rise of modern asia, 1600-2013 syllabus (hill, oh)

8/25/2013 (Final)

Dr. Joshua Hill [email protected] Office Hours: Th 3-5 & By Appointment in Bentley Annex 413

History 2460: Rise of Modern Asia, 1600-2013 Ohio University, Fall 2013—Tu/Th 10:30-11:50am—Bentley Hall 227

Course Overview

Almost every day, you can find an article about East Asia on the front page of almost every American newspaper. Ideas, products, and challenges—ranging from viral YouTube videos, to consumer products, to the “cyberwarfare” attacks—cross the Pacific with an unparalleled rapidity. East Asia will be a (or perhaps the) critical part of the story of the twenty-first century world. The ability to understand and contextualize events in East Asia will be crucial to being an informed person in the coming decades. This course will introduce students to the historical origins of contemporary East Asia by focusing on changes and continuities in the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean experiences during the early modern and modern periods. This course is open to all students. No background in East Asian history or languages is assumed or required.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the semester, students should be able (a) to enumerate major political, economic, social and intellectual characteristics of China, Japan, and Korea, (b) to discuss how those characteristics have changed over time, (c) to identify specific individuals and events that illustrate these characteristics and the ways in which they have changed, (d) to articulate useful connections and comparisons between China, Japan, and Korea, both historically and in the present day, (e) to be comfortable analyzing primary source documents.

Required Texts

The following two texts are required for this course. They have been ordered at local bookstores and also have been placed on reserve at Alden Library. Additional readings are available online.

• Jonathan Lipman, Barbara Molony, and Michael Robinson, Modern East Asia: An Integrated History (Pearson, 2012). [ISBN-10: 0321234901; ISBN-13: 9780321234902]

• Angilee Shah and Jeffrey Wasserstrom, Chinese Characters: Profiles of Fast-Changing Lives in a Fast-Changing Land (University of California, 2012). [ISBN: 9780520270275]

History 2460, Fall 2013: 2/8

Schedule of Lectures and Readings Readings marked with an asterisk (*) are available online through the course Blackboard site. Reading assignments are divided into two components: “textbook reading” and “discussion reading.” You should complete both before class. Class discussion will focus specifically on the assigned “discussion reading,” but generally you will need to read the “textbook reading” first in order to make sense of the “discussion reading.” Each class meeting also requires you to prepare a brief “written assignment” that is intended to help you prepare for classroom discussion. This should be a 2-3 sentence reaction to the given prompt. Be prepared to share your “written assignment” with the class. Please save all of your “written assignments” in a single place—either a single MS Word (or Open Office) file, or on several pages of your notebook. You will be asked to periodically upload your “written assignments” to the course Blackboard site.

··························· I. INTRODUCTION TO EAST ASIAN HISTORY ···························· 1 • 8/27 (Tu) Thinking About East Asia: Names, Places, and Big Ideas

Textbook Reading— Modern East Asia Chap. 1 [pp. 14-27]

Discussion Reading— None

Written Assignment— None

2 • 8/29 (Th) The East Asian Textual Tradition: How to Be a Confucian Sage


Discussion Reading— Selections from The Analects* [6 pgs.]

Written Assignment— Select one quote from The Analects that interests

you and explain why you chose it.

Quiz #1— General East Asian Geography

·················· II. EAST ASIA’S LAST “TRADITIONAL” STATES, 1600-1868 ·················· 3 • 9/3 (Tu) The Ming Dynasty and the Chinese Literati


Discussion Reading— “Ming Family Instructions”* [7 pgs.]

Written Assignment— What were Ming era “family values”?

4 • 9/5 (Th) Samurai in Warring States Japan and Yangban in Choson Korea


Discussion Reading— Samurai movie clips*

Written Assignment— What is a samurai?

Quiz #2— Terms from Meetings 2-4

History 2460, Fall 2013: 3/8

5 • 9/10 (Tu) The Manchu Invasion and China’s Qing Dynasty in the 17th Century


Discussion Reading— “The Yangzhou Massacre”* [8 pgs.]

Written Assignment— How would you characterize the Qing conquest?

6 • 9/12 (Th) Japan’s Tokugawa Shogunate and a New Domestic Order in the 17th Century


Discussion Reading— Japanese Ukiyo-e Video and Images*

Written Assignment— Select one image. What does it reveal about Japan?


7 • 9/17 (Tu) Qing China and 18th Century “Globalization”


Discussion Reading— Macartney and Qianlong Documents* [6 pgs.]

Written Assignment— Is this a clash of interests or a clash of cultures?

8 • 9/19 (Th) Tokugawa Japan and Choson Korea in the 18th Century World


Discussion Reading— Dejima images*

Written Assignment— Compare Chinese, Japanese, and Korean relations

with the West during the 18th century.


