The Confucian Classics
Fall, 2004
| Dr. Barry Keenan | Classroom: 219 Burton Morgan |
| Office: 406 Fellows, x. 6253 | TR 3:00-4:20 |
| Office Hours: MWR 11:30 - 12:30, MW 1:30 - 2:00, MW 4:00 |
China's Confucian values shaped a unique East Asian tradition, explaining in its own way the distinctive traits that make us human, and what norms should define healthy and happy human relations. The Confucian classics were shaped into a canon that Chinese scholars continued to master and revitalize with traditions of interpretation from l00 BCE to the end of the last dynasty in l912. We shall study the original Confucian classics. The most influential Chinese interpretation of their meaning, written by the last renowned Confucian master, Zhu Xi (Chu Hsi), who died in 1200 CE, will help us see how these classics remain applicable to interpersonal relations in any era.
Course Work
In-Class Learning:
Students will be evaluated on their preparation for class and their actual learning during each period. Short exercises including self-designed metaphorical diagrams portraying Confucian virtues will be part of classroom work. This will include commenting on what you judge as good written work by fellow students. Selected class meetings have two-page Q (Question) papers due that will be graded.
Notebooks:You will keep a reading journal of your personal reactions to the different passages in the classics we read. Most passages in the reading that speak to you should be analyzed in a paragraph or two. What do they mean to you; and how do they apply to your life? These will be discussed with the instructor in individual tutorials two times during the semester. Each session will be evaluated as (1) Excellent understanding (E), (2) rudimentary competence, Pass (P) or, (3) more depth and a more careful reading needed, Low pass (LP).
Take-home Final Essay Examination:The theme of this essay will integrate material from the three classics studied, The Analects, The Mencius, Focusing the Familiar (the Mean), The Great Learning, (with the Reflections on Things at Hand chapters aiding the understanding of all four). A topic will be distributed on November 16, 2004. Students may submit for approval their own topics for their essay examination if they so desire. This typed essay examination is due at my office on November 18, 2004 by 4 P.M. (Hardcopy only please). Five typed pages is the expected length.
Research Papers:You will have the opportunity to research a topic in the Confucian classics that has emerged as an interest of yours during the seminar. You will define this interest as a research topic, using library research in the secondary scholarship that exists on your topic. You will write up your analysis of the topic in a ten-page paper, that will be due by December 18, 2004 at 4 P.M. in my office. Hardcopy only please.
Final Grade
| In-class learning | 1/4 |
| Notebooks and tutorials | 1/4 |
| Take-home essay examination | 1/4 |
| Research paper | 1/4 |
Bookstore purchases:
- Confucius, The Analects of Confucius Trans. Roger Ames et al. (Ballentine)
- Mencius, D.C. Lau, trans. (Penguin)
- Focusing the Familiar, Roger Ames, trans. (Univ. of Hawaii)
Research paper topics for some students can be drawn from
Further Reflections on Things at Hand, Wittenborn, trans.( University Press of America)How to access electronic reserves (ERES):
On the Denison University library homepage, click on the following sequence:
- Library Services: Reserves
- Keenan (under professor's name)
- HIST 326 DEN
- Click here for ERES material
- Password, please type: Confucius
- Accept (private study use only agreement)
- Readings
- Click desired document to read (rotate, or print out as you desire)
Syllabus
| Session |
|
The Analects
This text defines the distinctive virtues that make us all human -- as Confucius (fl.500 B.C.E.) crystallized them in his lifetime from the existing Chinese tradition. Because a series of encounters by Confucius with his disciples is used to define the virtues he laid out, each passage needs to be probed for its insight independent of whatever is asked about in surrounding passages.
Begin a journal of reading notes
Every time you read selections from the Analects, record your reactions as a running commentary in your personal journal. Your commentary will include insights sparked by Confucius's recorded sayings. Passages that interest you should be explicated with several sentences. Include applying the ideas in the text to your personal experience. Your comments can also record questions you have. Tutorial meetings with Dr. Keenan will be scheduled on a sign up sheet that will be passed around in class, twice during the semester.
The Analects, First Reading (Sessions of 9/21, 9/23)
- Begin reading the book anywhere, recording which passages struck you as insightful and why. Bring your list of interesting passages to class. Do not bother with the rest of the Introduction for now.
