This course explores the cultural and ideological foundations of the region we call “East Asia,” from prehistoric times to the present day. After interrogating the colonial origins of the Euro-American concept of “East Asia,” we will examine the historical distinctions, interactions, and mutual influences that shaped the regions and peoples now associated with the countries of China, Japan, and Korea. In addition to systems of status and political power, the course will expose students to the rich religious, literary, and artistic traditions developed within and across the East Asian region.

This course aims to look into the interaction between language, culture and society. It will specifically examine the role of language in myriads of social contexts with special focus on Korean society. Topics to be covered in this course include language contact (e.g. with Japan and China), language variation (e.g. regional, generational, gender), language and identity, language and social class, language perceptions and attitudes, language education in a social context, and so on. Knowledge of the Korean language is preferred but not required.

This course examines Chinese literary representation of artifacts written between 1000 to 1900 CE. Our discussion will highlight international trade and the transforming science and technology in early modern China. The course aims to guide students to conduct inter-artistic analysis as a means to decipher the political, religious, gendered, and technical significance embedded in literary representation of material objects. To emphasize a comparative perspective, we will also draw on scholarship outside of the field of Chinese literature. We will explore artifacts in the following categories: illustration, painting and calligraphy, seals, ceramics, furniture, and textile.

English has tense, Chinese has aspect; English has inflection and conjugation, and Chinese uses word order and function words to sort out syntactic structures. This course will explore and bridge such great differences between the two languages through linguistic readings and translation exercises.
Prerequisite: two years of Chinese study or the equivalent proficiency.

An opportunity to read and understand the canonical texts of East Asian Buddhism. Through close reading, written analysis, and discussion, participants will become conversant with the major Mahayana Buddhist teachings in their original scriptural or literary articulations. Selected later interpretations may also be considered. All readings are in English translation. Previous study of Buddhism is recommended, but not required. Enrollment limited to 10 students.

The global media has recently showcased two newsworthy events related to Korea: BTS at the 2018 BMAs, and the Inter-Korea Summit. This course examines the arrival of “Korea” globally, from the West’s fascination with the North Korean nuclear crises, to the hype around KPop, KFilm, cosmetics, food, and eSports. We will question the fascination with NK in US media outlets, versus its treatment in SK media. The ways in which the particular, local, and authentic, within Korean cultural production negotiates the global market is of particular interest.

Sections numbers vary by instructor. Please check Banner for the correct section number and CRN to use when registering for this course.

Section numbers vary by instructor. Please check Banner for the correct section number and CRN to use when registering for this course.

This seminar course is designed to critically re-evaluate (re)presentations of Chinese women, gender, and feminism in historical, literary, and academic discourses. It examines a diverse body of texts produced through different historical periods and in different geopolitical locations. It emphasizes gender as both a historical construct(s) among competing discourses and as a material process of individual embodiment and disembodiment. The goal of the course is to help advanced students understand Chinese history from a distinctly gendered perspective, to recognize women's roles in history and writing, and to develop a reflective, cross-cultural approach to gender, politics, and the self.

Prior admission to honors candidacy required. Section numbers vary by instructor. Please check Banner for the correct section number and CRN to use when registering for this course.

A year-long introduction to Standard Chinese (Mandarin). Speaking, reading, writing, and grammar. Five classroom meetings weekly. This is the second half of a year-long course. Students must have taken CHIN 0100 to receive credit for this course. The final grade for this course will become the final grade for CHIN 0100. If CHIN 0100 was taken for credit then this course must be taken for credit; if taken as an audit, this course must also be taken as an audit. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by both the academic department and the Committee on Academic Standing.

An intermediate course in Standard Chinese designed to further communicative competence and to develop reading and writing skills. Five classroom meetings weekly. Prerequisite: CHIN 0300 or permission of instructor.

This course is primarily designed for Chinese heritage students who have successfully completed CHIN 0350. If you have not taken CHIN0350, please contact the instructor for a proficiency evaluation. Upon completing this course, you can take CHIN 0700 or equivalent, i.e. courses that have a prerequisite of CHIN 0600. This is an advanced-level course offering comprehensive work on all four language skills, with a focus on developing your ability to use sophisticated grammatical structures, vocabulary, and improving your reading and speaking skills. Materials used in this course will include a textbook, supplementary articles, and video clips.