9 • 9/24 (Tu) 19th Century Challenges and Qing China’s Response(s)


Discussion Reading— Taiping Rebellion Documents* [9 pgs.]

Written Assignment— How would you characterize the Taiping rebels?

10 • 9/26 (Th) Mid-19th Century Regime Crisis in Tokugawa Japan and Choson Korea


Discussion Reading— Selections from “Black Ships & Samurai”*

Written Assignment— Evaluate the Japanese images of Perry. What do

they indicate to you?

Quiz #5— Geography from Meetings 3-10

11 • 10/1 (Tu) Review—Qing China, Tokugawa Japan, and Choson Korea, 1600-1868

Textbook Reading— Review Modern East Asia Chap. 1-5

Discussion Reading— Review Meetings 2-10 Discussion Readings

Written Assignment— Bring 3 proposed midterm IDs

History 2460, Fall 2013: 4/8

12 • 10/3 (Th) One Hour Midterm Exam

(Remember to bring your own blue book!)

···················· III. EAST ASIA IN AN AGE OF IMPERIALISM, 1868-1945 ····················· 13 • 10/8 (Tu) Japan’s Meiji Restoration and Late 19th Century Transformations


Discussion Reading— Fukuzawa Yukichi “Goodbye Asia”* [2 pgs.]

Written Assignment— Was the Meiji Restoration “successful”? Why?

14 • 10/10 (Th) Late 19th Century Self-Strengthening in Qing China and Choson Korea


Discussion Reading— “Illustrations of China…, Vol. 3” (1874)*

Written Assignment— What do you conclude from these pictures? Why?


15 • 10/15 (Tu) A New Japanese Empire in East Asia, 1890s-1910s


Discussion Reading— Excerpts from 1895 Li-Ito Negotiations* [7 pgs.]

Written Assignment— Characterize the Li-Ito Negotiations.

16 • 10/17 (Th) Revolution and the End of Dynastic China, 1890s-1910s


Discussion Reading— Liang Qichao, “Notes on a Trip to America”*

Written Assignment— What does Liang think about “democracy”?


17 • 10/22 (Tu) Japan’s “Imperial Democracy” at Home and Abroad, 1910s-1930s


Discussion Reading— Konoe, “Against a Pacifism…”* [3 pgs.]

Written Assignment— How does Konoe see Japan’s place in the world?

18 • 10/24 (Th) The Republic, the Nation, and the Search for Answers in China, 1910s-1930s


Discussion Reading— Lu Xun’s “Diary of a Madman”*

Written Assignment— What does Lu Xun’s story mean?


History 2460, Fall 2013: 5/8

19 • 10/29 (Tu) Japan and the Great East Asian War, 1931-1945

Textbook Reading— Modern East Asia Chap. 9 [pp. 280-293, 304-317]

Discussion Reading— “Comfort Women” Reading*

Written Assignment— What caused the war in East Asia?

20 • 10/31 (Th) China and the Great East Asian War, 1931-1945


Discussion Reading— New York Times articles on Fall of Nanjing*

Written Assignment— React to these New York Times articles.

Quiz #9— Geography from Meetings 13-19

······················ IV. EAST ASIA RISING FROM THE ASHES, 1945-2000 ······················ 21 • 11/5 (Tu) The War’s Immediate Aftermath in Japan, China, and Korea, 1945-1949

Textbook Reading— Modern East Asia Chap. 10 [pp. 331-340; 342-354]

Discussion Reading— Mao Zedong “Report”*

Written Assignment— What strikes you about Mao’s “Report”?

22 • 11/7 (Th) East Asia and the Cold War, 1950s


Discussion Reading— Korean War Propaganda*

Written Assignment— Analyze one of these images.


23 • 11/12 (Tu) “Permanent” Revolution in China, 1950s-1976


Discussion Reading— Cultural Revolution Images and “The East Is Red”*

Written Assignment— Can a revolution be made “permanent”? How?

24 • 11/14 (Th) Growth and Construction in Japan and Korea, 1950s-1980s


Discussion Reading— Clips from Ohayō* (1959)

Written Assignment— Assess the significance of these film clips.


25 • 11/19 (Tu) China, Japan, and the End of the Cold War in East Asia, 1970s-1990s


Discussion Reading— Nixon-Mao Transcript*

Written Assignment— Evaluate Nixon and Mao based on their discussion.

History 2460, Fall 2013: 6/8

26 • 11/21 (Th) South Korea, North Korea, and the Continuation of the Cold War in East Asia

Textbook Reading— Modern East Asia Chap. 12 [pp.405-414]

Discussion Reading— “Kim Jong-il’s Sushi Chef”*

Written Assignment— Assess the Kim family.


