158-436 The Traditional Chinese Novel

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Subject Description:

Selected readings from the classic episodic novels of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Both the civil - 'talented young scholar and courtesan' - and martial - 'knight-errant' - traditions within the genre will be covered. Attention will be given to the historical and cultural conditions of the rise of the novel in China, and more generally the development of pre-modern vernacular fiction. Students who complete this subject should gain: familiarity with the development of prose fiction in traditional China; an appreciation of the ways in which Chinese narratives are structured; ability to re-cast pre-modern vernacular Chinese into modern Chinese; some facility in reading and translating unseen passages in the pre-modern vernacular language; and an appreciation of the continuing relevance of traditional literature in contemporary Chinese culture.

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Materials prepared by the Department.

• Lo Kuan-chung, Three Kingdoms: China's Epic Drama, Pantheon, New York.
• Cao Xueqin, Dream of Red Mansions, Foreign Language Press, Beijing.
• Li Yu/(trans) Patrick Hannan, The Carnal Prayer Mat, University of Hawaii Press.
• Shi Naian, The Water Margin, Foreign Language Press, Beijing.