Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Oriental Culture

Oriental Culture
3
13578
4
Second semester
OB
Main language of instruction: Catalan

Other languages of instruction: English, Spanish

Teaching staff


Dr. HERNANDEZ SERRET, Joan - jhernandezs@uic.es

Introduction

The thematic scope of this course is certainly vast, as it does not only cover a large geographic extension, mainly India and China, but it also comprises a large historical stretch, from the early beginnings of civilization to nowadays.

This course is structured in five thematic modules which cover the main geographic, religious, literary, and artistic characteristics of East Asia.

Pre-course requirements

There are no previous requirements expected to undertake this course.

Objectives

This course’s learning goals are:

  • Acquire a global and comprehensive understanding of East Asian countries in all of their aspects (their geography, ethnicity, culture, politics and economy).
  • Understanding the social, political, cultural and religious realities of East Asian civilizations.
  • Understanding the geographical and historical characteristics which influenced the beginnings and development of East Asian cultures.
  • Understanding the parallel historical development of Indian and Chinese cultures.
  • Stimulating the development of reflective and critical abilities departing from comparative and intercultural analysis.  

Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme

  • E27 - Ability to work in multicultural contexts.
  • E29 - Skills for mediating in conflicts involving intercultural factors.
  • E39 - Ability to criticise and self-criticise in an intercultural dialogue and the ability to adapt and converse in a multi- or intercultural setting (versatility, ability to handle unforeseen problems and generate alternative solutions).
  • G02 - To lead, cooordinate and form part of interdisciplinary work teams.
  • G07 - To know how to apply and adapt to new technologies in processes of cultural management, production and dissemination.
  • G11 - Ability to work in an international context.

Learning outcomes of the subject

The learning outcomes are partly included in the previous competencies.

  1. To learn and use correctly a basic vocabulary of Asian languages, relative to the course’s various subjects.
  2. To situate each one of the East Asian cultural traditions and relate correctly to them.
  3. To acquire a deep understanding of the historical, literary and artistic origins and developments of the countries studied in this course.
  4. To reach a certain level of familiarity with Asian thought and texts.
  5. To develop analytical and observational abilities of artistic processes.
  6. To look for a deep understanding of the concepts and doctrines studied, relating them to the problems and needs they respond to.

Syllabus

Part 1. East Asian Geography

  1. Population and East Asian geography
  2. Ethnic diversity and ways of living in East Asia.

Part 2. India

  1. Thought and religion
  2. History
  3. Literature
  4. Culture and society

Part 3. China

  1. Thought and religion
  2. History
  3. Literature
  4. Culture and Society

Part 4. Asia in the West

Part 5. Art in East Asia

  1. Art in Europe and in Asia in comparative perspective
  2. Art of the elite: calligraphy
  3. Art of the elite: painting
  4. Art and religion
  5. Contemporary art in China and Japan

Teaching and learning activities

In person



The content of the sessions will be presented in the form of lectures, films and interactive support materials. Presentations on different topics and the reading of the bibliography will be proposed to enhance the participation of the students and promote the dynamization of the sessions.

Evaluation systems and criteria

In person



FIRST AND SECOND CALL

  • 50%  participation in the classroom
  • 50% paper presentation 
* According to faculty regulations, at least 0.10 points will be deducted for each misspelling in exams and papers.

Bibliography and resources

Bibliography

  • Bailey, Paul (2002). China en el siglo XX. Barcelona: Ariel. 
  • Bauer, W. (2009). Historia de la filosofía china. Barcelona: Herder Editorial. 
  • Cheng, F. L'écriture poétique chinoise. París: Seuil, 1996. 
  • Fung, Y. (1953). A History of Chinese Philosophy. Princeton, Nova Jersey: Princeton University Press.    
  • Hsu, Emmanuel (2000). The Rise of Modern China. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Idema, W.; 
  • Haft, L. A Guide to Chinese Literature. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1997.  
  • Kaltenmark, M. (1982). La filosofía china Madrid: Morata. 
  • Lai, K. L. (2008). An Introduction to Chinese Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 
  • Lariviére, J. Y Marchand, J. (1999): Géographie de la Chine. París: Armand Colin. 
  • Mackerras, C. (1995) Eastern Asia an introductory history. Melbourne: Longman. 
  • Mair, V. (ed.). The Columbia History of Chinese Literature. Nova York: Columbia University Press, 2001. 
  • Minford, J.; Lau, J.S.M. (ed.). Classical Chinese Literature. Nova York: Columbia Universtiy Press, 1996.  
  • Nienhauser, W. The Indiana Companion to Chinese Literature. Taipei: SMC Publishing, 1986. 
  • Panikkar, R. (1997). La experiencia filosofica de la India. Madrid: Trotta 
  • Puech, H. Ch. (dir.) (1984). Historia de las religiones Siglo XXI. Las religiones antiguas, III. Madrid: Siglo XXI. 
  • Sen, A. (2007). India Contemporánea. Entre la modernidad y la tradición. Barcelona: Editorial Gedisa. 
  • Stearns, Peter N. (General Ed.) (2001), The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth Edition (pàg. 790). Nova York: Houghton Mifflin Company. 
  • Weigtman, B. (2002). Dragons and Tigers: geography of South, East and Southeast Asia. Nova York: Wiley & Sons. Xina 
  • Adler, J. A. (2005). Religiones chinas. Madrid: Akal.
Print version