EAST 987 - Nature in Chinese and Japanese Literature & Culture

4 credits
This course combines a chronological overview of pre-modern Chinese and Japanese poetic forms with an exploration of the relationship between the natural and the human world as reflected in the literary, visual and material culture of these two countries. While the material we will be reading is fairly equally divided between Chinese and Japanese texts our focus in this iteration of the course will be on Japanese literature and culture as we will be able to take full advantage of our location in the Kansai area to visit Temples, Gardens and Museums to enrich and enhance our understanding of the variety of meanings that nature and specific natural phenomenon held over time.
Course Last Offered/Scheduled: Spring 2019