FF:KSCB075 Seminar in Chinese Literature - Course Information

KSCB075 Seminar in Chinese Literature

Extent and Intensity

1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).

Teacher(s)

Mgr. Ondřej Vicher (seminar tutor)

Guaranteed by

Mgr. Ondřej Vicher
Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Ondřej Vicher
Supplier department: Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts

Prerequisites

KSCA023 History of Chinese Literature
proficiency in English

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

there are 6 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Course objectives

This seminar follows the topics studied during lectures in the course KSCA023 History of Chinese Literature, providing an opportunity to go deeper into the selected topics, read original texts and translations, and discuss various issues and, therefore, better understand Chinese literature as a whole. The topics addressed in the seminar are identical to the ones of the literature final bachelor's exam, and therefore, the participation of students in the bachelor's program is highly recommended.
The course will cover the history of classical literary heritage up until the end of the Qing dynasty. The students are expected to deepen their understanding of the main periods of classical Chinese literature.
The course will focus on specific authors and works and on reading these works in translation and their fragments in the original.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course students will be able to:
- know representative genres, authors and works of classical Chinese literature, understand the connections between them and the influence of one genre or work on another.
- recognize translations as well as texts of these works in the original.
- analyze literary genres and techniques found in these works.
- better understand the interconnectedness of Chinese literature with Chinese culture, history, art and language, and the importance of each major work for contemporary Chinese society, culture and thought.
- identify the origins of specific literary allusions and references and understand the interconnectedness of individual works.

Syllabus

• 1. Ancient Literature I. The Book of Songs Chuci (Qu Yuan and Song Yu) Fu-style poetry from the Han Dynasty and its most prominent authors 2. Ancient Literature II. Yuefu - folk songs and ballads The beginnings of shi poetry during the Han Dynasty (Nineteen Old Poems and poets of the Jian'an period) 3. Historiography: Shiji and Hanshu Literature of the Period of Fragmentation Poetry of the Three Kingdoms and the early Jin Dynasty: The Zhengshi and Taikang periods The beginnings of Chinese short stories (Liu Yiqing and Gan Bao) "Field and Garden Poetry" by Tao Qian / Tao Yuanming and "Mountain and River Poetry" by Xie Lingyun Traditional literary theory, aesthetics, and criticism (Liu Xie's Wenxindiaolong, Lu Ji's Wen fu, and Cao Pi's Lunwen) 4. Tang Dynasty Literature I. The Old Prose Movement, prose in the Guwen style (Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan) and its influence on later authors Chuanqi - short stories in classical language and their influence on the development of later works (Yuan Zhen, Bai Xingjian, Li Gongzuo, Shen Jiji, and others) Tang poets Wang Wei and Meng Haoran 5. Tang Dynasty Literature II. Li Bai Du Fu Bai Juyi 6. Song Dynasty Literature Li Yu - poet of the Southern Tang Dynasty Li Qingzhao Su Shi (Su Dongpo) Xin Qiji 7. Development of Chinese Theater I. Guan Hanqing Wang Shifu Ma Zhiyuan and other significant playwrights of the Southern Song and Yuan dynasties and their works: Bai Renfu and Gao Ming 8. Development of Chinese Theater II. and the First Great Ming Novel Tang Xianzu Kong Shangren The novel Sanguo yanyi (Romance of the Three Kingdoms) 9. Great Novels of the Ming Dynasty The novel Shuihu zhuan (Water Margin) The novel Xiyou ji (Journey to the West) The novel Jin Ping Mei 10. Stories and Novellas from the Late Ming and Early Qing Dynasties, Playwright and Prose Writer Li Yu Short popular stories (huaben) from the late Ming Dynasty and their collections by Feng Menglong and Ling Mengchu Collections of stories written in the zhiguai and chuanqi styles (Pu Songling, Yuan Mei, and Ji Yun) Li Yu - prose writer and playwright of the early Qing Dynasty 11. The Pinnacle Novel of the Qing Dynasty The novel Rulin waishi (The Scholars) The novel Honglou Meng (Dream of the Red Chamber) The novel Laocan youji (The Travels of Lao Can)

Literature

• A companion to modern Chinese literature. Edited by Yingjin Zhang. First published. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell, 2016, xiv, 573. ISBN 9781118451625. info
• Ancient and early medieval Chinese literature : a reference guide. Edited by David R. Knechtges - Taiping Chang. Leiden: Brill, 2010, x, 791. ISBN 9789004191273. info
• A history of contemporary Chinese literature. Edited by Zicheng Hong. Boston: Brill, 2007, xix, 636 p. ISBN 9787301040393. info
• Classical Chinese literature : an anthology of translations. Edited by John Minford - Joseph S. M. Lau. New York: Columbia University Press, 2000, lix, 1176. ISBN 0231096763. info
• IDEMA, W.L and Lloyd HAFT. A guide to Chinese literature. Ann Arbor: Center for Chinese studies, 1997, xi, 376. ISBN 0892641231. info
• Anthology of Chinese literature. Edited by Cyril Birch. Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin Books, 1967. info

Teaching methods

The course is designed as a series of seminars. Students are asked to read individual literary works in translation (usually only excerpts) during the semester.
Each student chooses one of the topics to be discussed and gives a 15-20 minute presentation in class. Preparation consists of reading a translation (or part of the original) of the literary work in question and studying relevant secondary literature (usually recommended by the teacher). Additional requirements for Master's students: depending on the number of participants in the seminar, Master's students (a) give a total of two presentations; (b) submit an essay on the chosen topic in the range of 5-10 NS.

Assessment methods

One unexcused absence is allowed per semester. Students must give a presentation and actively participate in class discussion to receive credit.

Language of instruction

Czech

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.

Teacher's information

Reading: other articles to be supplemented as necessary.

• Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  
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