Undergraduate Course: Society and culture in pre-modern East Asia (ASST08052)
Course Outline
| School | School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The countries of East Asia show a remarkable diversity of social and cultural forms, whether it be a re-working of Chinese exemplars (which pervade the region, due to China's historical pre-eminence) or permutations of their rich indigenous cultures. This course looks at the various forms of pre-modern society, and the cultural diversity of their arts, both narrative and graphic. |
| Course description |
This course introduces students to the worldviews that underlie the fascinating diversity of social forms and practices in East Asian societies, and examines in detail the cultural artefacts they have produced. Topics may include the literary traditions of China, Japan, and Korea, as well as the arts; broadly defined to include painting, calligraphy, sculpture, stage performance, and related forms of cultural expression. Throughout, emphasis is placed on the social foundations of cultural activity, allowing for an integrated insight into the region's cultural history. Students who have taken "Pre-modern East Asian History and the Forces That Shaped" It will better understand the role of the body politic in these processes.
On completion, students will have gained a broad understanding of East Asian society and culture, and will have had the opportunity to engage with examples of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean culture in particular through materials in translation.
Year 1 students are welcome to enrol on this course.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 70 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 11,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
163 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Final essay (2,000 words) 100%
Essay plan for formative feedback 0%
|
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Appreciation of pre-modern East Asian society and culture, and the role of traditional ideas in the modern era
- Display skills in gathering information from appropriate sources
- Analyse relevant material in a concise and pertinent manner
- Report and present views on their findings both orally and in written form
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Reading List
Ebrey, Patricia Buckley, et al., East Asia: a cultural, social, and political history. Boston, 2006. [EUML: Short Loan and HUB]
Lurie, David, et al. A brief history of Chinese and Japanese civilizations. 4th ed. Wadsworth, 2012. [Updated version of Schirokauer's work from 1978.]
Totman, Conrad. A history of Japan. Oxford; Massachusetts, 2000, 2004.
Gernet, Jacques. A history of Chinese civilization. Cambridge, 1982.
Specific readings for the individual topics covered by the course are given in the relevant folders on Learn. The above works are intended as indicative, comparative reading and for general reference throughout the course. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Information-gathering, analysis, presentation, debating |
| Keywords | East Asia,art,literature,Daoism,China,Korea,Japan,Buddhism,Shinto,poetry,calligraphy |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Yuqing Liu
Tel:
Email: yuqing.liu@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Hope Hamilton
Tel: (0131 6)50 4167
Email: hope.hamilton@ed.ac.uk |
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