Courtly Japan

Catalog description

Focused study of aristocratic society and culture of Heian period Japan. JAPNS 431 ( ASIA 431 ) Courtly Japan (3) (IL)(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. The Heian period of Japanese history saw the apex of a refined court culture. Through readings of primary and secondary sources, this seminar-style course will explore the activities, norms, and structures of courtly society in Japan, from the centralization of imperial power in the 8th century through the court's political marginalization in the late 12th century. We will pay particular attention to religion, the arts, politics and governances, gender, and the gradual rise of samurai power in the shadows of the court. This course is intended to provide an introduction to the political, social, economic, and cultural life of the Heian court of ancient Japan. The goals of the class are not only to gain an understanding of a time and place far removed from our own, but also to develop the skill of building such an understanding through primary and secondary sources, both written and visual. Students in this class will take on the role of historian or literary critic themselves, thinking critically about assigned texts and making their own interpretations of their meanings. Through reading, discussions, and writing, students will enhance their ability to think critically and to express their ideas clearly in both speech and writing. The course is intended to deepen student's appreciation of the cultural production of ancient Japan, to help them understand value systems that may differ from those predominant in western cultures, and to assist students in developing both analytic and expressive abilities. The course is designed to be suitable for all students generally interested in Japan or in various fields of humanistic study.