HIS 3696 - CHINESE HISTORIOGRAPHY

credits: 3.0
Will examine in detail the changing role of the historian in Chinese culture from the earliest times through to the modern era. The historian in the Chinese tradition is deeply connected with political power, religious practice, and literary production thus providing us with an opportunity to explore a broad range of cultural practices. We will look in detail at a variety of primary source materials from very early records such as oracle bone and bronze inscriptions to the massively inclusive encyclopedic printed historiographical collections of the late medieval and early modern era. In addition, this course will look at the concept of time and history in the context of traditional China and then conclude with an examination of how this tradition has begun to be translated in the modern era in reaction to interaction with Western concepts of time and history. Objectives: A) Discuss the broad changes in Chinese historiography; B) Recognize and discuss major historians in the Chinese tradition; C) Describe the concept of history and time in the Chinese tradition; D) Define what a historian was in traditional China; E) Recognize the specific methodology for doing research on Chinese history, locate and evaluate both primary and secondary sources and then use them to produce written research. Method of Instruction: Class time will be split between lecturing and discussion. Students should be prepared to actively engage the materials, collaborate, and share their individual skills and understandings in creative energetic ways. Method of Evaluation: Class participation: 10%; Discussion: 15%; Research briefs: 25%; Final research paper: 40%; and Presentation of research: 10%. Meets *NWP and *WRT Distribution Requirements.

Prerequisite(s): HIS 1600 - ASIAN HISTORY I I (or) HIS 1601 - ASIAN HISTORY II (or) HIS 2115 - WOMEN IN ASIA PRE-MODERN (or) HIS 3602 - EMPIRE IN EARLY CHINA.