Class Introduction

What exactly is the history of literature, and when was it completed? What was behind this? This class explains from the establishment of the system of literary history itself, and while taking into account its shortcomings and limitations, it is a class that learns the flow of modern literature in a lecture format. The characteristic of the class is that you will not list concepts, artist names, and work titles, but will decipher specific works. Questions related to the connection to literary history and the characteristics of the work are set, and all participants think about it, have the answers read aloud on the spot, and share them. As we take up the texts of famous reviews, novels, and poems little by little, you will gain hands-on experience reading more than 100 works in one year.

The Confucian ethical thought created by Confucius and nurtured by Mencius, Xunzi, and others has been recognized by successive Chinese dynasties and has defined human relations and social order for more than 2,000 years. We will consider from multiple angles what Confucian ethical thought was, and whether it can be said that it made everyone happy. Just because an idea has a long tradition and influenced Japan in the past does not necessarily mean that it is useful to us today. While looking closely at the part that should be called a negative legacy, let's clarify the identity of Confucianism from the standpoint of the history of thought. Studying the history of thought is to calmly observe human beings as "creatures that want to think".

In addition to traditional events such as the pilgrimage to the holy city of Makka, food culture, and customs, we will also explore Islam from various angles through thematic reports and material analysis. In addition, students gain a perspective on Islam in a multicultural society. You will be in charge of a research report on Japanese papers and foreign language materials, and each session will be in charge of a research report with analysis and consideration added to them. And in the process of writing research reports, we will improve the research ability of Specialized Knowledge knowledge and the ability to decipher materials. Through these research reports and discussions, students acquire presentation skills and develop the ability to construct logic academically.

Various themes such as Korean and Korean literature and thought, history, politics and economics, and changes in international relations are attracting attention from around the world. In this exercise, students will understand these various topics and think about modern Korea and Korea from multiple perspectives. We will cover a wide range of familiar topics, from popular culture such as movies, dramas, and K-pop, as well as changes in food culture and lifestyle. It is a place where participants can share new discoveries and perspectives through interaction with each other. Let's feel the "now" together and embark on an intellectual journey that will lead to the future.

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.

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.