ASIA 2607: Self and Society in Pre-modern Chinese Literature

MWF 12:10-1:00 Furman Hall 007

Office Hours: Wed 1:45-3:45 Buttrick 260

Prof. Guojun Wang (guojun.wang@vanderbilt.edu)

(Prior knowledge of Chinese language or literature is NOT required)

Course Description:

What is the Chinese tradition? What is the traditional China? How can such a millennia-long civilization enrich our experience as individual persons in modern society? Through reading Chinese literature, we will together explore these questions. In this course, you will learn about the major intellectual traditions, literary texts, and authors in pre-modern China (ca. 17th century BCE to 20th century CE). The readings follow a chronological order, but in each period we focus on some particular themes revolving around self and society. In turn we will discuss early writings on man and nature, the birth of the poetic self, China as an open empire, Chinese ethnicity, vernacular literature and commercial culture, and the modern view of the Chinese tradition. Through this course, you will become familiar with China’s intellectual traditions and literary history, hone your skills of close reading, and learn to think and write critically.

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Class meets three times a week. MW meetings usually include a 30-minute lecture followed by a 20-minute discussion. Friday meetings are usually discussion sessions. The readings for each class average about 25 pages (I will designate sections to focus on if more readings are assigned). All readings are in English. Class is taught in English. No prerequisite.

Readings No textbook. All readings are available as E-books at VU library or PDF files on Brightspace. • Mair, Victor H. The shorter Columbia anthology of traditional Chinese literature. Columbia

University Press, 2000. (E-book at VU library; abbr. Mair, Columbia Anthology) http://proxy.library.vanderbilt.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=74644&site=ehost-live&scope=site&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_Cover

• Mair, Victor H., ed. The Columbia history of Chinese literature. Columbia University Press,

2010. (E-book at VU library) http://proxy.library.vanderbilt.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=461157&site=ehost-live&scope=site&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_Cover

• Ivanhoe, Philip J., and Bryan W. Van Norden, eds. Readings in classical Chinese philosophy.

New York: Seven Bridges Press. 2001. http://proxy.library.vanderbilt.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=64064&site=ehost-live&scope=site&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_cover

• Owen, Stephen, ed. An anthology of Chinese literature: beginnings to 1911. New York: W.W.

Norton, 1996. [abbr. Owen, Anthology; excerpts provided] • Wu, Cheng’en. The Monkey & the Monk: a Revised Abridgment of The Journey to the West.

Translated by Anthony C Yu. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2006.

Requirements:

1) Class Participation: All weekly readings are due before class. We will frequently refer to the texts in class, especially during the discussion, so you should bring the readings to class in electronic or printed forms. Active participation in class discussion is very important. Please come to class with questions and opinions about the readings.

2) Online Posting: Please submit a post about that day’s readings in the discussion section on Brightspace by 9:00 am before class at least once every week for at least 12 weeks. Your post must be one of three types: a question about some problem in the primary reading (specify page numbers); a clarification question about difficult or confusing parts of the primary texts (explain why it’s difficult); response to other students’ posts. Late posts do NOT count because we won’t have time to read them before class.

3) Presentation: You will work in groups to do a presentation and lead a discussion session on assigned topics.

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4) Paper: Written requirements include one 4-5-page paper. Paper will be graded on originality, compelling argumentation, and clarity of style. I will provide rubrics for paper writing later in class. Late papers are NOT accepted. If you need an extension, please contact me in advance. Extensions are given with higher expectations.

5) Final Project: You will work in groups to create a series of online-exhibits/webpages through Story Maps (https://storymaps.arcgis.com/en), a product of ArcGis. I will invite a librarian to introduce the software. The theme can be “The World of xxx [an author]” or something of your choice. You will explore the life and writings of a historical person as well as the society he/she lived in. The final projects include a webpage, a group presentation, and individual reflection essays (1-2 pages).

6) Absent Policy: You are allowed two unexcused absences for the semester. Beyond that, you will need to contact me in advance and provide verifiable excuses for absence to avoid losing grade.

7) Computer Policy: Electronic devices (computers and phones) are allowed in class ONLY for reading and note taking. Non-class-related activities such as texting and web-surfing are prohibited.

