The Qin/Han Unification of China

Fall 2011

I. Description

In geography and cultural advances, the Qin and Han Dynasties surpassed their predecessors, and together they number among the world's greatest empires. This course examines their heritage through a selection of primary texts including the Confucian Analects, the enigmatic Daodejing, the cosmological Book of Changes and the historical narrative tradition of Sima Qian's Shiji. It samples cultural expression ranging from the poetic discourse of rhapsodies and pentasyllabic verse to the casting and interpretation of hexagrams. Alongside textual studies, this course explores Qin/Han physical remains, including the First Emperor's mausoleum, the Wu Liang shrine, and important tomb artifacts. The Qin/Han portrays itself as a territorial, political, and cultural unifier, and it sets the benchmark against which all later dynasties must measure themselves.

II. Requirements

1. Reading and pondering all assigned readings before conferences. (This will include regularly writing one-page reading responses or discussion questions in some sections.) Active and substantive conference participation.
2. Attending all lectures (which also means keeping 11:00-11:50 a.m. open on Wednesdays and Fridays for additional lectures or activities). All lectures meet in Library 389, 11:00-11:50.
3. Three short (5-7 pages) analytical papers, deadlines to be set by conference leaders.
4. One group project (to be designed by individual conference leaders).

III. Faculty

IV. Reading schedule

Note: All starred items are supplementary readings.

Week 1-2 (8/29) Time and Space of Qin and Han Empires

Lecture 8/29 (Monday): Ken Brashier [on temporal setting]
Lecture 9/02 (Friday): Douglas Fix [on spatial setting]

"Classic of Poetry CCXLV 'She bore the folk'." Pp. 11-14 in An anthology of Chinese literature: Beginnings to 1911. Stephen Owen, ed. & trans. New York: Norton, 1996. Handout & Text

"The concept and marking of time." Pp. 351-352 in Vol 1 of Sources of Chinese tradition. Revised edition. Wm. Theodore de Bary & Irene Bloom, compilers. New York: Columbia University Press, 1999. Library Reserves DS721 D37 1999 v.1, 6 copies

Ssu-ma, Ch'ien [SIMA Qian]. "The five emperors, basic annals 1." Pp. 1-19 in The Grand Scribe's records. Vol 1, The basic annals of pre-Han China. William H. Nienhauser, Jr., ed. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1994. Moodle & Library Reserves DS741.3 S6813 1994, v. 1, 2 copies

Ssu-ma, Ch'ien [SIMA Qian]. "The Chou, basic annals 4." Pp. 55-86 in The Grand Scribe's records. Vol 1, The basic annals of pre-Han China. William H. Nienhauser, Jr., ed. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1994. Moodle & Library Reserves DS741.3 S6813 1994, v. 1, 2 copies.

"Ancient sovereigns." Pp. 244-252 in "Appendix A: Inscriptions, iconography and literary sources." Wu, Hung. The Wu Liang shrine. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1989. ContentDM & Reserves NB1280 W77 1989, 9 copies

Lewis, Mark E. "Introduction," "The geography of empire," and "The outer world." Pp. 1-29, 128-154 in The early Chinese empires: Qin and Han. Cambridge: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2007. Text

"Four: Terrestrial forms."  John Major, trans.  Pp. 149-171 in The Huainanzi: A guide to the theory and practice of government in early Han China.  By LIU An, King of Huainan.  John Major, et al., eds. & trs.  New York: Columbia University Press, 2010.  E-Reserves and Reserves BL1900 H822 E5 2010, 2 copies

Sima, Qian. "The Hsiung-nu, Memoir 50." Pp. 237-310, in Vol IX of The Grand Scribe's Records. William H. Nienhuaser. Jr. ed. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2011. Moodle

*Chin, Tamara. "Defamiliarizing the foreigner Sima Qian's ethnography and Han-Xiongnu marriage diplomacy." Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies 70, ii (Dec 2010): 311-354. Moodle

*Liu, An (179-122 B.C.E.). "The treatise on topography." Pp. 141-216, 336-342 in Heaven and earth in early Han thought. John Major, trans. Albany: SUNY Press, 1993. Reserves BL1900 H824 M36 1993, 6 copies

Week 3 (9/12) Questions of Unification

Lecture 9/12 (Monday): Michele Matteini

The first emperor: China's terracotta army. Jane Portal, ed. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2007. Originally published in 2007 by The British Museum Press. Text

