Literary Chinese is a written language that matured long before the Qin dynasty (221-206 BCE), when China first became an empire. It continued to be used by China's governing and elite cultures for nearly three millennia. A command of Literary Chinese is therefore indispensable for the study of any aspect of Chinese literature, thought, history, politics, or society before the twentieth century.
The idioms, syntax, style, and allusions of Literary Chinese continue to pervade the modern language. Its enduring influence results from the fact that the great legacies of Chinese culture, right down to the present day, have been largely preserved in this medium. Contemporary Chinese political and social discourse, and education emphasise knowledge of pre-modern Chinese culture and on familiarity with texts written in Literary Chinese. Without a grounding in Literary Chinese, it is impossible to gain a full understanding of the language or content of newspaper articles, literary works, and scholarly prose written in contemporary Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China. Texts written in Literary Chinese have also shaped the linguistic and cultural traditions of Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.
The Literary Chinese Minor offers a way into these rich worlds, past and present, through their primary sources. It begins with an introduction to the main sentence patterns and grammatical features of texts from the periods of pre-Qin (before 221 BCE) and Han (206 BCE to 220 CE). It expands its focus to texts from different periods of the imperial era. It culminates with close study of the registers of language specific to a range of different types of text. To complement analysis of the Literary Chinese language, the Minor also introduces students to the Sinological reference tools and the contextual knowledge necessary for a full appreciation of the texts under study.
Entry requirements for the Minor
Students who wish to enter the Minor will be required to take a language proficiency assessment. This will test knowledge of the Chinese script as well as the basic grammar and structures of the written language. It will demand a level of competence equivalent to the learning outcomes of CHIN2023 or JPNS3204, though these courses do by themselves qualify students for direct admission into the Minor.
Learning Outcomes
- Hypothesise on, analyse, and appraise vocabulary used in different types of Literary Chinese texts, with the use of general and specialist dictionaries.
- Identify and analyse the grammar and sentence structures of Literary Chinese texts from pre-imperial and imperial times, and explain their stylistic and other implications.
- Analyse the linguistic registers used in a range of Literary Chinese texts and reproduce them in appropriate registers of English.
- Offer a critical evaluation of different interpretations of the text under study, especially by engaging with the content, techniques, and specialist vocabulary of commentaries
- Produce a creative response to the text through a critical apparatus and a detailed analysis of textual references and literary allusions, using reference tools specific to the type of text under study; and develop an appreciation of the text in its relevant social, intellectual, and cultural contexts.
Other Information
Students with previous “language experience or exposure” are required to take a language proficiency assessment to ensure enrolment at the most appropriate level.
Relevant past experience includes:
- Previous study of the language (both formal and informal, for example but not limited to, at school, or, home, or through online activities, etc.)
- Being exposed to the language in childhood via a family member or friend
- Travel or living in a country where the language is spoken
- The language being spoken in your home (even if you do not speak it yourself)
Students who are not sure if they need to take a proficiency assessment should seek advice from the course or language convenor.
Students who intentionally misrepresent their language proficiency level may be investigated under the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 as having failed to comply with assessment directions and having sought unfair advantage. This may results in a penalty such as reduced grades or failure of the course.
Students are not permitted to enrol in a language course below one that they have already successfully completed, except with permission of the language and/or course convenor.
Areas of Interest
- Asian Languages
- History
- Philosophy
- Translation Studies
- Asia Pacific Studies
- Literature
- Language Studies
- Asia-Pacific Studies
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
This minor requires the completion of 24 units, which must include:
24 units from completion of Literary Chinese courses from the following list:
CHIN2019 Literary Chinese 1
CHIN2021 Literary Chinese 2
CHIN3015 Advanced Literary Chinese*
ASIA3108 Research Topics in Asian and Pacific Languages (L)**
*Advanced Literary Chinese (CHIN3015) is offered each semester with a focus on different types of texts. Topics include Anecdotal Literature, Historiography, Buddhism, Philosophy, and Excavated texts. Students may enrol in CHIN3015 more than once, as long as they study a different topic each time.
** Enrolment in this course is subject to the availability and agreement of an appropriate supervisor. It is a requirement that students confirm the approval of both the potential supervisor and the convenor of the Literary Chinese minor before enrolling in the course.
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