NB: Instead of the short essays and final project, graduate and professional school students will

write a 20-25-page research paper. There will also be additional secondary readings based on your specific interests. All the other requirements and grading scheme apply to graduate students.

Grading:

In-class participation: 15% Online Posting: 15% Presentation and leading discussion: 20%; Paper: 20% Final Project: 30%

Honor Code: The Vanderbilt Honor Code governs all work done in this class. For more information, visit http://www.owen.vanderbilt.edu/about-us/honor-code.cfm

Class Schedule and Readings: (readings with * are optional)

Part I Early China: between Heaven and Earth The written history of China (since ca. 17th century BCE) started with contemplating the relations between heaven, earth, and humans as social and emotional beings. In the first section, we explore these earliest thoughts and literary forms. Week 1

A 94-100 A- 90-93 B+ 87-89 B 84-86 B- 80-83 C+ 77-79 C 74-76 C- 70-73 D 60-69 F 0-60

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8/22 Introduction: a story of my China trip 8/24 Words from Heaven and the Sage Kings

• Selections from The Classic of Documents (PDF Legge, Classic of Documents) • “The Oracle-Bone Inscriptions of the Late Shang Dynasty” (PDF Keightley, Oracle

Bones)

Week 2 Two Earliest Canons of Chinese Literature 8/27 Classic of Poetry: Songs of Love and Power

• Selections from the Classic of Poetry, Owen, Anthology (PDF Classic of Poetry) * Jeffrey Riegel, “Shih-ching poetry and didacticism in ancient Chinese literature,” in

Columbia History of Chinese Literature (PDF Riegel, Shih-ching poetry) 8/29 Shamanism in the Chuci: Lyric of Chu

• “Li Sao,” “Nine Songs,” in Owen, Anthology, 155-175 (PDF Lyric of Chu) 8/31 Session Week 3 Two Sources of Chinese Philosophy 9/3 The Confucian Concept of Person and Writing

• Selected writings by Confucius and Mengzi, from Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy (VU E-book, pp. 1-13, 111-115, 127-133)

9/5 The Daoist Philosophers

• Selected writings by Laozi and Zhuangzi, from Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy (VU E-book, pp. 157-177, 203-209, 219-220)

9/7 Session: excerpt of film Confucius; Confucianism in contemporary China Week 4 Religion and Philosophy in Practice 9/10 The Coming of Buddhism

• “The Introduction of Buddhism,” in Sources of Chinese Tradition (PDF Introduction of Buddhism)

• * “Buddhist Literature,” in Columbia History of Chinese Literature (E-book, pp. 160-172) 9/12 The Neo-Daoist Cultivation

• “Discourse on Nourishing Life,” “Rhapsody on Whistling,” in Mair, Columbia Anthology, 359-363, 229-235.

• Additional readings on the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove (PDF Bamboo Grove) 9/14 Session: clash of ideas

• Han Yu, “Memorial on the Bone of the Buddha” (PDF Han Yu, Bone of the Buddha) • Debate in class

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Week 5 Writing Fragile Life 9/17 The Grand Scribe and Historical Writing

• Selections from Sima Qian, Historical Records, in Owen, Anthology (PDF Sima Qian, Historical Records)

9/19 Parting, Longing, and love suicide

• The “Nineteen Old Poems” and other poems, in Owen, Anthology, 249-261 (PDF Nineteen Old Poems)

• “Southeast Fly the Peacocks,” translated by Hans H. Frankel (PDF Frankel, Southeast Fly the Peacocks)

9/21 Session Week 6 Humans, Ghosts, and Spirits 9/24 In Search of Spirits

• Excerpts from Gan Bao, In Search of Spirits (PDF Gan Bao, In Search of Spirits) 9/26 Peach Blossom Spring (The Chinese Utopia)

• Tao Yuanming, “The Peach Blossom Spring,” in Mair, Columbia Anthology, 364-366. • Other writings by Tao Yuanming • In-class screening: “A Tale of the Fountain of the Peach Blossom Spring” (animation on

Youtube, 15 minutes, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEJ-0SxADI8) 9/28 Session: Review and discussion

