University Bulletin (2020-2021)

• Minor
• Major (BA)

The East Asian Studies Program (EAS) is an interdisciplinary program that seeks to give the student broad yet intimate knowledge of East Asian civilization. It can be taken either as a major or a minor.  A core element of the program is the requirement of an East Asian language, providing the basis for postgraduate study or careers relating to East Asia.

East Asian Studies promotes in-depth knowledge about the traditions, cultures, and contemporary societies of a diverse and dynamic region that plays an ever more prominent role on the global stage. The Major focuses particular attention on China and Japan, but Southeast Asia and Korea are also part of the Major’s coverage. Students are exposed to a wide range of disciplinary approaches to the study of East Asia, including Anthropology, Art History, Economics, History, Language and Literature, Philosophy, Politics, Religion, and Music History. Besides being interdisciplinarity, EAS emphasizes a broad temporal scope, cultivating interests from ancient times to the present. Students completing the major are expected to become conversant about a wide range of topics related to East Asia and to attain basic competence in at least one East Asian language.

As a regional studies program, EAS encourages participation in global learning, offering non-Eurocentric approaches to the Creative Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Through exposure to East Asia, students sharpen their critical skills regarding insights and the production of knowledge beyond Western traditions. The objects of inquiry include poetic styles, artistic techniques, intellectual trends, gender constructs, political orders, and economic systems. While understanding East Asia in its own context is a primary goal, the Major also seeks to comprehend the particularities of East Asia in relation to European and American ideas and influences where relevant. The goal is to develop dynamic and nuanced concepts about the role of East Asia in the world.

Through the ages, many parts of East Asia have had varied and extensive contact. By offering courses on different geographic sites and cultures, sometimes in a comparative or interactive context, EAS cultivates a deep appreciation for trans-Asiatic and intra-Asiatic forms of knowledge and action. Cooperation, conflicts, and interdependencies are vital parts of the study of significant historical and evolving developments across the region.

Core Skills

A student choosing the EAS major is expected to achieve the following skills:

1. Master the terminology and methodology of the component disciplines,
2. Develop proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing at least one East Asian language,
3. Examine phenomena in specific historical, cultural, economic, and political contexts,
4. Use primary and secondary sources to produce original arguments and analyses,
5. Think critically about visual, literary, and intellectual artifacts and documents,
6. Readily make connections from comparative and transcultural perspectives.

Knowledge

An EAS major is expected to acquire the following types of knowledge (encompassing the range of disciplines):

1. Broad understanding of traditional and contemporary East Asia from local, international, and comparative perspectives,
2. East Asian experiences in History, Economics, Politics, and Culture,
3. Robust appreciation of the contribution and relationship of East Asia to the world.

Social Awareness

A Major in EAS should:

1. Appreciate cultural and ethnic tolerance and inclusiveness,
2. Cultivate relations with peers and faculty who come from diverse backgrounds.

Upon Graduating

A Brandeis EAS major will be prepared to:

1. Pursue professions where knowledge of East Asian languages and culture is valuable (e.g. education, diplomacy, international finance and business, journalism, museology, and translation),
2. Embark upon graduate study in a number of academic disciplines,
3. Build bridges between American and East Asian communities or between communities within East Asia.

To enroll in the program, either as a major or a minor, students must bring the declaration form to the UAH or program administrator. A faculty advisor will be assigned then.

Matthew Fraleigh, Co-Chair, Undergraduate Advising Head and Study Abroad Liaison
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)

Xing Hang, Co-Chair
(History)

Yu Feng
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)

Hisae Fujiwara
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)

Gary Jefferson
(Economics)

Xiwen Lu
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)

Yukimi Nakano
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)

Ellen Schattschneider
(Anthropology) 

Ralph Thaxton
(Politics)

Pu Wang
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)

Aida Yuen Wong
(Fine Arts)

Five courses are generally required to complete the EAS minor. All courses used to fulfill the EAS minor degree requirements must be passed with a C- or higher.

1. Core Course: HIST 80a (Introduction to East Asian Civilization) or HIST 80b (East Asia: Nineteenth Century to the Present China and Japan).
2. Language Requirement: at least up to CHIN 20b, JAPN 20b, or KOR 20b, or by exemption. Students with demonstrated language skills at the 20-level or are native speakers may be exempted from this requirement by application and/or exam.
   
