Class Introduction

After originating in China, Chinese characters spread to neighboring countries such as Vietnam, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan, forming a Chinese character cultural sphere. In this class, we will study Chinese characters from a wide range of perspectives, including their origin and development, their principles and functions, the Chinese character reform in Japan and China, and the expression of Chinese poetry in medieval Gozan literature.

Festivals and annual events are passed down throughout Japan, and behind them are folk beliefs. In this class, we will explore the origins of annual events, relying on the perspectives and methods of Kunio Yanagita and Shinobu Orikuchi. We will also write about travel and observations in Japan and overseas on the theme of festivals and annual events.

The ethical ideas of Confucius, created by Confucius and developed by Mencius, Xunzi and others, became the state religion of successive Chinese dynasties and regulated human relationships and social order for over two thousand years. We will consider from various angles what kind of ethics they sought and whether it can be said that the ethical ideas of Confucianism brought happiness to everyone.

Students will explore Islam from various angles, such as food culture, customs, and the pilgrimage to Mecca, through thematic reports and reading materials. Presentation skills will be developed through presentations and discussions, and students will also improve their reading comprehension skills necessary to utilize Japanese and foreign language materials.

Two new courses, "Ancient and Middle Ages" and "Medieval and Early Modern Periods," will be offered from 2022. Students will learn about the culture and historical background of the time, and aim to gain a deeper understanding of classical literature through comparisons with other regions in East Asia.