Early China The Problem of Sources Essay

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Humanities

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First Essay Assignment:

Early China: The Problem of Sources

Thus far in our course we have encountered a range of texts which purport to describe life and thought in early China. Having read these texts and considered their possibilities and limitations, write a brief essay in which you use some examples from our assigned readings to explore what ancient texts can and cannot reveal. To do a good job with this essay, you should select a small number of texts and analyze them closely, focusing your analysis on some specific issues, or one specific issue, which you select. Then, use that focused inquiry to reflect on larger issues of the limitations and possibilities of historical sources.

Your essay will be judged by the extent to which:

You offer a sound and convincing argument;

You demonstrate careful reading of the sources;

You include ideas from lecture and other assigned readings as appropriate;

You craft a well-written and well-constructed essay;

You demonstrate understanding of the history presented thus far in class;

You are able to write a paper that is free of careless errors.

Papers should be approximately 1000 words in length, You do not need to submit a hard copy. Instead, upload your paper to Blackboard using the "Submit Assignments" tab. Your paper should be double-spaced, and your name should appear on page 1. You must carefully cite all quoted material and evidence presented in your essays.

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55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 12:25 1 X Syllabus Lecture: Early Records of the Chinese World View Thursday 8/27 Readings: Ebrey, Cambridge Illustrated History, 10- 11; excerpt from The Book of Documents, begin excerpt from The Book of Songs. “Oldest Known Pottery Found in China,” “Science and Emperor Yu's Flood,” “The Book of Songs: Poems That Helped Shape Chinese Thought” Tuesday 9/1 Lecture: The Geography of China Readings: Ebrey, Cambridge Illustrated History, 12- 22; “Mountains and Water.” “Mysterious Carvings and Evidence of Human Sacrifice Uncovered in Ancient City” Thursday 9/3 Lecture: Shang Civilization Readings: Ebrey, Cambridge Illustrated History, 22- 30; complete reading of excerpt from Book of Songs, “The Oracle Bone Inscriptions.” Tuesday 9/8 Discussion: China before Confucius Readings: Ebrey, Cambridge Illustrated History, 30- 37 “The Formation of the Classic of Changes (Yijing); “Ch’ien/The Creative, K’un/The Receptive;" begin Confucius, Analects. Assignment for this discussion: Choose one poem from the Book of Songs that you particularly like, or that you find particularly revealing or enlightening. Come to the discussion prepared to discuss the poem with the class. 9/9 9:30 PM EST DISCUSSION FOR STUDENTS IN ASIA Zoom meeting ID: https://syracuseuniversity.zoom.us/j/95866917971 Telephone dial-in: +1 646 876 9923 12:25 1 X Syllabus Tuesday 978 Discussion: China before Confucius Readings: Ebrey, Cambridge Illustrated History, 30- 37 “The Formation of the Classic of Changes (Yijing); “Ch’ien/The Creative, K’un/The Receptive;” begin Confucius, Analects. Assignment for this discussion: Choose one poem from the Book of Songs that you particularly like, or that you find particularly revealing or enlightening. Come to the discussion prepared to discuss the poem with the class. 9/9 9:30 PM EST DISCUSSION FOR STUDENTS IN ASIA Zoom meeting ID: https://syracuseuniversity.zoom.us/j/95866917971 Telephone dial-in: +1 646 876 9923 Lecture: Zhou Dynasty Thursday 9/10 Readings: Ebrey, Cambridge Illustrated History, 38- 46; Confucius, Analects(continue) Tuesday 9/15 Lecture: Confucianism Readings: Confucius, Analects (complete) Lecture: The Hundred Schools of Thought Thursday 9/17 Readings: Ebrey, Cambridge Illustrated History, 46- 59; Confucius, Analects (complete); “Mozi: Utility, Uniformity, and Universal Love;” “The Way of Laozi and Zhuangzi,” “Mencius.” Tuesday 9/22 Lecture: Qinshi Huangdi and the Founding of Qin Readings: Ebrey, Cambridge Illustrated History, 60- 63; “Legalists and Militarists.” First Essay Due Tuesday September 22 at 10:00 PM EST
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Explanation & Answer

Attached.

Running Head: EARLY CHINA

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EARLY CHINA
Name of Student
Institutional Affiliation
Date

EARLY CHINA

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Introduction
Historical sources can be described as materials usually written, recorded, painted, among other
forms that serve as inferences for historical explanations and evidence for practices in early life.
Even though these historical sources serve as rich sources of information, there are several
limitations and possibilities associated with them. As a requirement of the assignment, this paper
presents an essay written in relation to the assigned readings that gives an exploration of what
ancient texts can and cannot reveal. In line with this, the essay outlines the limitations and
possibilities associated with the readings. The readings chosen for this essay are the oracle-bone
inscriptions, an excerpt from "The I Ching or Book of Changes" named Ch'ien, the creative and
the receptive and another titled Mozi: Utility, Uniformity and Universal Love. The three readings
describe the life and thought in early China and, therefore, would serve as the basis for finding out
possibilities and limitations associated with historical sources.
The Oracle-bone inscriptions of the Late Shang Dynasty
In this reading, the author, Knightley (1999), gives an overview of the oracle-bone
inscriptions of the late Shang dynasty. The author argues that the earliest corpus of the Chines
writing consists of the inscriptions of the late Shang dynasty, which record the pyromantic
divinations for the last nine Shang kings at their courts. Usually, the king or his diviners would
address an oral charge based on the outcomes of the specific ritual that they perform. The king was
to make a careful interpretation of the results from the ritual, after which...


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