This course explores the development of modern East Asia from a historical perspective, focusing primarily on China and Japan, but also including some consideration of Korea and Vietnam. This semester we will cover the period from the impact of Western imperialism in the nineteenth century to the present. The course is designed to help students experience a historical tradition outside the Western experience, to provide the opportunity for students to encounter primary sources in translation, and to introduce different approaches to the study of history. Lectures and readings will try to balance the survey method with an emphasis on the rich particulars of biography, scenes from daily life, literature and films. In addition, every fourth week students will meet in small discussion groups with the instructor.
1) Class attendance is mandatory and you will be evaluated on your participation in class discussion.
2) Quizzes: I will give seven quizzes over the course of the semester. Each student’s lowest two grades will be omitted, and the averaged score of the remaining quizzes will count for 25% of the final course grade [I reserve the right to add or reduce the total number of quizzes, as necessary]. Students will receive a grade of 0 for quizzes missed due to absence.
3) Essays: Each student will write two short papers (five pages); each paper will count as 25% of the final course grade. The first paper is due March 17 ; the second April 14. Late papers will be marked down.
4) The final exam will count as 25% of the final grade.
Please note that this syllabus should be viewed as a work in progress; the instructor reserves the right to make changes as required.
East Asia: a new history, Rhoads Murphey
Family, Pa Chin (Ba Jin)
Chinese Civilization: a sourcebook (2nd edition), edited by Patricia Buckley Ebrey
Additional assignments (labelled "Reader" in the syllabus) are contained in the course packet, available on reserve in the library (four hours, unrestricted).
1. (1/13) Tools, themes, patterns
2. (1/15) East Asia on the eve of imperialist intervention
Readings: East Asia, chapter 1
1. (1/20) Chinese society and thought
2. (1/22) Ming-Qing transition
Readings: East Asia, chapter 8
Reader: (1) Eastman, 3-39; 62-78
1. (1/27) The Opium War
2. (1/ 29) Rural Rebellion
Readings: East Asia, chapter 14
Sourcebook, sections 68, 69, 70
Reader: (2) Teng and Fairbank, 23-28
( 2/3; 2/5) Discussion Groups
1. ( 2/10) Japan and the West
2. (2/12) Meiji Modernization
Readings: East Asia, chapters 13, 15
1. (2/17) China’s crisis
2. (2/19) The East Asian Periphery
Readings: East Asia, chapter 16
Reader: (3) Viet Nam, 9-35
1. (2/24) Warlords and Revolution
2. (2/26) New Culture Movement
Readings: East Asia, chapter 17
Sourcebook, sections 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 (pp. 332-363).
Reader: (4) Stories by Lu Xun
(3/3; 3/5) Discussion of Family by Pa Chin
1. (3/17) The Nationalist Decade and the Long March; PAPER ONE DUE
2. (3/19) Japan’s democratic moment and militarism
Readings: East Asia, chapter 18
Sourcebook, sections 78, 79, 80, 84
1. (3/24) Japan’s War in China
2. (3/26) Reconstruction
Readings: East Asia, chapter 19
Reader: (5) The Chrysanthemum and the Sword (pp. 20-75)
1. (3/31) Korea
2. (4/2) Vietnam
Readings: East Asia, chapters 21 and 22
Reader: (6) Viet Nam (pp. 351-365; 429-438) ; The Ungrateful Wretches (pp. 190-238)
(4/7; 4/9) Discussion: America’s role in East Asia
1. (4/14) Liberation and Land Reform; PAPER TWO DUE
2. (4/16) The Great Leap Forward
Readings: East Asia, chapter 20
Sourcebook, sections 85, 86, 87, 88, 89
1. (4/21) The Cultural Revolution
2. (4/23) Post-Mao China and Tian’anmen 1989
Readings: Sourcebook, sections 91-100
Reader: (7) Spence (pp. 712-747); Cries for Democracy (50-57; 129-162)
Discussion and Review
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