KSCA605 Anthropology of China

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s) (plus 1 credit for an exam). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Wei-lun Lu, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Wei-lun Lu, Ph.D.
Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: doc. Wei-lun Lu, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
English, Chinese
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course explores the complex societies and cultures of China from an anthropological perspective. By introducing students to ethnographic studies on contemporary China including the Chinese Diaspora, key themes include the various social and cultural aspects of everyday life in China, such as family and kinship, sex and gender, religion, urbanization, migration, ethnic minorities, and food.
Learning outcomes
(1) demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of important debates about life in contemporary China and in diasporic communities
(2) Conceptual, critical, and independent thinking
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Anthropology of China & Anthropology in China
  • 3. Kinship and Family relations
  • 4. Sex and Gender
  • 5. Religion, Belief, and Rituals
  • 6. Food and Nutrition
  • 7. Urban China
  • 8. Rural China
  • 9. Labor
  • 10. Migration and Mobility
  • 11. Diaspora
  • 12. Education
  • 13. Ethnic Minorities
Teaching methods
Through reading ethnographies, watching films, and engaging in classroom discussions, we will examine selected topics in regard to contemporary China.
Assessment methods
Attendance and active participation, presentation, discussions, and submission of research essay (4000 words)
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
General note: Posluchači Kulturních studií Číny povinně zapisují v 1. semestru studia.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo Čínská studia je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujících.
Teacher's information
https://is.muni.cz/auth/predmety/sylaby
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/KSCA605