Admission requirements
Admission to the MA Asian Studies (Research) and sufficient familiarity with classical Chinese (i.e., having passed the BA3 course “Classical Chinese III” or the equivalent). If in doubt, get in touch with the instructor prior to registration.
Students from the MA Asian Studies (60 EC and 120 EC) are kindly referred to the [regular version of this MA course](Advanced Readings in Classical Chinese, 2024-2025 - Studiegids - Universiteit Leiden).”
Description
This course is for advancing graduate students’ language and research skills in classical Chinese. Building on the instructor’s book project, we will chronologically read Su Shi (1037-1101), arguably the greatest writer in the language. Through weekly translation and discussion, you shall gradually improve your language proficiency, while getting introduced to some of the finest ideas in East Asian humanities.
Course objectives
In this course, students will:
Read classical Chinese in a variety of genres (prose, poetry, exam essay, memorial, letter, classical commentary … )
Refine translation skills
Exercise using relevant research tools
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Attendance is compulsory for all sessions. You must prepare well and contribute to in-class discussion. Absence without notification may result in lower grades or exclusion from assessment components and a failing grade for the course.
Assessment method
Academic integrity
Students should familiarize themselves with the notion of academic integrity and the ways in which this plays out in their own work. A good place to start is this page. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Students may not substantially reuse texts they have previously submitted in this or other courses. Minor overlap with previous work is allowed as long as it is duly noted in citation.
Students must submit their assignment(s) to Brightspace through Turnitin, so they can be checked for plagiarism. Submission via email is not accepted.
ChatGPT: What is possible and what is allowed? Dos and Don'ts.
Assessment
Class participation and assignments: 40%
Final essay: 60%
To pass the course, students need to complete all requirements (participation, assignments, final essay) and receive a pass mark (“voldoende”, i.e. “5.50” or higher) for the course as a whole.
All categories of assessment must be completed in the same academic year. No partial marks can be carried over into following years.
Resit
Only if the total weighted average is 5.49 or lower and this is the result of the final paper graded 5.49 or lower, a re-sit of the paper is possible (60%).
A re-sit for other course components is not possible.
Inspection and feedback
Feedback will be supplied in person and through Brightspace. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the final assessment results, a review will be organized.
Reading list
Tba.
For the Research MA students additional reading will be determined by the convener at a later stage taking into account the students’ fields of interest. Extra sessions will be organized to discuss this extra literature.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office Herta Mohr