Classical Chinese I

Catalog description

For students who have completed CHI 302 or equivalent, this course is designed as the first half of a Classical Chinese course, the written language that took shape in the latter half of the first millennium B.C. and continues to influence modern Chinese expression today. The course aims to strengthen students’ ability to read Classical Chinese texts and deepen their understanding of ancient Chinese culture, society, and history. Through the study of representative works, students will explore key linguistic features, grammatical patterns, and cultural values expressed in Classical literature, which have profoundly shaped Chinese thought and society. Understanding Classical Chinese also enhances students’ comprehension of modern Chinese, particularly idiomatic expressions such as set phrases and allusions that trace their origins to Classical sources. This course is taught in English and counts toward the Chinese minor.