2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

EAST1052 History and Culture of Early Imperial China

10 creditsClass Size: 75

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

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

This module is mutually exclusive with

EAST1051	History and Culture of Imperial China
EAST1053	History and Culture of Late Imperial China

Module replaces

Approx half each of EAST1050 Imperial China andEAST1060 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 late Song dynasty in the thirteenth 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 natural and built environment. 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 approximately the thirteenth 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 early 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 early Chinese history and culture.

Syllabus

This module will cover the following subject areas:
- the political, social and/or economic features of the major dynasties up until the Song dynasty
- the important philosophical and religious traditions, including Confucianism, Daoism and Chinese Buddhism
- literature and historical writing
- some aspects of China's natural and built environment
- social life and social change, including families and gender.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Class tests, exams and assessment	1	2.00	2.00
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Seminar	4	1.00	4.00
Private study hours			84.00
Total Contact hours			16.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

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 an area of interest, and to develop their research and writing skills.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students' progress will be monitored through their participation in seminars and a non-assessed coursework essay.

Methods of assessment

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		100.00

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

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 26/04/2017

Disclaimer

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