   A Foreign Language Credit form is used to apply for EAS language requirement exemption in East Asian languages offered at Brandeis; but for East Asian languages not offered at Brandeis a Foreign Language Exemption Petition is needed. Exams may be necessary in either case.
3. Electives: Generally three EAS electives from no fewer than two different departments are needed to complete this requirement; however students who are exempted from the language requirement must complete four electives. East Asian language courses at the 20-level or higher which are not used toward fulfilling the language requirement may be used as electives for the minor degree; however, at least one elective must be an EAS non-language course taken outside the GRALL Department.
4. No more than two courses (one, if language exemption is earned) taken outside of Brandeis may be counted for the minor.
5. No course taken pass/fail may count toward the minor requirements.

Ten courses are generally required to complete the EAS major. At least six courses are required to be taken in residence at Brandeis and all courses used to fulfill the EAS major degree requirements must be passed with a C- or higher.

1. Core Course: HIST 80a (Introduction to East Asian Civilization) or HIST 80b (East Asia: Nineteenth Century to the Present China and Japan).
2. Language Requirement: at least up to CHIN 40b, JAPN 40b, or KOR 40b, or by exemption. Students with demonstrated language skills at the 40 level or are native speakers may be exempted from this requirement by application and/or exam.
   
   The procedures for applying for language exemption for the major are the same as those for the minor.
3. Electives: Three EAS electives one from each of the creative arts, humanities, and the contemporary East Asia social science courses (see course listing).
   
   For humanities courses that are languages, only courses above the 40-level may be counted toward fulfilling this specific elective requirement.
4. Generally five additional EAS electives are required; however students who are exempted from the language requirement must complete six electives. East Asian language courses (such as in a second EAS language area) at the 20-level or higher which are not used toward fulfilling the language requirement may be used as electives for the major degree; however, at least one elective must be an EAS non-language course taken outside the GRALL Department.
5. Foundational Literacies: As part of completing the East Asian Studies major, students must:
   • Fulfill the writing intensive requirement by successfully completing one of the following: Any EAS cross-listed course approved for WI.
   • Fulfill the oral communication requirement by successfully completing one of the following: Any EAS cross-listed course approved for OC.
   • Fulfill the digital literacy requirement by successfully completing: HIST 80a.
6. No more than four (three, if language exempt is earned) courses taken outside of Brandeis may be counted for the major
7. No course taken pass/fail may count toward the major requirements.

Senior Thesis

Students intending to write a senior thesis are required to register for EAS 99d (or for a 99 course in an appropriate department) and to prepare a substantial thesis on a topic relating to East Asia. If completed successfully, the 99 can be counted as two of the five (six) EAS electives needed for the major.

EAS 98a Independent Study
Usually offered every year.
Staff

EAS 98b Independent Study
Usually offered every year.
Staff

EAS 99d Senior Research
Seniors who are candidates for degrees with honors in East Asian studies must register for this course and, under the direction of a faculty member, prepare an honors thesis on a suitable topic. Usually offered every year.
Staff

HIST 80a Introduction to East Asian Civilization
[ djw dl hum nw ss ]
A selective introduction to the development of forms of thought, social and political institutions, and distinctive cultural contributions of China and Japan from early times to the beginning of the nineteenth century. Usually offered every year.
Heyward James

HIST 80b East Asia in the Modern World
[ hum nw ss ]
Surveys East Asian history from the 1600 to the present. Compares Chinese, Korean, and Japanese encounters with forces of industrial capitalism, including colonialism, urbanization, and globalization, resulting in East Asia’s distinctive cultural and social modernity. Usually offered every year.
Heyward James

CHIN 10a Beginning Chinese I
Four class hours per week.
Mandarin is taught in this intensive course, intended for students with no previous knowledge of Chinese. Class meets four days per week plus one section of individual conversation. It offers training in basic Chinese grammar, speaking, aural comprehension, reading and writing. Chinese characters, and the "pinyin" phonetic system as a tool for learning Chinese. Usually offered every fall.
Yu Feng or Jian Wei

