History 108

Premodern Japan

 

Lectures & Readings

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Unit 1: Early Formations of Japanese Civilization to the 8th Century

Week 1: Defining "Japan" and Its History
topics:
 W. Japan's prehistorical past
F. Discussion of Kojiki
readings:
 W. Topics, Introduction & Chapter One
F. Electronic Reading (ER): "Accounts of the Eastern Barbarians" & Kojiki

Week 2: The Formation of Early Japanese Civilization
topics:
 M. "Indigenous" foundations
W. Continental impact
F. The Taika Reform & institutional revolution
readings:

M. Topics, Chapter Two; ER: "Eternal Change at the Grand Shrine of Ise"

task:
 View "A Tour of Ise Shrine" online for Monday

Week 3: Consolidating the State and Imperial Rule
topics:
 M. The Faces of Nara, part 1
W. The Faces of Nara, part 2
F.MAP QUIZ; discussion of The Ten Thousand Leaves
readings:

W. ER: The Ten Thousand Leaves

task:
 Study for MAP QUIZ

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Unit 2: Aristocrats in Style, 8th to 12th Centuries

Week 4: Politics & Culture in Heian Japan
topics:
 M. Politics and Society in Heian Japan
W. Enter the Shining Prince (Intro to The Tale of Genji)
F. VIDEO: The Illustrated Handscroll of Genji
readings:
 M. Topics, Chapter Three (sections 1-4)
W. Genji & Heike, 3-83 (intro and chapters 1-3)
task:
 For Wednesday make a "family tree" of relationships among the principals in The Tale of Genji so far.

Week 5: The Art of Life & Love in Heian Court Society
topics:
 M. Courting among Courtiers
W. The Awareness of Things
F. Discussion: The Aesthetics of Social Relationships
readings:
 M. Genji & Heike, 84-159
W.Topics, Chapter Three ("Literature and Buddhism"); Genji & Heike, 160-242
task:

Think Piece 1 (due Friday); Midterm essay questions posted out


Week 6: Buddhist Sense & Sensibility
topics:
 M. Buddhism as Moral System and Fashion Statement
W. Discussion: Buddhist Morality Tales
F. MIDTERM (Essay due at class time; Keywords in class)
readings:
 M.Topics, Chapter Four ("The Buddha" and "The Dharma")
W. ER: Miraculous Stories from the Japanese Buddhist Tradition
task:
 Complete Midterm essay questions; study for keywords

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Unit 3: Warrior Rule & Medieval Mentalities, 12th to 16th Centuries

Week 7: Warrior Life & Death
topics:
 M. Civil War: the Taira & the Minamoto
W. Samurai Family Values
F. Discussion: The Fall of the Heike
readings:
 M. Topics, Chapter Five ("The End of the Heian Period"); Genji & Heike, 245-277
W. Genji & Heike, 305-343
F. Genji & Heike, 370-445

Week 8: Buddhist Heavens & Hells
topics:
 M. The Six Courses
W.  Discussion: Hôjôki: Visions of a Torn World
F. FALL
BREAK
BREAK
 readings:
 M. Topics, Chapter Four (the rest)
W. Kamo-no-Chômei: Hôjôki (An Account of My Hut)
task:
 Think Piece 2 (due Wednesday)

Week 9: Bakufu & Imperial Court
topics:
 M. The Establishment of the Kamakura Bakufu 
W. Divine Winds and Nostalgic Emperors
F. Divine Winds and Nostalgic Emperors 
readings:
 M. Topics, Chapter Five ("The Kamakura Period")

Week 10: Art & Zen
topics:

M. The Ashikaga and the Arts
W. Everything Zen
F. VIDEO: Excerpts of Nô performance

readings:
 M.. Topics, Chapter Five (the rest)
W. ER: "Rational Zen"; "Fukanzazengi: How Everyone Can Sit"
F. ER: "Seami and the Art of the Nô," "Atsumori"

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Unit 4: The Tokugawa Peace and Commoner Culture, 17th to 19th Centuries

Week 11: Warring States & Reunification
topics:
 M. Warring States and the Road to Reunification I
W.The Road to Reunification II
F. Control, Class, and Status under the Tokugawa
readings:

M. Topics, Chapter Six (sections 1-2); Japanese Inn, chapters 1-3;
ER: Hideyoshi's Letters & Edicts
W. Topics, Chapter Seven
F.Japanese Inn, chapter 4-6

film:
 Kagemusha (Wednesday at 7PM in BT 101)

Week 12: Human Emotion & Social Obligation
topics:
 M. Wandering Haiku
W.The Revenge of the 47 Rônin
F. The Revenge of the 47 Rônin

readings:

 

 M. Japanese Inn, chapter 7-9; Bashō, The Narrow Road to Oku
W.Japanese Inn, chapter 10; ; Rethinking the Story of the 47 Rōnin;Chūshingura (first half)
F.Chūshingura (last half); Hiroshige Prints of Chūshingura; Sengakuji (Gravesite of the 47 Rōnin)
film:
 Chūshingura (Wednesday at 70PM in BT 101)
task:
 Think Piece 3 (due Friday)

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Week 13: Chōnin Vitality
topics:
 M. Ukiyo As Art & Lifestyle
W. Play & Pleasure in Edo, part 1
F. Play & Pleasure in Edo, part 2
readings:

M. Topics, Chapter Seven; Japanese Inn, chapter 11
W. ER: "The Tale of Gengobei, The Mountain of Love" & "The Eternal Storhouse of Japan" ; "The King of Farts"
F. ER: Kyôden, "Grilled and Basted Edo-Born Playboy"

(Thanksgiving)

Week 14: End of the Old Order
topics:
 M. Domestic Crisis & External Threats, part 1
W. Domestic Crisis & External Threats, part 2
F. Discussion: Twilight Samurai
readings:

M. Topics, Chapter Six ("Fall of the Bakufu")
F. ER: :Discussion on Western Painting" &
"The Twelve Tenets of the Dutch Studies Academy"

film:
Twilight Samurai (Wednesday at 7PM in BT 101)

Week 15: Dawn of the New Order
topics:
 M. The Meaning of the Meiji "Restoration"
W.What makes "Japanese civilization" "Japanese"?
readings:
 Your notes from the semester; Endterm Study Guide
task:
 Prepare to define "Japanese civilization"; Study for endterm that is on Saturday, Dec. 11 3-5PM

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