Bin Liu

Exploring China as a Time Traveler: An Introduction to Chinese Culture

Proposed Syllabus

Table of Contents Lesson 1 Lets Start Here: Class Orientation ........................................................................................................ 4

Session 1: What is Culture? ...................................................................................................................... 4

Session 2: The Seeds of Ancient Chinese Culture ......................................................................................... 4

Lesson 2 Cornerstone of Chinese Civilization: The Origins of the Early States in Ancient China ...................... 5

Session 1: The Truth of Myths and Sagas ..................................................................................................... 5

Session 2: Prototype of Nations .................................................................................................................... 5

Lesson 3 Family is Everything: Patriarchal System of Ancient China ................................................................. 5

Session 1: Respect for ancestor and lineage ................................................................................................. 5

Session 2: The word Nation in Chinese is actually state-family (-) ............................................. 5

Lesson 4 Art of Cuisine: Chinese Food Culture ................................................................................................... 6

Session 1: A taste of food is a taste of life ..................................................................................................... 6

Session 2: Beyond the Taste Buds ................................................................................................................. 6

Lesson 5 System of Li (Etiquette, Rituals and Ceremony) in Ancient China ................................................... 6

Session 1: Origin and functions of li (etiquette, rituals, and ceremony) .................................................. 7

Session 2: Types of Li and ancient Chinese wedding as an example ............................................................ 7

Lesson 6 Primitive Faith and Festivals in Ancient China ..................................................................................... 7

Session 1: Primitive faith .............................................................................................................................. 7

Session 2: Festivals ....................................................................................................................................... 7

Lesson 7 Trinity of Faith Systems in Ancient China: Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism ........................... 8

Session 1: Buddhism and Taoism: Two religions in the strict sense ............................................................. 8

Session 2: Confucianism: A religion rooted in the soil of imperialism ......................................................... 8

Bin Liu

Lesson 8 System of Imperial Examination in Ancient China ............................................................................... 8

Session 1: How it works ................................................................................................................................ 8

Session 2: Exam in Action ............................................................................................................................. 9

Lesson 9 Evolution of Book Binding and Literature in Ancient China ................................................................ 9

Session 1: Three eras of book binding .......................................................................................................... 9

Session 2: Pearls of Chinese Literature ........................................................................................................ 9

Lesson 10 Arts in China (1): A Historical View .................................................................................................. 10

Session 1: Primitive forms of Chinese arts ................................................................................................. 10

Session 2: Plastic arts ................................................................................................................................. 10

Lesson 11 Arts in China (2): A Historical View .................................................................................................. 10

Session 1: Art of light, movement and sound .............................................................................................. 10

Session 2: Beyond High-class Arts ............................................................................................................. 10

Lesson 12 Systems of Ethics and Values in Ancient China ................................................................................ 11

Session 1: Understanding of Personal Values, Education and History ...................................................... 11

Session 2 Understanding of history and philosophy ................................................................................... 11

Lesson 13 Science and Technology in Ancient China ........................................................................................ 11

Session 1 Faded Glories or Dust-covered Pearls? ..................................................................................... 11

Session 2 Four Inventions of Ancient China ............................................................................................... 12

Lesson 14 Traveling Around: Means of Transportation and Adventure Seekers in Ancient China .................... 12

Session 1: Evolution of Chinese Vehicles .................................................................................................... 12

Session 2: Great Chinese Travelers Stories ............................................................................................... 13

Lesson 15 Cross-cultural Hotpot with the Dominance of Han Culture: Multi-ethnic cultural integration and

Western Learning ................................................................................................................................................ 13

Session 1: Within-border Integration: majority culture of Han and cultures of minority ethnic groups .... 13

Session 2: Cross-border integration: Two decisive moments ..................................................................... 13

Bin Liu

Lesson 16 A Recap on Tradition: Historical Evolution of Chinese Culture ........................................................ 14

Session 1: Emergence of Chinese Culture Dynasties of Qin and Han (till 220 AD) ............................... 14