CHIN 20b Continuing Chinese
Prerequisite: CHIN 10a. Four class hours per week.
Continuation of CHIN 10a. Usually offered every spring.
Jian Wei

CHIN 29b Pathways for Chinese Literacy
For students who have significant bilingual background in Mandarin Chinese or a non-Mandarin dialect (e.g., Cantonese). Emphasizes reading and writing skills, but standard Mandarin pronunciation and grammatical structure are also stressed. Usually offered every spring.
Xiwen Lu

CHIN 30a Intermediate Chinese
[ fl ]
Prerequisite: CHIN 20b or equivalent. Four class hours per week.
Development of skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, including the writing of short essays. Usually offered every fall.
Xiwen Lu

CHIN 40b Advanced Intermediate Chinese
[ fl hum oc ]
Prerequisite: CHIN 30a or equivalent. Four class hours per week.
Continuation of CHIN 30a. Usually offered every spring.
Xiwen Lu

JAPN 10a Beginning Japanese
Meets four days per week for a total of four class hours per week and one half-hour tutoring session per week.
Intended for students with little or no previous knowledge of Japanese. This course offers intensive training in the basics of Japanese grammar, listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Students acquire Japanese language proficiency through various interactive classroom activities, workbook, audio, video, and computer-assisted exercises. Usually offered every fall.
Hisae Fujiwara

JAPN 20b Continuing Japanese
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 10a or the equivalent. Meets four days per week for a total of four class hours per week and one half-hour tutoring session per week.
Continuation of JAPN 10a. Further development of the basics of Japanese grammar, listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Students acquire Japanese language proficiency through various interactive classroom activities, workbook, audio, video, writing essays, and computer-assisted exercises. Usually offered every spring.
Hisae Fujiwara

JAPN 30a Intermediate Japanese
[ fl ]
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 20b or the equivalent. Meets four days per week for a total of four class hours per week and one half-hour tutoring session per week.
Continuation of JAPN 20b. This course aims to further develop a student's four language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing Japanese through various classroom activities, workbook, audio, video, and writing essays. Usually offered every fall.
Yukimi Nakano

JAPN 40b Advanced Intermediate Japanese
[ fl hum oc ]
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 30a or the equivalent. Meets four days per week for a total of four class hours per week and one half-hour tutoring session per week.
Continuation of JAPN 30a. Further refining of a student's four language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing Japanese through various classroom activities, workbook, audio, video, and writing essays. Usually offered every spring.
Yukimi Nakano

KOR 10a Beginning Korean
Four class hours per week.
Intended for students with little or no previous knowledge of Korean. This course offers intensive training in basic Korean grammar, speaking, listening, reading and writing. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to communicate about everyday situations in simple Korean. Usually offered every fall.
Eun-Jo Lee

KOR 20b Continuing Korean
Prerequisite: KOR 10a or the equivalent. Four class hours per week.
Continuation of KOR 10a. Further development of fundamental grammar, spoken and written language proficiency. By the end of the semester, students will be able to read and write short Korean paragraphs and conduct simple yet proper conversations about everyday situations. Usually offered every spring.
Eun-Jo Lee

KOR 30a Intermediate Korean
[ fl ]
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in KOR 20b or the equivalent. Four class hours per week.
Designed to further develop communicative language skills attained in the beginning level courses with intermediate-level reading and writing exercises involving more complicated grammar and vocabulary. Usually offered every fall.
Eun-Jo Lee

KOR 40b Advanced Intermediate Korean
[ fl hum ]
Prerequisite: KOR 30a or permission of the instructor. Four class hours per week.
Continues the development of advanced-intermediate oral and literacy skills through formal presentations, discussion, and composition practices. A business Korean component will also be incorporated into the course to prepare students for job opportunities. Usually offered every spring.
Eun-Jo Lee

ANTH 178b Culture, Gender and Power in East Asia
[ nw ss ]
Examines the role of culture in changing gender power relations in East Asia by exploring how the historical legacy of Confucianism in the region influences the impact of changes such as the constitutional proclamation of gender equality and rapid industrialization. Usually offered every third year.
Elanah Uretsky

