East Asian Civilization: Japan

History 138

Trajectory of Lectures & Readings (subject to deviations)

Go to Week:
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3
4
5
6
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8
9
10
11
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14
15

NOTE: To view and print the Electronic Readings (ER) and lecture outlines your computer needs to have
Acrobat Reader installed. All campus computers should already be all right.

 

Unit 1: Early Formations of Japanese civilization to the 8th century

 

Week 1 (9/4-6): Defining "Japan" and its history
topics:
 W. Orientations
F. Japan's prehistorical past
readings:
 F. Topics, Introduction, 1-15;
ER: "Accounts of the Eastern Barbarians" & Kojiki
task:
 Begin Engaging Visions #1:
"Mythical Visions: Tour of Ise Shrine"

 

Week 2 (9/9-13): The formation of early Japanese civilization
topics:
 M. "Indigenous" foundations
W. Continental impact
F. The Taika Reform & institutional revolution
MAP QUIZ
readings:
 MW. Topics, 16-27;
ER: "Eternal Change at the Grand Shrine of Ise"
task:
 Study for Friday's Map Quiz;
C ontinue EV #1 and accompanying Engaging Acts #1

 

Week 3 (9/16-20): Consolidating the state and imperial rule
topics:
 M. The Faces of Nara, part 1
W. The Faces of Nara, part 2
F. DISCUSSION: The Politics of Religion and History
readings:
 MW. Topics, 27-34; ER: The Ten Thousand Leaves
F. Topics, chapter three (all)
task:
 Engaging Acts #1 due Friday
Prepare to discuss religion and politics in early Japan

 

Unit 2: Aristocrats in style, 8th to 12th centuries

 

Week 4 (9/23-27): Political economic geography of Heian Japan
topics:
 M. What does a shôen look like?
W. Fujiwara regents vs. retired emperors
F. Enter the Shining Prince
readings:
 M. Topics, 63-73
F. Genji & Heike, 3-83 (intro and chapters 1-3)
task:
 For Friday make a "family tree" of relationships among the principals in The Tale of Genji, chapters 1-3.
Begin Engaging Visions #2:
"Aristocratic Visions: The World of the Shining Prince"

 

Week 5 (9/30-10/4): The art of life & love in Heian court society
topics:
 M. The awareness of things
W. Courting among courtiers
F. VIDEO: The Tale of Genji Scroll
readings:
 M. Topics, 73-83
WF. Genji & Heike, 84-159
task:
 Continue EV #2 and accompanying Engaging Acts #2

 

Week 6 (10/7-11): Buddhist sense and sensibility
topics:
 M. Buddhism as moral system
W. Buddhism as fashion statement
F. DISCUSSION: Interpreting Genji in Word & Image
readings:
 M. Topics, 83-87; ER: Miraculous Stories from the Japanese Budhhist Tradition & Tales of Times Now Past
W. Genji & Heike, 160-242
task:
 Engaging Acts #2 due Friday;
Prepare to interpret Genji in word and image

 

Unit 3: Warrior rule & medieval mentalities, 12th to 16th centuries

 

Week 7 (10/14-18): Civil war & the establishment of the bakufu
topics:
 M. MIDTERM
W. Family Feuds: the Taira & the Minamoto
F. The Genpei War and aftermath
readings:

film:
W. Topics, 88-93; Genji & Heike, 245-277; 305-343
F. Genji & Heike, 344-369
Gate of Hell (time & place TBA)
task:
 Begin Engaging Visions #3:
"Medieval Visions: Warriors & Buddhists"

 

Week 8 (10/21-25): Warrior life & death
topics:
 M. Samurai family values I
W. Samurai family values II
F. The Genpei War and aftermath (continued)
readings:
 M. Genji & Heike, 370-445
W. Topics, 95-101
task:
 Begin reading for Engaging Acts #3

 

Week 9 (10/28-11/1): Buddhist heavens & hells
topics:
 M. Divine winds and nostalgic emperors
W. Kamakura Buddhism I
F. Kamakura Buddhism II
readings:
 M. Topics, 101-115
W. ER: Shinran
F. ER: "Seami and the Art of the Nô," "Atsumori," "Records of the Words of Rikyû"
task:
 Continue EV#3 and accompanying Engaging Acts #3

 

Week 10 (11/4-8): Warring states & reunification
topics:
 M. Everything Zen
W. Warring States and the road to reunification I
F. The road to reunification II
readings:


film:
 W. Topics, 115-119; ER: They Came to Japan
W . ER: "Toyotomi Hideyoshi"
F. Japanese Inn, chapters 1-3
Kagemusha (Wed. 11/6, 2:30-5:00 Media Viewing Room)
task:
 Engaging Acts #3 due Friday

 

Unit 4: The Tokugawa peace and commoner culture, 17th to 19th centuries

 

Week 11 (11/11-15): The Tokugawa sociopolitical system
topics:
 M. Control, class, and status, 1
W. Control, class, and status, 2
F. NO CLASS
readings:
 M. Topics, 121-141; JI, chapters 4-5
W. JI, chapters 6-7
F. Topics, 142-148; JI, chapters 8-9
task:
 Begin Engaging Visions #4:
"Commoner Visions: A Trip to Edo"

 

Week 12 (11/18-22): Samurai ideals and Tokugawa law
topics:
 M. The way of the warrior in warless times
W. The revenge of the 47 rônin
F. The revenge of the 47 rônin
readings:
 MW. JI, chapter 10; Chûshingura (all)
F. Topics, 149-160
task:
 Continue EV #4 and begin pondering Engaging Acts #4 and take a look at the "Chûshingura and the Samurai Tradition" web site by Professor Henry Smith of Columbia University

 

Week 13 (11/25-27): Chônin life, art, sex, & money
topics:
 M. Ukiyo as art & lifestyle
W. Class cancelled: go eat turkey
readings:
 MW. Topics, 160-165; JI, chapter 11;
ER: "The Tale of Gengobei, The Mountain of Love" & "The Eternal Storhouse of Japan," "The King of Farts"
task:
 Enjoy the Thanksgiving Break

 

Week 14 (12/2-6): Japan in an expanding world
topics:
 M. Play & pleasure in Edo
W. Tokugawa learning
F. Black ships & red-haired barbarians
readings:

M. Topics, 165-174; ER: "On Farting"
W. ER: "Discussion on Western Painting" & "The Twelve Tenets of the Dutch Studies Academy"
F. JI, chapter 12; Topics, 174-192
task:
 Engaging Acts #4 due Friday; Take-home essay handed out

 

Week 15 (12/9-11): Japan in your expanding world
discussion:
 M. Keyword exam in class
W. Document commentary in class;
Take-home essay handed out to be due via email attachment by Noon, Wed., Dec. 18th
readings:

Your notes from the semester; Exam Study Guide
task:
 Study for in-class keyword exam and document commentary;
Do interpretive essay at home and email to me by Noon, Wednesday, Dec. 18th.