"Han Feizi." Pp. 295-344 in Readings in classical Chinese philosophy. P. Ivanhoe & B. van Norden, eds. New York: Seven Bridges Press, 2001; Indianapolis: Hackett, 2003. Moodle & Reserves B126 R43 2001; B126 R43 2003; 4 copies

Lewis, Mark E. "A state organized for war," "The paradoxes of empire," and "Law." Pp. 30-74, 227-252 in The early Chinese empires: Qin and Han. Cambridge: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2007. Text

"The conservation & restoration of the terracotta army." Url: http://academic.reed.edu/chinese/chin-hum/terracotta/index.html

Week 4 (9/19) The Classicist/Confucian Tradition

Lecture 9/19 (Monday): JIANG Jing
Guest Lecture 9/23 (Friday): Margaret J. Pearson on the Yijing

Confucius. Confucius Analects: With selection from traditional commentaries. Edward Slingerland, translator. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2003. Text

Szuma Chien [Sima Qian]. "Confucius" [Shi ji 47]. Pp. 1-27 in Selections from Records of the historian, Yang Hsien-yi and Gladys Yang, trans. Beijing : Foreign Languages Press, 1979. Reserves: DS735.A2 S63213 1979, 10 copies

Week 5 (9/26) The Daodejing

Lecture 9/26 (Monday): Ken Brashier

Laozi. Tao te ching. D.C. Lau, trans. New York: Penguin, 1963. Or bilingual edition of this text, published by Chinese University Press, 1989. Text

Graham, A.C. "Lao-tzu's Taoism: The art of ruling by spontaneity." Pp. 215-235 in Disputers of the Tao: Philosophical argument in ancient China. La Salle, IL: Open Court, 1989 Reserves: B127 T3 G69 1989, 5 copies

Zhuangzi. "Discourse on thinking of things as being on the same level." Pp. 113-122 in An anthology of Chinese literature: Beginnings to 1911. Stephen Owen, ed. & trans. New York: Norton, 1996. Text

Week 6 (10/3) Narratives and Historical Writings

Lecture 10/3 (Monday): Alexei Ditter

"Early narratives." Pp. 77-101 in An anthology of Chinese literature: Beginnings to 1911. Stephen Owen, ed. & trans. New York: Norton, 1996. Text

Sima Qian. The first emperor: 'Historical records'. New edition. Raymond Dawson, translator; K.E. Brashier, introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007. Text

Szuma Chien [Sima Qian]. "The assassins" [Shiji 86]. Pp. 385-402 in Selections from Records of the historian, Yang Hsien-yi and Gladys Yang, trans. Beijing : Foreign Languages Press, 1979. Reserves: DS735.A2 S63213 1979, 10 copies

Sima Qian. "Letter in reply to Ren An." Pp. 135-142 in An anthology of Chinese literature: Beginnings to 1911. Stephen Owen, ed. & trans. New York: Norton, 1996. Text

Ssu-ma Ch'ien [Sima Qian]. "The biography of Ssu-ma Ch'ien: Shih Chi 130: The postface of the Grand Historian." Pp. 40-57, 67-69, 202-221 in Ssu-ma Ch'ien: Grand Historian of China. Burton Watson, trans. New York: Columbia University Press, 1958. Moodle

* "Assassin-retainers." Pp. 310-327 in "Appendix A: Inscriptions, iconography and literary sources." Wu, Hung. The Wu Liang shrine. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1989. Reserves: NB1280 W77 1989, 10 copies

* The Grand Scribe's records. William H. Nienhauser, Jr., ed. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1994. Reserves: DS741.3 .S6813 1994 v.1, 2, 5:1, 7, 8:1, 9:2

* Sima Qian. Records of the Grand Historian. Qin Dynasty. Burton Watson, trans. New York: Columbia University Press, 1993. Reserves: DS741.3 S67813 1993, 9 copies

Week 7 (10/10) Mawangdui and Han Religion

Lecture 10/10 (Monday): Michele Matteini
Lecture 10/14 (Friday) for Introducing the Yijing: Hyong Rhew

Lewis, Mark E. "Religion." Pp. 178-205 in The early Chinese empires: Qin and Han. Cambridge: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2007. Text

Wu Hung. "On tomb figurines: The beginning of a visual tradition." Pp. 13-47 in Body and face in Chinese visual culture. Wu Hung and Katherine R Tsiang, eds. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2005. Reserves N7574.5 C6 B632 2005, 5 copies