ECON 30a The Economy of China
[ nw ss ]
Prerequisite: ECON 2a or 10a.
Analysis of China's economic transformation with particular emphasis on China's economic reforms since 1978, including the restructuring of its enterprise, fiscal, financial, and political systems and the roles of trade, foreign investment, and technology in driving China's economic advance. Usually offered every year.
Gary Jefferson

HIST 176b Japan and Korea in Modern World History
[ nw ss ]
Investigates the long and problematic history of interactions and exchanges between Japan and Korea from early times to the present. Topics include language, migration, art, architecture, material culture, popular culture, propaganda, and warfare. Usually offered every third year.
Staff

HIST 187a Frenemy States: Identity and Integration in East Asia
[ ss wi ]
Examines the emergence and development of distinct national identities in East Asia. We focus upon key transformative moments and events in the histories of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam from the dawn of time to the early twentieth century. Usually offered every third year.
Xing Hang

HIST 189a Modern Japan Through Crime
[ djw nw ss ]
The bloody history of modern Japan as told through both true crime and crime fiction. Covers the period from the fall of the samurai in the mid-nineteenth century to today. Course culminates in a true crime podcast project. Special one-time offering, spring 2020.
Ryan S. Glasnovich

IGS 136b Contemporary Chinese Society and Culture
[ nw ss ]
May not be taken for credit by students who took ANTH 136b in prior years.
Introduces students to contemporary Chinese society, with a focus on the rapid transformations that have taken place during the post-Mao era with a focus on family, gender, sexuality, migration, ethnicity, and family planning. Usually offered every third year.
Elanah Uretsky

IGS 175a Digital Asia: Democracy in the Internet Age
[ djw nw ss ]
Analyzes the transformative potential of the internet as an agent of development and as a mechanism for disrupting social and political orders in Asia, home to the world's largest democracy and also the world's largest authoritarian regime. Usually offered every second year.
Avinash Singh

POL 147a The Government and Politics of China
[ nw ss ]
Introduction to major themes of Chinese politics, emphasizing the rise of the Chinese Communists and the post-1949 trends in domestic politics, while also surveying historical, sociological, and cultural influences in Chinese politics. Attention to the nature of the traditional state, impact of colonialism, national revolution, and the course of contemporary state development. Usually offered every second year.
Ralph Thaxton

POL 148a Seminar: Contemporary Chinese Politics
[ nw ss ]
A broad and in-depth critical analysis of key issues in contemporary Chinese politics. Emphasis on the role of the state in promoting economic development, social change, and political stability. Focus on struggles for social justice under authoritarian rule. Special attention to the state response to popular efforts to use social media to hold the government accountable for past injustice and to promote open, pluralist discourse. Usually offered every second year.
Ralph Thaxton

POL 179a Seminar: China's Global Rise: The Challenge to Democratic Order
[ nw ss wi ]
Explores the implications of China's global rise for the global democratic order constructed by the United States in the aftermath of World War II. Among other issues, we will ask whether China's international strategy in Asia, Africa, and Latin America poses a serious challenge to democratic nations and their support for democratization. Usually offered every second year.
Ralph Thaxton

FA 34a History of Asian Art
[ ca nw ]
A selective survey of the art of the three major Asian areas: India, China, and Japan. Usually offered every second year.
Aida Wong

FA 70b The Art of China
[ ca nw ]
A survey of Chinese art from antiquity to the modern period. Usually offered every second year.
Aida Wong

FA 71b The Art of Japan
[ ca nw ]
A survey of Japanese art from antiquity to the modern period. Usually offered every second year.
Aida Wong

FA 72b Introduction to Korean Art
[ ca nw ]
Surveys Korean arts and material culture, from the Neolithic to the mid-20th century. Covers archaeology, religious and secular arta/artifacts of the Three Kingdoms, United Silla, and Koryo periods. Covers Choson dynasty and Colonial period. Usually offered every second year.
Staff

FA 170a Arts of the Ming Dynasty
[ ca nw ]
Examines a broad array of arts from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The first half of the course focuses on activities in and around the Chinese court. The second half concentrates on monuments related to literati and popular cultures. Usually offered every second year.
Aida Wong

