ARTS3456 Course Outline

School of Humanities and Languages

ARTS3456, Classical Chinese Literature, S2, 2014

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Course Staff and Contact Details

Course Details
Learning and Teaching Rationale
Teaching Strategies
Course Assessment
Attendance/Class Clash
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
Course Schedule
Course Resources
Course Evaluation and Development
Student Support
Grievances
Other Information

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ARTS3456 Course Outline

1. Course Staff and Contact Details

Course Convenor
Name
Phone
Consultation Time
Lecturer
Name
Phone
Consultation Time
Tutors
Name
Phone
Name
Phone
Name
Phone

Ping Wang
93853451
Tue. 11-2pm

Room
Email

Ping Wang

Room
Email

MB236
[email protected]

Room
Email
Room
Email
Room
Email

2. Course Details
Units of Credit (UoC)
Course Description

6
Students who have completed ARTS3451 and /or ARTS3452, and/or
ARTS3453, or the equivalent, are eligible to enrol in this course.
Students who do not have the necessary prerequisites have to visit
the School of Languages and Linguistics website for placement
information.
The course will be conducted in bilingual fashion, involving readings in
the original. Chinese texts. Class meets once a week for 3 hours.
This course can be counted as part of the major sequence in Chinese
Studies toward your Bachelor of Arts degree, or as an elective subject.
ARTS3456 presents a number of major topics in classical Chinese
literature from pre-Qin period (c. 1122-221 BC) to Qing Dynasty (16441911). We will link these topics to various genres including
philosophy, poetry, essays and fiction, as well as literary criticism. The
topics are individual freedom in pre-Qing philosophers (including
Lunyu, Mengzi and Zhuangzi), heroes and villains in biographies (shiji),
love and nature in poetry (including shijing, Tang shi and Song ci), fine
arts in literati style essays (focusing on the interrelationship between
poetry and painting), as well as romance and courtship in vernacular
fiction (from Tang Romances to Honglou Meng). The course will
enhance students' ability to read and appreciate classical Chinese
literature in its different forms. More at:
http://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au/undergraduate/courses/2014/
ARTS3456.html

Course Aims

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to present an overview of classical Chinese literary tradition,

covering texts of a wide range of genres including philosophy,

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ARTS3456 Course Outline

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Student Learning
Outcomes

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Graduate Attributes

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prose, history, poetry, vernacular fiction, as well as literary

criticism.
to examine seminal ideas in Chinas classical heritage, which are
underpinning for much of present-day Chinese culture and
thinking. It provides a philosophical and literary analysis of the
texts of pre-Qin thinkers, selected poems from shijing, Tang shi
and Song ci.
to explore the Interrelationship between History and literature,
and between Chinese poetry and painting.
to develop Critical thinking and analytical skills.
reading and interpreting representative texts in classical
Chinese literature;
critically analysing the texts and secondary sources;
discussing major themes and issues in classical Chinese
literature;
explaining the philosophical and aesthetic principles underlying
classical Chinese literature;
defining and evaluating major literary theories;
developing research and essay writing skills.
the skills involved in scholarly enquiry;
the capacity for analytical and critical thinking;
the ability to engage in independent and reflective learning;
the skills to appropriately locate, evaluate and use relevant
information;
an appreciation of, and respect for, the past and diversity;
the skills required for collaborative and multidisciplinary work;
the skills of communication and the ability to apply these
effectively in intercultural contexts.

Learning and Teaching Rationale

Classical Chinese Literature is one of the Professional electives in the Chinese Studies offered to
students who have completed Advanced or Professional level gateway courses, or the equivalent. It
can be counted as part of the major sequence in Chinese Studies toward your Bachelor of Arts
degree, or as an elective subject. It can also be regarded as the core course for students considering
to major and pursue further study in Chinese Studies.
This course can be studied independently or together with other content courses in literature and /
or cultural studies offered in the Chinese Program, such as ARTS3455 Contemporary Chinese
Literature, CHIN2302 Chinese Cinema and CHIN2400 China Imagined and Perceived, and etc.
Like other professional electives offered in the Chinese Studies program, this course aims to promote
a fuller and deeper understanding of China. With the ever increasing influence of China in the world
arena, it is very important for people, Western and Chinese alike, to understand Chinas past in order
to better understand its present. This course helps to bridge the gap between the ancient Chinese
civilization and contemporary Chinese culture through a study of variety of classical literary texts.

