The goal of this course is to introduce students to some of the research tools and source materials available for the study of China in the imperial period. Emphasis will be placed on the tools and sources that are particularly useful for the study of the history of later imperial China.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the term, students should:
- be able to identify and evaluate some of the more important research tools for classical Chinese studies;
- have gained some experience in preparing an annotated translation of a classical Chinese text.
Assessment of Learning
For more details on the individual components, see the Assessment section.
| Attendance/Participation | 25% |
| Research guide | 25% |
| Annotated translation | 50% |
Important Dates
| Sep. 5 | Imagine UBC (no class) |
| Sep. 11 | First session |
| Sep. 18 | Last date to withdraw without the “W” standing |
| Oct. 2 | National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (no class) |
| Oct. 2–6 | Individual meetings with the instructor |
| Oct. 9 | Thanksgiving Day (no class) |
| Oct. 12 | Make-up “Monday” (class meets) |
| Oct. 27 | Last date to withdraw |
| Nov. 13–15 | Mid-term break |
| Dec. 4 | Last session / Research guide due |
| Dec. 20 | Annotated translation due |
Resources
- Wilkinson, Endymion. Chinese History: A New Manual, 6th ed., 2 vols. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Asia Center, 2022. Digital edition available through Pleco.
- Classical Historiography for Chinese History (Benjamin A. Elman)
- Song Research Tools (Hilde De Weerdt)
- Guide to Ming Studies (permanently beta) (Leo K. Shin)
- Cohen, Alvin, P. Introduction to Research in Chinese Source Materials. New Haven, Conn.: Far Eastern Publications, Yale University, 2000.
- Chinaknowledge (Ulrich Theobald)
- Chicago Manual of Style (Quick Guide)
- How to Cite Asian-Language Sources (UBC)
- Notes on Romanization (Library of Congress)
Acknowledgment
UBC’s Point Grey Campus is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. The land it is situated on has always been a place of learning for the Musqueam people, who for millennia have passed on their culture, history, and traditions from one generation to the next on this site.