FA 172b Ink Painting in Taiwan
[ ca nw ]
Prerequisite: One course in Fine Arts or East Asian Studies.
Examines the evolution of modernism in Taiwan through the lens of art history, especially ink painting between the 1950s and 1990s. Issues to be studied include cultural orthodoxy, abstraction, exhibitions and education, postcoloniality, nativism, and calligraphic interventions. Usually offered every third year.
Aida Wong

FA 173b Art in Shanghai
[ ca nw ]
Examines the art and visual culture of Shanghai–China's symbol of modernity–from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth centuries, encompassing painting, architecture, calligraphy, fashion, advertising, among other topics. Usually offered every third year.
Aida Wong

FA 176a Fashion History of China
[ ca nw ]
Examines the evolution of garments, ornaments, accessories, shoes, and other bodily adornments in China through the lens of art history. Students learn about the importance of dress and fashion (and their visual representations) in shaping identities through the ages. Usually offered every third year.
Aida Wong

FA 178b Seminar on Chinese Calligraphy and Practice
[ ca nw oc ]
Prerequisite: Some knowledge of reading Chinese. May not be taken for credit by students who took FA 191a in prior years.
Introduces the major scripts and canonical works of Chinese calligraphy. Besides studying historical developments, students gain hands-on experience with producing their own works. The class combines theory and practice to advance understanding of the aesthetic, critical language, and the functions of this enduring art. Usually offered every year.
Aida Wong

FA 197a Studies in Asian Art
[ ca nw oc ]
May not be taken for credit by students who took FA 184a in prior years.
Usually offered every third year.
Aida Wong

THA 130a Suzuki
[ ca ]
Counts as one activity course toward the physical education requirement. Undergraduates may repeat this course twice for credit, once with each instructor.
Developed by the Japanese theater artist Tadashi Suzuki, the Suzuki method of acting training develops physical strength, stamina, and agility while engaging the imagination and will of the actor. Through a series of walks, statues, and marches, students are taught to breathe and move from the core of their bodies. This training allows students to act from physical impulse, resulting in a deep and personal experience of language and the world of play. Usually offered every semester.
Staff

CHIN 100a Introduction to Chinese Literature: Desire and Form
[ hum nw oc ]
Taught in English. No Chinese language capabilities required.
Introduces Chinese literature, focusing primarily on Chinese "classical" literary traditions and their metamorphosis in modern times. Usually offered every second year.
Pu Wang

CHIN 105a Advanced Conversation and Composition I
[ fl hum oc wi ]
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in CHIN 40b or the equivalent.
Designed for advanced students who wish to enhance and improve their skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing through listening and reading authentic or slightly modified materials, discussing and writing on various topics of Chinese society and culture. Usually offered every fall.
Staff

CHIN 105b Advanced Conversation and Composition II
[ fl hum oc wi ]
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in CHIN 105a or the equivalent.
Designed for advanced students who wish to enhance and improve their speaking proficiency and writing skills. Speaking skills will be developed through guided conversation, discussion of texts and films, and oral presentation. Exercises and essays will be used to improve students' writing skills. Usually offered every spring.
Staff

CHIN 106b Business Chinese and Culture
[ fl nw wi ]
Prerequisite: CHIN 40b or equivalent. Does not meet the requirement in the school of humanities.
An advanced Chinese course where students develop their language proficiency and cultural knowledge in professional settings such as the workplace. The course is conducted entirely in Chinese and is designed for students who want to sharpen their language skills and reach a higher level of proficiency in which they are able to read newspapers, magazines, or professional documents, as well as to improve their communicative ability and enhance their self-confidence in Chinese workplaces. Usually offered every second spring.
Staff

CHIN 120a Readings in Contemporary Chinese Literature: Advanced Chinese Language
[ fl hum wi ]
Prerequisite: CHIN 105a or equivalent.
For advanced students of Chinese, an introduction to contemporary Chinese short stories from the 1990s and later. Focuses on significant expansion of vocabulary and grammar, and on providing students an opportunity to develop and polish both oral and written skills through class discussion, presentations, and writing assignments. Usually offered every fall.
Staff

