Course Schedule and Catalog

Department: School of Continuing Studies

Meeting: 6:00PM - 9:00PM M (12-JAN-2026 - 24-APR-2026) 

Part of Term: Full Term

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Seminar

Language of Instruction: Taught in English

Method of Instruction: Face to Face

Credit Hours: 3

 

Section Max Enrollment: 0 (permission required) Department Permission Required

Section Enrolled: 8

Enrollment data as of: 24-NOV-2025 5:23PM

 

 

Final Exam: GR Course-Dept Schedules Exam

 

Description: This subject introduces students to major works of premodern and early modern literature of East Asia. These works span nearly three thousand years and a wide range of genres, including poetry, narrative histories, storyteller tales, drama texts, short stories, and vernacular novels. We will read selections of English translations of the Book of Songs, “Biographies of Assassins,” the Ballad of Mùlán, the Kokinshū, The Tale of Genji, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Peony Pavilion, Story of the Stone (Dream of Red Mansions), The Song of Shim Ch’ŏng, and more. By the end of the course, students will be broadly familiar with major genres and themes of traditional Chinese, Korean, and Japanese literature as considered from such perspectives as traditional and modern literary criticism, religion and philosophy, translation, performance studies, and cognitive psychology. All readings are in English translation, and no prior knowledge of East Asian languages or literature is required. Students may optionally request instructor assistance with locating and interpreting original language materials.