HJAK0001EU Meiji Japan in Global Perspective

Volume 2018/2019
Education

Curriculum for BA program in Asian Studies with specialisation in Indology, Japanese Studies, Chinese Studies, Korean Studies, South East Asian Studies and Tibetology, 2010

Curriculum for BA program in Asian Studies with specialisation in Indology, Japanese Studies, Chinese Studies, Korean Studies, South East Asian Studies and Tibetology, 2015

Curriculum for BA elective program in Japanese Studies, 2017

Curriculum for MA program in Asian Studies, 2008

Content

2018 marks the 150th anniversary of what is commonly known as the “Meiji Restoration” (Meiji ishin, or “Meiji renewal” in Japanese). This event is commonly treated as the beginning of modern Japan. It is a rewarding period to study because Japan in a short period of time assimilated a foreign civilization and changed rapidly and profoundly. The knowledge gained in this course should help you understand contemporary Japan better by adding a historical dimension. You will also see that many things we (and the Japanese themselves) regard as ‘ancient’ traditions were in fact invented in the Meiji period.

Particular emphasis will be given to global events and developments in what is sometimes described as the “long” nineteenth century.

The aim of the course is twofold:

1. To examine the Meiji period from the perspective of the historian (rather than from an exclusively “Japanese studies” perspective).

2.To provide an introduction to the study of history by examining some of the prevalent ideas about history, the role of theory in the study of history, but also methods and practical questions about “doing history”.

Learning Outcome

BA 2010-studieordning:
Japansk Realia 3 (Fagelemntkode HJAB00761E)

BA 2015-studieordning:
Japanstudier realia 1 (fagelementkode HJAB00831E)
Japanstudier realia 2 (fagelementkode HJAB00871E)
Japanstudier realia 3 (fagelementkode HJAB00891E)

BA-tilvalg 2017-studieordning:
Japansk Realia 1 (Fagelementkode  HJAB10131E)
Japansk Realia 2 (Fagelementkode  HJAB10151E)

KA 2008-studieordning:
Tekstbaseret Emne (Fagelementkode HJAK03042E)
Emnekursus A (Fagelementkode HJAK03051E)
Emnekursus B (Fagelementkode HJAK03101E)

Details to be announced. Required introductory readings

If you have not yet done so, please read before the course starts:

Gordon, Andrew. A Modern History of Japan: From Tokugawa Times to the Present: Oxford University Press, 2014 (2009, 2003 – the older editions are can also be used for the pre-1945 period).

It is also advisable to read an introduction to the study of history, such as:

Jordanova, Ludmilla. History in Practice (2nd ed.), London: Hodder Arnold, 2006.

Kjeldstadli, Knut. Fortiden er ikke hvad den har været: en indføring i historiefaget, Frederiksberg: Roskilde Universitets Forlag, 2002.

You should normally (i.e. if you are a regular B.A. student) have passed the two introductory courses to the history of Japan: Introduction to the History and Culture of Japan before and after 1945.

Basic knowledge of the modern history of Japan, for example from Andrew Gordon’s book cited above
Seminars and writing workshops (possibly short lectures)
IMPORTANT: If you are taking this course as a BA course, please note that you should also take the relevant ToRS common course offered this semester.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 56
  • Preparation
  • 356,5
  • Total
  • 412,5
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Other
Criteria for exam assesment