Chinese Culture I
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to provide an introduction to Chinese traditional culture, focusing on the close relationship between the Chinese system of writing and the development of Chinese civilization. One of the main elements which shaped the ancient Chinese culture is the concept of script (wen). In fact writing in China was the powerful means to unify the country and spread the culture of the "Middle Kingdom" ( Zhongguo). During the course of the long standing Confucian society the concept of wen was related to the civilian sphere and wu to the military sphere, and even today the character wen is part of words such as "civilization" (wenming), "culture", (wenhua), "literature" (wenxue), "literary work" (wenzhang). Starting from these keywords the course will analyze some of the fundamental elements of the Chinese traditional civilization in order to provide the basis for understanding contemporary China.
Expected learning outcomes
The course will supply students with the basic competnces and skills to deal with the major aspects of the traditionbal Cinese culture in terms of history, lietature and history of thought.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The aim of the course, consisting of 30 lectures (60 hours) over one semester, is to provide an introduction to Chinese traditional culture, focusing on the close relationship between the Chinese system of writing and the development of Chinese civilization. One of the main elements which shaped the ancient Chinese culture is the concept of script (wen). In fact, writing in China was a powerful means to unify the country and spread the culture of the "Middle Kingdom" ( Zhongguo). During the course of the long-standing Confucian society, the concept of wen was related to the civilian sphere and wu to the military sphere, and even today the character wen is part of words such as "civilization" (wenming), "culture", (wenhua), "literature" (wenxue), "literary work" (wenzhang). Starting from these keywords the course will analyze some of the fundamental elements of the Chinese traditional civilization in order to provide the basis for understanding contemporary China.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is offered to first-year students with no previous experience in learning Chinese culture, therefore, no specific prerequisites related to the discipline are required.
Teaching methods
The course includes readings of literary texts and screening of multimedia materials. In order to train their critical abilities and their communicative skills, student will be required to work in teams on selected topics and produce a multimedia presentation. Besides discussions will be proposed on selected topics.
Seminars and conferences by distinguished guests from the academic world or the Chinese cultural scene will be offered in order to strengthen the students skills and knowledge. Participation in activities and events is considered an integral part of the course.
News and updates on events, teaching activities and materials will be available on the ARIEL web portal.
Seminars and conferences by distinguished guests from the academic world or the Chinese cultural scene will be offered in order to strengthen the students skills and knowledge. Participation in activities and events is considered an integral part of the course.
News and updates on events, teaching activities and materials will be available on the ARIEL web portal.
Teaching Resources
Materials for students with a high school diploma obtained in Italy
1) Alessandra Lavagnino, Sivia Pozzi, Cultura Cinese. Segno, scrittura, civiltà, Roma, Carocci, 2013.
2) Silvia Pozzi (a cura di), Confucio re senza corona, Milano, O barra O edizioni, 2011.
3) Le seguenti sezioni tratte da Edoarda Masi, Cento capolavori della letteratura cinese, Macerata, Quodlibet, 2009: "Il libro della poesia (Shijing)" - "Zhuangzi" - "Mengzi" - "Xunzi" - "Han Feizi" - "Memorie dello storico (Shiji)" - Li Bo e WangWei - "Il padiglione delle peonie (Mudanting)" - "Viaggio a Occidente (Xiyouji)" - "Jin Ping Mei" - "Racconti straordinari dello studio di Liao (Liaozhaizhiyi)" - "Il sogno della camera rossa (Hong loumeng)".
4) Chinese history basic knowledge (from the origins to the late Qing period) on: John Roberts, Storia della Cina, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2007. (capp. I, II, III, IV e V fino a p. 262).
5) Read one of the following novels: Jin Ping Mei (Chin P'ing Mei), Romanzo erotico cinese del sec. XVI (trad. di P. Jahier, dalla versione inglese di A. Waley), 2 voll., Milano, Feltrinelli, 1980 oppure Torino, Einaudi. - Wu Ch'êng-ên, Lo scimmiotto (trad. di A. Motti, dalla versione inglese di A. Waley), Torino, Einaudi, 1982.- Cao Xueqin (Ts'aoHsüeh-Ch'in), Il sogno della camera rossa (trad. di E. Masi), 2 voll., Torino, Einaudi, 1964; 3 voll., Torino, U.T.E.T., 1981; Milano, BUR Rizzoli, 2008 o altre edizioni.
6) Writing exercises: Bettina Mottura, Jin Zhigang, . Caratteri cinesi: esercizi di scrittura, Milano, Unicopli, 2015.
7) Analysis of conferences or other activities' content.
Materials for students with non-Italian nationality holding a high school diploma not obtained in Italy
1) Alessandra Lavagnino, Sivia Pozzi, Cultura Cinese. Segno, scrittura, civiltà, Roma, Carocci, 2013.
2) Chinese history basic knowledge (from the origins to the late Qing period) in: John Roberts, Storia della Cina, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2007. (chapters I, II, III, IV, V).
