Traditional Chinese Literature from the Beginning to 1911

Catalog description

Was Li Bai or Du Fu more famous during their time? Which one of the Four Classic Novels is more worth reading? More importantly, what is out there in the world of traditional Chinese literature? We will answer these questions in this introductory level course of traditional Chinese literature. This course surveys the historical developments of traditional Chinese literature from Early China to 1911CE, focusing on the most representative literary figures, works, and genres. Along with these representative works, the course will also examine the most influential literary and aesthetic theories of each time period. Built on the survey, this course further aims to cultivate two sets of skills: 1. Literary analysis, especially through dissecting a work’s genre, imageries, aesthetics, and social contexts; 2. critiques on several conceptual issues based on both primary sources and modern scholarship, including the construction of a literary lineage, sense of a canon, standards of aesthetics, etc. This course does not require any Chinese, Mandarin or Classical Chinese. Prerequisite: None. Fulfillment: 1. CORE HPC/IPC 2. GCS Elective: Chinese Media, Art, and Literature; Chinese Language and Literature Minor.