History 108

Premodern Japan

 
Lectures & Readings

Go to Week:
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NOTE: To view and print the PDF files of Electronic Readings (ER) and lecture outlines (click reading or lecture title for file) your computer needs to have
Acrobat Reader or another PDF reader installed. All campus computers should already be all right.

 

Unit 1: Early Formations of Japanese Civilization to the 8th Century

Week 1: Defining "Japan" and Its History
topics:
 M. Orientations
W. Japan's prehistorical past
F. Discussion of Kojiki
readings:
 M. Topics, Introduction & Chapter One
W. Electronic Reading (ER): "Accounts of the Eastern Barbarians" & Kojiki

Week 2: The Formation of Early Japanese Civilization
topics:
 M. "Indigenous" foundations
W. Continental impact
F. The Taika Reform & institutional revolution
readings:

M. Topics, Chapter Two; ER: "Eternal Change at the Grand Shrine of Ise"
task:
 View "A Tour of Ise Shrine" online for Monday

Week 3: Consolidating the State and Imperial Rule
topics:
 M. The Faces of Nara, part 1
W. The Faces of Nara, part 2
F.MAP QUIZ; discussion of The Ten Thousand Leaves
readings:

W. ER: The Ten Thousand Leaves
task:
 Study for MAP QUIZ

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Unit 2: Aristocrats in Style, 8th to 12th Centuries

Week 4: Politics & Culture in Heian Japan
topics:
 M. Politics and Society in Heian Japan
W. Enter the Shining Prince (Intro to The Tale of Genji)
F. VIDEO: The Illustrated Handscroll of Genji
readings:
 M. Topics, Chapter Three (sections 1-4)
W. Genji & Heike, 3-83 (intro and chapters 1-3)
task:
 For Wednesday make a "family tree" of relationships among the principals in The Tale of Genji so far.

Week 5: The Art of Life & Love in Heian Court Society
topics:
 M. Courting among Courtiers (NO CLASS--I'm at a conference)
W. The Awareness of Things (NO CLASS--I'm at a conference)
F. Discussion: The Aesthetics of Social Relationships
readings:
 M. Genji & Heike, 84-159
W.Topics, Chapter Three ("Literature and Buddhism"); Genji & Heike, 160-242
task:

Think Piece 1 (due Friday); Midterm essay questions posted out

Week 6: Buddhist Sense & Sensibility
topics:
 M. Buddhism as Moral System and Fashion Statement
W. Discussion: Buddhist Morality Tales
F. MIDTERM (Essay due at class time; Keywords in class)
readings:
 M.Topics, Chapter Four ("The Buddha" and "The Dharma")
W. ER: Miraculous Stories from the Japanese Buddhist Tradition
task:
 Complete Midterm essay questions; study for keywords

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Unit 3: Warrior Rule & Medieval Mentalities, 12th to 16th Centuries

Week 7: Warrior Life & Death
topics:
 M. Civil War: the Taira & the Minamoto
W. Samurai Family Values
F. Discussion: The Fall of the Heike
readings:
 M. Topics, Chapter Five ("The End of the Heian Period"); Genji & Heike, 245-277
W. Genji & Heike, 305-343
F. Genji & Heike, 370-445

Week 8: Buddhist Heavens & Hells
topics:
 M. Popularizing Buddhism
W. The Six Courses
F. Discussion: Hôjôki: Visions of a Torn World
readings:
 M. Topics, Chapter Four (the rest)
F. Kamo-no-Chômei: Hôjôki (An Account of My Hut)
task:
 Think Piece 2 (due Friday)

Week 9: Bakufu & Imperial Court
topics:
 M. FALL BREAK (NO CLASS)
W The Establishment of the Kamakura Bakufu
F Divine Winds and Nostalgic Emperors
readings:
 W. Topics, Chapter Five ("The Kamakura Period")

Week 10: Art & Zen
topics:

M. The Ashikaga and the Arts
W. Everything Zen
F. VIDEO: Excerpts of Nô performance
readings:
 M.. Topics, Chapter Five (the rest)
W. ER: "Rational Zen"; "Fukanzazengi: How Everyone Can Sit"
F. ER: "Seami and the Art of the Nô," "Atsumori"

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Unit 4: The Tokugawa Peace and Commoner Culture, 17th to 19th Centuries

Week 11: Warring States & Reunification
topics:
 M. Warring States and the Road to Reunification I
W.The Road to Reunification II
F. Control, Class, and Status under the Tokugawa
readings:

M. Topics, Chapter Six (sections 1-2); Japanese Inn, chapters 1-3;
ER: Hideyoshi's Letters & Edicts
W. Topics, Chapter Seven
F.Japanese Inn, chapter 4-6
film:
 Kagemusha (Wednesday at 8:30PM in BT 103)

Week 12: Human Emotion & Social Obligation
topics:
 M. Wandering Haiku
W.The Revenge of the 47 Rônin
F. The Revenge of the 47 Rônin

readings:

 

 M. Japanese Inn, chapter 7-9; Bashô, The Narrow Road to Oku
W.Japanese Inn, chapter 10; ; Rethinking the Story of the 47 Rônin;Chûshingura (first half)
F.Chûshingura (last half); Hiroshige Prints of Chûshingura; Sengakuji (Gravesite of the 47 Rônin)
film:
 Chûshingura (Wednesday at 8:30PM in BT 103)
task:
 Think Piece 3 (due Friday)

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Week 13: Chônin Vitality
topics:
 M. Ukiyo As Art & Lifestyle
W. Play & Pleasure in Edo, part 1
F. Play & Pleasure in Edo, part 2
readings:

M. Topics, Chapter Seven; Japanese Inn, chapter 11
W. ER: "The Tale of Gengobei, The Mountain of Love" & "The Eternal Storhouse of Japan" ; "The King of Farts"
F. ER: Kyôden, "Grilled and Basted Edo-Born Playboy"
task:
 Take-home final essay questions posted on Friday

(Thanksgiving)

Week 14: End of the Old Order
topics:
 M. Domestic Crisis & External Threats, part 1
W. Domestic Crisis & External Threats, part 2
F. Keyword Quiz
readings:

M. Topics, Chapter Six ("Fall of the Bakufu")
W. ER: :Discussion on Western Painting" &
"The Twelve Tenets of the Dutch Studies Academy"
task:
 Take-home final essay questions due in class on Friday

Week 15: Wrap-up: Unwrapping "Japanese Civilization"
topics:
 M. What makes "Japanese civilization" "Japanese"?
readings:
 Your notes from the semester; Exam Study Guide
task:
 Prepare to define "Japanese civilization"

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