SIE
School for International Education

Classical Chinese and Japanese

The Summer School in Classical Chinese and Classical Japanese/Kanbun is unique in its kind. Organised in collaboration with Princeton University, it offers two tracks of comprehensive, grammar-focused instruction taught by Faculty members from both Ca' Foscari and Princeton.

The programme is designed especially for students who wish to develop their linguistic expertise for graduate study in any discipline of premodern China or Japan.

Programme information

Students can choose between two tracks: each track offers language classes in addition to a lecture series on topics in premodern Chinese or Japanese culture (history, literature, thought). Both tracks welcome students who are beginners in Classical Chinese or Japanese, as well as those who already have some background foundation.

Program dates: July 3th - 28th, 2023

file pdfProgramme Leaflet 20231.05 M

Tracks

Instructors: Attilio Andreini

The course provides the fundamentals of classical Chinese grammar through the reading and analysis of passages of pre-modern Chinese historical and literary texts.

Prerequisites: one year of modern Chinese language.

Teaching methods
During the course, the instructor will guide the students through the grammatical analysis and  comprehension of the basic structures of classical Chinese grammar. The course will also be devoted to translation and analysis of selected texts and their context. 

Expected learning outcomes

  1. Students understand the basic structures of the classical Chinese language.
  2. Students know the necessary tools for translation.
  3. Basic knowledge of the Chinese literary tradition.
  4. Students are able to identify basic grammatical structures and, accordingly, to translate correctly.
  5. Students are able to identify the most appropriate tools to translate a particular text.
  6. Students are able to evaluate different translations for correctness. 

Instructor: Keiko Ono

This course will intensively and systematically provide the fundamentals of classical Japanese and kanbun grammar along with readings in the major genres of pre-modern Japanese historical and literary texts. After three weeks of intensive classical Japanese, the final week will be devoted to the kanbun reading system, which is based on classical Japanese grammar.

Prerequisites: at least one year of modern Japanese and familiarity with Chinese characters and Japanese kana.

Teaching methods
During the course, the instructor will guide the students through the grammatical analysis and comprehension of the texts and their contexts. There will be quizzes and homework.  Students are expected to present their translations and actively engage in the class discussion.

Expected learning outcomes

  1. Students understand the basic structures of classical Japanese.
  2. Students know the necessary tools for translation.
  3. Students are able to identify basic grammatical structures and, accordingly, to translate correctly.
  4. Students are able to identify the most appropriate tools to translate a particular text.
  5. Students are able to evaluate different translations for correctness. 

Programme Directors

Tiziana Lippiello, Rector at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Martin Kern, Professor at Princeton University

Applications, Fees and Arrival Information

Applications for both tracks of the Summer School in Classical Chinese and Classical Japanese are closed.

The Call for Applications with details on fees and on the application process is available on this webpage.

Any information on pre-departure, accommodation and our campus will be made available at the same webpage as above.

Contacts

 summerschool.international@unive.it 

Last update: 22/11/2023