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Teaching Strategies

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The teaching strategy will be aligned with the aim and learning outcome of the course to ensure the
desired results.
The class will be basically run in seminar manner, with a strong emphasis on class discussion on both
primary and secondary materials.
Due time will be devoted to close reading, and interpreting of the original texts so as to improve your
knowledge of Classical Chinese.
An interdisciplinary approach will be adopted, whereby literary texts will be examined from
philosophical, aesthetical, historical as well as linguistic perspectives.
All the class activities, both oral and written are linked with your final assessment, so its important
that you come to class each week.

5. Course Assessment
Assessment Task

Length

Weight

Class discussion

Weeks 2-12

10%

Reading Reports
/Critical reviews

1000 words

40%
(2X20%)

Group Research
Project Paper

600 words each

member

Project Presentation
Test

20-30 minutes
per group
1.5 hours

Learning
Outcome
s
Assessed

Graduate
Attributes
Assessed

Due Date

2, 3, 4, 5

2, 3, 4, 5

Wks 2-12

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

1,2,3,4,5,6

Wks 5, 7, 10

15%

1,2,3,4,5,6

1,2,3,4,5,6

One week
after your
Group
presentation

15%

1,2,3,4,5,6

1,2,3,4,5,6, 7

Wks 8-11

20%

1,2,3,4,5,6

1,2,3,4,5,6

Wk 12

* Details for the Reading Reports as well as the topics and guidelines for the Group Research
Projects are provided below. Any Additional information will be provided on the course moodle or
in class.

Please Note: In addition to fulfilling the above assessment requirements, students are
expected to attend at least 80% of their lectures and tutorials in order to pass the course.

I.

Instruction on the Two Reading Reports /Critical Review

1. Reading reports are based on the three main themes /topics to be covered by the course. You only
need to submit TWO reports of two pages each on any two topics of your own choice.
1) Pre-qin philosophers;
2) Poetry;
3) Fiction .

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2. Reading reports/Citical Reviews must be based on the reading material for this course. Each report
must consist of two parts:
1) Your report - a brief summary of the reading material included in the theme of your choice. For
example, if you choose pre-qin philosophers, you need to briefly summaries what is included in the
selected reading, such as Lunyu, Mengzi, and Zhuangzi. Similarly, if you choose Poetry, youll need to
provide a brief summary of the selected readings from Shijing, Tangshi, and Songci. You dont have
to include each and every shi or ci, but you can categorise them in your summary.
2) Your critical review - your own reflections of / comments on some of the materials that interest
you. For example, if you choose the theme of Pre-qin philosophers, in this second part you should
concentrate on ANY of the philosophers of your own choice: Kongzi, Mengzi, or Zhuangzi You may
also wish to make a comparison between any two philosophers or two strands of thought related to
the theme. What I am looking for in this part is your critical analysis and original ideas.
3. All the reports/Critical reviews must be submitted in time in in turn-it-in.
4. The reports must be your own work (apart from fully acknowledged brief quotations), and they
must be done specially for this unit of study. Please be warned that plagiarism will be penalized.
(Please refer to Section on Academic Honesty and Plagiarism)

II.

Instructions for the Group Research Project:

1. Steps:
1) Form groups of 4-5 students (in Week 2);
2) Choose your topics;
3) Work in groups, starting the research process, including locating the source materials, reference
books;
4) Present in class (15%), and prepare to answer questions from the audience; The presentations will
start from Week 7 through to Week 11.
5) Submit your Research Paper (15%) in turn-it-in ONE WEEK after your presentation (Please refer to
Submission of Assessment Tasks in Other Information section of this course outline. ).
*The presentation must be done in Chinese, but please make sure that the class understand what
you are talking about an English power-point presentation for the introduction and /or Summary of
your project will be helpful.
* The research paper can be written in either Chinese or English, Indicate contributions of each of
the group members, if you like.
* The research paper must be your own work (apart from fully acknowledged brief quotations), and
it must be done specially for this unit of study. Please be warned that plagiarism will be penalized.
(Please refer to Section 9 Academic Honesty and Plagiarism)
* Use the standard style of references and bibliography. Please see the Resources and Research
tools/links:
The 'In-Text' or Harvard Referencing System http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/ref.html
In-Text Citations http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/ref1.html

