[ Wesleyan Home Page ] [ WesMaps Home Page ] [ WesMaps Archive ] [ Course Search ] [ Course Search by CID ]
Academic Year 2004/2005

History of Traditional China
HIST 223 SP

Crosslistings: EAST 223

This survey course explores the origins and developments of classical Chinese traditions from ancient times to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The goal is not comprehensive coverage of the vast number of events that shaped the evolution of the imperial state. Rather, students are exposed to key ideas and social practices that defined the historical consciousness of the Chinese people--and which continue to give Chinese culture it's unique values today.

Confucius (551-479BC) was the first of many Chinese thinkers to place historical consciousness at the heart of individual and cultural identity. Speaking in the first person (a rare event) he said in the Analects: "I was not born knowing the past. I love the ancients and seek earnestly to know their way." The humility and the ambition of this statement will guide our inquiries in this survey class as we examine closely key texts and major thinkers who sought, quite literally, to live in the light of the past. Love of ancients is not a common theme in progress-oriented Western histography. Students will, therefore, be challenged to examine their own cultural assumptions as we delve more deeply into Chinese history.

Here, truth is not something to be scorned, theorized away or assumed to coincide with current social practice. Confucius' aim of seeking earnestly for historical truth is a goal for students in this class as well.

MAJOR READINGS

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS HIST    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-21-2005

Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459