The purpose of this course is to acquaint students with the essential aspects of pre-modern Chinese civilization and its literary representation. Readings will mostly be representative and simulating works from the Chinese philoso phical, historiographical, and literary traditions.

Topics include: the powers of shamanism, art, and writing in early China; self-cultivation and the making of a "Noble Man" according to Confucius’ Analects; mysticism and naturalism in Laozi’s Daode jing, and the myths and metaphors in the book of Zhuangzi; gender and sexuality in Chinese society; the Chinese writing system and its impact on the Chinese lyrical expressions; the spirit of the Chinese hist oriographical tradition; Three Kingdoms and The Story of the Stone and Chinese fiction; and the Chinese images of the West and China in Western Minds.

All readings will be in English. This is a writing emphasis course.