Medieval Chinese History

Catalog description

This course examines what Hu Shi has called the 'Indianization' of China. It traces the import of Buddhist ideas, values and practices from India and central Asia, and their impact on Chinese society, religion and politics. It examines the notion of China as multireligious, multiethnic empire and considers the transition from political diversity in the Six Dynasties period to renewed unity in Sui and Tang dynasties. With Chang'an (Xi'an) as the capital of a culturally rich and diverse China, the course examines the impact of a newly discovered inner-Asian cosmopolitanism on Tang aristocracy, culture, religion and politics. 001075