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ARTS3456 Course Outline

List of References http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/ref2.html

Internet Sources http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/ref3.html
Online Academic Skills Resources http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/olib.html
Students are encouraged to attend workshops offered by the Library on how to access the library
catalogues and databases.
Other resources can also be obtained from UNSW Library. One starting point for assistance is:
http://www.library.unsw.edu.au/servicesfor/index.html

III.

Suggested Topics for the Group Research Project

1) If you had lived in Chunqiu/Zhanguo period, would you have been a Confucian, a Daoist, or
neither? Why?
2) Why has Qu Yuan been regarded as an important figure in Chinese culture? What do you think he
is taken to symbolize?
3) What are the major characteristics of traditional Chinese literary criticism? What do you think a
good approach should be?
4) What have you noticed about the way in which Sima Qian wrote historical biographies? What was
his attitude towards heroism?
5) Discuss the relationship between Chinese poetry and painting, focusing on the shared values and
practices between poets and literati artists.
6) Do you agree that Li Yu and Li Qingzhao are typical wanyue poets? Why / Why not?
7) In what ways do Daoism and Buddhism influence Chinese poetry and painting?
8) Love is an eternal theme in literature. Looking retrospectively on classical Chinese literature from
Shijing to Honglou meng, what can you tell about writers attitudes and treatment to the theme of
love.
9) Study the protagonists in Yingying Zhuan and Liwa Zhuan, or any other literary works that reflect
relationship between men and women, discuss peoples attitudes towards gender relations and love
in ancient China?
10) Compare Chinese and Western writers approach to love and romance.
11) Why is there a lack of tragedies (such as Shakespearian tragedies) in the history of Chinese
literature? What does that tell us about Chinese culture and mentality?
12) What are the major qualities that constitute typical feminine beauty in classical Chinese
literature? Analyze images of women in the light of Chinese aesthetic tradition.

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ARTS3456 Course Outline

Grades
All results are reviewed at the end of each semester and may be adjusted to ensure
equitable marking across the School.
The proportion of marks lying in each grading range is determined not by any formula or
quota system, but by the way that students respond to assessment tasks and how well they
meet the objectives of the course. Nevertheless, since higher grades imply performance that
is well above average, the number of distinctions and high distinctions awarded in a typical
course is relatively small. At the other extreme, on average 6.1% of students do not meet
minimum standards and a little more (8.6%) in first year courses. For more information on the
grading categories see
https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/academiclife/assessment/GuideToUNSWGrades.html
Submission of Assessment Tasks
Assignments which are submitted to the School Assignment Box must have a properly
completed School Assessment Coversheet, with the declaration signed and dated by hand.
The Coversheet can be downloaded from
https://hal.arts.unsw.edu.au/students/courses/course-outlines/. It is your responsibility to
make a backup copy of the assignment prior to submission and retain it.
Assignments must be submitted before 4:00pm on the due date. Assignments received after
this time will be marked as having been received late.
Late Submission of Assignments
Late assignments will attract a penalty. Of the total mark, 3% will be deducted each day for
the first week, with Saturday and Sunday counting as two days, and 10% each week
thereafter.
The penalty may not apply where students are able to provide documentary evidence of
illness or serious misadventure. Time pressure resulting from undertaking assignments for
other courses does not constitute an acceptable excuse for lateness.

