| Part II | Option | Convenor: Professor Roel Sterckx FBA |
Course Description 2025-26
Advanced readings in literary Chinese. Students are introduced to genres and text formats beyond the poetry, philosophical prose, and fiction they studied in C.3 and C.6. The course draws on texts ranging from early to late imperial times and may include samples of inscriptional and newly excavated manuscript materials. Readings are organized thematically and cover topics such as the body and medicine, natural environments, the non-human world, agriculture, ritual, dietary culture, legal and administrative writings. Students are introduced to the basic features of grammar and genre and the intellectual and historical background of the readings in question.
Classes and Supervisions
| Michaelmas | Lent | Easter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. of classes | 8 (two-hour) | 8 (two-hour) | / |
| No. of supervisions | 4 (minimum) | 4 (minimum) | / |
Form and Conduct
This paper contains two sections, all of which must be attempted. Section 1 contains one or more passages from seen texts in literary Chinese for translation into English. Candidates may be asked to comment on the texts in question. Section 2 contains unseen texts for translation into English.
This description is subject to change, for the latest information, students should consult the Undergraduate Handbook available on the Faculty Intranet.