THEMATIC PATHS THROUGH PRE-MODERN CHINESE LITERATURE

The seminar-based course offers an overview of anecdotal narrative in pre-modern Chinese literature; the course provides students with the keys to access the critical issues to be addressed in the analysis of primary sources; it also offers the basic tools needed to tackle autonomous research paths in various fields of literary knowledge, and to produce academic essays.

Knowledge and Understanding
By the end of the course the student will have acquired the tools for the evaluation and critical analysis of primary sources; he/she will be able to contextualise the main works, outline their structure and textual history; he/she will be able to identify and critically analyse secondary sources; he/she will also be able to conduct autonomous research on topics related to pre-modern Chinese literature.

Ability to apply knowledge and communication skills
The student will be able to elaborate (in written and oral form) the secondary literature at hand; he/she will have acquired the ability to cite sources adequately and to take care of the formal aspects of textual production.

A basic knowledge of classical Chinese and the history of Chinese literature is highly desired.

The course aims to provide an overview of anecdotal literature in pre-modern China. It will be divided into thematic blocks that will illustrate the use of anecdote within different types of texts: from historical to philosophical texts, zhiguai, etc. The course will be conducted in seminar mode, so students will be required to actively participate during the lesson and sometimes read and comment on the assigned material in class.

Reference texts and readings for the course will be progressively uploaded on the course Moodle page.

written and oral exam

Non-attending students are kindly requested to contact the professor at the beginning of the semester. These students must bring a different bibliography to the oral exam.

Seminar:
- students will be offered essay readings on the theme of the lecture and will be expected to actively participate in class;
- translation of selected short texts from primary sources.

Italian