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150225 SE SE LK: Illusion and disillusion as motive in 20th century Chinese lyrics (2012S)

10.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 15 - Ostasienwissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work

Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 06.03. 10:15 - 11:45 Seminarraum Sinologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-18
  • Tuesday 13.03. 10:15 - 11:45 Seminarraum Sinologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-18
  • Tuesday 20.03. 10:15 - 11:45 Seminarraum Sinologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-18
  • Tuesday 27.03. 10:15 - 11:45 Seminarraum Sinologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-18
  • Tuesday 17.04. 10:15 - 11:45 Seminarraum Sinologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-18
  • Tuesday 24.04. 10:15 - 11:45 Seminarraum Sinologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-18
  • Tuesday 08.05. 10:15 - 11:45 Seminarraum Sinologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-18
  • Tuesday 15.05. 10:15 - 11:45 Seminarraum Sinologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-18
  • Tuesday 22.05. 10:15 - 11:45 Seminarraum Sinologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-18
  • Tuesday 05.06. 10:15 - 11:45 Seminarraum Sinologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-18
  • Tuesday 12.06. 10:15 - 11:45 Seminarraum Sinologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-18
  • Tuesday 19.06. 10:15 - 11:45 Seminarraum Sinologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-18
  • Tuesday 26.06. 10:15 - 11:45 Seminarraum Sinologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-18

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Among the greatest archaeological discoveries made in China in the last 50 years is the famous terracotta army from the mausoleum of Qin Shihuangdi (r. 221-210 BCE), near Xi'an. Thousand of lifesize statues of soldiers were buried, aligned orderly as in battle arrangement, in order to protect the first emperor of China who was resting under the main tumulus of the mausoleum. The tomb of the emperor, according to the record of the historian Sima Qian (c. 145-86 BCE), was extraordinarily magnificent, equipped with miniature models of palaces, fine vessels and precious objects of all sorts. Moreover, a whole landscape, with rivers in streams of quicksilver and everburning candles representing the constellations of the heaven, was reproduced in it. The core of the Qin emperor mausoleum possibly remains still untouched, but other sensational excavations in China have revealed richly furnished and decorated tombs, conceived to provide as much comfort as possible to their occupants in their afterlife. These "homes of the departed" reveal much about attitudes towards death and beliefs in the afterlife in ancient China.
In the course of the seminar we will analyze archaeological material from most of the significant excavated tombs and see how the structure of the tombs as well as the kind of burial objects vary in the course of time according to social and historical changes, burial practices and beliefs. The chronological range of our inquiry will cover the period between the Qin and the Song dynasties (3rd c. BCE-12th c. CE).

Assessment and permitted materials

Attendance, participation and oral presentation: 50%; written paper: 50%
Students are expected to attend the seminar regularly, to participate in class discussion, to read the basic literature and the readings on specific topics suggested in class. More than 3 unjustified absences will be evaluated as negative; attendance to the introductory lectures is highly recommended. The oral presentation and the written paper are compulsory for final marks.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The seminar aims to give students a grounding in the study of the ancient Chinese culture through the analysis of artifacts and structures from archaeologically excavated tombs.

Examination topics

Two hours classes every week.
The seminar is divided in three phases:
In the first phase introductory lectures will provide students with a general background on Chinese funerary art: evolution of tomb structures, type and significance of burial objects, beliefs and ritual customs around the afterlife, etc. Some of the most important issues will be deepened and further expanded by a number of readings that will be commented and discussed in classes (second phase). In the final phase of the course students will give oral presentations with the possibility of choosing among a list of suggested topics. Each presentation should last ca. 20 minutes followed by 10 minutes class discussion. Students will then develop the content of the presentation into a written essay of ca. 10 pages of length, which will be evaluated for final grading.
The list of topics and the relevant literature will be given during the seminar according to the selected interests or specific requirements.
A general knowledge on the history of China from Qin to Song period is highly recommended.

Reading list

Association in the course directory

LK 421/ LK422

Last modified: Tu 14.01.2025 00:16