Survey of Japanese History and Culture
Dr. P.B. Reagan
Japan Center for Michigan Universities
May 7- May 18 2007
Monday-Friday 9:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.
Room 210 Academic Building
Office Hours: M-F 1-2 P.M. and by Appointment
E-Mail: reaganp1@msu.edu
Course Description and Objective:
This survey course in the history and culture of Japan is designed to
introduce the student to the major themes in Japanese history, political
and social organization, religion, and culture. We examine key aspects
of the major periods of Japanese history beginning with the archaic
period, and proceeding through the Classical and Medieval eras and concluding
with developments in the modern era. We will study the ordering of Japanese
society and the emergence of political, social and military elites through
the centuries and the processes of transformation that took place politically,
socially and culturally.
Course Requirements:
The student is expected to prepare for class by completing the reading
assignments and preparing for selected discussion topics prior to attending
class. Attendance, participation in class discussion and submission
of two writing assignments (5 pages) based on assigned topics and a
Field Trip Journal constitute the core course requirements
Writing Assignments (Two) 70%
Attendance 10%
Preparation and Participation 10%
Field Trip Journal 10%
Grading
94-100% = A 4.0
90-93 % = A/B 3.5
87-89 % = A/B 3.5
84-86 % = B 3.0
80-83 % = B/C 2.5
77-79 % = B/C 2.5
74-76 % = C 2.0
70-73 % = C/D 1.5
64-70% = D 1.0
60-63% = D/F 0.5
Required Readings:
1. Japanese Culture. Paul Varley. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN: 0824821521
2. A History of Japan. Mason and Caiger. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN: 080482097X
Regarding basic study, research and writing skills, students are encouraged to refer to A Student's Guide to History. Jules Benjamin. Bedford/St. Martin's
Recommended Titles:
3. The Last Shogun: The Life of Tokugawa Yoshinobu. Ryotaro Shiba and
Juliette Winters Carpenter. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 1568363567
4. Yoshiwara: The Glittering World of the Japanese Courtesan. Cecelia Segawa Seigle. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN: 0824814886
5. Kaempfer's Japan: Tokugawa Culture Observed. Beatrice M. Bodart-Bailey. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN-10: 0824820665
6. Silence. Shusaku Endo.
Films:
" Kagemusha
" The Sea and Poison
Field Trips and Recommended Places of Interest:
" Theater: Noh, Kabuki, or Bunraku
" Museums: Kyoto Museum of Art, Kyoto National Museum
" Hikone- Hikone Castle, Garden and Museum
" Nara- 13 May
Tôdaiji
Shosoin
Kasuga Taisha
" Kyoto- 12 May
Imperial Palace
Katsura Rikkyu (Detached Palace)
Shugakuin
Kinkakuji
Ryuanji
Nijo-jo
Academic Honesty and Classroom Etiquette
The University's academic policy regarding academic integrity and honesty
will be strictly upheld. Cheating, plagiarizing and failure to cite
and properly document sources of information will be dealt with according
to University Policy.
"The student shares with the faculty the responsibility for maintaining
the integrity of scholarship, grades, and professional standards."
In addition, The Japan Center for Michigan Universities
adheres to the policies on academic honesty specified in General Student
Regulation 1.0, Protection of Scholarship and Grades; the all-University
Policy on Integrity of Scholarship and Grades; and Ordinance 17.00,
Examinations. (See Spartan Life: Student Handbook and Resource Guide
and/or the MSU Web site www.msu.edu.)
(Article 2.3.3 of the Academic Freedom Report)
"Therefore, unless authorized by your instructor,
you are expected to complete all course assignments, including homework,
lab work, quizzes, tests and exams, without assistance from any source.
You are expected to develop original work for this course; therefore,
you may not submit course work you completed for another course to satisfy
the requirements for this course. Also, you are not authorized to use
the www.allmsu.com Web site to complete any course work in this course.
Students who violate MSU rules may receive a penalty grade, including
but not limited to a failing grade on the assignment or in the course."
Office of the Ombudsman, Michigan State University
Cell phones, recording devices and other electronic equipment, food and beverages are forbidden in the classroom.
Class Schedule and Assignments
Please note that the student is expected to have read and studied the
assigned reading and prepared for discussions prior to each class. Be
sure to bring to class the texts under discussion.
May 7, 2007 Introduction- Historical and geographical Background to Japan
Reading:
Mason, Chapters One and Two. Environment, Early Settlement and Yamato
Varley Chapter One, The Emergence of Japanese Civilization
Discussion: Examine the historical and Mythological origins of the Japanese Polity
May 8, 2007
Readings:
Mason, Chapters Three and Four: The Creation of a Unified State and
Nara.
Varley Chapter Two, The Introduction of Buddhism
Discussion: What were the enduring aspects of Buddhism in Japan in terms
of its political and intellectual influence. Was there conflict with
indigenous philosophies and religious traditions?
May 9, 2007
Readings:
Mason, Chapters Five and Six: The Government of Heian Japan. Heian Literature
Varley, Chapter Six, The Court at Its Zenith
May 10, 2007
Reading:
Mason, Chapters Seven and Eight, Heian Religion, Architecture and Art
Varley, Chapter Six, The Court at Its Zenith
May 11, 2007
Readings:
Mason, Chapters Nine, Ten, and Eleven. Medieval Japan and Rule by the
Military Houses
Varley, Chapters Four and Five The Advent of a New Age and the Canons
of Medieval Taste
May 12, 2007
Field Trip to Kyoto
May 13, 2007
Field Trip to Nara
May 14, 2007
Reading: National Unification and Administration Under the Tokugawa
Mason, Chapters Twelve and Thirteen and Fourteen
Varley, Chapters Seven and Nine, The Flourishing of a Bourgeois Culture
and Encounter with the West
Discussion: Unification and Pacification. What were the greatest challenges
facing the three unifiers, Oda, Hideyoshi and Tokugawa. How did each
military strategist realize military and political success?
What is meant by "Genroku Culture and how does still
seem to be a source of inspiration and identity in the study of modern
Japanese culture?
May 15, 2007
Reading: The Tokugawa Fall and The Meiji Restoration
Mason, Chapter Fifteen
Varley, Chapter Ten, Fruits of Modernity.
Discussion:
What were some of the internal weaknesses already present in the Tokugawa
Polity that led to the collapse of the Tokugawa regime?
Did the opening of the ports inevitably lead to the overthrow of the Tokugawa Regime?
How did the Japanese accommodate the demands of political, social and industrial modernization with traditional core cultural values?
May 16, 2007
Reading: Building the Meiji State
Mason, Chapter Sixteen
Discussion: Provide a summary of the personal characteristics of the
Meiji Leaders
May 17, 2007
Reading: Imperial Japan and the Pacific War
Chapter Seventeen
Discussion: What were Japan's Imperial interests on the Asian Continent?
May 18, 2007
Reading Postwar Occupation
Mason, Chapter Seventeen
Varley, Chapter 10. The Culture of Modernity
Discussion: How would one interpret the "liberalism" of interwar Japan?
What factors led to Japan's advance in China?
Causes of the War and the effects of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
