Description:

This course is an introduction to the societies and cultures of Asia. Through lectures, readings and discussions, the course will focus on aspects of the history, politics, art, literature and economics of China, Japan and India. The major traditional themes and concepts of these civilizations will be stressed. 3 hrs. /wk.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor’s course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Prerequisites: NONE

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Summarize the key intellectual and cultural concepts of Eastern Civilization as found in Japanese, Chinese and Indian Societies.
2. Compare and contrast the major Asian philosophical, religious and intellectual approaches to the questions of human existence, politics, society, family life, art and education.
3. Outline the history of important eras in India, China and Japan in terms of major rulers, social structure and institutions, economic development, government organization, systems of religion and philosophy and achievements in arts and literature.
4. Select examples in art and literature which reflect the predominate values of each culture and examine and evaluate the examples in relation to these values.
5. Evaluate the extent to which Eastern Civilization can be discussed apart from other specific cultures such as those of Western Europe, Anglo-American, Islamic and African.
6. Construct commonalities in the world views of the three Asian cultures.
7. Evaluate the extent to which and the reasons why traditional values of Asia have changed over time.
8. Define and analyze changes in the attitude toward gender, social and legal equality in India, China and Japan.
9. Compare and contrast the major differences between Eastern and Western thought and the impact of each upon the other.
10. Compare and contrast, based on the readings, attitudes within and between the three cultures toward the relationship of humans with the physical environment.
11. State and briefly define the major principles of Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam, Shintoism and Zen Buddhism.
12. Locate major geographic features, regions and cities of India, China and Japan and explain how physical geographic features influenced the history of these countries.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. India
   A. Foundations of Indian culture to 400 B.C.  
      1. Locate the major physical geographic features, regions and cities
of the Indian sub-continent and explain how physical geographic features
influenced the history  of  India.
      2. Describe the major characteristics of the Indus Valley
Civilization and of Vedic (Aryan) culture.
      3. Outline the development of Hinduism in terms of major gods, major
principles and the caste system.
      4. Compare and contrast the concepts of karma and dharma common to
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
      5. Describe the development Brahminism in Hinduism and the reforms
represented by Mahavira (Jainism) and Siddartha Guatama (Buddhism).
   B. Ancient India to 700 A.D.
      1. Identify the major rulers and their accomplishments of the
Mauryan Empire (313-200 B.C.).
      2. Examine the role of Ashoka Maurya in Indian history in terms of
imperial unification, moral philosophy and the development of Mahayana
Buddhism.
      3. Identify the major rulers and their accomplishments of the Gupta
Empire	(325-650 C.E.).
      4. Evaluate the significance of Ashoka (r. 272-232 B.C.E.) and Gupta
Sanskrit culture on the development of the cultures of India.
   C. The Age of Diversity (700-1500)
      1. Outline the development of Deccan India Kingdom including the
Pallavahs and Cholas, in terms of major rulers, trade and military
expansion, temple building and achievements of Tamil culture.
      2. Explain the major ideas of the Hindu Revival and Bhakti in North
and South India.
      3. State the major principles of Islam.
      4. Outline the history of the Moslem Kingdoms of northern India,
including the Delhi Sultanate in terms of major rulers, religion and
cultural and intellectual achievements.
      5. Examine the roles of Kabir (Sufi Moslem) and Nanak (Sikhs) in
building reconciliation in Bengal.
   D. The Moghul Empire and the British Raj (1500-1900)
      1. Outline the history of the Moghul Empire, 1526 to 1707, in terms
of major rulers, military expansion, government organization, social
structure and influence on arts, literature, and culture.
      2. Evaluate the role and importance of the policies and actions of
Akbar the Great and Augrangzeb (Almajir) in the problems of unity and
religious conflicts in India. 
      3. Trace the development of British rule in India in terms of the
roles of the British East India Company, 18th Century Anglo-French wars,
Robert Clive, the Maratha rebellions and Viceroy Dalahousie.
      4. Explain the major issues and identify the major movements and
leaders of early Indian nationalism before M.K. Gandhi as seen in the
Sepoy Rebellion, the Indian National Congress, regional Hindu nationalist
movements, Moslem nationalist movements and the revival of Hindu and
Moslem culture and education.
   E. Modern India (1900 to the Present)
      1. Describe the ideas and actions about the independence of India
advocated by M.K. Gandhi (1915-1947).
      2. Describe the policies and reforms of J. Nehru as Prime Minister
of India, 1947-1964).
      3. Describe the policies and actions of Indira Gandhi as Prime
Minister of India, 1966-1977 and 1980-1985.
      4. Evaluate the roles, significance and success of M. K. Gandhi and
J. Nehru in the independence of India.
      5. Describe and evaluate the rise of militant Hindu nationalism in
India.

