East Asian Humanities I: The Classical Foundations

An introduction to the literature, art, religion and philosophy of China, Japan and Korea from antiquity to ca. 1600. Readings focus on primary texts in translation and are complemented by museum visits and supplementary materials on the course website; we emphasize close reading and discussion, encouraging students to engage with both the past and present meanings of these texts. The course explores the unique aspects of East Asian civilizations and the connections between them through assignments integrating text with visual and material sources. No prior knowledge of East Asia is required.