Paper proposal due at midnight

Part II From Open Empire to Chinese State

The Tang and Song dynasties (618-1279) is considered the apogee of Chinese history and literature. The Tang China had the only female Emperor in Chinese history, it embraced Buddhism and Christianity, its capital hosted tens of thousands of foreigners, and its imperial examination system nourished Confucian scholars as well as poets and fiction writers. By the Song dynasty, the dwellers of central China for the first time pronounced their ethnic identity as Han Chinese against the military threats from the northern “barbarians.” Together with this emerging identity, we see new thoughts about Confucianism and new genres of literature. Week 7 City and Poetry 10/1 The Metropolitan Chang’an and Tang Literature

• Introduction to Tang poetry, in Owen, Anthology, 365-373 (PDF Introduction to Tang poetry)

Buddhism and Poetry

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• Wang Wei, in Owen, Anthology (PDF Wang Wei)

10/3 Daoism, Confucianism, and Poetry • Li Bai and Du Fu, in Owen, Anthology (PDF Li Bai and Du Fu)

10/5 Session: discussion and paper instruction Week 8 The Art of Telling Stories 10/8 Tang Tales on Love and

• “Red Thread” and “The Yingying Story” (PDF Tang Tales) • Introduction to Tang Tales, in Mair, Columbia History of Chinese Literature (PDF On

Tang Tale) 10/10 Mick Hunter’s talk 10/12 Tang Tales on Enlightenment

• “The Governor of the Southern Branch,” in Mair, Columbia Anthology, 517-528. http://proxy.library.vanderbilt.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=74644&site=ehost-live&scope=site&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_517

Week 9 10/15 Discussion on Tang tales 10/17 Paper critique in class

Paper due at midnight (submit on Brightspace) 10/18-19 Fall break Week 10 New Thoughts and New Genres 10/22 The Song Dynasty and Neo-Confucianism (PDF Western Inscriptions) 10/24 Li Qingzhao: a female lyricist

• Biography and selected poems from Li Ching-chao Complete Poems (PDF Li Qingzhao) 10/26 Film screening: “The Assassin” (2015) by Hou Hsiao-hsien

Part III Vernacular Literature in Late Imperial China This unit includes literature of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. This period features the development of commerce, cities, and all forms of entertainment. Literature became a means to pleasure, a type of commercial product, and a way of unrestrained self-expression.

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Week 11 Life and Entertainment in the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty 10/29 The Troubled Empires (Yuan-Ming Dynasties)

• Chinese Song Writers Under Mongolian Rule, Owen, Anthology (PDF Yuan Vernacular Song)

11/31 Variety Plays (zaju) in the Yuan Dynasty

• PDF Little Butcher Zhang 11/2 Session: Story Map (ArcGis) and the final project Week 12 Commerce in Ming Fiction 11/5 Print, Profit, and Pleasure

• Introduction to Li Yu (PDF Li Yu) • PDF Li Yu, A Tower for the Summer Heat

11/7 Print, Profit, and Pleasure

• “The Oil-Peddler Wins the Queen of Flowers,” in Feng Menglong, Stories to Awaken the World (E-book, 38-77) http://proxy.library.vanderbilt.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=519832&site=ehost-live&scope=site&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_38

• Introduction to Feng Menglong (PDF Feng Menglong) 11/9 Session Week 13 Imagining the World in Ming Novel 11/12 Journey to the West: a novel about a Tang monk and his disciples

• The Monkey & the Monk, part 1 • PDF Intro to Monkey and Monk

11/14 Buddhist Elements in The Monkey & the Monk • The Monkey & the Monk, part 2

11/16 Session: in-class screening “The Monkey King” (1964), etc. 11/19-27 Thanksgiving break Week 14 Man and Ghost in the Manchu Qing Dynasty 11/26 Trauma Writing during the Ming-Qing Transition

• “The Massacre of Yangzhou,” in Struve, Voices from the Ming-Qing Cataclysm (PDF Massacre of Yangzhou)

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11/28 The World of the Anomaly

Strange tales by Pu Songling and Ji Yun (Mair, Columbia Anthology, 485-506) 11/30 Session: Lu Xun’s critique of the Chinese tradition

• PDF Lu Xun, On Chinese Written Language Week 15 12/3 Final project presentation 12/5 Final project presentation (cont’d) and review

(Class schedule and readings are subject to changes)

Updated 10/2/2018