China 376, Fall 2012: "The World of Sima Qian"
Enter the world of the great historian Sima Qian (c. 145-c. 87 BCE):
The world he came from, the world as he saw it, the world as he depicted it.
The world he created!
Sima Qian's masterwork, Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), established the basis for the understanding of history in the Chinese cultural tradition. In this course, we will utilize a literary perspective to shed new light on Sima Qian and his times, on his attitude towards history, and on his work's immense influence on the later Chinese cultural tradition. Focus will be on the Han dynasty sections, with other materials (e.g., recent archaeological discoveries) introduced to broaden our viewpoints.
Emphasis on class discussion. Mid-term and 5-7 page final paper.
Discussions and readings in English; readings also available in original language. Recommended prior coursework: EASIA 101 or China 240 or a previous course in literature.