3) Read one of the following novels: Jin Ping Mei (ChinP'ing Mei), Romanzo erotico cinese del sec. XVI (trad. di P. Jahier, dalla versione inglese di A. Waley), 2 voll., Milano, Feltrinelli, 1980 oppure Torino, Einaudi. - Wu Ch'êng-ên, Lo scimmiotto (trad. di A. Motti, dalla versione inglese di A. Waley), Torino, Einaudi, 1982.- Cao Xueqin (Ts'ao Hsüeh-Ch'in), Il sogno della camera rossa (trad. di E. Masi), 2 voll., Torino, Einaudi, 1964; 3 voll., Torino, U.T.E.T., 1981; Milano, BUR Rizzoli, 2008 o altre edizioni.
1) Alessandra Lavagnino, Sivia Pozzi, Cultura Cinese. Segno, scrittura, civiltà, Roma, Carocci, 2013.
2) Silvia Pozzi (a cura di), Confucio re senza corona, Milano, O barra O edizioni, 2011.
3) Le seguenti sezioni tratte da Edoarda Masi, Cento capolavori della letteratura cinese, Macerata, Quodlibet, 2009: "Il libro della poesia (Shijing)" - "Zhuangzi" - "Mengzi" - "Xunzi" - "Han Feizi" - "Memorie dello storico (Shiji)" - Li Bo e WangWei - "Il padiglione delle peonie (Mudanting)" - "Viaggio a Occidente (Xiyouji)" - "Jin Ping Mei" - "Racconti straordinari dello studio di Liao (Liaozhaizhiyi)" - "Il sogno della camera rossa (Hong loumeng)".
4) Chinese history basic knowledge (from the origins to the late Qing period) on: John Roberts, Storia della Cina, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2007. (capp. I, II, III, IV e V fino a p. 262).
5) Read one of the following novels: Jin Ping Mei (Chin P'ing Mei), Romanzo erotico cinese del sec. XVI (trad. di P. Jahier, dalla versione inglese di A. Waley), 2 voll., Milano, Feltrinelli, 1980 oppure Torino, Einaudi. - Wu Ch'êng-ên, Lo scimmiotto (trad. di A. Motti, dalla versione inglese di A. Waley), Torino, Einaudi, 1982.- Cao Xueqin (Ts'aoHsüeh-Ch'in), Il sogno della camera rossa (trad. di E. Masi), 2 voll., Torino, Einaudi, 1964; 3 voll., Torino, U.T.E.T., 1981; Milano, BUR Rizzoli, 2008 o altre edizioni.
6) Writing exercises: Bettina Mottura, Jin Zhigang, . Caratteri cinesi: esercizi di scrittura, Milano, Unicopli, 2015.
7) Analysis of conferences or other activities' content.
Materials for students with non-Italian nationality holding a high school diploma not obtained in Italy
1) Alessandra Lavagnino, Sivia Pozzi, Cultura Cinese. Segno, scrittura, civiltà, Roma, Carocci, 2013.
2) Chinese history basic knowledge (from the origins to the late Qing period) in: John Roberts, Storia della Cina, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2007. (chapters I, II, III, IV, V).
3) Read one of the following novels: Jin Ping Mei (ChinP'ing Mei), Romanzo erotico cinese del sec. XVI (trad. di P. Jahier, dalla versione inglese di A. Waley), 2 voll., Milano, Feltrinelli, 1980 oppure Torino, Einaudi. - Wu Ch'êng-ên, Lo scimmiotto (trad. di A. Motti, dalla versione inglese di A. Waley), Torino, Einaudi, 1982.- Cao Xueqin (Ts'ao Hsüeh-Ch'in), Il sogno della camera rossa (trad. di E. Masi), 2 voll., Torino, Einaudi, 1964; 3 voll., Torino, U.T.E.T., 1981; Milano, BUR Rizzoli, 2008 o altre edizioni.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an oral test focusing on the content of the textbooks selected for this course.
Participation in group work and related multimodal production is also part of the final score. Students who will not participate in the group work will have to add a book for the exam.
Besides, students' active participation to the team work, the course and written reports on conferences or other cultural activities offered in the programme, will be positively evaluated.
The oral exam is the same for both attended and non-attended students, except that the oral conversation for non-attended students will consist of a greater number of questions.
International students who did not completed their BA in Italy take the oral exam on specific contents indicated in the program.
Participation in group work and related multimodal production is also part of the final score. Students who will not participate in the group work will have to add a book for the exam.
Besides, students' active participation to the team work, the course and written reports on conferences or other cultural activities offered in the programme, will be positively evaluated.
The oral exam is the same for both attended and non-attended students, except that the oral conversation for non-attended students will consist of a greater number of questions.
International students who did not completed their BA in Italy take the oral exam on specific contents indicated in the program.
L-OR/21 - CHINESE AND SOUTH ASIAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
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