History of the Book in East Asia

Catalog description

This course provides a thorough grounding in the state of the field of book history in China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. It will begin with an overview of book history in general and East Asian book history¿s place within the larger field, followed by an overview of the history of reading and reading practices. Subsequent topics include technologies of book production, from oracle bones to xylography; the social and economic impact of printing; reading practices; the spread of knowledge and techniques across East Asia; and changes to the archive occasioned by born digital materials. Students will read secondary materials in English and use the library¿s special collections to examine material objects. Students will come away with sufficient knowledge to teach courses in the history of the book or conduct original research. It will be useful to students interested in alternative career paths, such as librarian or curatorial work. Knowledge of an Asian language is not required.