GENERAL EXAMINATION FIELDS

Intellectual History

The field should be considered in its entirety. Candidates are expected to have a broad knowledge of the major intellectual developments in Chinese history. However, they are encouraged to specialize in one of the following periods for in-depth study:

Pre-Qin to the end of the Han
Wei-Jin to late Tang
Song, Ming and early Qing
Since the late Qing

They will be expected to demonstrate a firm grasp of the key intellectual issues discussed in the English language literature and a general knowledge of scholarly trends in relevant Chinese and Japanese language scholarship.

Chinese Thought and Religion

Candidates are expected to have a general knowledge of the major schools and thinkers in Chinese thought and religion. Because of the nature and diversity of the field, however, some latitude will be permitted in defining the scope of the field. Classical Confucianism, Neo-Confucianism, philosophical Daoism, Daoist religion, and the most recent transformations of Chinese thought and religion are some of the possible areas of concentration.

Primary Research Language

Sound background in modern and classical Chinese and a reading knowledge of Japanese.

SPRING COURSES

Chinese History 251. Confucian Ethics. Conference Course
Moral Reasoning 40. Confucian Humanism: Self-Cultivation and Moral Community