ESOPExchange Students from Overseas Program

The purpose of this course is to develop an understanding of the history of pre-modern Japan, a period usually understood as ranging from the Paleolithic age to the end of the Edo period (1603-1868). We will give attention to political, economic, social, environment, and cultural developments, as well as reflect on history as a discipline. To gain such an understanding, we will read and discuss primary and secondary sources. Through our readings and discussion, we will consider questions such as: Why study history? How is history written? What are the origins of the Japanese people? What are distinctive Japanese cultural practices and rituals? How and why did they develop? Who were the samurai? Why did the Tokugawa shogunate enact a seclusion policy? How did Edo (Tokyo) develop into a major city?

1. Develop an understanding of the political, economic, social, and cultural dimensions of the history of pre-modern Japan.
2. Practice writing reflective and thoughtful essays on historical topics.
3. Engage in serious thinking and discussion about historical topics and history itself.

英語 / English

In this course, there will be a (10-20 pages) reading assignment every week, and the class will be based on the reading assignments. In other words, at the beginning of class, we review the previous class and give/share the feedback on the worksheets. Then I will explain the readings and we have a discussion about them.
In the second half of the course, there is a plan to have the students do active learning several times.

あり / Yes

なし / No

授業形態/methods of teaching：対面/face to face

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1[対面/face to face]：Introduction

・Course Introduction

2[対面/face to face]：Prehistoric Age (Jomon and Yayoi period)

・How do we study prehistory Japan? (Scientific, archaeological, and historical approaches)

3[対面/face to face]：Ancient Times (The Courtly Age)

・The emergence of the Yamato and imperial line
・ Nara (719-794) and Heian periods (794-1183)
(The ancient kingship (imperial court) was established, conquered the "surrounding" areas and created a unique culture.)

4[対面/face to face]：Middle Ages 1

・The rise of the samurai.

5[対面/face to face]：Middle Ages 2

・Feudal society: Decentralization state, regionalism, local identity, and civil wars
・Buddhism new sects
・Ashikaga Bakufu (Muromachi period)
・Muromachi Culture

6[対面/face to face]：Japan’s Encounter with Europe

・ European expansion into Asia (Imperialism and colonialism): The formation of a global society and the global movement of wealth, goods, people, and knowledge began
・ The introduction of Christianity (1542-1640)

7[対面/face to face]：Period of Warring of States

・Warring States daimyo (warlord), Gekokujo, and Household code
・‘Three Great Unifiers’: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu
・Dissolve religious powers and the medieval order
・Medical Science and Globalization

8[対面/face to face]：Film

"Silence" (Director: Martin Scorsese, Original novel "Silence" written by Endo Shusaku)

9[対面/face to face]：Edo Part 1: Early Modern: Between Traditional and Modern

・How to build the city Edo?
・ Tokugawa Bakufu, status system, and Neo-Confucianism
・Early forms of capitalism and centralization
・Conquest of Ezo, and Ainu people

10[対面/face to face]：Edo Part 2: Culture and scholarship

・Legibility and the realm: Matsuo Basho and Ino Tadataka
・Science (Dutch medicine/learning)
・Nativists (kokugaku, 国学)

11[対面/face to face]：Edo Part 3: The downfall of Tokugawa Shogunate

・Rebellions: Smash and break, and world renewal
・External threat: Perry's arrival and the Unequal treaties
・Sonno joi (尊王攘夷, expel the barbarian) and Kaikoku (開国, open the nation)

12[対面/face to face]：Student Research Project 1

Student Presentations

13[対面/face to face]：Student Research Project 2

Student Presentations

14[対面/face to face]：Final Examination

Review and final examination

Students will be expected to spend 3-4 hours, on average, each week preparing, reviewing, and/or completing assignments for this course.
1. There will be weekly reading assignments.
2. There will be some worksheets. (5-7 times)
3. Choose one topic related to pre-modern Japanese history, prepare a presentation, and do presentation about it.

Brett L. Walker, "A Concise History of Japan", Cambridge University Press, 2015
(*Detail on how to obtain the reading materials will be given on the first day of class.)

Farris, William Wayne, Japan to 1600: A Social and Economic History, University of Hawaii Press, 2009
Pyle, Kenneth B., The Making of Modern Japan (second edition), D.C. Heath, 1996
Batten, Bruce Lloyd Batten and Philip C. Brown (edited), Environment and society in the Japanese island, Oregon State University Press, 2015

Class Participation: 20%
Weekly assignments: 20%
Project Presentation (Topic: 10%, Presentation: 20%): 30%
Final Examination: 30%

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