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21G.044

Classics of Chinese Literature in Translation

3-0-9 units. HASS-H · Undergraduate

Introduction to some of the major genres of traditional Chinese poetry, fiction, and drama. Intended to give students a basic understanding of the central features of traditional Chinese literary genres, as well as to introduce students to the classic works of the Chinese literary tradition. Works read include Journey to the West, Outlaws of the Margin, Dream of the Red Chamber, and the poetry of the major Tang dynasty poets. Literature read in translation. Taught in English.

Fall 2011 · Classics of Chinese Literature

Topics

  • Introduction
  • Discussion of chapters 94, 98, 116, 119, 120
  • Party

Readings

  • Shi, Nai’an, and Guanzhong Luo. Outlaws of the Marsh: An Abridged Version . Translated by Shapiro Sidney. Commercial Press, 1986. ISBN: 9789620710674.
    Required
  • Wang, Shi-fu. The Story of the Western Wing . Edited and translated by Stephen H. West and Wilt L. Idema. University of California Press, 1995. ISBN: 9780520201842. [Preview with Google Books ] ↗
    Required
  • Wu, Ch’eng-en. Monkey: Folk Novel of China . Translated by Arthur Waley. Grove/Atlantic, 1994. ISBN: 9780802130860.
    Required
  • Cao, Xueqin. The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber, Vol. 1: The Golden Days . Translated by David Hawkes. Penguin Group, 1974. ISBN: 9780140442939.
    Required
  • Owen, Stephen. An Anthology of Chinese Literature: Beginnings to 1911 . Edited and translated by Stephen Owen. W. W. Norton & Company, 1996. ISBN: 9780393038231.
    Recommended
  • Cao, Xueqin. The Story of the Stone, Vol. 2: The Crab-Flower Club . Edited by E. Gao and translated by David Hawkes and John Minford. Penguin, 1977. ISBN: 9780140443264.
    Recommended
  • Lanling Xiaoxiao Sheng [pseud.]. Plum in the Golden Vase, or Chin P’ing Mei . Vol. 1–4. Translated by David To Roy. Princeton University Press, 1997-2011. ISBN: 9780691150437.
    Listed reading
  • Fu, Shen. Six Records of a Floating Life . Edited and translated by Leonard Pratt and Su-Hui Chiang. Penguin Group, 1983. ISBN: 9780140444292.
    Listed reading
  • Tang, Xianzu. The Peony Pavilion: Mudan ting . 2nd ed. Translated by Cyril Birch. Indiana University Press, 2002. ISBN: 9780253215277. [Preview with Google Books ] ↗
    Listed reading
  • Lo, Kuan-chong. Three Kingdoms: China’s Epic Drama . Translated by Moss Roberts. Pantheon Books, 1977. ISBN: 9780394733937.
    Listed reading
  • Wu, Cheng’en. The Monkey and the Monk: An Abridgment of the Journey to the West . Edited and translated by Anthony C. Yu. University of Chicago Press, 2006. ISBN: 9780226971568. [Preview with Google Books ] ↗
    Listed reading
  • [ Owen Anthology ] = Owen, Stephen. An Anthology of Chinese Literature: Beginnings to 1911 . Edited and translated by Stephen Owen. W. W. Norton & Company, 1996. ISBN: 9780393038231.
    Listed reading
  • WEEK: 1: Introduction · READINGS: None
    Reading assignment
  • -Be prepared to read aloud the following readings in [ Owen Anthology ]:
    Listed reading
  • -Be prepared for group work on the following readings in [ Owen Anthology ]:
    Listed reading
  • The chapter of “The Tang Dynasty,” pp. 365–84
    Listed reading
  • Selected content in the chapter of “High Tang Poetry,” including:
    Listed reading
  • “Ying-ying’s Story,” in [ Owen Anthology ], pp. 540–9.
    Listed reading
  • Birch, Cyril. “An Account of the Governor of the Southern Branch.” In The Columbia Anthology of Traditional Chinese Literature . Edited by Victor H. Mair and translated by Cyril Birch. Columbia University Press, 1994, pp. 861–71.
    Listed reading
  • Lung, Conrad. “Artisan Tsui and his Ghost Wife.” In Traditional Chinese Stories: Themes and Variations . Edited by Y. W. Ma and Joseph S. M. Lau and translated by Conrad Lung. Cheng & Tsui, 1986, pp. 252–63. ISBN: 9780887270710.
    Listed reading
  • Kelly, Jeanne. “The Pearl Shirt Reencountered.” In Traditional Chinese Stories: Themes and Variations . Edited by Y. W. Ma and Joseph S. M. Lau and translated by Jeanne Kelly. Cheng & Tsui, 1986, pp. 264–92. ISBN: 9780887270710.
    Listed reading