II. China
   A. Foundations of Chinese Culture (to 700 C.E.)
      1. Locate the major geographic features, regions and cities of China
and explain how physical geographic features influenced the history of
China.
      2. Define the major historic themes of Chinese history (i.e.,
nomadic invasions from four frontier areas; expansion into Yang-tze area
and into the West; the Mandate of Heaven and cycles of history and unity
vs. disunity).
      3. Apply these themes to the periods and dynasties of Chinese
history.
      4. Outline the history and achievements of the Shang and Zhou eras
(1600-700 B.C.E.).	
   B. The First Empires	
      1. Outline the development of the first empires (Ch’in 221-206
B.C.E. and Han 206 B.C.E.- 9 C.E. and 25-220) in terms of major rulers,
systems of religion and philosophy, government organization, social
structure, economic development and arts and culture.
      2. Explain the major ideas of Confucianism, Legalism and Taoism.
      3. Examine the significance of Confucian Philosophy and Confucian
socio-political organization in Chinese history.
      4. Evaluate the contributions of Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism to
Chinese religion.
      5. Examine the cultural and intellectual influences of Mahayana
Buddhism and Taoism to religion, art and literature in China.
      6. Apply the Four Themes of Chinese History to the Han Dynasty. 
(See A-3).
   C. Tang and Sung China (618-1279) - The Establishment of Traditional
China
      1. Outline the history of Tang China in terms of major rulers
(including Taizong, Empress Wu and Xuanxong), the influence of Mahayana
Buddhism, imperial expansion, government organization, Tang poetry and the
restoration of the Confucian social-political system.
      2. Outline the history of Sung China in terms of Five Emperors
(960-1100), reforms of Wang An-Shih, Sung Landscape painting, Zhuxi and
the Neo-Confucian revival, Sung foreign policy, Sung Confucian Civil
Service, Southern Sung (1127-1279), Sung economic development and foreign
trade.
      3. Apply the four themes of Chinese history to the Tang and Sung
dynasties. (See A-3.)
      4. Examine the synthesis of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism during
the Tang and Sung era and its effect on society, arts, literature and
systems of religion and philosophy.
   D. Ming and Manchu China (especially 1644-1800)
      1. Explain the re-establishment of traditional, native Chinese
institutions during the Ming Dynasty under Hung Wu (r.1368-1398) and
Yong-lo (r. 1405-1426).
      2. Explain the major ideas and contributions to Confucian thought of
Wang Yang-ming.
      3. Outline the history of the Ch’ing (Manchu) Dynasty in terms of
Nurhachi and Taizong; The Kang-hsi Emperor (r. 1662-1722) the Ch’ien-lung
Emperor (r. 1735-1795), Manchu social structure, Manchu ethnic policy,
Confucian scholars and government administration, South China and
dominance of economy and culture.
      4. Examine the economy of the Manchu era in terms of the roles of
agriculture, urban commerce, and foreign trade.
      5. Evaluate the influence of economic development on the cultural
achievements of the Manchu era and evaluate the importance of the
intellectual, literary and artistic achievements of the Manchu era.
      6. Examine the gradual disintegration of Imperial China caused by
over population, rebellions, and Western Imperialism.
   E. Modern China since 1911
      1. Describe the major events and ideas of Sun Yat-sen and the
Nationalist Revolution of 1911 including the Three People’s Principles,
the “New Learning” and rejection of Confucianism, the May 4th Movement and
the role of Chiang Kai-shek.
      2. Describe the major ideas of Mao Zedong and the history of the
People’s Republic of China (PRC) including ”the Long March,” Civil War and
Revolution, 1945-1949; the first Five Year Plan, the “Great Leap Forward;”
agricultural and industrial communes and the Cultural Revolution.
      3. Describe China since the reforms of Deng Xiaoping.

III. Japan
   A. Early Japan: From Myth to History (600 A.D.)	
      1. Locate the major physical geographic features, regions and cities
and explain influence on history.  
      2. Describe the archaeology at Jomon, Yayoi, Tomb Period and the
Yamato state sites.
      3. Describe the major themes of Japanese mythology in terms of the
Sun Goddess, Storm God, creation myths, the Divinity of the Emperor and
Shin to historic shrines.
   B. The Coming of Buddhism and the Courtly Era (552-1185)
      1. Describe Nara culture in terms of Buddhism, temples and art,and
Prince Shitoku.
      2. Examine the parallel development of Buddhism and Shinto during
the Courtly era.
      3. Outline the Tahio reforms and emergence of the Fujiwara Regents.
      4. Explain the aesthetics and the emphasis on elegance and
refinement on the arts and literature of the Courtly era.
   C. The First Shoguns (1185-1600)
      1. Describe the Kamakura Period including Yoritomo, the First
Samurai and Early Feudalism.
      2. Describe the Ashigaga Period in terms of Daimyo government, wars
and decentralization.
      3. Explain Pure Land and Zen Buddhism in terms of their major
ideas.
   D. Tokugawa Shogunate (1600-1868)
      1. Outline the politics, administration and economy which supported
Tokugawa rule.
      2. Examine the Tokugawa idealization of Samurai as a synthesis of
Bushido, Zen, Shinto, haiku poetry, and Noh theater in armor.
      3. Explain urban culture or “the Floating World” in terms of poetry,
teahouse culture, Japanese prints and Kabuki theater.
   E. Modern Japan
      1. Describe the Meiji Restoration including modernization,
militarism and expansion to 1931.
      2. Examine the effect of World War II and Japanese economic
development in the post-war period.

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

The successful completion of at least 60% of the elements described
above will be Demonstrated during a minimum of three examinations that
include essay responses and other written assignments at the instructor’s
discretion during the semester. (See the instructor’s syllabus for the
percentage of grade assigned to each.)

Caveats: NONE

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.