Assignments from Syllabus:
Sept 30 Pattern and reformulation Class notes.
Text: Chapter 4 "Buddhism, Aristocracy, and Alien Rulers: The Age of Division 220-589.
Questions to consider:
How does this pattern of disunity similar to the Warring States period?
What was the appeal of Buddhism to the peasants and the aristocracy?
Readings: #21 "Ge Hong's Autobiography," #22 "Buddhist Doctrines and Practices," #23 "Tales of Ghosts and Demons," #24 Cultural Differences Between the North and the South"
**Video #3 of the Silk Road series
Oct 5-7 Sui/Tang Class notes
Text: Chapter 5 "A Cosmopolitan Empire: The Tang Dynasty 581-907"
Readings: #25 "Emperor Taizong on Effective Government," #26 "The Tang Legal Code," #26 "The Errors of Geomancy," #28 "The Dancing Horses of Xuanzong's Court," #29 "Family Business," #30 "The Examination System," #31 "A Pilgrim's Visit to the Five Terraces Mountain
Oct 12 Song Class notes
Text: Chapter 6 "Shifting South: The Song Dynasty 907-1276"
Readings: #32 through #43
Oct 14 Yuan Class notes
Text: Chapter 7 "Alien Rule: The Liao, Jin, and Yuan Dynasties 907-1368
Readings: #44 through #46
Links:
Romance of Three Kingdoms (China's origins through post-Han disunity)
"Please accept this invitation to dine . . . with a Mongol emperor" (part of the CNN Millennium special you've GOT to check out!)
Nov 2 Second Exam Review Guide
Scheduling notes: Oct 19-28 Mr. Lu (from the N.G.C.S.U. library) will come talk to our class from 10:10 AM Tuesday or Thursday. Judge Dee people should be ready to present their books in the form of the starter questions.