Classical Chinese Poetry

AEAC390 (#8190): TTH 11:15-12:35: HU-125

Prof. Charles Hartman (HU-245)

442-4219; office hourse MW 11-12

Department of East Asian Studies

Course Syllabus

9/2, 4, 9, 11 9/16, 18 9/23, 25 9/30, 10/2 10/9, 14, 16 10/21, 23 10/28, 30 11/4, 6, 11 11/13, 18, 20 12/2, 4, 9

Introduction. The Book of Songs. Watson, 1-43. Songs of the South. Watson, 45-66. The Han Dynasty. Watson, 67-121. The Six Dynasties. Watson, 123-196. The T'ang Dynasty I. Watson,197-217 Watson, Du Fu. Mid-term 10/16 The T'ang Dynasty II. Watson, 235-267. The T'ang Dynasty III. Watson, 269-294. O'Connor, Mountains The Sung Dynasty I. Watson, 295-329. The Sung Dynasty II. Watson, 332-368.

Texts: Burton Watson. The Columbia Book of Chinese Poetry. From the Earliest Times to the Thirteenth Century. Columbia, 1984.

Burton Watson. The Selected Poems of Du Fu. Columbia, 2002.

Mike O'Connor. When I Find You Again, It Will Be in the Mountains: Selected Poems of Chia Tao. Wisdom Publications, 2000.

Class format: This is a literature class. We will read and talk about Chinese poetry. Therefore, although there will be some lectures to provide historical background and context, the major activity in the class will be discussion, as a class, of assigned readings. Classroom attendance and participation will count for 1/3 of the final grade. You must read the assignment, come to class, and talk. Students will take turns every day presenting a poem to the entire class. These presentations will form part of the class attendance and participation grade.

Grading: the final grade will consist of the mid-term exam grade (33%), final exam grade (34%), and class attendance, preparation, and participation in class discussion (33%). All three areas are equally important; excellence in one area will not be used to compensate for deficiencies in another.

Things to do and not to do: 1) class attendance is mandatory. No not cut class. 2) Buy the textbooks and bring the textbooks to class. 3) Read the assignments on time and come to class prepared to discuss any part of the reading assignment. 4) Ask questions whenever you do not understand something. 5) Take notes and review them for the exams.