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EALC 350g Fall 2007
Chinese Civilization
Wed., Fri. 10:00-11:50 WPH B27
Discussion sections Mon. 10:00 VKC 254, 255; Mon. 11:00 VKC 201, 256
Professor Bettine Birge
Office: Taper Hall of Humanities 356R
Phone: 740-6660
e-mail:
Office Hours: Wednesday and Friday 11:50- 12:50, and by appointment
Class Number 25496R
Teaching Assistants:
Mayumo INOUE Hsin-wen LEE
THH 361, 740-3686 THH 361, 740-3686
Office hours: Wed., Fri. 12-1 Office hours: Mon., Wed. 12-1
This course presents basic features and highlights of Chinese civilization from neolithic times down to the present day. It explores both the development and the continuities of this great civilization, including aspects of history, philosophy, religion, politics, gender, literature, and art. We will also look at some areas of Chinese culture that are becoming part of American society and that you may encounter in your own life (for instance Buddhist practice, feng-shui, Chinese medicine). No prior knowledge of China is required.
Assignments and Grading:
Map Exercise: due Wed. 12 Sept. 3 % (ungraded, A or F credit)
Confucius Analects, Favorite passage due Fri. 14 Sept. (part of class participation grade)
I-ching divination: due Fri. 5 Oct. 4% (ungraded, A or F credit)
Midterm Exam: Fri. 12 Oct. 20 %
First Paper 4-6 pages: due Wed. 31 Oct. 20%
Quiz on Shen Fu reading: Wed. 21 Nov. 4%
Quiz on Son of the Revolution: Wed. 5 Dec. 4%
Second Paper 5-7 pages: due Fri. 7 Dec. 20%
Final Exam: Mon. 12 Dec. 8:00- 10:00 a.m. 20%
Class attendance and participation 5%
Required texts (on sale in bookstore):
Patricia Ebrey, The Cambridge Illustrated History of China (“Ebrey”)
Wing-tsit Chan ed. A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy (“Chan”)
Benjamin Hoff, Tao of Pooh
Shen Fu Six Records of a Floating Life
Liang Heng and Judith Shapiro, Son of the Revolution
Course Reader: available from University Graphics (Magic Machine) in University Village,
3309 S. Hoover, Tel. (213) 744-1511 (behind Burger King).
(Additional materials may be put on electronic reserves or posted to Blackboard during the semester.)
Recommended Texts
Frederick Mote, Intellectual Foundations of China
Wm. Theodore de Bary ed. Sources of Chinese Tradition, 2nd edition Vol. 1
Attendance and Readings:
Class attendance and participation are an important part of this course. Students are expected to do readings before coming to class and be prepared to discuss them in class and discussion sections. Examinations will be based on material from lectures, guest lectures, and readings, and may also include topics generated in class discussions. All readings should be approached critically. More than three unexcused absences from lectures or discussion sections will affect the class participation grade. (I take a half point off for each absence.)
Academic Integrity
One of the goals of this course is to foster original thinking and help students develop writing skills. All written work must be in a student's own words. Ideas of others as well as quotations must be properly attributed; more than six words copied from another source without proper reference constitutes plagiarism. (See 2007-08 SCampus.) Students who would like extra help with their papers or who are not native speakers of English are urged to speak with the professor or one of the TAs or visit one of the following tutoring facilities at USC: a) the Writing Center, THH 321, 740-3691 or b) the Center for Academic Support, STU 301, 740-0776. Hours are limited so start your papers early so that you can bring in successive drafts. English problems are not an excuse to avoid using your own words. Please remember there are no make-ups on the midterm, final, or quizzes. The only exceptions are in cases of extreme emergency when prior permission has been granted by the instructor. With regard to plagiarism (on papers) and cheating (on exams) I adhere to the "Academic Dishonesty Sanction Guidelines" found in Appendix A 2007-08 SCampus. Please review the following pages from SCampus and feel free to see me if you have any questions or concerns:
11.00 Behaviour Violating University Standards and Appropriate Sanctions
Appendix A: Academic Dishonesty Sanction Guidelines
Accommodation for students with disabilities:
Students who need to request accommodations based on a disability are required to register each
semester with the Disability Services and Programs office (Student Union, Room 301.) In addition, a letter of verification to the course instructor from the the Disability Services and Programs office is needed for the semester in which you are enrolled for this course. If you have
questions concerning this procedure, please contact both the instructor of the course, and the Disability Services and Programs office at (213) 740-0776.
