Asian Studies

This course provides a basic knowledge of Japanese literature and culture, as well as the history and current state of Sino-Japanese relations. The course helps students develop a relatively objective and dispassionate understanding of Japan based on extensive reading and independent thinking, in addition to the mass media and mainstream Sino-Japanese propaganda, and to enable them to think and write about issues of interest to them under the guidance of the instructor.

The course provides a study of of Korean society and culture through a sociological perspective. In addition, this course helps students acquire relevant methods to understand diverse societies and cultures in the globalizing world

This course explores how Korean thinkers and reformers/activists have engaged religions and ideologies in the major political, social and cultural developments and movements during premodern Korea and beyond. Through this course, the students are expected to gain a deeper understanding of how ideologies and religious ideas have informed the major debates and collective activities that have made the Korean history progress. One further aim of this class is to enhance the students’ability to write readable essays and paper based on their knowledge and insight acquired through the lectures, readings, and discussions.

This course explores contemporary Korean literature. The course looks at the social and cultural environment in which the texts were produced and to which they respond. Students gain a critical point of view concerning the past, present and the future narratives. Analyzing contemporary Korean literature and sharing your opinions and feelings with other students through various activities, they experience the immense power of Korean literature.

A literary and philosophical inquiry into such themes as selfhood, nothingness, name, namelessness, reality, Karma, yin-yang, and so forth through examination of great literary and philosophical writings in the East Asian tradition. All works are read in English translation. Topics covered include: Taoist thought and literature, Confucian thought and literature, Buddhist literature, the origins of East Asian thought, search for cultural archetypes, Confucian ideology in crisis, and modernity in modern Korean and Chinese fiction.