to these problems, even
as they appear “modern,” bear the indelible imprint of China's own historical experience. This
course seeks to define the broad processes by which China, developing along lines very
different from those of other cradles of human ingenuity and creativity, has survived over
three millennia to emerge in the early 21st century as a major power. We will engage
intellectual and religious trends, material and political culture, the tension between local
society and the center, art and literature, and China’s economic and political transformation—
past, present and future.
Instructors
Peter K. Bol
peter_bol@harvard.edu
Office hours Wadsworth House 210, by appointment (contact Molly Groome
at molly_groome@harvard.edu)
Michael Szonyi
szonyi@fas.harvard.edu
Office hours 2 Divinity 35 (3rd floor), Wed., 2:15-4
Teaching Fellows
Nathan Vedal
nvedal@fas.harvard.edu
Yung-chang Tung ytung@fas.harvard.edu
Wenjiao Cai
wcai@fas.harvard.edu
Time and Location
The weekly meeting of the entire class will take place in from 10 am to 11:30 am, at CGIS
South S020 on Tuesday, and sometimes Thursday. Small group discussions (sections) will
take place on Friday, locations to be announced.
Course Structure and Credit
The course consists of in-class discussion of readings, art objects and case studies. Most
lectures will be viewed online. There will be weekly small group discussions. Together these
will give you an understanding of institutional and cultural patterns in China from ancient
times into the present, the choices China has made in the past, and the challenges it faces in
the present as it establishes itself as a world power. The in-class discussion are meant to
allow you to you develop your own approaches to history and to gain a critical appreciation of
China’s literary, philosophical, political and cultural resources. Your final grade will be based
on the following:
Participation
In-class discussion participation
Section participation
Online module participation
First short paper (due Nov 4)
Second short paper (due Dec 10)
In class tests
10%
20%
20%
20%
20%
10%
This course fulfills the requirement that one of the eight General Education courses also
engages substantially with Study of the Past.
Policy on Collaboration
Students are encouraged to collaborate in preparing for class discussions. Assessments in
online modules should be undertaken by each person individually.
Readings
The following books are required and have been ordered at the Coop. A limited number of
copies have also been placed on reserve at Lamont Library.
● Patricia Buckley Ebrey, The Cambridge Illustrated History of China, 2nd ed. (Cambridge
UP, 2010)
● Wm. Theodore de Bary and Irene Bloom, eds., Sources of Chinese Tradition, 2nd ed.,
volume 1 and 2 (Columbia UP, 2000 and 2001) Note: The 1st edition of this text, first
published in 1960, is a substantially different book. If you choose to buy your books
from a supplier other than the Coop, be sure to buy the 2nd edition.
● Evan Osnos, Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth and Faith in the New China （NY:
Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2014）
● Course pack (purchasing instructions on the course site)
Note: The main text for the course is Ebrey’s The Cambridge Illustrated History of China.
This text is meant to accompany the modules and in-class discussions by providing
essential chronological survey information. Most other readings are contained in de Bary
and Bloom, Sources of Chinese Tradition, referred to as SCT in weekly schedule.
2/1
The following books are NOT required to purchase but will be used for readings. They have
been placed on reserve at Lamont Library. A copy of the coursepack, “A Sourcebook for Hist
E-1825 and SW12, China!” with most of the required readings from these books is also
placed on reserve at Lamont Library and available for purchase online.
● Ssu-yü Teng and John Fairbank, eds., China’s Response to the West: A Documentary
Survey (1839-1923). (Harvard UP, 1979)
● J.L. Cranmer-byng ed., An Embassy to China: being the journal kept by Lord Macartney
during his embassy to the Emperor Chʻien-lung, 1793-1794. (Archon Books, 1963)
● J. Mason Gentzler, ed., Changing China, Readings in History of China from the Opium
War to the Present (Praeger, 1977)
● William C. Kirby, Germany and Republican China. (Stanford UP, 1984)
● Hosea Ballou Morse, ed., The Chronicles of the East Indian Company, trading to China,
1635-1834 (vol. II). (Harvard UP; Clarendon Press, 1926)
● Steven E. Phillips, ed., Foreign Relations of United States: 1969-1976, Vol. XVII China,
1969-1972. (U.S. G.P.O., 2006)
Access to the rest of the required reading materials, including primary sources, journal
articles, images, interactive maps, etc., will be available on the course website under “weekly
schedule.”
Students needing academic adjustments or accommodations because of a documented
disability must present their Faculty Letter from the Accessible Education Office (AEO) and
speak with the professor by the end of the second week of the term, Sep. 12. Failure to do so
may result in the Course Head's inability to respond in a timely manner. All discussions will
remain confidential.