Poo Mu-chou. "Preparation for the afterlife in ancient China." Pp. 13-36 in Mortallity in traditional Chinese thought. Amy Olberding and Philip Ivanhoe, eds. Albany: SUNY, 2011. Moodle and Reserves, 1 copy

Mawangdui http://cdm-workspace.reed.edu/gallery/2294

Mawangdui artifacts: Url: http://academic.reed.edu/chinese/chin-hum/mawangdui/index.html

"Calling back the soul." Pp. 204-214 in An anthology of Chinese literature: Beginnings to 1911. Stephen Owen, ed. & trans. New York: Norton, 1996. Text

Wu Hung. "Art in a ritual context: Rethinking Mawangdui." Early China 17 (1992): 111-144. Moodle

Loewe, Michael. "The painting from tomb no. 1, Ma-wang-tui." Pp. 17-59, 136-143 in Ways to paradise: The Chinese quest for immortality. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1979. Moodle & Reserves N7343.23 .L649 1979 , 1 copy

Body and Face [which are the images in Wu Hung's article in this book] http://cdm-workspace.reed.edu/gallery/2293

* Mawangdui Han mu wen wu [The cultural relics unearthed from Han tombs at Mawangdui (in two volumes)]. Fu Juyou, Chen Songchang, compilers. Chang-sha: Hu-nan, 1992. Reserves Oversize DS796.C3547 F834 1992b v.1 & 2

* Zhongguo kao gu wen wu zhi mei. Hui huang bu xiu Han zhen bao: Hunan Changsha Mawangdui xi Han mu (8). Beijing: Wenwu, 1994. Reserves Oversize DS796.C25 H95 1994

* Eugene Y. Wang, "Ascend to Heaven or Stay in the Tomb? Paintings in Mawangdui Tomb 1 and the Virtual Ritual of Revival in the Second- Century B.C.E. China." Pp. 37-85 in Mortallity in traditional Chinese thought. Amy Olberding and Philip Ivanhoe, eds. Albany: SUNY, 2011. Moodle and Reserves, 1 copy

Week 8 (10/24) The Yijing

Lecture 10/24 (Monday): Hyong Rhew

"Introduction" and "Explaining the trigrams [Shuo gua]." Pp. 1-23, 119-126 in The Classic of changes: A new translation of the I Ching as interpreted by Wang Bi. Richard Lynn, translator. New York: Columbia University Press, 1994. Text

Hexagram 11 (Tai [Peace]). Pp. 205-211 in The Classic of changes: A new translation of the I Ching as interpreted by Wang Bi. Richard Lynn, translator. New York: Columbia University Press, 1994. Text

The following additional thirteen hexagrams in The Classic of changes: A new translation of the I Ching as interpreted by Wang Bi. Text

"Han views of the universal order." Pp. 346-351 in Vol 1 of Sources of Chinese tradition. Revised edition. Wm. Theodore de Bary and Irene Bloom, compilers. New York : Columbia University Press, 1999. Reserves DS721 .D37 1999 v.1, 6 copies

Week 9 (10/31) The Shijing and Han Poetry

Lecture 10/31 (Monday): Alexei Ditter
Guest Lecture 11/4 (Friday): Scott Cook on Han music

Lewis, Mark E. "Literature." Pp. 206-226 in The early Chinese empires: Qin and Han. Cambridge: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2007. Text

"Using the poems and early interpretation." Pp. 58-76 in An anthology of Chinese literature: Beginnings to 1911. Stephen Owen, ed. & trans. New York: Norton, 1996. Text

"Sheng min, Shi jing (Classic of poetry), Mao 245: 'Birth of the people'." Pp. 11-40, 261 in Ways with words: Writing about reading texts from early China. Pauline Yu, et al, eds. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000. Reserves Z1003.5.C45 W39 2000, 7 copies

"The Classic of poetry: Beginnings." Pp. 10-29 in An anthology of Chinese literature: Beginnings to 1911. Stephen Owen, ed. & trans. New York: Norton, 1996. Text

"The Classic of poetry: 'Airs'." Pp. 30-57 in An anthology of Chinese literature: Beginnings to 1911. Stephen Owen, ed. & trans. New York: Norton, 1996. Text

"Yue-fu." Pp. 227-237 in An anthology of Chinese literature: Beginnings to 1911. Stephen Owen, ed. & trans. New York: Norton, 1996. Text

"The beginnings of classical poetry." Pp. 249-62 in An anthology of Chinese literature: Beginnings to 1911. Stephen Owen, ed. & trans. New York: Norton, 1996. (Text)

