History 524/700-01: Early Japan
http://dresnerjapan.edublogs.org
| Prof. Jonathan Dresner e-mail: jdresner@pittstate.edu Phone: 235-4315 |
Class Meetings: TuTh 12:30-1:45, RH 407 Office Hours: MWF 10-11, 1-2, TuTh 10-12 Office: RH 406F |
Course Description
This course covers the history and culture of Japan from pre-history through the early 17th century. Topics include: the origins of Japanese people and culture, both indigenous and continental; the Imperial state’s formation and decline; trade and cultural contacts and conflicts with China and Korea as well as periods of relative isolation; aristocratic rule and culture, particularly the role of women; agriculture as economic and social nexus; the gradual development of the samurai class and the overlay of the Shogunates onto the Imperial structure; importation and nativization of Buddhism and the effects on indigenous Shinto; late medieval disorder and the social, economic and political developments which arise from relative chaos; unification and pacification under a newly aristocratized samurai system; early modern intellectual, cultural and social development.
Though this is a history course, the enduring power of the cultural developments of this era are worth particularly close attention, and so literature will be a particularly prominent feature of this semester, both for its value as historical source and as aesthetic endeavor.
Course Goals
In addition to the historical and cultural content, students will demonstrate increasing mastery of critical reading of primary sources in writing and discussion. “Critical” does not mean “attacking” but “analytical”: putting material in historical and cultural context, drawing appropriate inferences and deductions from the evidence of the text, and raising relevant questions for further inquiry.
Assignments
All schedules, assignments, etc, in the syllabus are subject to change. Check the website, which will have the most current and accurate information possible, as well as copies of course handouts.
Course Website: http://dresnerjapan.edublogs.org
Bookmark it. Check it regularly. I will use it for announcements (course stuff, special events, extra credit), to maintain the schedule (particularly if it changes), to post handouts (so if you lose or miss one, it’ll be there) and keep a small library of useful links. In the event of a disparity between the original syllabus and the website, follow the website: I reserve the right to change readings, test dates, due dates, grade weights and assignments as necessary throughout the semester.
Reading
Reading assignments — textbook and documents — must be done before class on the day indicated. Lectures and discussions will assume that the reading has been done. Reading assignments may be supplemented with online image viewing assignments.
Regular and substantive participation in discussions is an integral component of this course. I will try to make sure that everyone has a chance to speak up, and if you have trouble speaking up, talk to me privately and we’ll work on opportunities.
Texts
- Conrad Totman, Japan Before Perry, UCal Press, 2nd edition (2008).
- David J. Lu, Japan: A Documentary History. Volume 1: The Dawn of History to the Late Tokugawa Period. M. E. Sharpe/East Gate, 1997.
- Mary E. Berry, Japan in Print: Information and Nation in the Early Modern Period, University of California Press, 2007.
- Helen Craig McCullough, trans., Genji & Heike: Selections from The Tale of Genji and The Tale of Heike. Stanford University Press, 1994.
- Helen Craig McCullough, ed., Classical Japanese Prose: An Anthology. Stanford University Press, 1990.
Homework
For each day when primary source readings are assigned (Lu, Prose, Genji and Heike) or the Berry book, each student will write a short summary (no more than one page) of one document (or chapter, for the longer readings) ending with a question to be shared with the class and used as a springboard for discussion. Homeworks will primarily be graded on completion.
Geography Quiz
At the beginning of the third class (Monday, 1/26) I will give a quick ten (10) question quiz on the geography of modern Japan: neighboring countries, islands, major cities. Any student who gets fewer than nine (9) correct, will need to retake the quiz until they get a passing score. I will give the quiz in my office, during office hours or by appointment. Students may take the quiz once a week for the entire semester if necessary, but everyone in the class will pass this geography quiz, and have at least one ‘A’.
Research Project
Each student will pick a topic (involving Japan to 1700, of course) on which there are substantial secondary sources available. You will write an 8-10 page paper on some aspect of that topic. You will consult with me on the selection of the subject and sources, and there will be several preliminary assignments along the way which will make up a portion of your final project grade. You will do a brief presentation on the topic to the entire class near the end of the semester, as well; the presentation is required, but not graded.
Midterm and Final Exam
The Midterm take-home essay test will cover the first half of the semester. The final exam will cover primarily the second half of the semester, though the first half material will, of course, be relevant. Please note that the midterm will be due on a Monday, in order to accommodate the D/F grade deadline.
Grades
I will be happy to go over your grades and let you know how you are doing in the course at any time. For most assignments I use letter grades with plus/minus markings, converted to a standard 100-point scale: A+=100, A=96, A-=92, B+=88, B=85, B-=82, etc.
Final Grade Calculation
5% Map Quiz
15% Homeworks
20% Attendance/Participation
20% Midterm Exam
20% Research Project
20% Final Exam
- All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date.
- Absences may be excused for school-related events, illness or family-related problems, but only if I am informed in advance.
- Unexcused late assignments will be penalized up to one grade level per class period late.
- NOTE: Even very, very late assignments are worth some points. And very, very bad work is still going to get an F, which is a lot better than a zero on a hundred-point scale.
Course Administration
Plagiarism will not be tolerated in this course.
