AS 201 Introduction to the Class

1. What I want to get at in my little Student Info Sheet is:

What do you think Asian Studies is?

Why does it interest you?

What do you hope to get out of this class?

Let's have some discussion about this in class today.

2. Then, I am sure you will want to know, "How will this class operate? What will be required?"

It will come down to a combination of Reading, Reflection, Discussion, and Writing. Of course. What else is there?

Course Materials

1. A textboook, East Asia: A Cultural, Social and Political History

2. The Daodejing: A Philosophical Translation by Roger Ames and David Hall

3. The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu (Abridged). Transl. by Royall Tyler

4. Lots of PDF Readings on WISE.

For example, early on we will start out by reading some primary materials in the form of writings by "Confucius" (Master Kong), a PDF taken from the Analects, as well as the great Daoist work, the Daodejing. We will also look at some interpretations of these works so you will have some ideas and/or an interpretive framework within which to write an anlytical paper.

For Discussion:

Each student will SIGN UP and be responsible for highlighting a certain section from each of these works, so that you can share with your classmates what you see going on in these passages, and then you can listen to their ideas and feedback, as well. Then, you take your ideas and any others you choose to incorporate, and write a short critical reflection paper that introduces your reader to the content and significance of these texts.

3. This makes total sense for understanding "Early China" because if we look at what is going on there, back in 400-200 BCE--it is primarily about the emergence of Chinese Philosophy during the Warring States Period--a time of political breakdown, transformation and turmoil, to which the philosophizing was a response. Solutions were needed and lots of ideas were being thrown out there! So this is what the earliest Chinese writings were all about. Mostly.

4. But what about "Early Japan"? Not really the same historical experience, at all. There were no "100 Schools of Philosophy" here. Rather, there is a fascinating period of transformation from village life to the first established capital city and the emergence of the Japanese Monarchy and the state (国家), a process that

a) came quite late--1,500 years later than China? and

b) is shrouded in mystery as we try to figure out the relationship between the people on (Korean) Peninsula and the (Japanese) Archipelago, the emergence of large Tombs, the the identity of the early "Horseriders," and what an early Shaman Queen called "Himiko" had to do with all of this.

But once the Japanese monarchy and state are in place, what emerges is not a lot of speculative, philosophical writing about human nature, proper conduct, or how to be ethical, authoritative, trustworthy and morally upright. Rather, we find beautiful, stirring, complex and compelling literary expression captured in

--short verse 31 syllable poetry (waka), and then later,

--a sustained 1,000-page prose narrative with poetry imbedded into it called a Monogatari or a "Tale" that had aspects similar to the modern novel even though a modern novel or any sustained prose narrative like this did not exist anywhere in the world at this time. Fascinating!

5. So we will read an abridged version of the classic Tale of Genji, discuss it, and then you will write a response/analytical paper on the Genji. That will be phase two of the semester.

6. The remainder of the term will be given over to some disparate readings on "becoming modern" and on the "Environment and Sustainability in Asia" which should be the topic of your Final Essay due at the time when a Final Exam would be scheduled if we were having a Final Exam.

In a word, this semester is set up to be as simple and straightforward as possible; and yet, as always, in the simplest things lurk great depth and meaning so we can actually accomplish a great deal while it may appear that we are just having a wonderful time.

Instructions

AS 201 Introduction to the Class

1. What I want to get at in my little Student Info Sheet is:

What do you think Asian Studies is?

Why does it interest you?

What do you hope to get out of this class?

Let's have some discussion about this in class today.

2. Then, I am sure you will want to know, "How will this class operate? What will be required?"

It will come down to a combination of Reading, Reflection, Discussion, and Writing. Of course. What else is there?

Course Materials

1. A textboook, East Asia: A Cultural, Social and Political History

2. The Daodejing: A Philosophical Translation by Roger Ames and David Hall

3. The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu (Abridged). Transl. by Royall Tyler

4. Lots of PDF Readings on WISE.

For Discussion:

a) came quite late--1,500 years later than China? and

b) is shrouded in mystery as we try to figure out the relationship between the people on (Korean) Peninsula and the (Japanese) Archipelago, the emergence of large Tombs, the the identity of the early "Horseriders," and what an early Shaman Queen called "Himiko" had to do with all of this.

--short verse 31 syllable poetry (waka), and then later,

--a sustained 1,000-page prose narrative with poetry imbedded into it called a Monogatari or a "Tale" that had aspects similar to the modern novel even though a modern novel or any sustained prose narrative like this did not exist anywhere in the world at this time. Fascinating!

5. So we will read an abridged version of the classic Tale of Genji, discuss it, and then you will write a response/analytical paper on the Genji. That will be phase two of the semester.

6. The remainder of the term will be given over to some disparate readings on "becoming modern" and on the "Environment and Sustainability in Asia" which should be the topic of your Final Essay due at the time when a Final Exam would be scheduled if we were having a Final Exam.

In a word, this semester is set up to be as simple and straightforward as possible; and yet, as always, in the simplest things lurk great depth and meaning so we can actually accomplish a great deal while it may appear that we are just having a wonderful time.

Instructions