Session 2: Diversification, integration and confrontation (220 1911 AD)............................................... 14

Lesson 17 Facilitators of Modern China: Chinese Culture during the Period of Republic of China (1912-1949)

and May Fourth Movement (1912) ..................................................................................................................... 15

Session 1: RoC Culture (1912-1949) .......................................................................................................... 15

Session 2: May Fourth Movement (1912) ................................................................................................... 15

Lesson 18 Cultural Revolution, Chinese Pop Culture and the Future of Chinese Culture ................................. 15

Session 1: Throttling of Chinese Culture: Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) ............................................. 15

Session 2: More than a flash in pan: Chinese Pop Culture ........................................................................ 16

Bin Liu

Lesson 1 Lets Start Here: Class Orientation

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.Laozi

Session 1: What is Culture?

Broad and narrow definitions of culture in English and Chinese

What is the relationship between culture and civilization? Cultured and civilized? Culture and

history? Cultural studies and social studies?

Class discussion/voting: decide whether some concepts are related to culture or not, e.g. architecture,

science, democracy, food, arts, books, government, language

The moment one begins studying another culture, an instantaneous preference emerges from the task

(McCool 2009: 100). A truly intercultural lens means putting away our atlas of stereotypes and prejudice!

The fact that we live in one culture is not a reason good enough to dismiss other cultures as uninhabitable.

http://kimalbrecht.com/thesis/2013/05/26/mapping-stereotypes-atlas-of-prejudice/

http://blogoscoped.com/prejudice/

Session 2: The Seeds of Ancient Chinese Culture

What is China? Ancient China?

Debate of land-based civilization versus sea-based civilization: A geographical perspective

One source of origin or multiple sources?

Prehistoric times: The New Stone Age (Neolithic Era) and latest archaeological findings in China

Three cultural agglomerates in prehistoric China

Class activity: (Treasure Hunter) identify those artifacts from the archaeological sites of different native

tribes that were active during the New Stone Age of ancient China

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Lesson 2 Cornerstone of Chinese Civilization: The Origins of the Early States

in Ancient China

Session 1: The Truth of Myths and Sagas

Reading discussion: Discuss over the essays about selected Chinese myths and sagas pre-assigned for this

week

Three types of Chinese myths and sagas

Archaeological findings validating the history of well-known Chinese myths and sagas

Session 2: Prototype of Nations

The birth of the Chinese term zhongguo (China or Middle Kingdom)

Yellow Emperor (Huangdi): Everlasting importance of lineage and national unification

The Bronze Age: from abdication of throne to blood-relationship inheritance

Class discussion/essay: What are the possible advantages and disadvantages of blood-relationship

inheritance? Pros and cons of abdication of throne?

Lesson 3 Family is Everything: Patriarchal System of Ancient China

Session 1: Respect for ancestor and lineage

Share with the class: Report back to the class about your findings through interviews with Chinese

acquaintances, reading, or watching YouTube videos (What does family mean to Chinese?)

Dynasty of Zhou (1046 - 256 BC): Updated inheritance system and founding of ancestral temple

Dynasties of Wei and Jin (220-907 AD): Rise and fall of aristocratic families; implication of a noble family

name

Session 2: The word Nation in Chinese is actually state-family (-)

Close ties between patriarchal system and state system

Clan-wide and nation-wide sacrifice shrines

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Family-related metaphors in Chinese

Class discussion: Can you think of any English metaphors, slangs or proverbs about family?

Lesson 4 Art of Cuisine: Chinese Food Culture

Food is the First Necessity for the Masses. The Historical Records of Han Dynasty (82 AD)

Session 1: A taste of food is a taste of life

Class discussion about food: what is your favorite food? Did you ever pay attention to table manners of

your own or others? Anything you know about Chinese food?