Plagiarism is the use of the words or ideas of another person without proper acknowledgement. Plagiarism is intellectual theft; in an educational setting it is particularly repugnant. Plagiarism in my courses will be punished. It’s simple: Anytime you copy words into your own work, you must clearly mark them and acknowledge the source of those words. Anytime you use someone else’s ideas, you must admit it. There are three options: put it in quotation marks and footnote; paraphrase and footnote; or be original. If you have any questions or any concerns about citation format or necessity, ask someone who knows what they’re doing.
Other forms of academic misconduct will not be tolerated either, including the use of unauthorized aid on tests, failing to write one’s own papers, using papers for more than one course without permission. For more detail, see the relevant sections of the University Catalog. None of this precludes group study and discussion: those are actually really good ideas.
Civility
Students are expected to behave respectfully towards their peers and instructor. Disruptive behavior, including failing to turn off cell phones during class, will result in participation penalties and possibly removal from the classroom. This does not mean that there can’t be lively discussions and disagreements, but personal attacks, excessive volume, threatening gestures or words, and failure to give others a chance to speak and be heard are not acceptable.
Academic Advising
Advising is a very important resource designed to help students complete the requirements of the University and their individual majors. Students should consult with their advisor at least once a semester to decide on courses, check progress towards graduation, and discuss career options and other educational opportunities. Advising is a shared responsibility, but students have final responsibility for meeting degree requirements.
Disability accommodation
Any student with a documented disability who would like to request accommodations should contact the instructor as early in the semester as possible. For more information, contact the Learning Center (Kelly D. Heiskell, 235-4309, kdheiske@pittstate.edu)
Course Prerequisites and Application
World History to 1500, equivalent or permission of instructor is required before taking this course. This course counts towards the History major or minor as a non-Western course.
Reading and Assignment Schedule
A more detailed version will be posted on the course website.
Administrative Deadlines and Instructional Holidays are in Italics
Assignments and Tests are in Bold
Readings requiring homework noted with *
Docs = Lu, Japan: A Documentary History. Volume 1
Genji = McCullough, Genji & Heike, pp. 3-242
Heike = McCullough, Genji & Heike, pp. 245-458
Prose = McCullough, Classical Japanese Prose: An Anthology
Berry = Berry, Japan in Print
Totman = Totman, Japan Before Perry
| Tu (8/25) | First Day of Class |
| Th (8/27) | Totman, Ch. 1 |
| 8/31 | Last day to enroll or add without instructor permission.Last day for online enrollment. |
| Tu (9/1) | Map Quiz*Docs, sec I, “Dawn of Japanese History” pp. 3-20. |
| Th (9/3) | Totman, Ch.2*Docs, sec. II, “The Impact of Chinese Civilization” pt. 1, pp. 21-36. |
| Tu (9/8) | Last Day to drop without ‘W’*Docs, sec. II, “The Impact of Chinese Civilization” pt. 2, pp. 36-50. |
| Th (9/10) | *Docs, sec III, “The Early Heian Period” pp. 51-80. |
| Tu (9/15) | *Docs, sec. IV, “Rise of Feudal Institutions” pt. 1, pp. 81-106. |
| Th (9/17) | Totman, Ch. 3 |
| 9/21 | Last day for half tuition refund |
| Tu (9/22) | *Docs, sec. IV, “Rise of Feudal Institutions” pt. 2, pp. 106-116. |
| Th (9/24) | *Docs, sec V, “Kamakura Buddhism”, pp. 117-146. |
| Tu (9/29) | *Docs, sec. VI, “The Development of Feudal Institutions through the Muromachi Period” pp. 147-170. |
| Th (10/1) | Totman, Ch. 4 |
| Tu (10/6) | *Docs, sec, VII, “From Civil Wars to Unification” pp. 171-202. |
| Th (10/8) | *Docs, sec VIII, “Tokugawa: Era of Peace” pp. 203-242. |
| Tu (10/13) | Catch-up/ReviewResearch Discussion |
| Th (10/15) | Fall Break |
| 10/19 | Midterm Due noon, Monday (10/19)Midsemester D/F Grades Due |
| Tu (10/20) | Research Project: Proposal |
| Th (10/22) | *Prose, “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter” pp. 27-38 and Prose, “A Tosa Journal”, pp. 70-102. |
| 10/24 | Homecoming |
| Tu (10/27) | *Genji, all. |
| Th (10/29) | Genji, cont. |
| 10/30 | Last day to apply for December graduation |
| Tu (11/3) | Research Project: Bibliography and Outline |
| Th (11/5) | *Prose, “The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon”, pp. 156-199. |
| 11/6 | Last day to drop single course. |
| Tu (11/10) | *Prose, “Short Tales of Aristocratic Life” and “Heian and Medieval Setsuwa”, pp. 251-288 and Prose, “The Clear Mirror” pp. 447-471. |
| Th (11/12) | *Prose, “An Account of My Hermitage” and “Essays in Idleness” pp. 377-421. |
| Tu (11/17) | *Heike, chaps. 4-6, 9-11. |
| Th (11/19) | Heike, cont. |
| Tu (11/24) | Research Project: Draft and Presentations |
| Th (11/26) | Thanksgiving Holiday |
| Tu (12/1) | *Berry, to 103. |
| Th (12/3) | *Berry, 104-184 |
| Tu (12/8) | *Berry, 185-end |
| Th (12/10) | Research Project DueCatch-up/Review
Last day to withdraw from entire term. |
| 12/17 (Th) | Final Exam Due, 2pm |
“There is no history of mankind, there is only an indefinite number of histories of all kinds of aspects of human life.” — Karl Popper
