Japan, East Asia, and the Pacific World Syllabus 2016 (a)

Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Syllabic Cycles"

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On this date in Round and Square History
14 January 2015—Late Assignment Policy: Spring 2015
14 January 2015—China's Lunar Calendar: 2015 01-14
14 January 2014—China's Lunar Calendar: 2014 01-14
14 January 2013—Channeling Liam: Jottings
14 January 2012—Displays of Authenticity: Tebow Shuffle
14 January 2011—Newsprint Nonpareil: Resource Center

[a] History...culture RF

China, East Asia, and the Pacific World

History 210

Spring 2017

Monday and Wednesday 8:00-10:00 a.m.

Robert André LaFleur                                                             Office Hours:

Morse Ingersoll 111                                                                 Monday         12:05-12:30
363-2005                                                                                                             1:30-2:00

lafleur@beloit.edu                                                                   Wednesday    12:05-1:35

Required Books         

Benedict, Ruth. The Chrysanthemum and the Sword

Berry, Mary Elizabeth. Japan in Print

Bestor, Theodore. Neighborhood Tokyo

Bestor, Theodore. Tsukiji: The Fish Market at the Center of the World

Bix, Herbert. Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan

Dower, John. Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II

Keene, Donald. Emperor of Japan: Meiji and His World, 1852-1912

McCullough, Helen. Classical Japanese Prose: An Anthology

Ohnuki-Tierney, Emiko. Rice as Self: Japanese Identities Through Time

Rupp, Katherine. Gift-Giving in Japan

Varley, Paul. Japanese Culture

Hacker, Diana. A Pocket Style Manual.

All books are on library reserve

On Library Reserve—Required Reading
Lu, David, Japan: A Documentary History
LaFleur, Robert, Great Mythologies of the World: East Asia and the Pacific 

Course Description

This course will examine Japanese history and culture in the context of the wider East Asian world.  We will begin with early Japanese history and the influence of both Korea and China on early Japanese institutions. In an even broader perspective, we will consider Japan (and East Asia's) role in a complex Pacific world, and how that region has shaped the world at large—from cultural and military forces to environmental issues, trade, and development.

We will then examine the development of Japan’s indigenous traditions during the Heian (794-1185), Kamakura (1185-1333), and Ashikaga (1336-1568) periods. The second half of the course will deal with modern Japanese history and culture, paying equal attention to historical and ethnographic materials, and taking a careful look at the development of the Kanto and Kansai regions in modern Japanese history and culture. Throughout the course we will use examples from the Japanese language—spoken phrases, the two major syllabaries (hiragana and katakana), and kanji, or Chinese characters—to analyze Japanese history and culture in linguistic context.

Evaluation 

Quizzes/attendance                   15%

Historical Thought Essays (5)    25%       

Midterm assignment                   20%
Source Essay                             25%

Final Exam                                 15%                       

Daily attendance and class participation are expected; absences during the semester will affect your grade. Late assignments will be penalized. 

Click here for either half of the Japanese History and Culture Syllabus
Weeks 1-8        Weeks 9-16

History 210

China, East Asia, and the Pacific World

Spring 2017

Week I              

Introduction: Historical Thought and Imagination

Monday, January 16

Introduction

Wednesday, January 18

New York Review of Books (click for NYRB syllabus)
Round and Square Syllabus (click for RSQ syllabus)

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Week II

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Monday, January 23

New York Review of Books (click for NYRB syllabus)
Round and Square Syllabus (click for RSQ syllabus)

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Wednesday, January 25

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LaFleur, Mythologies of the Pacific (one lecture; available at library reserve)

                        Culture and Cosmos in Chinese Mythology

Week III

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Monday, January 30

New York Review of Books (click for NYRB syllabus)
Round and Square Syllabus (click for RSQ syllabus)

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Wednesday, February 1

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LaFleur, Mythologies of the Pacific
                        Chinese Heroes, Kings, and Destroyers

Week IV

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Monday, February 6

New York Review of Books (click for NYRB syllabus)
Round and Square Syllabus (click for RSQ syllabus)

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Wednesday, February 8

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LaFleur, Mythologies of the Pacific

                        Peasant Folktales and Chinese Scholarship

Week V
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Monday, February 13

New York Review of Books (click for NYRB syllabus)
Round and Square Syllabus (click for RSQ syllabus)

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Wednesday, February 15

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LaFleur, Mythologies of the Pacific 

                        Spirits and Syncretism in Korean Mythology

Week VI
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Monday, February 20

New York Review of Books (click for NYRB syllabus)
Round and Square Syllabus (click for RSQ syllabus)

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Wednesday, February 22

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LaFleur, Mythologies of the Pacific 

                        Korea's Warring Kingdoms and Flying Dragons

Week VII
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Monday, February 27

New York Review of Books (click for NYRB syllabus)
Round and Square Syllabus (click for RSQ syllabus)

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Wednesday, March 1

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LaFleur, Mythologies of the Pacific 

                        Japanese Tales of Purity and Defilement

Week VIII

Autumn Break

Click here for either half of the Japanese History and Culture Syllabus
Weeks 1-8        Weeks 9-16

[e] Longshot RF