George Mason University
Department of Modern & Classical Languages
Chinese 310: Survey of Traditional Chinese Literature--Spring
2008
Class Meeting Time: WM 10:30 p.m.-11:45 p.m.
Class Meeting Room: In 134
Professor: Dr. Karl K. Zhang
Telephone: (703) 993-4231
Office: Thompson 235G
Office Hours: TR 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. and by appointment
E-mail: kzhang@gmu.edu
Website: http//:mason.gmu.edu/~kzhang
____________________________________________________________________
Summary of the Course: An introduction of the outlines of Chinese literature from
the beginning to the nineteenth century, presented through
literary sources arranged in roughly chronological order. Our readings include
poetry, fiction, drama and personal essays as well as documents of philosophy,
history, religion, and transcribed oral records. No one can expect to
"cover" traditional Chinese literature in one semester, but I hope
that you will leave this course with a sense of the richness of the literature,
a basic map of China's literary development, and an interest in investigating
it further.
My Expectations of You: Participation in class is very important, because I take seriously the idea that my job is not simply to "present" material but to work through, analyze and add to it. Classes will be a combination of lecture and discussion. Be sure to have the material read before class meeting so that you can contribute to the discussions. This course fulfills the General Education Requirement in Literature, so in addition to ten weekly journals, you will also write for me two exams and one paper (five to eight pages) on an assigned topic. Point breakdown: participation, 20%; weekly journals, 25%; first exam, 20%; second exam, 20%; research paper, 15%.
Bibliography: This book is for sale at the University Bookstore: Victor Mair, The Anthology of Traditional Chinese Literature (New York: Columbia University Press, 1994). This text is required; by the end of the course we will have read it almost from cover to cover. Other readings will be distributed in class or put on reserve in Johnson Center Library as we advance. In addition, I hope to bring in visiting speakers, show slides and perhaps three or four video tapes.
The George Mason University Honor Code is in effect throughout the entire duration of the course and applies to all course work carried out inside and outside the classroom. It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the GMU Honor System and Code as laid out in the Student Handbook. Please refer to http://www.gmu.edu/mlstudents/handbook/honor.html for detailed information.
Student presentations are optional but will be awarded with one extra credit. Those who do poorly in midterm and weekly journals should consider doing extra work for extra credits. Up to two extra credits will be given a student.
Grading Scale
A 100-93
A- 92-90
B+ 89-87
B 86-83
B- 82-80
C+ 79-77
C 76-70
D 69-60
F 59-0
Session by Session Schedule
|
Date |
Class |
Homework |
|
1/23 W |
Introduction to the Course and a Short Video Show on Chinese History |
In class short
response paper. |
|
1/28 M 1/30 W |
Beginning of the Poetic and Philosophical Traditions: * Classics of Odes (149); * The Great Preface (121). ------------------------------------------------------ * Confucian Analects (40); * Mencius (43); Video Show: Confucianism (Religion: A World History. BL 48.R44 1998, pt 2). |
M. Assignment 1 Due |
|
2/04 M
|
Beginning of the Poetic and Philosophical Traditions
Continued: Video Show: Taoism (Religion: A World History. BL 48.R44
1998, pt 8); *Chuang Chou (45). ---------------------------------------------------- * Lao Tzu (57). |
M. Assignment 2 Due |
|
2/11 M 2/13 W |
The Warring States, Qin and Han. * Ground-Thumping Song (444); |
M. Assignment 3 Due |
|
2/18 M
|
From Han to Tang. ---------------------------------------------- |
M. Assignment 4 Due |
|
2/25 M 2/27 W |
*Orchid Pavilion (565); * Peach Blossom Spring (578). * The Return (435); * Tao Chien selections (177). --------------------------------------------------- * A Peacock Southeast Flew (462); * Mulan (474). |
M. Assignment 5 Due |
|
3/03 M |
Video Show: Mulan. |
M. Assignment 6 Due |
|
3/10-3/16 |
Spring Break |
|
|
3/17 M
|
Tang, Song and Yuan. ------------------------------------------------ |
M. Assignment 7 Due |
|
3/24 M
|
*Tu Fu (208). ----------------------------------------------------- *The Story of Ying-ying (851); Jokes (224); |
M. Assignment 8 Due |
|
3/31 M 4/02 W |
* Su Shih selections (248, 320, 438); * Li Ch’ing-chao selections (334); * Li Ch’ing-chao, Bronze and Stone (569); --------------------------------------------------- * Autumn Thoughts (353); * Injustice to Tou O (1279); * The Lute (1285). |
M. Assignment 9 Due |
|
4/07 M
|
Ming and Qing. ------------------------------------------------- |
M. Assignment 10 Due |
|
4/14 M |
Wu Song Fights the Tiger (997) STUDENT PRESENTATION The Peach Blossom Fan (1306). ------------------------------------------------------ Romance of the Three Kingdoms (947). |
M. Assignment 10 Due |
|
4/21 M
|
Video Show: Perfumed Handkerchief. STUDENT PRESENTATION: * Burial Mound for Flowers (1020); * Six Chapters of Floating Life (709). |
Assignment 11 Due |
|
4/28 M
|
STUDENT PRESENTATION: Gold Vase Plum (981) * The Transcendent Marriage (838); Governor of the Southern Branch (861). The Journey to the West (966). *The Mortal Thoughts of a Nun (1315); * The Peony Pavilion (1298). Video Show: The Chinese Cracker. |
|
|
5/05 M |
Review |
|
|
5/07 W 5/12 M |
Final Exam 10:30 p.m.-1:15 p.m. in the same classroom ---------------------------------------------------- 12:00 Noon: Paper due by email attachment to kzhang@gmu.edu |
|