CHIN 120b Readings in Contemporary Chinese Literature: Advanced Chinese Language II
[ fl hum wi ]
Prerequisite: CHIN 120a or equivalent.
Continuation of CHIN 120a. Study of contemporary Chinese short stories from the 1990s and later. These stories not only represent new literary themes and linguistic expressions, but also reflect the modernization, commercialization, and urbanization that is transforming China. The course improves students' knowledge of the language, as well as enhancing their understanding of Chinese society and culture. Usually offered every spring.
Pu Wang

CHIN 126a Advanced Conversational Chinese
[ fl hum oc ]
Prerequisite: CHIN 105b or equivalent.
For advanced students of Chinese, this course further develops their Chinese speaking proficiency in both information and formal styles. The course is conducted entirely in Chinese and is designed for students who want to improve their communicative ability in Chinese. Focuses on significant expansion of vocabularies, grammars, and genuine expressions used by Chinese in their daily life, as well as enhancing students' understanding of Chinese society and culture. Usually offered every year.
Jian Wei

CHIN 130b China on Film: The Changes of Chinese Culture
[ hum nw ]
Taught in English. All films viewed have English subtitles.
Focuses on the enormous changes under way in Chinese society, politics, and culture. Helps students to identify and understand these fundamental transformations through a representative, exciting selection of readings and films. Usually offered every second spring.
Staff

CHIN 136b Chinese Modernism in International Context
[ hum nw ]
Taught in English.
Examines the origins, recurrences, and metamorphosis of modernistic styles and movements in twentieth-century Chinese literature, film, fine art, and intellectual discourses. Usually offered every second year.
Pu Wang

CHIN 140a Yin Yu Tang Documents, Decoding the Late Qing and Early Republic Writings (I)
[ fl hum nw ]
Prerequisites: CHIN 120a and 120b, or permission of the instructor.
Teaches fundamental skills to decode the late Qing and early Republic writings in print or in hand-writing by recognizing and translating the Yin Yu Tang documents. Students of this course will also gain knowledge of Chinese society and culture of this period. Usually offered every year.
Yu Feng

CHIN 165a Chinese for Life Science: Study of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herbs with Contemporary Science
[ fl oc ]
Prerequisite: CHIN 105b or equivalent. Does not meet the requirement in the school of humanities.
Helps students increase Chinese proficiency in the fields of life science such biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, and medicine, especially the skills of reading life science papers in Chinese; and widens and deepens students' knowledge of life science by learning the most important discoveries of Chinese scientists in applying contemporary western science to the studies of traditional medicinal herbs. Although this course is not just limited to biology, neuroscience, or chemistry majors, good knowledge of life science will be essential to success. Usually offered every year.
Jian Wei

COML 146b Classical East Asian Poetics
[ hum nw ]
An introduction to the classical poetic forms of China, Japan, and Korea. Special consideration is paid to issues of canonization, classical theories of literature, and the development of multilingual literary traditions. All readings are in English. Usually offered every third year.
Matthew Fraleigh

JAPN 105a Advanced Conversation and Composition I
[ fl hum oc wi ]
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 40b or the equivalent. Four class hours per week.
Continuation of JAPN 40b. For advanced students of Japanese who wish to enhance and improve their speaking proficiency as well as reading and writing skills. Students will develop their proficiency in reading and speaking through texts, films, videos and discussions on current issues on Japanese society. Various forms of writing will be assigned to improve students' writing skills. Usually offered every year.
Yukimi Nakano

JAPN 105b Advanced Conversation and Composition II
[ fl hum oc wi ]
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 105a or the equivalent. Four class hours per week.
Continuation of JAPN 105a. For advanced students of Japanese who wish to enhance and improve their speaking proficiency as well as reading and writing skills. Students will develop their proficiency in reading and speaking through texts, films, videos and discussions on current issues on Japanese society. Various forms of writing will be assigned to improve students' writing skills. Usually offered every year.
Yukimi Nakano

JAPN 120a Topics in Contemporary Japanese Culture and Society
[ fl hum nw oc wi ]
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 105b or the equivalent.
Provides advanced students of Japanese an opportunity to develop reading and writing skills through class discussion, presentation, group work and writing in different genres as a preparation for further advanced studies in Japanese. Familiarizes students with different facets of contemporary Japanese culture and society. Readings are supplemented by films and related visual materials. Usually offered every fall.
Hisae Fujiwara