Weekly Schedule
Week 1
Sep. 3
Thur
China
Week 2
Sep. 8
Tue
The Big Picture: Space, Time and Identity
▪
▪
▪
Module:
● “The Big Picture: Time, Space, and Identity in China’s History”
(assessments optional)
Background Reading: None.
For In-class Discussion:
● Dynastic Maps (on course website)
3/1
Sep. 10 Thur
Artifacts and Texts: The Origins of Civilization in China
▪
▪
▪
Module:
● “Origin Stories”
● “Legitimation of Power in Antiquity”
Background Reading:
● Cambridge Illustrated History of China, Chapter 1
● Images of bronzes from Shang and Zhou dynasties (course
website)
For In-class Discussion:
● “King Wen” from The Classic of Odes (course website)
How does the Zhou theory of legitimation (as seen in the early Zhou
poem “King Wen” on course website) differ from that of Shang? What
are the consequences of the differences? How else can political power
be legitimated?
Sep. 11 Fri
Section
Civilization in China”
▪
▪
▪
Does David Keightley get it right? Debating “Early
Module: None.
Background Reading:
● Cambridge Illustrated History of China, Chapter 1
For In-class Discussion:
● Keightley, David, "Early Civilization in China: Reflections on How
It Became Chinese," in Heritage of China: Contemporary
Perspectives on Chinese Civilization, edited by Paul Ropp. (c)
1990 by the Regents of the University of California. Published by
the University of California Press. pp. 15-54. (course website)
Week 3
Sep. 15 Tue
Discussing Confucius and Confucianism
▪
▪
Module:
● “Confucius and Confucianism”
Background Reading:
● Cambridge Illustrated History of China, Chapter 2
● Analects of Confucius: On “humaneness” 3:3, 4:1-2, 4:5-6, 5:7,
6:28, 12:1-3; On “ritual” 3:3-4, 3:12, 3:18, 12:1; On “the noble
person” 2:12, 2:14, 4:14, 4:16; On Confucius 2:4, 2:15, 4:15, 7:15,
9:5, 9:10, 11:25; On government 13:3, SCT, Vol. 1: pp. 46-51; 5355.
4/1
▪
For In-class Discussion:
● Mencius: 2A: 6; 6A:1, 2 and 6. SCT, Vol. 1: pp. 129; 147-150.
● Xunzi: Chapter 1: “Encouraging Learning”, Chapter 23: “Human
Nature is Evil”, SCT, Vol. 1: pp.161-164; 179-183.
Human nature is good. Human nature is evil. Why? Does it matter?
Sep. 18 Fri
Section What is wrong with Confucianism? Competing Schools and
Warring States
▪
▪
▪
Module:
● “Competing Schools and Warring States”
Background Reading:
● Cambridge Illustrated History of China, Chapter 2
● Mozi: Sections 9, 16, 39, SCT, Vol.1: pp. 66-67; 69-72; 75-76.
● Laozi’s Daodejing: passages 1-5, 9-11, 18, 19, 37, 38, 56, 57, 80,
81, SCT, Vol.1: pp. 79-85; 87-88; 90-91; 94.
● Zhuangzi: Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6, SCT, Vol.1: pp. 96-104; 108-111.
● Han Feizi: Chapters 49, 50, SCT, Vol.1: pp. 199-206.
For In-class Discussion:
● Mozi: Sections 16 and 39. SCT, Vol.1: pp. 69-72; 75-76.
● Laozi’s Daodejing: passages 1, 3, 11, 19, 22, 56, 80, SCT, Vol.1:
pp. 79-81; 83-85; 90; 94.
● Zhuangzi: Chapters 1, 3, 6, SCT, Vol.1: pp. 96-98; 103-104; 108111.
● Han Feizi: Chapters 49, 50, SCT, Vol.1: pp. 199-206.
Week 4
Sep.
22
Tue
▪
▪
Mastering the Cosmos and Mastering Humankind
Module:
● “Making Empire Last: Western Han” (assessments optional)
Background Reading:
● Cambridge Illustrated History of China, Chapter 3
● “Li Si: Legalist Theories in Practice”, SCT, Vol. 1: pp. 206-212.
● Jia Yi, excerpt from “The Faults of Qin”; “Jia Yi, The Primacy of
the People (Minben)”. SCT, Vol. 1: pp. 228-231; 290-292.
● Introduction to “The Records of the Grand Historian”; “Sima Qian:
The Sacred Duty of the Historian”, SCT, Vol. 1: pp. 368-372.
