Modern Languages and Literatures

AS 120 Introduction to East Asian Cultures

MW 2:00~3:30pm

Roosevelt Hall 206

Bamboo Painting

Instructor	Course Description	Course Objectives	Required Texts
Requirements	Grading Policy	Academic Honesty	Disability Statement
Schedule

Instructor

Yuhua Tsui

Office: Roosevelt Hall, Room 218B

Telephone: 620-341-5400

Office Hours: TF 12:00~2:30, or by appointment

E-mail: ytsui@emporia.edu

Website: www.emporia.edu/~yuhuatsu

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Course Description

This course is an introduction to the traditional cultures of China and Japan till 1600. In this course, students will gain a basic knowledge of history, geography, social structure, politics, religions, languages and literature of these two countries. Students are encouraged to explore their thoughts and feelings about these cultures through papers, presentations, and class discussions. Class attendance and participation can influence the final grade. In addition to the regular lectures and reading assignments, we will also invite guest speakers to meet with us and offer several educational films. Students will also be responsible for the material presented by such guest speakers and films.

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Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to

demonstrate a fundamental understanding of East Asian history and cultures;
recognize and appreciate the rich cultural heritage of East Asia, including belief systems and religions, and their impact on the development of the Asian societies under discussion;
become more aware of the similarities and differences among the major Asian cultural traditions and between those of the West;
be able to use primary and secondary sources as evidence to reach conclusions about the way of life of East Asian people – their political, social, economic, cultural systems.
use the skills and knowledge developed in this course to continue exploring the civilizations of East Asia.

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Required Texts

de Bary, Wm T., & Bloom, I. (Eds.). (1999). Sources of Chinese Tradition: From Earliest Times to 1600. (2^nd Ed., Vol. 1). New York: Columbia University Press.

de Bary, Wm. T., Keene, D., Tanabe, G., & Varley, P. (Eds.). (2002). Sources of Japanese Tradition: From Earliest Times to 1600. (2^nd Ed., Vol. 1). New York: Columbia University Press.

Tsao, Hsueh Chin. (1996). The Dream of the Red Chamber (Chih-Chen Wang, Trans.). New York: Bantam Doubleday.

Chūshingura: The Treasury of Loyal Retainers (Keene, Donald, Trans.). New York: Columbia University Press. 1971.

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References

Smith, R. J. (1994). China’s Cultural Heritage. The Ching Dynasty. 1644-1912. Oxford, England: Westview Press.

The Analects of Confucius (Leys, Simon, Trans.). Norton, 1997.

Chuang Tzu: Basic Writings. (Watson, Burton, Trans.). Columbia University Press, 1964.

The Buddhist Tradition. (de Bary, Theodore, ed. and trans.) Vintage Books, 1972.

Okakura Kakuzo. (1964). The Book of Tea. Dover.

(1979). Tales of Times Now Past (Ury, Marian, trans.). Center for Japanese Studies, University of Michigan.

Varley, P. (1973). Japanese Culture, (3rd Ed.). University of Hawaii Press.

“The Poetry of Li Po and Tu Fu,” in Nelson and Peebles, Classic of Eastern Thought (HBJ, 1991)

“Shinto: Readings”: (this includes excerpt from the Kojiki)

“Manyoshu”, in Nelson and Peebles, Classics of Eastern Thought

“The Japanese Idea of Beauty”, by Donald Keene (article)

“Hagakure,” in Nelson and Peebles, Classics of Eastern Thought

“Yugao,” from The Tale of Genji, trans. Arthur Waley, in Anthology of Japanese Literature, D. Keene, ed. Grove, 1956; also available in Murasaki, the Tale of Genji, trans. Arthur Waley, Anchor, 195?.

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Course Requirements

Attendance and Class Participation: Attendance is required. Students are expected to attend every class, arrive on time, stay to the end, and to participate in class discussions. Your participation is an integral part of your grade.

Absences will only be granted to documented illness, documented family emergencies, and etc. After 4 unexcused absences, your final grade will be automatically dropped by one level for every 2 absences. Entering the classroom 5 minutes after the class starts is considered tardiness and three tardiness will be considered as one absence. Tardiness of more than 20 minutes also counts as one unexcused absence.

To encourage student involvement in classroom activities, approximately 20%of the final grade will depend upon participation. Student participation will be evaluated on the basis of contribution to class discussions, presentations, and general level of preparation.

If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out the material covered during your absence and changes made on the schedule.

Assignments: All assignments are due before the class starts and should be sent electronically through your Dropbox on the Blackboard. Late papers will be penalized five percent if received by 5:00 pm on the due date. Papers received after that will be penalized fifteen percent.

Homework is graded in 5 levels:

a. 4 (90%): good work submitted on time.

b. 3 (80%): average work submitted on time.

c. 2 (70%): fair work submitted on time or resubmitted poor work with good quality.

d. 1 (50%): poor work submitted on time.

e. 0 ( 0%): unacceptable work, missing homework, or homework submitted late.

Papers: There will be two 5-page essays for each session. Topics will be assigned. The paper must include a clear thesis, a logical argument, and well chosen supporting evidence. The paper should be typed, double-spaced, and include proper citations in any standard bibliographic style.

*** Click here for more information on writing guide.

Quizzes and Exams: All exams and quizzes must be taken as scheduled. Quizzes will be given on every Monday and cannot be made up under any circumstances. A make up exam will be given only in cases of extreme circumstances with appropriate documentation. Students must write quizzes on a clean sheet of notebook paper and exams in blue examination booklets. There will be a five percent grade penalty on the assignment for failure to prepare appropriate class materials.

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Grading Policy

§ Attendance (100 points for each session) 200 points

§ Classroom Participation/Discussions (150 points for each session) 300 points

§ Summary Essays (two for each session) 400 points

§ Quizzes (150 for each session) 300 points

§ Midterm and Final Exams (200 points each) 600 points

§ Total possible points (800 points for each session) 1800 points

Grading Scale

		A	>93	A-	90~92%
B+	87%~89%	B	86%~83%	B-	82%~80%
C+	76%~79%	C	70%~75%
		D	60%~69%
		F	<60%

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Academic Honesty

At Emporia State University , academic dishonesty is a basis for disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to activities such as cheating and Plagiarism (presenting as one's own the intellectual or creative accomplishments of another without giving credit to the source or sources). The faculty member in whose course or under whose tutelage an act of academic dishonesty occurs has the option of failing the student for the academic hours in question and may refer the case to other academic personnel for further action. Emporia State University may impose penalties for academic dishonesty up to and including expulsion from the university

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Disability Statement

Emporia State University will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students need to contact the Director of Disability Services and the professor as early in the semester as possible to ensure that classroom and academic accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. All communication between students, the Office of Disability Services, and the professor will be strictly confidential.

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Course Outline and Schedule

For detailed schedule, click here.

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1200 Commercial Street, Box 4024
Emporia, KS 66801

Any question or comments regarding the content
of this site, please contact: ytsui@emporia.edu

Page updated: January 6, 2009