6. Attendance/Class Clash
Attendance
Students are expected to be regular and punctual in attendance at all classes in the courses
in which they are enrolled. Explanations of absences from classes or requests for permission
to be absent from classes should be discussed with the teacher and where applicable
accompanied by a medical certificate. If students attend less than 80% of their possible
classes they may be refused final assessment.
Students who falsify their attendance or falsify attendance on behalf of another
student will be dealt with under the student misconduct policy.
Class Clash
A student who is approved a permissible clash must fulfil the following requirements:

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a. The student must provide the Course Convenor with copies of lecture notes from those
lectures missed on a regular basis as agreed by the Course Convenor and the student.
b. If a student does attend a lecture for which they had secured a permitted clash they will
still submit lecture notes as evidence of attendance.
c. Failure to meet these requirements is regarded as unsatisfactory performance in
the course and a failure to meet the Facultys course attendance requirement.
Accordingly, Course Convenors will fail students who do not meet this
performance/attendance requirement.
d. Students must attend the clashed lecture on a specific date if that lecture contains an
assessment task for the course such as a quiz or test. Inability to meet this requirement
would be grounds for a Course Convenor refusing the application. If the student misses
the said lecture there is no obligation on the Course Convenor to schedule a make-up
quiz or test and the student can receive zero for the assessment task. It should be noted
that in many courses a failure to complete an assessment task can be grounds for course
failure.

7. Academic Honesty and Plagiarism

Plagiarism is presenting someone elses thoughts or work as your own. It can take many
forms, from not having appropriate academic referencing to deliberate cheating.
In many cases plagiarism is the result of inexperience about academic conventions. The
University has resources and information to assist you to avoid plagiarism.
The Learning Centre assists students with understanding academic integrity and how to not
plagiarise. Information is available on their website: http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism/.
They also hold workshops and can help students one-on-one.
If plagiarism is found in your work when you are in first year, your lecturer will offer you
assistance to improve your academic skills. They may ask you to look at some online
resources, attend the Learning Centre, or sometimes resubmit your work with the problem
fixed. However, more serious instances in first year, such as stealing another students work
or paying someone to do your work, may be investigated under the Student Misconduct
Procedures.
Repeated plagiarism (even in first year), plagiarism after first year, or serious instances, may
also be investigated under the Student Misconduct Procedures. The penalties under the
procedures can include a reduction in marks, failing a course or for the most serious matters
(like plagiarism in an Honours thesis) or even suspension from the university. The Student
Misconduct Procedures are available here:
http://www.gs.unsw.edu.au/policy/documents/studentmisconductprocedures.pdf

8. Course Schedule
To view course timetable, please visit: http://www.timetable.unsw.edu.au/
Week

Topic

1
2

Introduction
The History of

Lecture & Tutorial

Content

Introduction
An Overview of historical

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Readings
Selected readings from

ARTS3456 Course Outline

3
4
5
6

Classical Chinese
Literature

background

Confucianism

Kongzi , Mengzi

Taoism & Buddhism

Laozi , Zhuangzi

Early Poetry

Book of Odes Shijing

Songs of Chu Chuci

Tang Poetry

Tangshi :
, , ,

Song Poetry

Songci ( )

Selected readings from

Selected readings from

Selected readings from

Selected readings in

Selected readings in

Two English essays on Chinese

Poetry and Aesthetics

Selected readings in

Poetry & Painting

Shi, Ci & Hua

Fiction

Presentation, Group 3 & 4

(on Philosophy or Poetry)

Presentation, Group 1 & 2

(on Philosophy or Poetry)

10

Chinese
Historiography

Selected readings from

Presentation, Group 5 & 6

(on Philosophy or
Poetry/Painting)

11

Chinese Literati
Tradition

Presentation, Group 7 & 8

(on Poetry or Fiction)

12

Discussion & Exam

Final test

9. Course Resources
Textbook Details
Most of the reading materials are available on the Moodle. Any additional materials will be
handed out in class.
Recommended readings (available in the Library)
Hucker, Charles O. Chinas Imperial Past (Stanford University Press, 1974)
Minford, John and Joseph S. M. Lau eds. , Classical Chinese Literature: An Anthology of
Translations, from Antiquity to the Tang Dynasty (Columbia University Press, 2000)
Minford, John and Joseph S. M. Lau eds. , A Chinese Companion to Classical Chinese Literature:

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An Anthology of Translations, from Antiquity to the Tang Dynasty(The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, 2001)
Birch, Cyril, ed. Anthology of Chinese Literature, from Early Times to the Fourteenth Century. New
York: Grove Press, 1965.
Birch, Cyril. Studies in Chinese Literary Genres. Berkerley: University of Canlifornia Press, 1974.
Bush, Susan. Chinese Literati on Painting: Si Sinh (1037-1101) to Tung Ch'i-ch'ang (1555-

1636). Cambridge, Massachusets: Harvard University Press, 1971.