JAPN 120b Readings in Modern Japanese Literature
[ fl hum nw oc wi ]
Prerequisite: JAPN 120a or the equivalent.
Students read, analyze, discuss, and write about Japanese short fiction by a wide range of modern and contemporary authors. Screening of film adaptations and television programs complement class discussion, which is conducted in Japanese. Usually offered every year.
Matthew Fraleigh

JAPN 125b Putting Away Childish Things: Coming of Age in Modern Japanese Literature and Film
[ hum nw ]
Explores the ways in which modern Japanese writers and filmmakers have represented childhood, youth, and coming of age. A variety of short stories, novels, and memoirs from the 1890s to the present day are read, and several recent films are also screened. Usually offered every third year.
Matthew Fraleigh

JAPN 130a The Literature of Multicultural Japan
[ djw hum nw ]
"Multicultural" may not be an adjective that many associate with Japan, but as we will find in this class, Japan's modern literary and cinematic tradition is rich with works by and about resident Koreans, Ainu, Okinawans, outcasts, and sexual and other marginalized minorities. Why then does the image of a monocultural Japan remain so resilient? Usually offered every third year.
Matthew Fraleigh

JAPN 135a Screening National Images: Japanese Film and Anime in Global Context
[ hum nw ]
All films and readings are in English.
An introduction to some major directors and works of postwar Japanese film and anime with special attention to such issues as genre, medium, adaptation, narrative, and the circulation of national images in the global setting. Usually offered every third year.
Matthew Fraleigh

JAPN 140a The World of Early Modern Japanese Literature
[ hum nw ]
A survey of the most celebrated works of literature from Japan's early modern period (1600-1868). Explores a wide range of genres, including fiction, travelogues, memoirs, dramatic forms such as the puppet theater and kabuki, as well as poetry in Japanese and Chinese. All readings are available in English translation; Japanese knowledge is not required. Usually offered every third year.
Matthew Fraleigh

JAPN 145a The World of Classical Japanese Literature
[ djw hum nw ]
A survey of some of the most important works of Japanese literature from its origins to the late sixteenth century, including a wide range of genres: fiction, essays, travelogues, poetry, and drama. All readings are in English. Usually offered every third year.
Matthew Fraleigh

JAPN 150a Desire and Morality in Early Modern Japanese Novels
[ hum nw ]
Examines the diverse short fiction of Ihara Saikaku, a seventeenth-century merchant writer from Osaka. Saikaku's novels and short stories insightfully and vividly explore such themes as homosexuality, vengeance, filial piety, jurisprudence, and the nouveau riche. All readings in English. Special one-time offering, spring 2020.
Motoi Katsumata

JAPN 160a Borders and Boundaries in Manga
[ hum nw ]
Manga has grown to be a form of visual narrative that is known around
the world. However, manga were not necessarily written taking readers
worldwide into consideration. Rather, the story and characters were
created within the borders and boundaries of Japanese culture and
society. In this class we will read manga taking a hint from the idea
of “Borders and Boundaries”. Selections have been chosen to include
themes such as the representation of historical subjects, traditional
culture, daily life, women and gender, BL and sexuality, other worlds,
as well as classroom dynamics, club activity, and college life. Special one-time offering, spring 2020.
Motoi Katsumata

JAPN 165a The Tale of Genji
[ hum nw oc ]
Often called "the world's first novel," The Tale of Genji has captivated readers with its narrative of love, rivalry, friendship, and loss for centuries. This class explores what has given the text its prominent place in Japanese and world literature. Usually offered every third year.
Matthew Fraleigh

REL 151a The Buddha: His Life and Teachings
[ hum nw ]
Few human beings have had as much impact on the world as Siddhartha Gotama Shakyamuni, known to us as Buddha. This course explores his life and teachings as reflected in early Buddhist literature and Western scholarship. Usually offered every year.
Staff

REL 161a Chinese Religion and Thought: Understanding Confucianism and Daoism (Taoism)
[ hum nw ]
This course aims at widening and deepening students' knowledge of world religions by introducing to them distinctive Chinese religions and schools of thought with emphasis on two most significant ones, namely, Confucianism and Taoism. Usually offered every second year.
Yu Feng

