JAPN 305: Introduction to Japanese Culture and Civilization
MLO 2: Culture
Course Description:
This course introduces various aspects of Japanese culture, including history, geography, religion, government, politics, customs and traditions. After a broad historical overview beginning in prehistory, this course focuses on the Tokugawa period as the bedrock for understanding modern Japanese society as a mass society. Taught in English.
Reflective Narrative:
JAPN 305: Introduction to Japanese Culture and Civilization covered various elements of Japanese culture, such as history, geography, religion, government, politics, customs, and traditions. We briefly covered some of Japan’s more ancient history, then focused on the Tokugawa period as a starting point from which to begin understanding modern Japanese society.
This course was one of my first courses dedicated to teaching Japanese culture. As such, it was very enlightening, and gave me a new perspective on Japan. I had already studied some of Japan’s ancient history in previous archaeology courses, but I had very little prior knowledge of Japan’s more recent history, which is what this course primarily focused on. First we covered some of Japan’s more ancient history, such as the Heian period, which gave us some general background information of Japan’s society. We also discussed Japan’s various ruling classes over the years, such as the royal family, nobles, and samurais. We discussed the influence of Buddhism and Shintoism in Japan and their role in the formation of Japanese society. Towards the end of the semester we began to discuss Japan’s more recent history, up to World War 2, connecting Japan’s history with its present state. As this class covered many topics each week, we wrote feedback papers each week reflecting on what was discussed and what we learned about in terms of Japan’s culture. For the midterm we chose from a set of questions and wrote short essays to answer them. For myself, I discussed Japan’s past warrior ruling class, and how their legacy helped shape Japan’s society in the twentieth century; and I discussed the emergence of the image of the “Modern Girl” during the late Meiji Period, as well as women’s place in Meiji Era Japan.
As it covered so much of Japan’s history and culture, this course provided me with the perfect groundwork from which to begin learning about Japanese culture.
Evidence:
Course Description:
This course introduces various aspects of Japanese culture, including history, geography, religion, government, politics, customs and traditions. After a broad historical overview beginning in prehistory, this course focuses on the Tokugawa period as the bedrock for understanding modern Japanese society as a mass society. Taught in English.
Reflective Narrative:
JAPN 305: Introduction to Japanese Culture and Civilization covered various elements of Japanese culture, such as history, geography, religion, government, politics, customs, and traditions. We briefly covered some of Japan’s more ancient history, then focused on the Tokugawa period as a starting point from which to begin understanding modern Japanese society.
This course was one of my first courses dedicated to teaching Japanese culture. As such, it was very enlightening, and gave me a new perspective on Japan. I had already studied some of Japan’s ancient history in previous archaeology courses, but I had very little prior knowledge of Japan’s more recent history, which is what this course primarily focused on. First we covered some of Japan’s more ancient history, such as the Heian period, which gave us some general background information of Japan’s society. We also discussed Japan’s various ruling classes over the years, such as the royal family, nobles, and samurais. We discussed the influence of Buddhism and Shintoism in Japan and their role in the formation of Japanese society. Towards the end of the semester we began to discuss Japan’s more recent history, up to World War 2, connecting Japan’s history with its present state. As this class covered many topics each week, we wrote feedback papers each week reflecting on what was discussed and what we learned about in terms of Japan’s culture. For the midterm we chose from a set of questions and wrote short essays to answer them. For myself, I discussed Japan’s past warrior ruling class, and how their legacy helped shape Japan’s society in the twentieth century; and I discussed the emergence of the image of the “Modern Girl” during the late Meiji Period, as well as women’s place in Meiji Era Japan.
As it covered so much of Japan’s history and culture, this course provided me with the perfect groundwork from which to begin learning about Japanese culture.
Evidence:
japn_305_feedback_3.pdf | |
File Size: | 19 kb |
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japn_305_midterm.pdf | |
File Size: | 39 kb |
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