EALC 110g East Asian Humanities: The Great Tradition



EALC 110g East Asian Humanities: The Great Tradition

Spring 2016

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Lectures: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 11-11.50 a.m.

Taper Hall of Humanities (THH) 102

Instructor: Géraldine Fiss, Ph.D., gfiss@usc.edu

Office Hours: THH 356J, Monday and Wednesday 2-4 p.m. and by appointment

Teaching Assistant: Nathaniel Heneghan (nhenegha@usc.edu)

Scope of the Course:

This course will introduce the fundamental humanistic traditions of China, Korea and Japan through representative works of traditional social philosophy, religion, poetry, historical writing and aesthetics. The readings are mostly from primary sources as translated into English and secondary scholarship. No previous knowledge of an East Asian culture or language is expected.

In this course you will:

1) Perceive the signs of Chinese, Korean and Japanese cultural identities, surviving from ancient to modern times, and assess their relevance and value.

2) Examine human ethics from different, sometimes mutually opposing perspectives: Confucian, Daoist, Legalist and Buddhist.

3) Read and analyze key historical, philosophical, religious and poetic texts of the East Asian classical traditions.

Requirements and Grades:

1) Attendance, Participation and Team Presentation in Lectures and Discussion Sessions – 15%

2) Midterm Exam on Monday, February 29 – 20%

3) 2 Analytical Papers (7-8 pages, double-spaced) due on Friday, March 11 and Friday, April 29 (last class meeting) – 35%

4) Final Exam on Wednesday, May 4, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. – 30%

Texts (available at the USC Bookstore):

1) Sources of Chinese Tradition, 2nd ed., vol. I, From Earliest Times to 1600, ed. Wm. Theodore de Bary and Irene Bloom.

2) Sources of Japanese Tradition, 2nd ed., vol. 1, From Earliest Times to 1600, ed. Wm. Theodore de Bary, Donald Keene, George Tanabe and Paul Varley.

3) Sources of Korean Tradition, vol. 1, From Early Times through the Sixteenth Century, ed. Peter H. Lee and Wm. Theodore de Bary.

4) A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, ed. Wing-tsit Chan.

5) Anthology of Chinese Literature, vol. 1, From Early Times to the Fourteenth Century, ed. Cyril Birch.

6) Anthology of Japanese Literature, From the Earliest Era to the Mid-Nineteenth Century, ed. Donald Keene.

Texts on Reserve at Leavey Library (available for check-out for limited periods of time)

1) All texts listed above.

2) An Anthology of Chinese Literature: Beginnings to 1911, ed. and transl. Stephen Owen.

3) The Tale of Genji, transl. Royall Tyler.

4) Essential Chan Buddhism by Chan Master Guo Jun.

5) Other relevant books and media. (A full list of all materials available on reserve will be posted on Blackboard.)

Lecture Attendance and Participation:

You are required to attend lectures and to come prepared having done the readings assigned for that day. Though time is limited during lecture, you are encouraged to participate actively, respond to the instructor’s questions and share your reflections about the topic at hand. Both attendance and participation will count toward your course contribution grade. You may be absent up to three times without negatively impacting your participation grade. However, keep in mind that when you are not present, you clearly cannot gain positive participation points.

Discussion Sessions and Team Presentations:

The purpose of discussion sessions is to give each student an opportunity to engage closely with the texts, issues and ideas presented during lecture. In addition, these weekly meetings also provide you an opportunity to hone your critical thinking, public speaking and formal presentation skills. There are three requirements that you must fulfill to do well in your discussion session:

1. Attendance and Participation (5%): You must attend every session and come prepared having done all assigned readings carefully. You will be required to speak up and to contribute actively and thoughtfully to the class discussion. Your Teaching Assistant will grade the level and quality of your participation.

2. Discussion Board Posts (5%): Each student is required to compose and upload two in-depth, analytical and thought-provoking discussion questions to the discussion session Blackboard web site twice during the semester. You are required to upload your post prior to your weekly class meeting and discuss your two questions in class.

