Far East Asian History

[Kelp]

I'm taking a class on China, Korea, and Japan up to about the 1640s. I just finished a fascinating little book by Jonathan Spence entitled The Death of Woman Wang. It's an exploration of the fortunes of a small, impoverished province in the later Ming and early Qing periods of China (1650s-1680s is aproximatly the book's scope). Not to give away any details, but it's a heartbreaking story. It really puts a face on these kind of studies when you see how much peasents like that went through. Droughts, earthquakes, locusts...it was terrible. And all gleaned from local records at the time.

Next up is The World of the Shining Prince by Ivan Morris It's supposed to the classic study of the court life in Heian Japan a the time that Lady Murasaki wrote one the classic Tale of Genji.


I was wondering, does anyone have some interesting finds or facts in this area of study that they would like to share? Any recommends for good books about China, Korea, or Japan up to the late 1600s?

[Storico]

Kelp/Bruce, I'd suggest taking a look at this course outline (http://www.huronuc.ca/pdf/HIS208EJFang2007-08.pdf). I took the course two years ago, and used both books mentioned there. The essay topics are also a great place to start if you'd like some material for discussion.

Other books I'd recommend, if you can get them, are

Awakening : an introduction to the history of Eastern thought / Patrick S. Bresnan.

Studies in Chinese Buddhism / Arthur F. Wright ; edited by Robert M. Somers.

and

Chinese religions / Julia Ching.



I read all three, among others, for an essay on whether or not Buddhism was a "Chinese" religion. All three were awesome.

I'd also like to discuss the history in general. I might toss in something later. :smile:

[Crow]

I was talking with a Korean woman at one of my brother's parties a few years back.

People were laughing about some of the foods eaten in the Orient--tadpoles, frogs, minnows, etc.

She paused for a moment then said, "When people have seen starvation enough times, all food looks good."

[shunyadragon]

I'm taking a class on China, Korea, and Japan up to about the 1640s. I just finished a fascinating little book by Jonathan Spence entitled The Death of Woman Wang. It's an exploration of the fortunes of a small, impoverished province in the later Ming and early Qing periods of China (1650s-1680s is aproximatly the book's scope). Not to give away any details, but it's a heartbreaking story. It really puts a face on these kind of studies when you see how much peasents like that went through. Droughts, earthquakes, locusts...it was terrible. And all gleaned from local records at the time.

Next up is The World of the Shining Prince by Ivan Morris It's supposed to the classic study of the court life in Heian Japan a the time that Lady Murasaki wrote one the classic Tale of Genji.


I was wondering, does anyone have some interesting finds or facts in this area of study that they would like to share? Any recommends for good books about China, Korea, or Japan up to the late 1600s?

I recommend Robert Hans Van Gulik's books, especially his mystery series on Judge Dee. this sereies is a fictional historical look at ancient China. He translated a biography of Dee Goong an 18th century Chinese detective novel, loosely based on the adventures of Judge Dee, a magistrate who lived in the seventh century during the Tang Dynasty (600-900 CE), which he based his novel series on. He also wrote a work on Chinese sexuality which I have not seen for years.

[Kelp]

Yeah, I had an assignment which involved Gulik. They sound like good books, thanks.