Chang, Kang-I Sun. The Evolution of Chinese Tz'u Poetry: From Late T'ang to Northern Sung.
Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1980.
De Bary, Wm. Theodore and Irene Bloom, comps. Sources of Chinese Tradition, Second edition, 2
vols. New York: Columbia University Press, 1999.
Gernet, Jacques. A History of Chinese Civilization. Second edition. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 1996.
Johnston, Ian and Wang Ping. Daxue & Zhongyong, Bilingual edition. Hong Kong: The Chinese
University of Hong Kong Press, 2012.
Li, Zehou, (Meide Licheng , trans. Gong Lizeng, The Path of Beauty: A Study of
Chinese Aesthetics. Oxford University Press, 1994.
Lin, Shuen-fu. The Transformation of the Chinese Lyrical Tradition. Princeton: Princeton
University Press, 1978.
Liu, James J. Y. The Art of Chinese Poetry. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1962.
Owen, Stephen. Readings in Chinese Literary Thought. Council on East Asian Studies, Harvard
University Press, 1992.
Yu, Pauline. Voices of the Song Lyric in China. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1994
The Spread of Buddhism (see the link to the e-copy of the book below)
http://searchfirst.library.unsw.edu.au/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=UNSW&fn=se
arch&vl(freeText0)=UNSW_SFX1000000000550763

Journals
Additional Readings
Websites
Useful Links:

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http://chinese.dsturgeon.net/index.html

http://www.global.cnki.net

10. Course Evaluation and Development

Courses are periodically reviewed and students feedback is used to improve them.
Feedback is gathered using various means including UNSWs Course and Teaching
Evaluation and Improvement (CATEI) process.

11. Student Support

The Learning Centre is available for individual consultation and workshops on academic
skills. Find out more by visiting the Centres website at:
http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au

12. Grievances
All students should be treated fairly in the course of their studies at UNSW. Students who
feel they have not been dealt with fairly should, in the first instance, attempt to resolve any
issues with their tutor or the course convenors.
If such an approach fails to resolve the matter, the School of Humanities and Languages has
an academic member of staff who acts as a Grievance Officer for the School. This staff
member is identified on the notice board in the School of Humanities and languages. Further
information about UNSW grievance procedures is available at:
https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/atoz/Complaints.html

13. Other Information

myUNSW
myUNSW is the online access point for UNSW services and information, integrating online
services for applicants, commencing and current students and UNSW staff. To visit
myUNSW please visit either of the below links:
https://my.unsw.edu.au
https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/atoz/ABC.html
OHS
UNSW's Occupational Health and Safety Policy requires each person to work safely and
responsibly, in order to avoid personal injury and to protect the safety of others. For all
matters relating to Occupational Health, Safety and environment, see
http://www.ohs.unsw.edu.au/
Special Consideration

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In cases where illness or other circumstances produce repeated or sustained absence,

students should apply for Special Consideration as soon as possible.
The application must be made via Online Services in myUNSW. Log into myUNSW and go to
My Student Profile tab > My Student Services channel > Online Services > Special
Consideration.
Applications on the grounds of illness must be filled in by a medical practitioner. Further
information is available at:
https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/atoz/SpecialConsideration.html
Student Equity and Disabilities Unit
Students who have a disability that requires some adjustment in their learning and teaching
environment are encouraged to discuss their study needs with the course convener prior to
or at the commencement of the course, or with the Student Equity Officers (Disability) in the
Student Equity and Disabilities Unit (9385 4734). Information for students with disabilities is
available at: http://www.studentequity.unsw.edu.au
Issues that can be discussed may include access to materials, signers or note-takers, the
provision of services and additional examination and assessment arrangements. Early
notification is essential to enable any necessary adjustments to be made.

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