Su, Jui-lung. "Music Bureau poems (yuefu)." Pp. 84-102 in How to read Chinese poetry: A guided anthology. Cai Zong-qi, ed. New York: Columbia University Press, 2008. Moodle & Reserves PL2308 H65 2007, 1 copy

Week 10 (11/7) Music and Ritual in the Han

Lecture 11/7 (Monday): Ken Brashier

Owen, Stephen. Traditional Chinese poetry and poetics: Omen of the world. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1985., chaps. 1-3. Reserves: PL2307 .O89 1985

Xunzi. "Man's nature is evil," "A discussion of Heaven," "A discussion of rites," and "A discussion of music." Hsün Tzu: Basic writings. Burton Watson, trans. New York: Columbia University Press, 1996. Text

Sima Qian. "Shi ji 99: Biography of Shusun Tong." Pp. 240-246 in Vol 1 of Records of the Grand Historian. Han Dynasty. Burton Watson, trans. New York: Columbia University Press, 1993. Reserves: DS741.3 .S68213 1993 v.1

Sima Qian. "Shi ji 28: Treatise on the feng and shan sacrifices." Pp. 3-52 in Vol 2 of Records of the grand historian. Han dynasty. Burton Watson, trans. New York: Columbia University Press, 1993. Reserves: DS741.3 .S68213 1993 v. 2

Ma Dibo. "Record of the feng and shan sacrifices." Pp. 251-260 in Religions of China in practice. Stephen Bokenkamp, trans. & Donald Lopez, ed. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1996. Moodle

Week 11 (11/14) Lisao and fu-poetry

Lecture 11/14 (Monday): Douglas Fix

Sima Qian. "Shi ji 84: The biographies of Qu Yuan and Master Jia." Pp. 435-452 in Vol 1 of Records of the Grand Historian. Han Dynasty. Burton Watson, trans. New York: Columbia University Press, 1993. Reserves: DS741.3 .S68213 1993 v. 1, 6 copies

"The Li sao." Pp. 162-175 in An anthology of Chinese literature: Beginnings to 1911. Stephen Owen, ed. & trans. New York: Norton, 1996. Text

* "Li sao 'On encountering trouble'." Pp. 67-95 in Ch'u tz'ŭ: the songs of the South, an ancient Chinese anthology. David Hawkes, trans. Boston: Beacon Press, 1962. Reserves PL3277 E3 C47 1962, 10 copies

"The wind," and "Jia Yi, 'The poetic exposition on the owl'." Pp. 102-104, 110-113 in An anthology of Chinese literature: Beginnings to 1911. Stephen Owen, ed. & trans. New York: Norton, 1996. Text

Sima Qian. "Shi ji 117: Biography of Sima Xiangru." Pp. 259-306 in Vol 2 of Records of the Grand Historian. Han Dynasty. Burton Watson, trans. New York: Columbia University Press, 1993. Reserves: DS741.3 .S68213 1993 v. 2, 6 copies

Knechtges, David. "Fu poetry: An ancient-style rhapsody (gufu)." Pp. 59-83 in How to read Chinese poetry: A guided anthology. Cai Zong-qi, ed. New York: Columbia University Press, 2008. Moodle & Reserves PL2308 H65 2007, 1 copy

Ban Mengjian [Ban Gu]. "Two capitals rhapsody." Pp. 93-180 (odd-numbered pages only) in Vol 1 of Wen xuan, or, Selections of refined literature. Xiao Tong, compiler & David R. Knechtges, trans. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1982. Moodle & Reserves PL2658 E1 W4 1982 v. 1, 2 copies

*Late Han short fu from: Wen xuan, or, Selections of refined literature. Xiao Tong, compiler & David R. Knechtges, trans. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1982. Moodle& Reserves Pl2658 E1 W4 1982, v. 1-3.