● “Lu Jia: The Natural Order and the Human Order”, SCT, Vol. 1: pp.
285-289.
5/1
● Dong Zhongshu, “The Conduct of Heaven and Earth”,
“Comprehending the State as the Body”; “Interpreting Omens”.
SCT, Vol. 1: pp. 295-297; 305-306.
● Chart: Five Phases of Change (course website)
▪ For In-class Discussion:
● Module: “Forging an Unified Empire: Qin”
● Andrew Meyer, “Cosmic Resonance Theory” (course website)
Is an institutional analysis of politics useful? If so, why did Qin and Han need
“cosmic resonance theory”
Sep. 25 Fri
Section Debating State and Society: Discourses on Salt and Iron
▪
▪
▪
Module:
● “State and Society in Western and Eastern Han”
Background Reading:
● Cambridge Illustrated History of China, Chapter 3
For In-class Debate:
● Huan Kuan’s Discourses on Salt and Iron (selections) (course
website)
Week 5
Sept 29 Tue
Medieval Self-realization and the New Religion of Buddhism
▪
Modules:
● “Self-realization in the Medieval World”
● “Buddhism”
▪ Background Reading:
● Cambridge Illustrated History of China, Chapter 4 (and the
attached section, “Early Buddhist Art”)
● “Mouzi: Disposing of Error”: SCT, Vol. 1: pp. 421-426
● “Admonitions of the Fawang Sutra”, SCT, Vol. 1: pp.429-432.
▪ For In-class Discussion:
● Images of objects: Buddhist statues, paintings, and portable
shrines (course website)
● “Excerpts from the Lotus Sutra,” SCT, Vol. 1: pp. 446-452.
● “Huiyuan: A Monk Does Not Bow Down Before a King”, SCT, Vol.
1: pp. 426-429
Why was Buddhism successful?
Oct. 2 Fri
Dynasty
Section
Yingying's Story and the Aristocratic Culture of the Tang
6/1
▪
▪
▪
Module:
● “The Universal Empire: Cosmopolitan Tang”
● “Poetry” (selections)
Background Reading:
● Cambridge Illustrated History of China, Chapter 5
For In-class Discussion:
● Yuan Zhen, Yingying’s Story (course website)
● Elite women’ images in Tang: paintings, tomb figurines and
sculptures (course website)
Week 6
Oct.
6
Tue
From Early to Later Imperial China
▪
▪
▪
Oct.
9
Modules:
● “From Early to Later Imperial China”
Background Reading:
● Cambridge Illustrated History of China, Chapter 6
For In-class Discussion:
● Han Yu, “Essentials of the Moral Way”, SCT, Vol. 1: pp.569-573.
● Two landscape paintings: Fan Kuan, “Travelers Among Mountains
and Streams”, and Guo Xi, “Early Spring”. (course website)
The essay as political philosophy: how to read Han Yu, “Essentials of
the Moral Way”
Fri Section
● Modules:
● “Transforming Society through Government”
▪ Background Reading:
● Cambridge Illustrated History of China, Chapter 6
▪ For In-class Discussion:
● Liu Zongyuan: +“Essay on Enfeoffment”, SCT, Vol. 1: pp.559-564.
● Ouyang Xiu, “Essay on Fundamentals (part 2)”, “On Parties”, SCT,
Vol. 1: pp.593-596.
● Wang Anshi, “Memorial to Emperor Renzong (1058)”, “Memorial
on the Crop Loans Measure”, “In Defense of Five Major Policies”,
SCT, Vol. 1: pp. 612-618; 619-621.
● Su Shi, “Memorial to Emperor Shenzong”, SCT, Vol. 1: pp. 621625; Su Shi on Wang Anshi and his New Learning (course
website); Su Shi on his own interests (course website);“Account of
Stone Bell Mountain” (course website).
7/1
● Sima Guang, “A Petition to Do Away with the Most Harmful of the
New Laws” SCT, Vol. 1: pp.625-626; Selections from Sima
Guang’s writings (Part I-III) (course website)
Week 7
Oct. 13 Tue
Elites, Examinations, and Later Imperial Unity
▪
Module:
● “Exams and Elites”
● “The World Empire of the Mongols”
▪ Background Reading:
● Cambridge Illustrated History of China, Chapter 7
● Exam essays from the Song and Ming dynasties (course website)
▪ For In-class Discussion:
● Interactive website of the Lu Family and Prefaces from the Lu
Family genealogy (course website)
What is the foundation of society? Comparing the Lu family with the “Great
Learning”.