Schedule of Classes and Readings (subject to change)
Week 1
Aug. 29 W Introduction to Course
31 F Geography and Language: Map Exercise handed out
Readings: Ebrey, Preface (pp. 7-8) and pp. 10-15 (geography), 26-28 (writing) [skip insert on Lady Hao’s tomb; read for Week 2 below]
Patience Berkman, “The Three Gorges Dam: Energy, the Environment, and the New Emperors,” in Education About Asia 3:1 (Spring 1998), pp. 27-31, 34-35. (In Reader and on electronic Reserve.)
Week 2
Sept. 5 W Prehistory and Shang Civilization
Ebrey pp.16-30; 36-37 (Bronzes)
[Recommended: de Bary, Sources, chap. 1 (Shang), Mote, Intellectual Foundations, chap. 1]
7 F The Chou Dynasty and the Book of Songs (Shijing)
Ebrey pp. 30-42
Chan, pp. 3-8
Reader: “The Classic of Odes” from de Bary, Sources
[Recommended, Mote, chap. 2; de Bary, Sources, chap. 2]
Week 3
Sept. 12 W Confucius: China’s greatest philosopher
**Map Exercise Due**
Ebrey pp. 42-46, Analects Insert pp. 46-47
Chan, pp.14-48 (Selections from the Analects)
[Recommended de Bary, chap. 3]
14 F Confucius cont., The Analects of Confucius
Ebrey, 53-55 (“Other Schools of Thought”)
[Recommended: Chan, 211-231 (Mo Tzu/Mozi)]
**Favorite Passages from Analects due in Class**
Week 4
Sept. 19 W Mencius and later developments in Confucianism; Confucianism and Women
Ebrey, 50 (music), 81, Review 44-45 (Mencius, Xunzi, Great Learning)
Chan, 49-83 (Mencius), 84-87 (Great Learning), 115-124, 128-135 (Hsün Tzu)
Reader: Selections on Women and Confucianism
[Recommended: Chan, 87-94 (Great Learning), 95-114 (Doctrine of the Mean); de Bary, chap. 6; Mote on Mencius and Hsün Tzu]
21 F Sun Tzu and the Art of War; The Classic of Changes, the I-ching (Yijing);
Reader: Selections from Sun Tzu, The Art of War and Sunzi Speaks
Chan, 262-270 (Ch. 13 The Philosophy of Change)
Reader: Selections from the I-ching (Book of Changes)
[Recommended: de Bary, pp. 220-223]
(I-ching divination exercise handed out)
Week 5
Sept. 26 W Taoism: Lao Tzu,
Ebrey, 46-49
Chan, 136-176 (Lao Tzu)
Hoff, The Tao of Pooh, pp. 1-90
28 F Taoism cont.: Chuang Tzu
Chan, 177-210 (Chuang Tzu)
[Recommended, Mote, chap. 4; de Bary, chap. 5,
rest of The Tao of Pooh]
Week 6
Oct. 3 W Legalism and the Ch'in (Qin) Dynasty
Ebrey, 49-63
Chan, 251-261
Reader: selections on Legalism and Ch’in Dynasty
Reader: Biography of Ching K’o; News article
5 F Possible film on First Emperor Ching K’o (Jing Ke)
**I-Ching divination due**
Week 7
Oct. 10 W Review Session (possible slides)
12 F Midterm Exam Please bring large blue books
(Please note: there are no make-ups on the midterm exam, quizzes, or final. In case of extreme illness or accident, instructor must be notified by telephone or in person before the exam begins. E-mail notification alone is not acceptable.)
