CHIN 316 - Introduction to Classical Chinese

Classical Chinese (also known as wenyan) was the standard written language of China from around the seventh century BCE through the early twentieth century, and continues to shape both written (e.g., journalistic, academic, and legal writing) and spoken (e.g., proverbs and aphorisms) modern Chinese. This course introduces students to Classical Chinese through reading, translation, and discussion of philosophical, political, literary, and historical writings-including anecdotes, arguments, poetry, and inscriptions-from early (seventh century BCE-third century CE) and medieval (third-tenth centuries CE) periods. Emphasis is placed on learning the grammatical structures, vocabulary, and interpretive strategies necessary to read Classical Chinese texts with care and precision, and on developing habits of close textual analysis essential for advanced study of Chinese literature, history, religion, and culture. Discussions of grammatical and philological issues will be conducted primarily in English, and translation will be from Classical Chinese into English.

Unit(s): 1
Group Distribution Requirement(s): Distribution Group I
Prerequisite(s): CHIN 212 or equivalent
Instructional Method: Conference
Grading Mode: Letter grading (A-F)
Notes: Students are required to have completed prerequisite noted above. Students with extensive prior experience reading Chinese characters through other languages (such as Japanese) may also enroll with the instructor’s permission.
Group Distribution Learning Outcome(s):

Understand how arguments can be made, visions presented, or feelings or ideas conveyed through language or other modes of expression (symbols, movement, images, sounds, etc.).
Analyze and interpret texts, whether literary or philosophical, in English or a foreign language, or works of the visual or performing arts.
Evaluate arguments made in or about texts (whether literary or philosophical, in English or a foreign language, or works of the visual or performing arts).