This course presents a critical historical overview of traditional Chinese literature, which covers the following—Tang and Song dynasty poetry, the Four Great Classic Novels, drama, and folklore, and such special topics as 1) the Chinese mind, philosophies, ethics, and traditional values; 2) Chinese aesthetics, ethics, and morals; 3) sex, gender, and sexuality; 4) Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism in Chinese literature; 5) the unique wuxia (martial arts) fiction genre, its parallel universe, and its influence on popular culture; and 6) film adaptations and re-creations of fiction. We will read translations of a number of the “masterworks” of Chinese literature and discuss the intertextuality between these genres.
Through reading these selected works, students will learn about some of the major features of traditional Chinese society: the Chinese mind and religious and philosophical beliefs, the imperial system and dynastic change, gender relations, notions of class and ethnicity, family, romance, and sexuality. All works are read in translation under the guidance of the instructor. No prior experience of the Chinese language is required.- Teacher: Huai Bao