3. Team Presentation and Discussion Facilitation (5%): As part of your participation grade, you will be asked to choose and focus on one of the key figures, texts or schools of thought introduced in this course. You will then form a team with one or two classmates who wish to investigate the same topic, text or person. Together, you will prepare a well-organized in-class presentation of about 15 minutes and facilitate class discussion. The purpose here is to encourage you to use the materials posted to the Blackboard web site for each lecture as well as other sources to deepen your knowledge about your chosen topic and then “teach” what you have learned. You are welcome (but are not required) to integrate PowerPoint slides, film clips and other media into your presentation to make it interesting, engaging and enriching for your audience. Possible topics include (but are not limited to): Shang oracle bones; pre-Confucian thought and the Five Classics, Confucius and Confucian humanism; Mencius; Mozi; Xun Zu; Laozi; the Daodejing and Daoism; Zhuangzi and Daoist poetry; Han Feizi and Legalism; Sunzi and The Art of War; Shinto and the mythology of ancient Japan; The Tangun legend and Korean foundation myths and symbols; Korean hyangga poems; King Sejong and the creation of the Korean alphabet; Korean shamanism; the Classic of Poetry (Shijing); the Songs of Chu (Chuci); Tang Dynasty poets; Sima Qian and the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji); the idea of history as a mirror in East Asian historical thought; the Manyōshū; the Kokinshū and the significance of Ki no Tsurayuki’s Preface; the Shinkokinshū and the importance of Fujiwara no Teika; Japanese classical aesthetics and poetic ideals; The Tale of Genji and Heian aesthetic ideals; the idea of yūgen and Japanese haiku, nō and tea ceremony; Neo-Daoism and Daoist mystical thought; Daoist religion; Chan / Zen / Son Buddhism; Chinese and East Asian calligraphy.

Communication: Blackboard

The instructors for this course will use the Blackboard course website to post information and send messages about assignments, supplemental handouts and information regarding research and academic writing. The PowerPoint slides, lecture notes and a list of “important concepts to know” will be uploaded for each lecture. In addition, supplementary readings and materials may be uploaded to Blackboard on a regular basis. Though some of these readings are optional and not required, you may find them very useful in order to gain more in-depth understanding, which will be helpful for your team presentations, the writing of your analytical papers and the exams. You will receive notifications when these additional resources are available but it is your responsibility to check the course web site on a regular basis. Students are also welcome to post thoughtful comments, questions and ideas on the discussion thread for each topic. Please make sure that your e-mail address is up to date on Blackboard.

Class Notes Policy:

Notes or recordings made by students based on a university class or lecture may only be made for purposes of individual or group study. Class materials such as lectures, course syllabi and related materials, including summaries, PowerPoint slides and all supplementary course materials available to students enrolled in this course, whether posted on Blackboard or otherwise, may not be reproduced, redistributed, copied or disseminated in any media or in any form including, but not limited to, all course note-sharing websites.

Academic Conduct

Plagiarism – presenting someone else’s ideas as your own, either verbatim or recast in your own words – is a serious academic offense with serious consequences. Please familiarize yourself with the discussion of plagiarism in SCampus in Section 11, Behavior Violating University Standards . Other forms of academic dishonesty are equally unacceptable. See additional information in SCampus and university policies on scientific misconduct, . Discrimination, sexual assault and harassment are not tolerated by the university. You are encouraged to report any incidents to the Office of Equity and Diversity or to the Department of Public Safety . This is important for the safety of the whole USC community. Another member of the university community – such as a friend, classmate, advisor, or faculty member – can help initiate the report, or can initiate the report on behalf of another person. The Center for Women and Men provides 24/7 offers confidential support and the Sexual Assault Resource Center web page sarc@usc.edu describes reporting options and other resources.

Support Systems

A number of USC’s schools provide support for students who need help with scholarly writing. Check with your advisor or program staff to find out more. Students whose primary language is not English should check with the American Language Institute , which sponsors courses and workshops specifically for international students. The Office of Disability Services and Program provides certification for students with disabilities and helps arrange the relevant accommodations. If an officially declared emergency makes travel to campus not feasible, USC Emergency Information will provide safety and other updates, including ways in which instruction will be continued by means of blackboard, teleconferencing, and other technology.

Topics and Readings:

Monday, January 11: Introduction to the Course

I The Origins of Chinese Writing

Wednesday, January 13: Early Chinese Writing: Oracle Bone Inscriptions

Sources of Chinese Tradition 3-13.

Friday, January 15: Shang Beliefs: The King, Divination and the Ancestors

Sources of Chinese Tradition 14-23.