  • Zeitlin, Judith T. “Appendix: Translations.” In Historian of the Strange: Pu Songling and the Chinese Classical Tale . Stanford University Press, 1993, pp. 207–18. ISBN: 9780804720854.
    Listed reading
  • Li, Yu. “An Ugly Husband Fears a Pretty Wife.” In Silent Operas (Wushengxi) . Edited by Patrick Hanan. Research Centre for Translation, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996, pp. 3–42.
    Listed reading
  • WEEK: 4: Introduction to Drama: The Story of the Western Wing · READINGS: Begin reading Wang, Shi-fu. The Story of the Western Wing . Edited and translated by Stephen H. West and Wilt L. Idema. University of California Press, 1995. ISBN: 9780520201842. [Preview with Google Books ] ↗
    Reading assignment
  • Focus on pp. 191-245 and 277-286 from Wang, Shi-fu. The Story of the Western Wing . Edited and translated by Stephen H. West and Wilt L. Idema. University of California Press, 1995. ISBN: 9780520201842. [Preview with Google Books ] ↗
    Listed reading
  • Read the following selected chapters in Lo, Kuan-chung. Three Kingdoms: China’s Epic Drama . Edited and translated by Moss Roberts. Pantheon Books, 1977. ISBN: 9780394733937.
    Listed reading
  • WEEK: 7: Introduction to the Novel: Three Kingdoms (cont.) · READINGS: Continue reading the above selections from Lo, Kuan-chung. Three Kingdoms: China’s Epic Drama . Edited and translated by Moss Roberts. Pantheon Books, 1977. ISBN: 9780394733937.
    Reading assignment
  • Shi, Nai’an, and Guanzhong Luo. Chapters 1–3, 6, 9–13, 14, and 18 in Outlaws of the Marsh: An Abridged Version . Translated by Sidney Shapiro. Commercial Press, 1986. ISBN: 9789620710674.
    Listed reading
  • ———. Chapters 1, 82, and 100 in Outlaws of the Marsh . Vol. 1–2. Translated by Sidney Shapiro. Indiana University Press, 1981, pp. 1–4, 1295–310, and 1387–605. ISBN: 9780253125743.
    Listed reading
  • Watch Water Margin: True Colors of Heroes , directed by Billy Chan. Film, 1993.
    Listed reading
  • Watch Monkey Goes West , directed by Meng Hua Ho. Film, 1966. Chinese Odyssey Part One: Pandora’s Box , directed by Jeffery Lau. Film, 1994. Or Red Cliffs , directed by John Woo. Film, 2008.
    Listed reading
  • Wu, Ch’eng-en. Monkey: Folk Novel of China . Translated by Arthur Waley. Grove/Atlantic, 1994. ISBN: 9780802130860. (Note: if you are pressed for time skip Chapters 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 23, and 27.)
    Listed reading
  • Chang, H. C., trans. “The Women’s Kingdom.” Chapters 54–55 in The Columbia Anthology of Traditional Chinese Literature . Edited by Victor H. Mair. Columbia University Press, 1994, pp. 1035–71.
    Listed reading
  • Wu, Ch’eng-en. Monkey: Folk Novel of China . Translated by Arthur Waley. Grove/Atlantic, 1994.
    Listed reading
  • Begin reading the following selected chapters in Cao, Xueqin. The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber . Vol. 1–5. Edited by E. Gao and translated by David Hawkes and John Minford. Penguin Group, 1973–86. ISBN: 9780140442939.
    Listed reading
  • Vol. 1: Chapters of Introduction, 1–6, 8, 11–13, 15, 17, 22–23, and 25
    Listed reading
  • Vol. 2: Chapter of 37–39 and 41
    Listed reading
  • Vol. 3: Chapter of 73–74
    Listed reading
  • Vol. 4: Chapter of 94–98
    Listed reading
  • Vol. 5: Chapter of 116 and 119–120
    Listed reading
  • WEEK: 11: Dream of the Red Chamber · READINGS: Continue reading the selections from Cao, Xueqin. The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber . Vol. 1–5. Edited by E. Gao and translated by David Hawkes and John Minford. Penguin Group, 1973–86. ISBN: 9780140442939.
    Reading assignment
  • WEEK: 12: Dream of the Red Chamber (cont.) · READINGS: Watch Dream of the Red Chamber, directed by Han Chin. Film, 1978.
    Reading assignment
  • WEEK: 13: Begin presentations · READINGS: (no readings)
    Reading assignment
  • WEEK: 14: Presentations (cont.) · READINGS: (no readings)
    Reading assignment
  • WEEK: 15: Final day of class · READINGS: (no readings)
    Reading assignment

Prerequisites & course information

Same subject as 21L.494[J] , WGS.235[J] Subject meets with 21G.195 Prereq: None U (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-H

Sources