The University of New South Wales

go to UNSW home page

Handbook Home

PRINT THIS PAGE
Enter the Dragons: East Asian History - ARTS2276
 Students studying

   
   
   
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 6
 
 
EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)
 
 
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 3
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Prerequisite: 30 units of credit at Level 1
 
 
Equivalent: HIST1014
 
 
Fee Band: 1 (more info)
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 
Available for General Education: Yes (more info)
 
  

Description

Subject Area: History
This course can also be studied in the following specialisations: Asian Studies



This course deals with the history of China, Japan and Korea. It will acquaint students with the strong presence of certain traditions in these three countries that have now for about two decades been active players in a globalised world. The fact that traditions were instrumental in East Asia’s process of modernisation is in general recognised by scholars as well as by contemporary East Asian intellectuals. Since both Japan and Korea made some use of Chinese cultural and institutional achievements there are many obvious similarities between the three. While taking these similarities into account we will concentrate on the investigation of underlying differences and contrasts and thereby arrive at a more thorough and nuanced understanding of the region as a whole. We will explore the economic, social and cultural factors that were crucial for the formation of each tradition and will investigate their continuation in present times. For this purpose we will deal with four separate units. They are the creation of empires and their ideological and organisational characteristics; the adaptation of Buddhism and its role in society and the state; the commercial and political function of cities like Hangzhou and Edo; and finally the political and social characteristics of the fast growing economies of Japan and Korea in the 1980s and of China in the 1990s.

URL for this page:

© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.