CHIN 98a Readings in Modern Chinese
Prerequisite: CHIN 40b or equivalent.
A continuation of CHIN 40b. Includes an introduction to readings in modern Chinese literature. Usually offered every year.
Staff

CHIN 98b Readings in Modern Chinese
Prerequisite: CHIN 40b or equivalent.
A continuation of CHIN 98a. Usually offered every year.
Staff

CHIN 200a Practical Chinese Phonetics, Lexics, Syntax, and Pragmatics
Prerequisite: Fluency in Chinese and ability to read Chinese books and articles. Required of all students in MAT Chinese.
Focuses on the fundamental characteristics of modern Chinese language with emphasis on pronunciation and grammar structure. Usually offered every year.
Xiwen Lu

CHIN 201a Chinese Pedagogy I
Required of all students in MAT Chinese and MTCC.
Equips students with the most advanced and updated skills in teaching modern Chinese with an emphasis on beginning and intermediate levels. This course covers a great range of topics to ensure efficient and successful instruction. Usually offered every year.
Yu Feng

CHIN 202b Chinese Pedagogy II
Prerequisite: CHIN 201a. Required of MTCC students.
Continuation of CHIN 201a. Emphasizes the instruction of advanced Chinese. Two important sets of theories and practice will be introduced and discussed, the Four Subsystem Theory and Prosodic Theory. Task-based teaching on an advanced level, contents-centered textbook, and correction of advanced composition will also be discussed. Usually offered every year.
Yu Feng

HIST 146a An International History of Japan
[ ss ]
Japan from prehistory to today, focusing on the archipelago's relationship to its Asian neighbors and the wider world. Topics include early Chinese influence, the introduction of Buddhism from Korea, the samurai, Westernization, and the rise and fall of imperial Japan.
Ryan Glasnovich

HIST 180a The Global Opium Trade: 1755-Present
[ nw ss ]
Investigates the history of the opium trade from early times to present. Coverage will include the Anglo-Indian opium trade, the Opium Wars; the political economy of the legal trade; and the complex ramifications of its prohibition. Usually offered every third year.
Staff

HIST 182b Modern China
[ djw nw ss ]
Surveys Chinese history from the Ming to Mao, with an emphasis on political, social, cultural, and literary trends; and attention toward ethnic minorities and overseas communities and diaspora. Usually offered every year.
Xing Hang

HIST 183a Empire at the Margins: Borderlands in Late Imperial China
[ djw nw ss wi ]
Explores Ming and Qing China's frontiers with Japan, Korea, Inner Asia, Vietnam, and the ocean from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries, examining the role of borderlands in forging the present-day multiethnic Chinese state and East Asian national identities. Usually offered every third year.
Xing Hang

HIST 184a Silk, Silver, and Slaves: China and the Industrial Revolution
[ djw nw ss wi ]
Examines why industrial capitalism, which underpins the current world order, first developed in Western Europe rather than China. Comparative treatment of commercialization, material culture, cities, political economies, and contingencies on both ends of Eurasia in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Usually offered every second year.
Xing Hang

HIST 184b Swashbuckling Adventurers or Sea Bandits? The Chinese Pirate in Global Perspective
[ nw ss wi ]
Explores the commercial role, political economy, social structure, and national imaginations of the Chinese pirate situated in both world history and in comparison to "piracies" elsewhere. Usually offered every third year.
Xing Hang

HIST 185a The China Outside China: Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Diaspora in the Making of Modern China
[ djw nw ss wi ]
Studies the history of Chinese outside Mainland China, from Hong Kong and Taiwan to Siberia and Africa, from fifteenth century to present day. Ambivalence to ancestral and adopted homelands made these communities valuable agents of transnational exchange and embodiments of Chinese modernity. Usually offered every third year.
Xing Hang

JAPN 98a Readings in Japanese
May be taken only with the permission of the Chair or the Undergraduate Advising Head.
Readings and reports under faculty supervision. Usually offered every year.
Staff

JAPN 98b Readings in Japanese
May be taken only with the permission of the Chair or the Undergraduate Advising Head.
Readings and reports under faculty supervision. Usually offered every year.
Staff