《楚文化：历史、文学和传统》

Teachers

Aiju Wang, Weiqun Wang , Yanyu Zhou, Xiaoyan Yang, Xining Zhou

First day of classes

 June 26th

Last day of classes

 July 21st

Course Credit

2

Course Description

Course Introduction

楚国是春秋战国时期的强国，留下了丰富的文化遗产，至今仍在影响着中国。《楚文化： 历史、文学和传统》这门通识课程旨在用英文介绍中国楚地文化，为期11周。在这门课程中，我们将和同学们一起探索中国古代楚国的历史、文学和习俗及其对当今中国社会的影响。 具体安排如下：

第一部分 楚文化的界定和形成

第1周：楚国的地理和环境，以及楚国崛起的主导原因。

第2周：楚国的历史及楚国和楚地在中国古代更大背景下的地位。

第3周：中国历史上最伟大的诗人之一屈原的生平和作品《离骚》。

第4周：传奇人物项羽和刘邦之间的竞争即楚汉之争及其对中国历史的影响。

第二部分 楚国的人文遗迹

第5周：黄鹤楼、中国传统弦乐器古琴、伯牙子期的知音之交。

第6周：岳阳楼、范仲淹的名篇《岳阳楼》及“先天下之忧而忧、后天下之乐而乐”的中国士大夫阶层的人文精神。

第7周：滕王阁及《滕王阁记》。

第三部分 楚文化和名人对现代中国的影响

第8周：从太平天国到洋务运动：曾国藩与张之洞。

第9周：20 世纪初的革命文学和武昌起义。

第10周：当代楚文化比如楚地美食以及著名的端午节及庆祝活动等。

第四部分 楚文化实践考察

Chu State was a powerful country in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, leaving behind a rich cultural heritage that still influences China today， known as Chu Culture. The course " Chu Culture: History, Literature and Traditions" is a course jointly developed by Professor Wang Weiqun of the University of Nottingham, UK and Professor Wang Aiju of Wuhan University, China, to introduce Chinese Chu culture to the outside world. The whole course consists of 11 weeks, including 10 lectures and 1 field trip.  In this course, we will lead you to explore the history, literature and customs of Chu State in ancient China and its influence or impact to modern and contemporary China.

Course Outline

Part I Definition and formation of Chu culture 

Week 1:  Chu's geography and setting, and the way it contributed to its rise as the dominant power.

Week 2：The history of Chu and the status of Chu and Chu in the larger context of ancient China, including the leadership of Chu during the Spring and Autumn and Warr ing States Periods.  

Week 3：The life and works of Qu Yuan, one of the greatest poets in Chinese history, and his masterpiece "Li Sao".

Week 4：The rivalry between two legendary figures, Xiang Yu and Liu Bang, known as the Chu-Han Fight, and how it affected the fate of Chinese history.

Part II  Relics of Chu Culture

Week 5： Yellow Crane Tower, the traditional Chinese stringed instrument Guqin and the story of finding true friends like Boya and Ziqi.

Week 6:  Yueyang Tower, Fan Zhongyan's famous essay "Yueyang Tower" and the humanistic spirit of the Chinese scholar-bureaucrat class who " Worry before all others have worried, rejoice after all others have rejoiced ".

Week 7: Tengwan Tower and the essay with the namesake

        Part III Influence of Chu culture and celebrities in modern China

Week 8: From Taiping Rebellion to the Westernization School: The contribution of Zeng Guofan and Zhang Zhidong  in the transformation of Chu and China.

Week 9: The revolutionary literature of the early 20th century and the famous 1911 Uprising that led to the establishment of the Republic of China.

Week 10: Contemporary Chu culture such as Chu cuisine, and the famous Dragon Boat Festival and celebrations spread overseas.

Part IV  Field trip

        Week 11: A field trip to experience Chu culture

Objective

本课程的教学目标是让学生了解楚文化的历史发展、特色和影响，以及楚文化与中国其他地区和世界的联系。通过学习本课程，学生将能够：

1.  掌握楚地的地理环境和历史背景，认识楚地在中国历史上的重要地位和作用。

2. 了解楚文化的主要代表人物、作品和事件，如:屈原、项羽、范仲淹、曾国藩、张之洞等，以及他们对中国文化和社会的贡献和影响。

3. 分析楚文化的特点和价值，如民族精神、创新意识、开放包容等，以及楚文化对中国其他地区和世界的传播和影响。

4. 欣赏楚文化的艺术形式和美学特色，如诗歌、音乐、建筑、美食等，以及楚文化与中国其他地区和世界的交流和融合。

5. 培养对楚文化的兴趣和热爱，增强对中华文化的认同感和自豪感，提高跨文化交际的能力和素养。

The teaching objective of this course is to enable students to understand the historical development, characteristics and influence of Chu culture, as well as the connection between Chu culture and other regions of China and the world. By studying this course, students will be able to:

- Grasp the geographical environment and historical background of Chu, and understand the important position and role of Chu in Chinese history.

- Understand the main representative figures, works and events of Chu culture, such as: Qu Yuan, Xiang Yu, Fan Zhongyan, Zeng Guofan, Zhang Zhidong, etc., and their contributions and influences on Chinese culture and society.

- Analyze the characteristics and values of Chu culture, such as national spirit, innovation consciousness, openness and tolerance, etc., as well as the spread and influence of Chu culture to other regions of China and the world.

- Appreciate the artistic forms and aesthetic characteristics of Chu culture, such as poetry, music, architecture, food, etc., as well as the exchange and integration of Chu culture with other regions of China and the world.

- Cultivate interest and love for Chu culture, enhance the sense of identity and pride for Chinese culture, and improve the ability and quality of intercultural communication.

Assignments (essay or other forms)

本课程的考核包括课程论文（70%）、课堂讨论（20%）、实地考察（10%）。

课程论文：学生就课程中涵盖的特定主题撰写一篇课程结业论文，用中文或英文写作, 3000字左右。例如楚文化中特定人物、事件或地点的文化和历史意义， 或者对他们进行比较或对比。要求学生分析楚文化中特定人物或历史现象对中国社会的影响。

课堂讨论：要求学生积极参加课堂讨论，提前阅读材料并且针对相关的主题进行展示。

实地考察：课程结课前会安排一次实地考察， 比如武昌起义旧址红楼；岳阳楼或黄鹤楼等，要求学生参加。

Essay assignment (written) 50%: Students are required to write a final essay, app. 3,000 words (in Chinese or English according to their levels of Chinese), on a specific topic covered in the course on for example, the cultural and historical significance of specific people, events or places in Chu culture, or comparing or contrasting them. Students are required to analyze the impact of specific figures or historical phenomena in Chu culture on Chinese society. Marking criteria is the same as other courses essay writing in Wuhan University of Nottingham University.

Classroom participation：Students are required to be active in participating the classroom activities and discussion. They are expected to read materials before class and present their opinions in class. Marking criteria is the same as other presentations in Wuhan University or Nottingham University.

Field trip: During the course, students are required to participate in a field trip to one or two places of Chu culture, such as the old sites related to the Wuchang Uprising , e.g the Red Chamber, Yueyang Tower or Yellow Crane Tower.

Text Books and Reading Materials

这是一门全新课程， 目前市场上没有拿来就可以用的教材。 老师的每一周的主题都有指定阅读参考文献。不在此一一列举。

Reading list will be provided by teachers for each chapter.