An advanced course designed to enable students to read authentic materials. Students enhance their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills; improve their narrative and descriptive abilities; and learn to express abstract ideas both orally and in writing. Five classroom meetings weekly. Prerequisite: CHIN 0500 or permission of instructor.

See Advanced Modern Chinese II (CHIN 0700) for course description. Prerequisite: CHIN 0700 or permission of instructor.

Business Chinese focuses on practical language skills that are most useful in business interactions in Chinese-speaking communities. Classroom activities are largely based on authentic documents and correspondence as well as a textbook. Through intensive practice in the listening, speaking, reading and writing of the Chinese language for business purposes, this course aims at enhancing students' linguistic knowledge in a business context. Classes are conducted in Chinese. Prerequisite: CHIN 0800 or instructor permission. Enrollment limited to 18.

This bilingual course introduces the culture and society of late imperial China by reading short stories, novels, prose essays between 1368 and 1911. To maintain students’ language skills, the lecture is primary in mandarin aided by English explanation. Students can choose to complete the assignments in either English or Chinese. The course explores the interwoven spectacular fantasy and societal reality of the imperial China. A chronological exposure to different cultural practice and social structures is organized under three rubrics, namely, scholar-official as social elite; merchants and courtesans as mobile agents; and criminals and demons as outcast.

Introduces students to the most representative writers in 20th century China. Emphasizes textual and historical analyses. Major issues include Westernization, nationalism, revolution, class, gender, and literary innovations. Designated primarily as a literature course, rather than language class, and conducted entirely in Mandarin Chinese. Prerequisite: CHIN 0800. Instructor permission required.

Introduction to Japanese language. Emphasizes the attainment of good spoken control of Japanese and develops a foundation of literacy. This is the second half of a year-long course. Students must have taken JAPN 0100 to receive credit for this course. The final grade for this course will become the final grade for JAPN 0100. If JAPN 0100 was taken for credit then this course must be taken for credit; if taken as an audit, this course must also be taken as an audit. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by both the academic department and the Committee on Academic Standing. The East Asian Studies department wishes to provide language instruction to all interested students. If you are unable to register for this course due to enrollment limits but are dedicated to learning Japanese, please contact the instructor via email.

See Intermediate Japanese (JAPN 0300) for course description. Prerequisite: JAPN 0300 or equivalent. Enrollment limited to 18.

See Advanced Japanese I (JAPN 0500) for course description.

This course will provide a structural overview of the Japanese language. Students will learn how to develop skills for analyzing the language through looking at sounds, meaning, and grammar. Topics include linguistic analysis of various sentence structures that students often find difficult to use, learning to choose words and sentences in appropriate situations, looking at the relation between language and culture.

This course aims at further development of your linguistic proficiency and broadening your knowledge of Japanese language, culture, and society by studying contemporary Japanese film through the lens of social justice. Films are selected from a wide range of genres: mainstream blockbusters, documentaries, and anime. Our discussions will focus on the cinematic treatment of diversity and social justice in Japan, including issues related to racial/ethnic and sexual minorities in Japan (Ainu, burakumin, Okinawan, Zainichi, “Half”, LGBTQ), gender discrimination, economic inequality, and mental/physical disability. Prerequisites: JAPN 0700 or equivalent, Japanese heritage language speakers with instructor’s consent.

Introduces contemporary short stories and novellas by award winning writers published after 2000. Authors include Yoko Ogawa, Natsuo Kirino, Jiro Asada, Bin Konno. We will analyze why the great many readers are drawn into these literary works through socio cultural background of urban communities. Prerequisites: JAPN0700 or instructor permission.

Begins with an introduction to the Korean writing system (Hangul) and focuses on building communicative competence in modern Korean in the four language modalities (listening, speaking, reading, writing). Provides a foundation for later work in spoken and written Korean. Six classroom hours per week. Enrollment limited to 18. This is the second half of a year-long course. Students must have taken KREA 0100 to receive credit for this course. The final grade for this course will become the final grade for KREA 0100. If KREA 0100 was taken for credit then this course must be taken for credit; if taken as an audit, this course must also be taken as an audit. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by both the academic department and the Committee on Academic Standing.

See Intermediate Korean (KREA 0300) for course description. Prerequisite: KREA 0100-0200 or equivalent.

See Advanced Korean (KREA 0500) for course description. Prerequisite: KREA 0500 or equivalent or permission of instructor.