EAST 134 - Masterworks of Premodern Chinese Literature

FC ARHU CD

4 credits
This course provides students with a wide-ranging introduction to the contours of premodern Chinese literary history, from its earliest beginnings to the end of the imperial period. The stories, poems, plays, and essays of the premodern Chinese tradition offer us a deeper understanding not only of the civilization and culture of China, but also of Japan and Korea, whose own traditions continue to echo with the voices of China’s past. We shall read in English translation many of premodern China’s best-known works, including the hymns of the Book of Odes, the philosophy of Confucius and Zhuangzi, the poetry of Li Bai and Du Fu, and the great novels of the Ming dynasty. Throughout, we shall explore how the premodern Chinese writers saw themselves as individuals in relation to their world, and perhaps learn to think differently about how we fit into ours.

This course is appropriate for new students.