THE WORLD OF YUNNAN: Culture, History, and Life Along China’s Southwestern Borderlands

Catalog description

This course surveys the history, culture, and diversity of Yunnan, China. From the ancient bronzes of the Dian Kingdom to the province’s recent rise as a tourist destination, students will encounter the voices of indigenous peoples and outsider’s narratives. In addition to focusing on Yunnan and its regional history, this course will relate basic chronology and major events of Chinese history. The World of Yunnan examines religious pilgrimages, commercial linkages, and the Warlord politics of the early 20th century to better evaluate Yunnan’s unique positioning in China, Asia and the world. Each class will examine both textual and visual sources to provide a fine-grained understanding of Yunnan’s overlapping ethnic, commercial, and ecological landscapes. Students will be introduced to historical, anthropological, and religious studies methodologies culminating in a final oral project. Prerequisite: None. Fulfillment: CORE HPC/IPC; GCS Elective Chinese History, Society, and Culture