Oct. 16 Fri
Section The Neo-Confucian Great Learning: Two Interpretations
▪
▪
▪
Module:
● “The Neo-Confucian Movement”
Background Reading:
● Zhou Dunyi, “The Diagram of the Supreme Polarity”, SCT, Vol. 1:
p 674; “An Explanation of the Diagram of the Great Polarity”, and
Zhou on learning to be sages (course website).
● Zhang Zai, The “Western Inscription” (course website)
● Selections from Cheng Yi’s writings (course website)
● Cheng Hao, “Letter to Zhang Zai on Settling One’s Nature”
(course website)
● Zhu Xi, “Preface++++ to the Mean by Chapter and Verses”
(course website)
● “The Colloquy at the Tianquan Bridge”, SCT, Vol. 1: pp. 850-851.
For In-class Discussion:
● Zhu Xi, “Preface to the Great Learning by Chapter and Phrase”,
SCT, Vol. 1: 721-724; The Great Learning by Chapter and Phrase
(first part) (course website)
● Wang Yangming, “Questions on the Great Learning”, SCT, Vol. 1:
844-847.
8/1
Week 8
Oct.
20
Tue
Silver, Society and Culture
■ Module:
■ “Social Policy and Social Practice”
■ “Silver and Social Change in Late Ming”
■ Background Reading:
■ Cambridge Illustrated History of China, Chapter 8
■ For In-class Discussion:
■ Wang Fuzhi, “The Justification of Social and Cultural Divisions,”
and "The Preservation of Chinese Political and Cultural Integrity,"
SCT, vol 2:32-35
■ "Ledgers of Merit and Demerit," and "Morality Books and Social
Change," SCT, vol 1:904-916
Oct.
23 Fri
Section Novel: The Scholars
■ Module:
■ “The Scholars”
■ “The Structure of Civil Service Examination in Ming and Qing” (a
short attached to the module)
■ For In-class Discussion:
■ Wu Jingzi, The Scholars, chapters 1-7 (course website)
■ Painting: Prosperous Suzhou (course website)
Week 9
Oct. 27
Tue
In search of modern China: the Qing and early encounters with the West
■ Module:
■ “Achievement and Limits of Manchu Rule”
■ Background Reading:
■ Cambridge Illustrated History of China, Chapter 9
■ Engravings: “The Qing Conquest of Turkestan” (course website)
9/1
■ For In-class Discussion:
■ "Village Lectures and the Sacred Edict," SCT vol 2:70-72
■ "Hong Liangji on Imperial Malfeasance and China's Population
Problem", SCT vol 2:172-179
■ George Macartney, “Audience with Ch’ien-lung”, An Embassy to
China; being the journal kept by Lord Macartney during his
embassy to the Emperor Chʻien-lung, 1793-1794: pp. 122-124.
(on reserve)
■ Henry Dundas, “Instructions to Lord Macartney”, The Chronicles
of the East Indian Company trading to China, 1635-1834 (vol. II):
pp. 232-242 (on reserve)
■ George III, “Letter to the Emperor of China”, The Chronicles of the
East Indian Company, trading to China, 1635-1834 (vol. II): pp.
244-247 (on reserve)
■ “Two Edicts from the Ch’ien-lung Emperor to King George III”, in
Changing China, Readings in History of China from the Opium
War to the Present, pp.23-28. (on reserve)
■ “Lin Tse-hsü’s (Lin Zexu) Moral Advice to Queen Victoria,1839”, in
China’s Response to the West, pp. 24-28. (on reserve)
Oct.
30 Fri
Section China and Christianity
■ Module:
■ “Christianity and Chinese Salvation”
■ Background Reading:
■ Cambridge Illustrated History of China, Chapter 9
■ For In-class Discussion:
■ "The Heavenly Kingdom of the Taipings", SCT, Vol. 2: pp. 213230.
Week 10
Nov.
3
Tue
From empire to nation: the search for wealth, power, and modernity
■ Module:
■ “Foreign models for a Chinese Republic” section 1
■ Background Reading:
■ Cambridge Illustrated History of China, Chapter 10
10
■ For In-class Discussion:
■ Liang Qichao, "Renewing the People," "The Concept of the
Nation," SCT vol 2: 288-291, 295-298
■ Jiang Tingfu, "Revolution and Absolutism", and Hu Shi’s response,
"National Reconstruction and Absolutism", SCT, Vol. 2, pp. 334337
Nov. 6
Fri
Section: Reform and Revolution
■ For In-class Discussion:
■ Feng Guifen, “On the Manufacture of Western Weapons”; “On the
Adoption of Western Learning”, SCT, Vol. 2: pp. 235 – 238.