Monday, January 18: Martin Luther King Day / No Lecture or Discussion Sessions

II Confucianism

Wednesday, January 20: The Growth of Humanism in the Early Zhou

A Sourcebook in Chinese Philosophy 3-13.

Friday, January 22: Pre-Confucian Thought: The Five Classics

Sources of Chinese Tradition 24-40.

Monday, January 25: The Humanism of Confucius: The Analects

A Sourcebook in Chinese Philosophy 14-36 (Analects 1-10:14).

Wednesday, January 27: Key Elements of Confucius’ Thought: The Analects

Sources of Chinese Tradition 41-45; 53-63 (Analects 11:3-20:3).

Friday, January 29: The Thought of Mozi: Utility, Uniformity and Universal Love

Sources of Chinese Tradition 64-76.

Monday, February 1: Mencius: Idealistic Confucianism

Sources of Chinese Tradition 112-158. A Sourcebook in Chinese Philosophy 49-51.

Wednesday, February 3: Xunzi: Naturalistic Confucianism

Sources of Chinese Tradition 159-179.

Friday, February 5: Divergent Views on Human Nature: Xunzi’s Critique of Mencius

A Sourcebook in Chinese Philosophy 115-116; 124-135.

III Daoism

Monday, February 8: Dao: The Natural Way of Laozi

A Sourcebook in Chinese Philosophy 136-138. Sources of Chinese Tradition 77-94.

Wednesday, February 10: Transformation and Transcendence in the Zhuangzi

A Sourcebook in Chinese Philosophy 177-179. Sources of Chinese Tradition 95-111.

Friday, February 12: The Mystical Thought of Zhuangzi and “Free and Easy Wandering” in Daoist Poetry

A Sourcebook in Chinese Philosophy 202-210; Anthology of Chinese Literature 81-85, 138-140, 167-168, 176-178.

Monday, February 15: President’s Day / No Lecture or Discussion Sessions

IV Legalism

Wednesday, February 17: Legalists and Militarists: Han Feizi

Sources of Chinese Tradition 190-206; A Sourcebook in Chinese Philosophy 251-261.

Friday, February 19: Legalist Theories in Practice: The Qin State, Li Si and The Art of War by Sunzi

Sources of Chinese Tradition 206-223.

V Shinto, The Ancient Way of Japan

Monday, February 22: Early Records and Mythology of Ancient Japan

Sources of Japanese Tradition 3-16; Anthology of Japanese Literature 54-58.

Wednesday February 24: Shinto: Japan’s Native Tradition

Sources of Japanese Tradition 17-39; 358-363.

Friday, February 26: The Chinese Model of Rulership in Early Japan: Prince Shōtoku’s Seventeen-Article Constitution

Sources of Japanese Tradition 40-55; 84-99.

*** Monday, February 29: Mid-term Exam on Topics I through IV ***

VI Early Korea

Wednesday, March 2: Origins of Korean Culture

Sources of Korean Tradition 3-33.

Friday, March 4: Unification of the Three Kingdoms and Silla Culture and Thought

Sources of Korean Tradition 57-77; 109-116.

VII Empire and the Way of Heaven

Monday, March 7: Foundations of Chinese Empire: The Han Synthesis

Sources of Chinese Tradition 227-234; 283-310.

Wednesday, March 9: The Way of Heaven: The Confucian Canon in the Han

Sources of Chinese Tradition 311-352.

Friday, March 11: The Way of Heaven in Early Japan

Sources of Japanese Tradition 63-84.

*** Friday, March 11: First Paper Due: Submit it to your Teaching Assistant via Turn-it-In on your Discussion Session Website ***

*** March 13 – March 20: Spring Break: Enjoy! ***

VIII Classical Poetry, Literature and Aesthetics of China and Japan

Monday, March 21: The Classic of Poetry (Shijing)

Please download and read from Blackboard: Stephen Owen, “The Classic of Poetry: Beginnings” and “The Classic of Poetry: Airs” in Stephen Owen, An Anthology of Chinese Literature, 10-57.

Optional Additional Reading in your book: Anthology of Chinese Literature 3-29.

Wednesday, March 23: Qu Yuan and The Songs of Chu (Chuci)

Please download and read from Blackboard: Stephen Owen, “The Chu-ci: Lyrics of Chu” in Stephen Owen, An Anthology of Chinese Literature, 155-156 (Read only the Introduction).

