In geography and cultural advances, the Chinese Han Dynasty surpassed its predecessors. It numbers among the world's greatest empires. This course focuses on the foundational philosophies of that empire, examining the heritage of Han thought through a selection of primary texts including the Confucian Analects (Lunyü), the Daodejing, the Book of Changes (Yijing), and the historical narrative tradition of Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji). It explores a range of forms of cultural expression, from literary discourse on poetry to the religious beliefs manifested in the emperor's feng shan sacrifices. Alongside textual studies, this course also investigates the Han's physical remains, including the ruins of its capitals, the Wu Liang shrine, and important tombs. Through deep analysis of textual and physical materials, the course questions the nature of the emergent unity of the Han empire, with an eye to problems of multiculturalism, politics and rhetoric, and territorial expansion.
Conference members (click on name to email):
Lisa Claypool
Tori Abernathy
Eric Alwine
Chelsea Brossard
Erlend Ellingboe
Luke Fidler
Stephanie Hinshaw
Spencer Rivette
Mary Solbrig
Elisheva Wyle
Naomi Zeichner
To email the entire conference, click here
Lisa Claypool, x7634
Library 321
Office hours: Tuesdays 2:30-4:00 and by appointment
ATTENDANCE POLICY: UNEXCUSED ABSENCES (posted 11.22.08)
I did not post an attendance policy at the beginning of the semester because it never occurred to me that attendance would be a problem. Poor attendance is a very un-Reedie-like thing. Last Friday, however, was the first time that all 10 of you came to conference since OCTOBER 15. And today, two of you missed lecture (the last time I lectured, five of you were absent). So here is the policy, which is in place starting today: All students are expected to do the weekly readings and participate regularly and rigorously in the conference discussions and to attend lectures. If you miss a conference or lecture, you will be responsible to turn in summaries of texts that were discussed on in conference on the day of your absence (these summaries will not be returned to you) or to do an additional reading assignment and to write a summary of that text. More than three unexcused absences will result in no credit for the course. Acceptable excuses are illness and serious emergencies.
Late paper policy: Late papers will be accepted, but will be reduced one grade and will not receive any comments. The final date to submit late papers is December 8.
Note: If you are not in conference the day the papers are returned, your paper will be put in the mailbox outside Lisa's office for pick-up (see attendance policy below).