HISTORY 110: EAST ASIAN HISTORY

1600 TO THE PRESENT

Whitman College Spring 2008

MWF 1:00 – 1:50 Maxey 310

Dr. Brian Dott

OFFICE: 225 Maxey	Office Hours: M T W Th 4-5
PHONE: 527-5776	also available by appointment
E-MAIL: dottbr@whitman.edu	Web: http://people.whitman.edu/~dottbr

GO TO USEFUL EAST ASIAN HISTORY REFERENCES

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course examines the intertwining histories of Japan, Korea, China and Vietnam from 1600 to the present. We will focus both on the common characteristics as well as the differences between these cultures. Understanding the rise of a Manchu empire centered in China and the formation of the Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan are essential for understanding these countries’ reactions to 19^th century expansion of Western powers into East Asia, while events from the 19^th century continue to shape East Asia today. We will look comparatively at these four societies, their struggles to preserve or regain their independence, to refashion their national identities, and to articulate their needs and perceptions of a rapidly and violently changing world. We will include discussions of concepts such as modernization, westernization and democratization. Lectures, readings of both original primary sources and secondary literature will introduce various aspects of these East Asian civilizations. At the end of this course you should be able to engage in discussions about the factors leading to changes within the political, economic, social and religious organizations of these societies. In addition you should be able to examine critically the ways we acquire historical knowledge.

BOOKS for purchase at the bookstore:

Schirokauer & Clark. Modern East Asia: A Brief History.

Pruitt, Ida. A Daughter of Han

Kim, Richard E. Lost Names: Scenes from a Korean Boyhood

Liang Heng and Judith Shapiro. Son of the Revolution.

Dang Thuy Tram . Last Night I Dreamed of Peace.

Additional resources will be available via links on the class web-page or Electronic Reserve.

GRADING: Quizzes 15%

Papers 35%

Mid-term Exam 15%

Final Exam 20%

In-class discussions & participation 15%

SCHEDULE

WEEK ONE               M 1/14:      Introduction to East Asia 
W 1/16:      Japan :  background, Civil War, Early Tokugawa 
Reading:  Modern East Asia , Ch. 1 & 4
F 1/18: China :  Overview of Geography, Society & Government

WEEK TWO              M 1/21: Martin Luther King Day, no class 
                                    W 1/23:      China:  the Qing Dynasty
                                                      Reading:     Modern East Asia, Ch. 2
On-line: Emperor Qianlong's letter to King George III

F 1/25: Cultural Topic: China:  Examination System & Footbinding

                 Discuss: Judge Dee story
Reading:     E-Reserve:  selection, Celebrated Cases Judge Dee

WEEK THREE M 1/28:      Korea:  Chosŏn Dynasty
                                                      Reading:     Modern East Asia, Ch. 3
                                    W 1/30:     Vietnam
Reading:    Modern East Asia, Ch. 6 (103 to top of 110)  
                                    F 2/1:         East Asia:   Contact with the West
Reading:    Modern East Asia, Ch. 5 & Ch. 6 (110-111)

WEEK FOUR            M 2/4:        China:  Opium War
Reading: On-line: Lin Zexu's letter to Queen Victoria
                                                                        Handout: Palmerston’s Declaration of War
Modern East Asia, Ch. 6 (112 to end)
Discuss:    Sino-British Relations
                                    W 2/6:        Japan: Late Tokugawa and Meiji Restoration
                                                      Reading:Modern East Asia, Ch. 7 & 8

F 2/8 Happy New Year! 土鼠年! Year of the Earth Rat (2/7)

Geography & Chronology Quiz

Discuss Musui’s Story
Reading:  E-Reserve: selection from Musui’s Story
                 Cultural Topic:  Calendar

WEEK FIVE              M 2/11:   China:  Self-strengthening

Reading:     Modern East Asia, Ch. 9

Handout: selection from McClain

On-line: Miyamoto Musashi’s Book of Five Rings read: Introduction & Ground Book

W 2/13:      East Asia:  Comparisons:    Development & Family
Discuss: “modernization” & “westernization”   
Cultural Topic:  Japanese Woodblock Prints
Reading:     Daughter of Han:  1-47

                                    F 2/15: East Asia:  Sino-Japanese War
Discuss:    Daughter of Han
Reading:     Daughter of Han:  48-86