Required Reading in your book: An Anthology of Chinese Literature 49-50; “Encountering Sorrow” (Li Sao) 51-62; “The Nine Songs” (Jiu ge) 63-66; “A Lament for Ying” (Ai Ying) 67-70; “The Summons for the Soul” (Zhao hun) 73-78.

Optional Additional Reading: Read the rest of the article above, of which you read only the introduction. (Stephen Owen is one of the greatest living translators of classical Chinese poetry and literature. You may want to have a look at this chapter to appreciate the quality of his translation.)

Friday, March 25: Tang Poetry and the Legacy of Classical Chinese Poetics

Please download and read from Blackboard: Stephen Owen, “Tang Poetry: General Introduction,” “High Tang Poetry” and “Du Fu” in Stephen Owen, An Anthology of Chinese Literature 371-384; 385-406; 413-421.

Optional Additional Reading: Read the rest of the three chapters by Stephen Owen listed above; Read Stephen Owen, “The Tang Dynasty: Period Introduction” 365-370, also uploaded on Blackboard.

Monday, March 28: The Early Poetry and Poetic Ideals of Japan

Sources of Japanese Tradition 203-204; Anthology of Japanese Literature 33-53, 76-81, 92-96, 192-196.

Please download and read from Blackboard: Ki no Tsurayuki’s Preface to the Kokinshu.

Wednesday, March 30: Heian Period Classical Aesthetics: Murasaki Shikibu and The Tale of Genji

Sources of Japanese Tradition 197-202.

Please download and read from Blackboard: Royall Tyler, “Introduction” to The Tale of Genji xi-xxix; “The Green Branch” (Chapter 10 from The Tale of Genji) 193-219.

Friday April 1: The Realm of Yūgen: Japanese Haiku, Nō and Tea Ceremony

Sources of Japanese Tradition 364-398.

IX The Art of the Historian

Monday, April 4: Sima Qian and the Writing of Chinese History

Sources of Chinese Tradition 367-374; Anthology of Chinese Literature 93-105; 119-122.

Optional Additional Reading on Blackboard: Stephen Owen, “Sima Qian” in An Anthology of Chinese Literature 135-154.

Wednesday, April 6: History as a Mirror in China, Japan and Korea

Sources of Chinese Tradition 652-666; Sources of Japanese Tradition 238-249; Sources of Korean Tradition 301-306; 293-296.

Friday, April 8: Chinese and East Asian Calligraphy

Please download and read assigned readings from Blackboard (TBD).

X Neo-Daoism

Monday, April 11: Learning of the Mysterious

Sources of Chinese Tradition 377-391.

Wednesday, April 13: Neo-Taoism

A Sourcebook in Chinese Philosophy 314-335.

Friday, April 15: Daoist Religion and Korean Shamanism

Sources of Chinese Tradition 392-414; Sources of Korean Tradition 248-251.

XI The Spread of Buddhism to East Asia

Monday, April 18: Buddhist Doctrine and The Coming of Buddhism to China

Sources of Chinese Tradition 415-432.

Wednesday, April 20: The Introduction of Buddhism to Korea: Traveling Monks

Sources of Korean Tradition 34-56.

Friday, April 22: Buddhism and the State in Nara Japan

Sources of Japanese Tradition 100-121.

XII Buddhist Practice in China, Korea and Japan: Chan / Son / Zen

Monday, April 25: Chan Buddhism in China: The Meditation School

Sources of Chinese Tradition 491-536.

Please download and read from Blackboard: Excerpts from Essential Chan Buddhism by Chan Master Guo Jun: “Introduction,” “Impermanence,” “Breath,” “Heart-to-Heart: Sitting,” “Relaxation” and “Connecting to the World,” “Farming Meditation” and “Floating” on pages 1-28.

Optional Additional Reading: Read the rest of the book Essential Chan Buddhism (on reserve at Leavey Library).

Wednesday, April 27: Korean Son and Japanese Zen Buddhism

Sources of Korean Tradition 120-135; Sources of Japanese Tradition 306-335.

*** Friday, April 29: Second Paper Due and

In-Class Review for Final Exam ***

*** Wednesday, May 4, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Final Exam ***

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