Dining etiquette

Special occasions for banquet: Weddings and funerals

From the taste of food to the taste of life

Session 2: Beyond the Taste Buds

Watch an excerpt of a popular documentary program about Chinese food: A bite of China

Food and political chicanery

Charm of gourmets life in ancient China

Homework: Watch a English-subtitled Chinese movie The Wedding Banquet (Xi yan) directed by Ang Lee

and write a short reflection essay

Lesson 5 System of Li (Etiquette, Rituals and Ceremony) in Ancient China

One who does not learn Li is not fit to converse with.Confucius

Bin Liu

Session 1: Origin and functions of li (etiquette, rituals, and ceremony)

Share with the class: Report back to the class about your summary of assigned readings (students are

assigned an essay of how ancient Chinese celebrated important farming days and each student takes charge

of one month)

Li helps ancient Chinese address three major challenges of survival (man-nature, interpersonal, and

intrapersonal), maintain social stability and facilitate individual disciplining

A brief introduction to three ancient classic works on Li

Session 2: Types of Li and ancient Chinese wedding as an example

Five types of Li

Evolution of ancient Chinese weddings

Class discussion: in what ways do you think a Chinese wedding different from a Western (American)

wedding? Any other etiquette, rituals, and ceremony you know of (ancient or modern)?

Lesson 6 Primitive Faith and Festivals in Ancient China

Session 1: Primitive faith

Four forms of primitive faith: heavenly gods, earthly spirits, ghosts, and goblins

Class discussion: Look at some ancient pictures of these forms and guess what category they belong to.

Session 2: Festivals

Solar calendar versus lunar calendar (Find your birthdate as per lunar calendar: http://kalender-

365.de/lunar-calendar.php?yy=1990 )

Spring Festival

Clear-and-Bright Festival (Qingming Festival)

Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu Festival)

Mid-autumn Festival

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Homework: Prepare a presentation on any one of Chinese festivals not discussed in class.

Lesson 7 Trinity of Faith Systems in Ancient China: Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism

Session 1: Buddhism and Taoism: Two religions in the strict sense

Class presentation: student-selected festivals (teacher will refer to the religious influences on how these

festivals are celebrated)

Taoism: The native religion (history, main doctrines and influences on Chinese culture)

Buddhism: The imported and most influential religion (history, main doctrines and influences on Chinese

culture)

Session 2: Confucianism: A religion rooted in the soil of imperialism

Watch an excerpt of the movie Confucius directed by Hu Mei and have a class discussion: anything you

can relate to according to what we have discussed so far in this course?

Confucianism: a religious philosophy (history, main doctrines and influences on Chinese culture)

Interweaving relationship of the three

Homework: read an excerpt of a classic Chinese novel, Pilgrimage to the West. Then write a reflection essay

and also predict the ending of this novel

Lesson 8 System of Imperial Examination in Ancient China

"To learn and to practice what is learned time and again is pleasure, is it not?" (Beginning sentence of the

Analects)Confucius

Session 1: How it works

Class discussion: if you were free to choose, what is your favorite way of competing for a job position in

the government? Interview, test, or recommendation? Any other way you can think of?

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HR screening in Chinese history: recommendation versus exams

Procedures of imperial examination

Session 2: Exam in Action

Exam Syllabus

Rules and Regulations

Testimony of Test Takers

Guess what it is: some pictures about the test centers and facilities

Homework: discuss the advantages and disadvantages of such an examination system if the practice were

continued today.

Lesson 9 Evolution of Book Binding and Literature in Ancient China

The book is the ladder of human progress.Maksim Gorky

Session 1: Three eras of book binding

Bamboo strips

Silk (or paper) scrolls

Paper-based albums

Invention of papermaking and letterpress (typographic) printing

Matching: match the classics works (publication dates are given) with the format of book binding

Session 2: Pearls of Chinese Literature

The book of odes and hymns and The Songs of Chu (approx. 2600-600 BC)

Pre-Qin prose (before 211 BC) and Han rhyme prose (202 BC - 220 AD)

The poem of Tang dynasty (618 - 907 AD) and the verse of Song dynasty (960 - 1279 AD)

Poetic drama of Yuan dynasty (1271 - 1368 AD) and fiction of Ming and Qing dynasty (1368-1911 AD)

Class discussion: What kind of Chinese literature you may like? Why?

