KSCA605 Cultural Anthropology of China

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2020
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s) (plus 1 credit for an exam). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Lucie Olivová, MA, Ph.D., DSc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Lucie Olivová, MA, Ph.D., DSc.
Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: doc. Lucie Olivová, MA, Ph.D., DSc.
Supplier department: Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
each even Wednesday 14:00–17:40 B2.51
Prerequisites
TYP_STUDIA(N)
command of English and Chinese
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
At the end of the course, students should understand the structure and hierarchy of a Chinese family or even society. They will be able to use the acquired information as to recognize the analogies within the present Chinese society. They will be able to interpret the symbolism of the traditional family and society, as well as to judge its possible (dis)continuity.
Learning outcomes
The lecture is focused on family and kinship network in traditional China and how they have changed in present times. It also describes the household and domestic rituals.
Syllabus
  • 19.2. introduction, family structure and hierarchy
  • ancestral worship
  • 4.3. matrimony and its forms
  • woman´s status, gender unequality
  • 18.3. child raising, fertility; adoption and appropriation,
  • 1.4. death and funerary rituals; the other world
  • 15.4. domestic gods
  • annual festivals and ceremonies
  • 29.4. household
  • challenging destiny
  • 13.5. food in Chinese society
Literature
    required literature
  • Autorský kolektiv. Tradiční rodina v Číně. Brno: MU, 2019. e-kniha
  • LOMOVÁ, Olga and Zlata ČERNÁ. Hledání harmonie. Studie z čínské kultury. 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2009, 203 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-4942-0. Internetové knihkupectví Munipress info
  • WU, EMILY and ENGELMANN, LARRY. Peříčko v bouři. Dětství ztracené v chaosu. 1st ed. Plzeň: Nava, 2008. info
  • JÜAN, Mej. O čem Konfucius nehovořil. 1st ed. Praha: Brody, 2003, 229 pp. ISBN 80-86112-17-9. info
  • OBUCHOVÁ, Ľubica. Čínské symboly. 1. vyd. Praha: Grada, 2000, 187 s. ISBN 8024790459. info
  • BUCK, Pearl S. Dobrá země. Translated by Eva Kondrysová. [Praha]: Knižní klub, 1993, 262 stran. ISBN 8085634120. info
    recommended literature
  • Handbook on the family and marriage in China. Edited by Xiaowei Zang - Lucy Xia Zhao. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017, x, 452. ISBN 9781785368189. info
  • Wives, husbands, and lovers : marriage and sexuality in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and urban China. Edited by Deborah Davis - Sara Friedman. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 2014, xii, 326. ISBN 9780804791847. info
  • LAKOS, William. Chinese ancestor worship : a practice and ritual oriented approach to understanding Chinese culture. First published. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge scholars publishing, 2010, viii, 147. ISBN 9781443824958. info
  • OLIVOVÁ, Lucie. Tradiční čínská architektura. 1st ed. Praha: Dokořán, 2008, 158 pp. ISBN 978-80-7363-178-9. info
  • BRUUN, Ole and Stephan FEUCHTWANG. Fengshui in China : geomantic divination between state orthodoxy and popular religion. 1st pub. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i, 2003, xiv, 305. ISBN 0824826728. info
  • Svět živých a svět mrtvých :[soubor studií interdisciplinární pracovní skupiny Náboženské směry v Asii ...]. Edited by Ľubica Obuchová. Praha: Česká orientalistická společnost, 2001, 243 s. ISBN 80-902510-2-1. info
  • Sociální a kulturní antropologie. Edited by Olga Vodáková - Václav Soukup - Alena Vodáková. Vyd. 2., rozš. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 2000, 175 s. ISBN 808585029X. info
  • BAKER, Hugh D. R. Chinese family and kinship. New York: Columbia University Press, 1979, xii, 243. ISBN 0231047681. info
    not specified
  • SKUPNIK, Jaroslav. Antropologie příbuzenství : příbuzenství, manželství a rodina v kulturněantropologické perspektivě. Vyd. 1. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství (SLON), 2010, 402 s. ISBN 9788074190193. info
  • JOHNSON, David G. Spectacle and sacrifice : the ritual foundations of village life in North China. Cambridge (Massachusetts): Harvard University Asia Center, 2009, xiv, 390. ISBN 9780674033047. info
  • LU, Hsing-yuean. The adventures of Wu : the life cycle of a Peking man. Edited by Derk Bodde. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1983, xxii, 239. ISBN 0691065527. info
Teaching methods
lectures
reading and discussions
e-book, the basic textbook (in Czech and Slovak) see https://digilib.phil.muni.cz/handle/11222.digilib/141661
Assessment methods
regular and active attendance / e-mail communication
PPT presentation
written paper and the final oral exam
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
General note: Posluchači Kulturních studií Číny povinně zapisují v 1. semestru studia.
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 2021, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2020, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2020/KSCA605