WEEK SIX                 M 2/18:      Presidents’ Day, No Class
                                    W 2/20:     Short Paper on Musui’s Story due

China:  Collapse of Qing and Early Republic
Reading:     Modern East Asia, Ch. 10

F 2/22:       Japanese Imperialism
Reading:     Modern East Asia, Ch. 11

WEEK SEVEN          M 2/25:      East Asia:  Colonies
Reading:     Lost Names: Author’s Note 197-9, & pgs. 3-45
Modern East Asia, Ch. 12
                                    W 2/27:      East Asia:  Treaty of Versailles
                                                      Cultural Topic:  Chinese Popular Religion
Reading: Lost Names: 45-100
F 2/29:  China:  Civil War
Discuss:  Lost Names
Reading: Lost Names: 100-142

WEEK EIGHT           M 3/3:       WWII in Asia
Reading:     Lost Names:  143-195
Modern East Asia, Ch. 13
W 3/5:        Discuss:  Lost Names & Daughter of Han
Reading: Daughter of Han:  175-249
Review
F 3/7:         MID-TERM EXAM
SPRING BREAK      

WEEK NINE             M 3/24:      New Order in Post-War Asia & Cold War in East Asia
Reading:     Modern East Asia, Ch. 14: parts I-III
W 3/26:      China:  Founding of the PRC
Reading:     Son of the Revolution: Foreword & ch. 1-3
Modern East Asia, Ch. 15: part I  
Cultural Topic:  Palace Museum(s)
F 3/28:       PRC:  Campaigns 1950s
Reading:     Son of the Revolution: ch. 4-6
Modern East Asia, Ch. 15: part II

WEEK TEN               M 3/31:      PRC:  Cultural Revolution
Discuss:    Son of the Revolution
                                                      Reading:     Son of the Revolution: ch. 7-9
W 4/2:        PRC:  Death of Mao and Rise of Deng
                                                      Reading:     Modern East Asia, Ch. 16: to pg. 353
Son of the Revolution: chapts. 10-12
F 4/4:         Video:  Small Happiness
Reading:     Son of the Revolution: chapts. 13-15

WEEK ELEVEN        M 4/7:       Tiananmen
Reading:    Modern East Asia, Ch. 16: 354-55

Son of the Revolution: chapts. 16-19
W 4/9:     PRC 1990s

Discuss:    Son of the Revolution
Reading:     Modern East Asia, Ch. 16:  355-63
Son of the Revolution: chapts. 20-24
                                    F 4/11:       Vietnam
                                                      Reading:     Modern East Asia, Ch. 14: part IV;  Ch. 18: part II

WEEK TWELVE M 4/14:      Paper on Son of the Revolution due
Vietnam
W 4/16:      Vietnam
Reading:  Last Night I Dreamed of Peace, iii-xxi; 3-mid 22
                                    F 4/18:      Vietnam
Reading:  Last Night I Dreamed of Peace, mid 22-62

WEEK THIRTEEN   M 4/21:     Koreas
                                                      Reading:  Last Night I Dreamed of Peace, 63-mid 105
Modern East Asia, Ch. 18: part I  
                                     W 4/23:    Chronology Quiz
                                                      Discuss:  Last Night I Dreamed of Peace
                                                      Reading:  Last Night I Dreamed of Peace:  pgs. mid 105- 145
                                     F 4/25:      Japan: Occupation & Economic Boom
Reading:     Last Night I Dreamed of Peace:  pgs. 146-mid187

                                                                        Modern East Asia, Ch. 17, Parts II & III

WEEK FOURTEEN  M 4/28:      Japan 1980s-1990s
Discuss Last Night I Dreamed of Peace

Reading:     Last Night I Dreamed of Peace:  pgs. mid 187-end

                                   W 4/30:       Discuss Realm of a Dying Emperor
     Reading:     E-Reserve: Realm Dying Emperor:  33-35; 40-97
Cultural Topic: Anime
                                    F 5/4:         Taiwan, Hong Kong & Macao
                                                      Reading:  Modern East Asia, Ch. 16:  364-67

WEEK FIFTEEN       M 5/7:        East Asia & Globalization                                                     
Reading: Modern East Asia, Afterword
                                                      Review 

FINAL EXAM:          Tuesday May 13:  2-4 PM in regular classroom