Admission requirements
Admission to one of these tracks of the MA Asian Studies:
Chinese Studies (120 EC)
Japanese Studies (120 EC)
Korean Studies (120 EC)
East Asian Studies (60 EC)
History, Arts and Culture of Asia (60 EC)
Politics, Society and Economy (60 EC)
Other students may be admitted at the discretion of the instructor. If you are interested in taking this course, but are not a student of one of the abovementioned MA Asian Studies tracks, please contact the instructor.
Description
When Confucius taught his students, twenty-five centuries ago, he could not have foreseen that his name would be known across the globe today. In the course of the centuries, the “ism” named after him came to represent a wide range of philosophical and religious theories and practices. In our time, Confucianism is the beating heart of the culture of China and other East-Asian societies. This Master’s course analyzes Confucianism in a variety of contexts, both past and present, in China and abroad. Questions that will be discussed in class include: Do the Analects contain the actual sayings of Confucius? Why is he known as a “homeless dog”? How is the Master portrayed in Confucius Temples? What is Confucian Constitutionalism? Is it possible for a modern businessperson to be a Confucian junzi (exemplary person)? How important is the Confucian concept of xiao (filial piety) in Chinese communities today?
Course objectives
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
comprehend passages from Confucian texts (in translation)
grasp the diversity and complexity of Confucianism
grasp the diversity of approaches to study Confucianism
analyze complex scholarly arguments
actively participate in group discussions (in English)
formulate an original research question
conduct effective research to answer the research question
report on research findings, both orally and in writing
Timetable
The timetables are avalable through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Attendance is compulsory for all sessions. Students must prepare well and contribute to in-class discussion. If a student cannot attend due to illness or mishap, they should promptly inform the instructor. Students who are absent more than twice may be excluded from further participation in the sessions. Special circumstances are at the discretion of the Board of Examinators.
Assessment method
Assessment
Partial Assessment Weighing
active class participation 20%
oral presentation 20%
written assignments 20%
term paper 40%
In order to pass the course, students need a pass mark (“voldoende”, i.e. 5.5 or higher) for the term paper and for the course as a whole. A failed term paper may be re-written only if the original submission constituted a serious attempt. (The paper deadline mentioned in uSis is for administrative purposes only; the actual date will be communicated by the instructor.) The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average. All categories of assessment must be completed in the same academic year. No partial marks can be carried over into following years.
Weighing
See above.
Resit
Only if the total weighted average is 5.49 or lower and this is the result of a term paper graded 5.49 or lower, a re-sit of the term paper is possible (40%). A re-sit for other course components is not possible.
Inspection and feedback
Students may request an oral elucidation of the assessment within 30 days after publication of the grade.
Reading list
Reading materials will be announced on Brightspace. Students with no prior training in Confucianism or Chinese philosophy in general, are expected to contact the instructor prior to participating in the course, and may be asked to read additional literature.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the instructor listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Vrieshof
Remarks
Not applicable.