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2018/19 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

EAST1051 History and Culture of Imperial China

20 creditsClass Size: 50

Module manager: Dr David Pattinson
Email: D.Pattinson@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2018/19

This module is mutually exclusive with

EAST1052History and Culture of Early Imperial China
EAST1053History and Culture of Late Imperial China

Module replaces

EAST1050 Imperial China and EAST1060 Chinese Civilisation

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module provides a foundation for understanding the history and culture of China from early times up to the nineteenth century. You will gain a basic understanding of the major political and social developments through the dynasties, and of China's rich philosophical, literary and artistic heritage.Through a combination of lectures and seminar discussions, you will learn the basic ideas of Confucianism, Daoism and Chinese Buddhism, and see how these and other aspects of Chinese culture found expression in literature and other artistic forms. You will also learn about China's environment, its cities, buildings and farms, and about its social structure. This module is taught entirely in English and no previous knowledge of Chinese history is expected.

Objectives

This module provides a foundation for understanding the history and culture of China from early times up to the nineteenth century.

Lectures and seminars will provide an introduction to the major political and social developments through the dynasties, and to China's rich philosophical, literary and artistic heritage.

The module is foundational to the module tutors' research interests in the history and culture of late imperial China.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this module, students should:
- know the important periods and dynasties in Chinese history, and have a basic understanding of the political, social and/or economic significance of these periods
- have an awareness of the physical environment, both natural and built, in which the Chinese people have lived and how that has had an impact upon the development of Chinese civilization
- have a basic grasp of the ideas and impact of the main philosophical and religious schools of thought in pre-modern China
- have a basic understanding and appreciation of some of the important literary and artistic forms in traditional culture
- have developed the basic skills for analyzing and discussing aspects of Chinese history and culture.


Syllabus

This module will cover the following subject areas:
- the political, social and/or economic features of the major dynasties
- the important philosophical and religious traditions, including Confucianism, Daoism and Chinese Buddhism
- prose literature, poetry and historical writing
- the natural and built environment, including farming, cities, technology, architecture and gardens
- social life and social change, including families and gender.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Class tests, exams and assessment13.003.00
Lecture211.0021.00
Seminar81.008.00
Private study hours168.00
Total Contact hours32.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

- Students will be expected to complete at least some of the suggested reading for each lecture; the lectures can only provide an outline of the subjects covered, so students will need to build on this through further reading.
- All students must read the material which will be discussed in each seminar beforehand, and it is strongly recommended that they also read as much of the further reading suggested on seminar handouts as possible.
- Students will also write one coursework essay which will give them an opportunity to further explore areas of interest, and to develop their research and writing skills, particularly in preparation for the assessed essay set in Semester 2.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Students' progress will be monitored through their participation in seminars and a non-assessed coursework essay set in Semester 1.
- An assessed essay will be set in Semester 2.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay1,500 words30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)30.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated


Exams
Exam typeExam duration% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)3 hr 70.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)70.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 30/04/2018

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