Week 8
Oct. 17 W Possible Film on Martial Arts
Reader: Selections on Martial Arts revival and Triads
[Discussion sections: Taoism Film: The Long Search: A Quest for Balance, room to be announced]
19 F Taoism in Action; Six Dynasties; Religious Taoism; Poetry
Ebrey, 86-95; 100-105 (Daoist Religion)
Reader: Buzz Magazine "Holding Back to Get Ahead: Sex in the Nineties"
Reader: Selections on Daoist religious communities; Poetry (Poetry of T'ao Ch'ien, from Birch, Anthology pp. 167-186)
[Recommended: Ebrey pp. 63-86 (Han dynasty)]
Week 9
Oct. 24 W Chinese Medicine (Possible guest lecture) **Mr. Jiang: medicine**
Selections from Reader on Chinese Medicine
26 F The Introduction of Buddhism
Ebery, 95-100, 106-107
Reader: Selections on Buddhism, including:
Simple Buddhism: A Guide to Enlightened Living, by A. and A. Simpkins
[Recommended: Chan, chapters 20, 21, 24; de Bary, Sources, chaps on Buddhism]
Week 10
Oct. 31 W The Glory of the Tang and Sung (Song) Dynasties
Ebrey, 108-135 (Tang); 136-163 (Song)
Reader: Poetry of Li Po, Tu Fu, Po Chü-yi (from Birch, Anthology pp. 217-69 "Poets of a Generation One")
Reader: Selections on Sung Dynasty, Chu Hsi, Family rituals, etc.
First paper due at beginning of class
(Happy Halloween!)
Nov. 2 F Feng-shui (geomancy) and Food
Reader: Selections on Feng-shui (geomancy)
Reader: Selections on Chinese food
Ebrey, p. 318
Week 11
Nov. 7 W Possible Guest Lecture **Bud. nun, Martial arts or Feng-shui**on Buddhism
Chan, 425-449 (Chan/Zen Buddhism)
[Recommended: de Bary, Sources, pp. 491-529 “The Meditation School”]
9 F Possible Field Trip to Buddhist temple
Week 12
Nov. 14 W Chinggis Khan and the Mongol Invasion of China
Ebrey, 164-189
Reader: Selections from the Biography of Ghengis Khan (Chinggis Khan)
16 F Khubilai Khan and the Yüan Dynasty (possible video)
**start Shen Fu reading for next week**
Prepare for Shen Fu quiz
[Recommended: Ebrey ch. 8 (The Ming Dynasty)]
Week 13
Nov. 21 W **Quiz and Discussion of Shen Fu, Six Records of a Floating Life
Shen Fu, pp. 9-11 (Intro), 23-51 ("The Joys of the Wedding Chamber"), 71-97 ("The Sorrows of Misfortune"), 118-126 (courtesan episode)
(N.b. Be sure to read the endnotes in Shen Fu.)
Ebrey 220-234
[Recommended: Shen Fu pp. 53-69, 102-118, 126-end]
(Note: No make-ups on quiz. In case of extreme illness or accident, instructor must be notified before the quiz begins, by telephone or in person.)
***Thanksgiving Break***
(Read Son of the Revolution over break)
Prepare for quiz on Son of the Revolution
Week 14
Nov. 28 W Women and Marriage in Premodern and Modern China
Video: "Small Happiness" on women in rural China
30 F Modern China: Opium War to the People's Republic
Ebrey, 234-261 (Late Qing); 262-293 (20th century)
Prepare for quiz on Son of the Revolution
Week 15
Dec. 5 W **Quiz and Discussion of Son of the Revolution**
Son of the Revolution (entire book)
Ebrey, 294-321
(Remember: No make-ups on quiz except in cases of extreme emergency. Usual policy applies.)
7 F China After Mao and the Tiananmen Incident (possible video)
Ebrey, 321-336
Second paper due at beginning of class
**Final Examination: Mon. 17 Dec. 8:00-10:00 a.m. (20% of grade), in regular classroom
**Please bring large blue books**
(Please note: there are no make-ups on the final exam. In case of severe illness or accident, instructor must be notified before the exam begins, by telephone or in person. Also, the last possible deadline for all written work is the start of the final exam.)