INST 203: East Asian Studies

International Studies 203 compares China and Japan. After a brief look at the cultural heritage of both countries, we compare their experiences with Western imperialism, Fascism, and Communism, and then post-World War Two developments.

The class is divided into units, each of which ends with a "Focus Class" or small discussion group. The reading is divided into four parts:

  1. "JS" refers to the historical Essays in the Japan Society Website. Go to http://journey.japansociety.org/indepth, then scroll to the essays. Read what fits the time period under discussion.
  2. "PDF" refers to an Adobe Portable Document Format file that we will explain in class.
  3. The following texts are available at the Ole Miss bookstore:
    Conrad Schirokauer, Modern East Asia: A Brief History.
    Elizabeth Bumiller, The Secrets of Mariko.
  4. The following text is available free online at NetLibrary.
    Mak, James, Japan: Why it Works, Why it Doesn't

As the syllabus shows, there are two Mid-term Examinations (February 14 and March 9), two "Reaction Papers" (January 31 and April 13), and a two hour Final Examination scheduled by the Registrar. The Reaction Papers should be no more than three typed pages. They will be on the Chinese family and the question of human rights. Details will be discussed in class. Active participation in class is absolutely required!

The two instructors will aim to reward effort and improvement on your part, but basically class performance, the two mid-term exams, the papers and the final examination will each count 20%.

Peter Frost's office is Croft 216. His phone is x-3771, and his e-mail is pkf at olemiss dot edu. Gang Guo's office is Lester 213. His phone is x-5419 and his e-mail is gg at olemiss dot edu. Office hours announced in class. Please help us get to know you!

Note 1: If you can not open the PDF files you may need to download and install the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Note 2: If you can not open the PowerPoint files you may need to download and install the free PowerPoint Viewer.

CLASS SCHEDULE

    China's Heritage:

    In this section of the course, we look at the traditional values of China from earliest times up to the mid-nineteenth century arrival of the West.

  1. Introduction: Geography (Jan. 17)
    Schirokauer, 2-41 and PowerPoint
  2. Chinese Religions (Jan. 19)
    Confucius (PDF) & Taoism (PDF); PowerPoint note
  3. The Traditional Chinese State (Jan. 24)
    Ming Voyages (PDF) and Macartney (PDF); PowerPoint note
  4. Farm Families (Jan. 26)
    Video "Small Happiness" in class.
    Reaction Paper due at the start of the next class

    Japan's Heritage:

    In this section, we look at the comparable Japanese values, and discuss why Christian missions had difficulties in both countries.

  5. Japanese Religions (Jan. 31)
    Schirokauer, 59-82.
    Suzuki (PDF)
  6. The Traditional Japanese State (Feb. 2)
    Elisonas (JS "Tokugawa"), Arai (PDF), and Cook (PDF)
  7. Farm Families (Feb. 7)
    Video "Farm Song" in class.
  8. Focus Class: Christianity (Feb. 9)
    Schirokauer, 83-99, Elison (PDF), "Rites Controversy," and "Taiping Rebellion," (PowerPoint note)
  9. Midterm #1 (Feb. 14)

    World War Two in China:

    This section of the course takes us from the arrival of the Western powers in China in the 1800's through the establishment of the Chinese Republic in 1911, the war with Japan and the conflicts between the Chinese Nationalists and Japan.

  10. The Chinese Nationalist Revolution (Feb. 16)
    Schirokauer, 193-218 (PDF)
    Chiang Kai-shek 1938 (PDF)
    PowerPoint note
  11. The Communists (Feb. 21)
    Schirokauer, 272-325.
    Mao 1927
  12. The People's Republic (Feb. 23)
    Schirokauer, 326-367.
    PowerPoint note

    On Monday, February 27, Professor Melanie Manion gives a talk on corruption in China (PowerPoint note) at 19:00 in 107 Croft Institute.

    Japan's World War Two Experience:

    Here we look at Japan's experiences during the same time period. The Focus Class will be on war crimes will compare and contrast war crimes in the period.

  13. Japan Goes to War (Feb. 28)
    Dower (JS), Trefousse (PDF), timeline
  14. Japan at War (Mar. 2)
    Mishima, Morris (PDF)
  15. Focus Class: NANJING & HIROSHIMA (March 7)
    Stimson (PDF), Yoshida (PDF)
  16. Midterm #2 (March 9)

    China Modernizes:

    We turn now to China's struggle to become a modern nation under Communist rule.

  17. Midterm #2 continued (March 21)
  18. Development Strategies (March 23)
    Li ShuangShuang (PDF)
  19. Education (March 28)
    Guo (PDF)
  20. Marriage & Family (March 30)
    Yan (PDF)
  21. Coping Internationally (April 4)
    timeline, Clinton (PDF)
    Video in class: To Have and Have Not.
  22. No Class (April 6)
    (GG/PKF at the Association of Asian Studies Conference)
  23. Focus Class: Life in China (April 11)
    P.R.C. State Council: China's Progress in Human Rights in 2004
    U.S. State Department: Human Rights 2005 - China
    Human rights paper due at the start of the next class

    Japan Modernizes:

    This unit analyzes Japan's struggle to become a modern nation under capitalist rule.

  24. Development Strategies (Apr. 13)
    Schirokauer, 369-394, Mak, 167-171, 185-193
  25. Politics and Law (April 18)
    Upham (PDF)
    Pascale & Rohlen (PDF)
  26. Education (April 20)
    Rohlen (PDF), Mak, 21-26, 73-81
  27. Marriage & Family (Apr. 25)
    Mak, 11-19, Allison (PDF), LaFleur (PDF)
  28. Coping Internationally (April 27)
    Video in class, "The Colonel Comes to Japan"
    (Start Bumiller and Mak for our final class)
  29. Asia Today: (May 2)
    Schirokauer, 426-432 (PowerPoint note)
    (Continue Bumiller and Mak)
  30. Focus Class: Life in Japan (May 4)
    Bumiller, especially 1-29, 253-334 (100 pages) and selections from Mak that you choose.
  31. FINAL EXAMINATION (May 9)

Paper Notes:

  1. Unexcused late papers will be penalized 5 points every 24 hours.
  2. Allow time to proofread. Good writing is essential.
  3. Footnote any source that is not common knowledge, including help (which we hope you will seek) from classmates. Use footnotes or endnotes, but NOT notes in the text itself.
  4. Underline foreign terms without capitals (li, tatemae), but not names.
  5. Remember that family names come first: Mao Zedong is Chairman Mao, not Chairman Zedong. Similarly, Tojo Hideki is General Tojo.
  6. Be sure to recognize all sides of an argument before giving your opinion. One-sided bombasts are not scholarly.
  7. Finally, please note that academic honesty is not only a mark of a good scholar, but also a good person.