Classical Chinese Literature

Catalog description

This survey course is examines the long tradition of Chinese literature, from its genesis to the mid-19th century before it was transformed under the influence from the West. We will look into the diversity and richness of this tradition while tracing its dramatic historical changes in a time period of nearly three thousand years. In addition to studying prose and poetry, we will also consider historical content as well as social and philosophical writings. Students are expected not just to learn the long and rich tradition but, more importantly, to reconstruct it through the texts they are to read and papers they are to write. All course materials are in English.