9796306 - ARCHEOLOGIA, STORIA DELL'ARTE E FILOSOFIE DELL'ASIA ORIENTALE
Expected Learning Outcomes
1) To be interested and curious in the subject, building up motivation for further self-learning and future career development;
2) To understand the socio-political context of contemporary East Asian social mentality / public discourse, and the role of the past in nation-building;
3) To be able to have a broader worldview with respect to cultural diversity, forging essential cross-cultural empathy and communication skills;
4) To understand the basic approaches, goals and methodologies of archaeology and art history;
5) To be familiar with the general picture of East Asian cultural successions, as well as some key cultures and their representative material expressions;
6) To be able to associate knowledges in East Asian languages with their own cultural context, thereby gaining deeper understanding and better implementation.
Course Structure
Required Prerequisites
Adequate English listening and speaking skills (the course will be taught in English with external guest lectures).
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
1) East Asian social mentality / public discourse, and the role of the past in nation-building;
2) The approaches, goals and methodologies of archaeology and art history;
3) Historical Western perceptions of the Orient;
4) General cultural successions of China, Korea and Japan;
5) Prehistoric ceramic and Jade cultures and art;
6) Protohistoric bronze cultures and art, as well as the formation of early states;
7) Material cultures of the Qin 秦 and Han 汉;
8) The formation of a shared East Asian Civilisation between 3-7c AD.
9) Architectural art and archaeology of China after 5c AD and its influence in Korea and Japan.
Textbook Information
1) Gina L. Barnes, Archaeology of East Asia: The Rise of Civilization of China, Korea and Japan, Oxbow Books, 2015, ISBN 978-1-78570-072-9;
2) Li Zehou 李泽厚, The Path of Beauty: A Study of Chinese Aesthetics, Oxford University Press, 1995, ISBN 978-0-19586-526-4.
| Author | Title | Publisher | Year | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gina L. Barnes | Archaeology of East Asia: The Rise of Civilization of China, Korea and Japan | Oxbow Books | 2015 | 978-1-78570-072-9 |
| Li Zehou 李泽厚 | The Path of Beauty: A Study of Chinese Aesthetics | Oxford University Press | 1995 | 978-0-19586-526-4 |
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Why study East Asian (EA) archaeology, art history and philosophy? | Gateway to comprehend modern EA society, politics, values as well as conflicts and struggles. Essential knowledge-basis for being a true world citizen with cross-cultural empathy and communication skills. (2 hours) |
| 2 | Methodology | What is archaeology? What is art history? The problems of both the Western-centric approach and the Asian nationalist approach to archaeology and history. The problems of the textbook and my complementary solution. (2 hours) |
| 3 | Thematic lecture on art history | Chinoiserie – the Orient in Western illusion. (2 hours) |
| 4 | Introduction | What is EA civilisation? Geography and definition of EA civilisation, its commonality and diversity. (2 hours) |
| 5 | EA cultural successions | China, Korea and Japan. (4 hours) |
| 6 | Prehistoric archaeology & art history | Ceramic and Jade cultures and art. (4 hours) |
| 7 | Protohistoric archaeology, art history & philosophy | Bronze cultures and art. States formation. (4 hours) |
| 8 | Historic archaeology, art history & philosophy I | Qin and Han. (4 hours) |
| 9 | Historic archaeology, art history & philosophy II | The formation of a shared East Asian Civilisation between 3-7c AD. (4 hours) |
| 10 | Building archaeology I | Chinese architectural historiography and history. (4 hours) |
| 11 | Building archaeology II | Case studies in southeast Shanxi 山西, China – a pioneer theoretical framework and its implementation. (4 hours) |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Oral test.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
1) Select one or two East Asian historical artefacts and give a brief interpretation to its history, culture, significances and aesthetics, please also specify the personal motivations of your selection;
2) What is the philosophy behind the ritual system of ding 鼎 and gui 簋 with fixed numbers prescribed according to rank in Western Zhou 周 Dynasty?
3) Could you raise one or two historical artefacts as an example to demonstrate the mutual influences and interactions between China, Korea and/or Japan?
4) From the approach of East Asian archaeology, art history and philosophy, could you raise one example to demonstrate today’s common Western misconception over East Asian civilisation?
5) What are the crucial elements underpinning the formation of a common East Asian Civilisation in the 8c AD?
6) Among the two Chinese historical artefacts shown here, which one is probably older and why?
Versione in italiano