HC4045 Cultural History of Late Imperial China

This course introduces advanced undergraduate students to the key methods and approaches of cultural history through the study of late imperial China. Taking a cultural-historical perspective as its primary analytical framework, the course examines Chinese society, economy, ideology, religious belief, cultural practices, and intellectual life from the seventh to the nineteenth centuries. Instruction is organized mainly around thematic lectures, supplemented by group discussions, book reviews, and essay writing. Through close engagement with texts, images, and other historical materials, students will develop foundational skills in historical interpretation while broadening their academic horizons. The course aims to foster critical thinking and encourage reflection on contemporary intellectual and scholarly concerns through a historically grounded understanding of imperial China, thereby preparing students for more advanced study in the field.