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Evolution of Chinese writing (typesetting, character, and discourse)

Homework: write a reflection essay on the evolution of book binding. Do you think that the trend of e-books is

irreversible? Will people not read hardcopies any more in near future?

Lesson 10 Arts in China (1): A Historical View

Session 1: Primitive forms of Chinese arts

Class discussion: what are types of arts? What is your favorite art form? Why?

Arts of remote antiquity (3 million years ago- 2100 BC)

Session 2: Plastic arts

Architecture

Sculptures

Chinese styles of painting

Painting detective: tell Chinese painting apart from Western paintings

Homework: research some Chinese architecture designs, and report back to class about your findings (explain

your personal preferences).

Lesson 11 Arts in China (2): A Historical View

Session 1: Art of light, movement and sound

Music

Opera and stage performances

Class discussion: play different types of Chinese music

Session 2: Beyond High-class Arts

A myriad of folk arts

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Class discussion: are there any forms of folk arts you are aware of in your life? Compare them with Chinese

folk arts

A summary of ancient Chinese arts

Homework: students are shown some websites of Chinese museums, and they are asked select one or some of

exhibits that they find impressive to report back to class

Lesson 12 Systems of Ethics and Values in Ancient China

Session 1: Understanding of Personal Values, Education and History

Class presentation of museum arts

Ten traditional virtues valued in Chinese history

Education and history studies in Chinese Tradition

Session 2 Understanding of history and philosophy

Case study: discuss some of cases that necessitates the application of ethical judgment

History studies in Chinese tradition

Chinese life philosophy (how this may apply to doing business in China)

Chinese philosophy in brief

Homework: write a reflection essay on the one or some topics that students find most thought-provoking and

discuss whether Chinese thinking necessarily differs from their preconceptions of the topics under study

Lesson 13 Science and Technology in Ancient China

Session 1 Faded Glories or Dust-covered Pearls?

Astronomy

Mathematics

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

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Class discussion: what do you think TCM can do to thrive with Western medicine dominating the scene?

Or is any attempt at avoiding extinction simply a lost cause?

Session 2 Four Inventions of Ancient China

Papermaking and letterpress printing (refer to Lesson 9)

Gunpowder (and evolution of firearms)

Compass (preview of Lesson 14)

Class discussion: what are the characteristics of science and technology in ancient China?

Homework: Crystal (2003: 122) argued that the biggest potential setback to English as a global language, it has

been said with more than a little irony, would have taken place a generation ago - if Bill Gates had grown up

speaking Chinese. Based on what weve learned so far, what do you think are the possible reasons why China

lagged behind in science? Write a reflection essay explaining your ideas.

Lesson 14 Traveling Around: Means of Transportation and Adventure Seekers

in Ancient China

The World is for all.Sun Yatsen

Session 1: Evolution of Chinese Vehicles

Primitive forms of Chinese vehicles (che in Chinese)

Evolution of horse accessories

Evolution of sedan-chairs (jiaozi in Chinese)

Evolution of ships

Compare and contrast: show students some pictures of modern vehicles, and some pictures of ancient

vehicles, and ask them to tell the Chinese version apart from the Western (European) version within each

group (which one is an easier task, the modern group or the ancient group?)

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Session 2: Great Chinese Travelers Stories

A selection of important travelers in Chinese history (Columbus Chinese counterpart-Zheng He, Xuan

Zang, Zhang Qian, Xu Xiake)

Class discussion: Chinese language has separate terms for two different travelling style; one is to go on a

package tour with a group and a tour guide (lvyou), with no need to care about the schedule and

accommodation, while the other is to go on a more laborious but maybe more fulfilling DIY tour, usually

bringing along the camping gears (lvxing). Which do you prefer, lvyou or lvxing? Why?