■ Introduction to "Kang Youwei and the Reform Movement”; "The
Need for Reforming Institutions", SCT, Vol. 2: pp. 260-266; 269270.
■ Liang Qichao, "Renewing the People", "The Concept of the
Nation", SCT, Vol. 2: pp. 288-291; 295-298.
■ Hu Hanmin, "2. Establishing of a Republic," SCT, Vol. 2: p317318.
■ “Sun Yat-sen’s Adoption of the Russian Party System", in China’s
Response to the West, pp. 264-267 (on reserve); "The Three
People's Principles" SCT, Vol. 2: pp. 320-323; The International
Development of China, “Introduction” (pp. 3-10), “Conclusion” (pp.
231-237) (course website)
■ “Ch’en Tu-Hsiu’s ‘Call to Youth’, 1915”, in China’s Response to
the West, pp.240-246 (on reserve).
Note: First short paper due Wednesday, Nov. 4
Week 11
Nov. 10. Tue.
What should modern China be?
■ Module:
■ “Foreign models for a Chinese Republic”, sections 2-5
■ In-class Discussion
■ Li Dazhao, "The Victory of Bolshevism", SCT, Vol. 2, pp. 404-406
11
■ Chiang Kai-shek, "Essentials of the New Life Movement," "China's
Destiny," SCT vol 2:341-347
■ He Zhen, “What women should know about Communism,” and
“Women’s revenge,” SCT, Vol. 2, pp. 389-394
■ Hu Shi, “Our attitude toward modern Western civilization,” SCT,
Vol. 2, pp. 386-387.
Nov.
13 Fri
Section Alternative Paths for Modern China
■ Lu Xun, The True Story of Ah Q
Week 12
Nov. 17
Tue
Revolutionary Approaches and Setbacks
■ Module:
■ “The Rise of the Chinese Communist Party”
■ In-class Discussion
■ “Mao’s revolutionary doctrine,” SCT, Vol. 2, pp. 406-425
■ Mao Zedong, "On Art and Literature"; "On the Correct Handling of
Contradictions Among the People", SCT, Vol. 2, pp.441-444; 459464
■ Liu Shaoqi, “How to be a good communist,” SCT, Vol. 2, pp. 427432.
■ Liu Binyan, "A higher kind of loyalty," SCT vol 2:464-465
■ “The Cultural Revolution,” SCT, Vol. 2, pp. 474-482
Nov. 20
Fri
Section From jiefang to kaifang: Communist “Liberation” to "Opening"
■ Modules:
■ “Fleurs du Mal: Fragrant Flowers and Poisonous Weeds in the
early PRC”
■ “The Last Years of Mao”
■ Background Reading:
■ Cambridge Illustrated History of China, Chapter 11
■ Propaganda Art (on course website)
12
■ Peng Dehuai, "Letters of Opinion" to Mao Zedong on the Great
Leap Forward, July 1959, SCT, Vol. 2, pp. 469-471.
■ Chinese Communist Party, “Resolution on Certain Questions in
the History of Our Party since the Founding of the People’s
Republic of China” (course website)
Week 13
Nov 24
Tue
The China Dream: Wealth, Power and Modernity redux
■ For In-class Discussion:
■ “Xi pledges great renewal of the Chinese nation”
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/201211/29/c_132008231.htm
■ Evan Osnos, Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth and Faith
in the New China (on reserve). Please read the prologue and one
chapter from each of parts 1, 2 and 3
Thanksgiving
No Section
Week 14
Dec 1 Tue
Greater China/China in the World
■ Module:
■ “Taiwan in the Shadow of China”
■ Background Reading:
■ Cambridge Illustrated History of China, Chapter 12
■ For In-class Discussion:
■ Shelley Rigger, “Redefining ‘China’: from the China inside to the
China Outside” (course website)
■ William Kirby, “Global business across the Taiwan Strait: the case
of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited”
(course website)
Dec.
3 Thur
China’s Future in Light of its Past
13
■ For In-class Discussion:
■ Bo Yang, “The Ugly Chinaman,” SCT, Vol. 2, pp. 565-568
■ Gu Mu, “Confucianism as the Essence of Chinese Tradition,” SCT,
Vol. 2, pp. 581-584
■ Li Zehou, "A Re-evaluation of Confucianism," SCT, vol. 2:574-581
■ Geremie Barme, “History in the era of the China dream” (course
website)
Note: Second short paper due on Dec.10
14