- Second session: Finish one complete reading of all passages. Note those passages addressing authoritative conduct or authoritative person. Record reactions to these passages in your journal, and bring your journal to class. In preparation for class, define for yourself what you feel "authoritative" implies in these passages.
The Analects, Second Reading (9/28, 9/30)
- Single out any two virtues and describe what the relationship is between them -- as seen by comparing several
passages throughout the text. Write up the comparison in a brief paper and post it on the course web site
by 8 P.M., September 27, 2004 (Monday).
For September 28 read all the class papers posted, and revise your virtues and re-write your paper. Bring it to class on Tuesday to turn in. Instructions on accessing the web site will be distributed, but the password for our History 326 course is Confucius. - (September 30, 2004) Draw an integrated diagram of your own that incorporates as many of the
virtues in the Analects as you can. Demonstrate in the diagram how the
virtues relate to one another. Bring the diagram to class to explain to the class, then submit to Dr. Keenan.
Assignment: On ERES: The Trouble with Confucianism, Ch.2. by Professor W.T. DeBary. The concept of EXEMPLARY PERSON (chun-tzu) is translated as NOBLE MAN in DeBary's book. Be sure to include the noble person concept among the Confucian virtues in your diagram. In this session students will sign up for tutorial times next week. - (10/5) Q Paper: Write an analysis of the Analects 6. 30 passage. Use the footnoted references to related passages, and apply insight gained from studying the passage in Analects 15.24. Limit your paper to two typed pages and bring to class to share. Turn in to be graded.
- (10/7) FIRST TUTORIAL Session committed to your reading journals. Sign up in preceding classes for appointments. Meet at appointed times in Dr. Keenan's office, 406 Fellows. No class meeting as a group.
Mencius
Continue entries in your journals for passages in the Mencius that speak to you.
- (10/12) Book I, Parts A and B.
- (10/14) Book II, Book III, Book IV. Q paper: What is it that distinguishes humans from the beasts? Elaborate the Mencian position in your own words. Two-page maximum.
- (10/19) Book V, Book VI, Book VII.
Zhongyong, or, The Mean
Continue entries in your journal.
- Focusing the Familiar, Passages 1-13. Q paper: On p. 94 a Book of Songs couplet is quoted. Analyze as exhaustively as you can all dimensions of the meaning of that couplet. Maximum two typed pages.
- Focusing the Familiar Passages 14-20.
- Focusing the Familiar Passages 21-33. Bring a new diagram to class that demonstrates the inter-relationships of the virtues and concepts developed in the Mencius and Focusing the Familiar.
Reflections on Things at Hand
(See ERES entries.)
- (11/2) Reflections on Things at Hand Ch. II "The Essentials of Learning". Bring Analects to class.
- (11/4) Reflections on Things at Hand Ch. IV, "Preserving One's Mind and Nourishing One's Nature," Reflections, Chs. XI, XIV.
Integration--The Great Learning
- (11/9) Humane Intelligence: The Confucian Eight-Step Program for Self-Cultivation, Book draft by Barry Keenan on ERES. Read Chapters 3-4
- (11/11) Same as above. Chapters 5-6 ERES.
- (11/16) Recitation from memory of The Great Learning.
Commit the 7-paragraph classic to memory. Or, bring a three-page essay to class addressing selected ideas in The Great Learning and/or in Focusing the Familiar that are not in the Analects.
TAKE-HOME ESSAY EXAMINATION QUESTION GIVEN OUT IN THIS CLASS. - (11/18) ESSAY EAMINATION. Turn in to Dr. Keenan's office the essay examination, by 4 P.M. .
Thanksgiving Vacation: November 19-29, 2004
- (11/30) SECOND TUTORIAL. Meet at time you selected in previous classes in Dr. Keenan's office. No seminar meeting. Bring your journal, and be prepared to discuss your proposed research topic.
- (12/2) SECOND TUTORIAL. Meet individually at the time your previously selected. Bring your journal and be prepared to discuss your proposed research topic.
- (12/7) RESEARCH PAPER OUTLINE DUE. Write an outline with sources to turn in. Prepare to state your topic to the seminar for feedback.
- (12/9) RESEARCH PAPER OUTLINE DUE. Final reports on research paper outlines. This is the final meeting of the seminar together. Course evaluation distributed.
- (12/18) RESEARCH PAPER DUE (BY 4 P.M. IN 406 FELLOWS). Footnoted research paper with full bibliography must be submitted to my office. Guideline on length: ten-pages. Hard copy only please.