······························· V. CONCLUSION: EAST ASIA TODAY ································ 27 • 11/26 (Tu) China, Japan, and Korea at the Dawn of a New Century


Discussion Reading— 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony*

Written Assignment— None

28 • 12/3 (Tu) Thinking about Contemporary China in 2013

Textbook Reading— Chinese Characters [pp. ix-xiii, 1-13, 89-130, 212-

221, and portion of book assigned to your group.]

Discussion Reading— Same

Written Assignment— TBA

Quiz #13— Chinese Characters

29 • 12/5 (Th) A Chinese Century? An East Asian Century? A Pacific Century?

Textbook Reading— None

Discussion Reading— Images of Contemporary Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul*

Written Assignment— TBA

30 • 12/10 (Tu) Two Hour Final Exam at 10:10am in Bentley Hall 227

(Remember to bring your own blue book!)

History 2460, Fall 2013: 7/8

Grading Information Exams (50%): This course requires all students to take a written midterm exam (on 10/3) and a written final exam (on 12/10). The midterm exam will cover all materials (including lectures, textbook reading, and discussion reading) introduced before 10/3. The final exam will cover all materials (including lectures, textbook reading, and discussion reading) introduced during the semester, but approximately 2/3 of the exam will focus on post-midterm materials. The midterm exam is worth 20%, and the final exam 30%, of the final course grade. Students are responsible for bringing their own blue books to both exams.

Quizzes (30%): 12 in-class quizzes will be given at the start of lecture (see the schedule above for dates). These quizzes will ask you to identify and assess the significance of key terms, individuals, and places from the course readings. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped, and the average of the remaining 11 quiz grades will comprise 30% of your final course grade. Study guides may be provided for some of these quizzes. Quiz grades will be posted to Blackboard, but quiz papers will not be returned to students unless a special request is made.

Classroom Performance (20%): Participation in class will also comprise part of each student’s final grade. Students are expected to complete the assigned reading before each class meeting and should be able to discuss them in detail. This portion of the course grade will be based on sustained and meaningful engagement with in-classroom discussions. The “written assignments” listed on the syllabus are considered an aspect of this. These “written assignments” must be uploaded to the Blackboard site when required by the instructor. This will happen at irregular, unannounced times.

Letter and Number Grades: Number grades (which will be given on all assignments) will be converted into a final letter grade (which will appear on your student record) according to the following—A (93-100), A- (90-92), B+ (88-89), B (83-87), B- (80-82), C+ (78-79), C (73-77), C- (70-72), D+ (68-69), D (63-67), D- (60-62), and F (0-59).

History 2460, Fall 2013: 8/8

Course Policies Attendance: Students are expected to attend all lectures. Attendance may be taken without advance notice and/or students may be “cold called” to participate based on the class roster. Every student will be allowed one unexcused absence without penalty, but unexcused absences in excess of this will result in a reduction of the final grade. For an absence to be excused for serious illness, family or religious obligations, or other reasons, students must present compelling and appropriate documentation. For further information on acceptable forms of documentation see the Undergraduate Catalog’s “Class Attendance Policy.” Students are responsible for presenting this documentation either in advance of the absence or as soon after the absence as possible. Make-Up Work and Early Exams/Quizzes: Quizzes and the midterm exam can only be “made up” in the event of an excused absence. Quizzes and exams (including the final exam) will not be given earlier than date listed on the syllabus. Etiquette: The basic rules of courtesy for everyday life also apply in the classroom. If you arrive late or leave early, be quiet and non-disruptive. Cellphones should be silenced and should not be used in the classroom. Laptop computers are permitted for academic use only. Blackboard: This course makes extensive use of Blackboard and official university email accounts for distributing information and materials to students. Students are expected to be familiar with both systems and to check both accounts regularly. Email: Please begin your emails with an appropriate salutation (e.g., Dear Prof. Hill…) and conclude them with your name. This is especially important if you use an email account that is not your university account. Please begin your email’s subject line by identifying the course (e.g., HIST 3461) you are enrolled in. Plagiarism and Cheating: Ohio University’s policies on plagiarism and cheating (available online at http://www.ohio.edu/communitystandards/academic/students.cfm) will be enforced in this class. Plagiarism or cheating will result in a failing grade for the course. Emergencies: In the event of a major emergency or other circumstances beyond the instructor’s control, course requirements, deadlines, and grading percentages may be subject to change. Detailed information on these changes will be posted to the course Blackboard site. Students with Disabilities: Any student who suspects s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss your specific needs and provide written documentation from the Office of Student Accessibility Services. If you are not yet registered as a student with a disability, please contact the Office of Student Accessibility Services at 740-593-2620 or visit the office in 348 Baker University Center. Intellectual Property: The lectures, classroom activities, and all materials associated with this class and developed by the instructor are copyrighted in the name of Joshua Hill on August 25, 2013. Advance permission should be sought from the instructor before audio or visual recordings of class are made.