Reading Medieval China through Dunhuang Manuscripts

(4 Credits)

The course is designed to present ordinary people's life in medieval China through the window of Dunhuang manuscripts. The materials discussed in the course will cover religious beliefs, divinatory practices, social interactions, governmental administration, medical treatment, etc. The course will also train students to read and translate raw, unedited primary sources. Furthermore, the course will also present the uniqueness of manuscripts compared to transmitted texts. Students will be introduced to important reference books. Through class discussions and translation homework, the course aims to prepare students for further study of premodern China. Prerequisite: CHIN-SHU 301 Advanced Chinese I or placed out of Advanced Chinese I or native Chinese speakers. Fulfillment: Core HPC/IPC; GCS Chinese for Advanced Undergraduate Research; GCS Advanced-track Language course for Native Chinese Speakers. (Fulfill the language requirement for study away students who are native speakers of Chinese).