Lesson 15 Cross-cultural Hotpot with the Dominance of Han Culture: Multi-

ethnic cultural integration and Western Learning

To have friends come from afar is happiness, is it not?"Confucius

Session 1: Within-border Integration: majority culture of Han and cultures of minority ethnic

groups

Marriage of farming culture and nomadic culture

Influences of the minority on the majority

Class discussion: What can China do to protect the minority cultures? What lessons can we learn from

America, well-known for its cultural openness?

Session 2: Cross-border integration: Two decisive moments

Introduction and communication of Buddhism (100 AD)

Western learning (1600 AD)

Class discussion: Have you ever been aware of the term Westernization or Americanization? In contrast

to Americas successful export of pop culture, Chinese governments and academia have been making every

effort at promoting Chinese culture to the outside world, only to see negligible results. Discuss possible

solutions to this problem.

Bin Liu

Homework (preparatory work for the Final paper): select a topic of your interest and write an essay for the final;

this weeks task is to draft an outline to be finalized next week.

Lesson 16 A Recap on Tradition: Historical Evolution of Chinese Culture

"At fifteen, I aspired to learning. At thirty, I established my stand. At forty, I had no delusions. At fifty, I knew my

destiny. At sixty, I knew truth in all I heard. At seventy, I could follow the wishes of my heart without doing

wrong."Confucius

Session 1: Emergence of Chinese Culture Dynasties of Qin and Han (till 220 AD)

Prehistoric times: Birth of Chinese culture

Dynasties of Yin, Shang and Western Zhou: From God-oriented to man-oriented

Spring and Autumn Period & Warring States Period: Axial era of Chinese culture

Dynasties of Qin and Han: Unification of empire and culture

Session 2: Diversification, integration and confrontation (220 1911 AD)

Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern dynasties: Diverse culture development in social turbulence

Dynasties of Sui and Tang: Cultural prosperity

Dynasties of Northern and Southern Song: A culture of self-reflection and delicateness; emergence of folk

culture

Dynasties of Liao, Xia, Jin and Yuan: Clashing and fusing of nomadic culture and farming culture

Dynasties of Ming and Qing: Demise and birth

Homework (preparatory work for the Final paper): select a topic of your interest and write an essay for the final;

this weeks task is to finalize your outline with the teacher and develop your outline into a paper.

Bin Liu

Lesson 17 Facilitators of Modern China: Chinese Culture during the Period of

Republic of China (1912-1949) and May Fourth Movement (1912)

Session 1: RoC Culture (1912-1949)

Propeller of Western Learning: Government-funded study-abroad programs

Pioneers in contemporary Chinese literature

Household names in sciences and arts

Industrial and business figures

Political leaders and activists

Session 2: May Fourth Movement (1912)

It all begins with a student protest: historical context

Western Learning comes to a standstill: From capitalism to socialism

Incubator of Chinese Communist Party

New era of literature: a new literature of China

Homework (preparatory work for the Final paper): select a topic of your interest and write an essay for the final;

this weeks task is to work on your paper.

Lesson 18 Cultural Revolution, Chinese Pop Culture and the Future of Chinese

Culture

When future generations look back to my time, it will probably be similar to how I now think of the past.

Wang Xizhi

Session 1: Throttling of Chinese Culture: Cultural Revolution (1966-1976)

Historical context

Red Guards: Fanatic militia of Maos doctrines

One influential movement: Chinese educated urban youth relocating and working in the remote, rural areas

or mountainous areas

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Literature and arts subject to the influence

Science and technology development in spite of the event

Class discussion: some people argue that due to its value-neutral characteristics, the development of science and

technology can sustain the evolution of socio-political contexts. What do you think of the neutrality of science

and technology?

Session 2: More than a flash in pan: Chinese Pop Culture

influences of cultural imports: Music, TV shows, movies, video games, and anime

Some new developments in China: boom of fan-fictions and online novels, cultural adaptation of Western

TV shows

Generation gaps in China: what do Chinese men and women like to do at different ages?

Homework: Submit the final paper.

Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself. Chinese Proverb

I hope you enjoy the view through the opened door, thank you!