* Lewis, Mark E. "Imperial cities." Pp. 75-101 in The early Chinese empires: Qin and Han. Cambridge: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2007. Text

Week 12 (11/21) Cosmology

Lecture 11/21 (Monday): Ken Brashier

"Commentary on the appended phrases [Xici zhuan]." Pp. 47-101 in The Classic of changes: A new translation of the I Ching as interpreted by Wang Bi. Richard Lynn, translator. New York: Columbia University Press, 1994. (Text)

Liu, An (179-122 B.C.E.). "Surveying obscurities." Pp. 207-231 in The Huainanzi : A guide to the theory and practice of government in early Han China. John S. Major, et al., trans. New York: Columbia University Press, 2010. Moodle & Reserves: , 2 copies

"Dong Zhongshu." Pp. 292-310 in Vol 1 of Sources of Chinese tradition. Revised edition. Wm. Theodore de Bary and Irene Bloom, compilers. New York : Columbia University Press, 1999. Reserves: DS721 .D37 1999 v.1, 6 copies

Week 13 (11/28) Filiality and Gendered Remembrance

Lecture 11/28 (Monday): JIANG Jing

"Eminent women." Pp. 252-272 in "Appendix A: Inscriptions, iconography and literary sources." Wu, Hung. The Wu Liang shrine. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1989. ContentDM & Reserves NB1280 W77 1989, 9 copies

Lewis, Mark E. "Kinship." Pp. 155-177 in The early Chinese empires: Qin and Han. Cambridge: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2007. (Text)

Selections from: LIU Xiang. Lie nü zhuan [The biographies of eminent women]: The position of woman in early China according to the Lieh nü chuan, "The biographies of eminent Chinese women". Albert O'Hara, ed. Westport: Hyperion Press, 1981, c1945. Moodle & Reserves HQ1767 L5813 1980, two copies

Raphals, Lisa. "Women as agents of virtue and destruction." Pp. 11-26 in Sharing the light: Representations of women and virtue in early China. Albany: SUNY Press, 1998. Moodle & Reserves: HQ1767 R36 1998, 1 copy

Hinsch, Bret. "The composition of Lienüzhuan: Was Liu Xiang the author or editor?" Asia Major 20, i (2007): 1-23. Moodle

"Women on and behind the throne: Ban Zhao." Pp. 17-42 in The red brush: Writing women of imperial China. Wilt Idema and Beata Grant, eds. Cambridge: Harvard University Asia Center, 2004. Moodle & Reserves PL2278 I344 2004, 4 copies

* Images of women in Chinese thought and culture: Writings from the pre-Qin period through the Song Dynasty. Robin Wang, ed. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2003. Reserves HQ1767 W384 2003, 1 copy

The Hsiao Ching. Mary Makra, trans. New York: St. John's University Press, 1961. Moodle & Reserves PL2476 R5 1961, 1 copy
Wu Hung. "Filial sons and virtuous men" (pp. 272-305); "Wise ministers" (pp. 305-310). In "Appendix A: Inscriptions, iconography and literary sources." The Wu Liang shrine. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1989. Reserves NB1280 W77 1989, 9 copies

Wu Liang Shrine http://cdm-workspace.reed.edu/gallery/2292

Week 14 (12/5) Reflections on Unified Empires

Lecture 12/5 (Monday): Hyong Rhew

[Readings TBA]

V. Additional image reserves

The following supplemental texts, all anthologies of artifact images from recent archeological digs in China, have been placed on reserve in the library for your use.

Zhongguo kaogu wenwu zhi mei. Zhan guo Xianyu ling mu qi zhen: Hebei Pingshan Zhongshan guo wang mu (6). Beijing: Wenwu, 1994. Subject: Warring States period -- Tombs -- China -- Pingshan Xian (Hebei Province). (Reserves: Oversize DS793.H66 C35 1994)

Zhongguo kaogu wenwu zhi mei. Ling nan Xi Han wen wu bao ku: Guangzhou Nanyue wang mu (9). Beijing: Wenwu, 1994. Subject: Western Han -- Tombs -- China -- Guangdong Province. (Reserves: Oversize DS793 K7 L56 1994)

Zhongguo kaogu wenwu zhi mei. Zhan guo di xia yue gong: Hubei Sui xian Zeng hou Yi mu (5). Beijing: Wenwu, 1994. Subject: Warring States period -- Tombs -- China -- Suizhou -- Yi, Zeng hou, 5th cent. B.C. (Reserves: Oversize DS796.S68 C35 1994)

Zhongguo kaogu wenwu zhi mei. Chun qiu Jin guo qing tong bao zang: Shanxi Taiyuan Zhao qing mu (4). Beijing: Wenwu, 1994. Subject: Spring & Autumn [Chunqiu] period -- Tombs -- China -- Taiyuan (Shanxi Province). (Reserves: Oversize DS796.T35 C95 1994)

Mysterious spirits, strange beasts, earthly delights:Early Chinese art from the Arlene and Harold Schnitzer collection. Donald Jenkins, ed. Portland: Portland Art Museum, 2005. (Reserves: N7343.23 J46 2005)