Nancy Smith-Hefner
smhefner@bu.edu

Associate Professor of Anthropology

Southeast Asia: Tradition and Development -- Provides an in-depth introduction to the cultural traditions and contemporary development of Southeast Asia. Examines the contemporary society and culture through the optic of political and cultural history, so as to understand the "imaginative revolutions" that have shaped this region and are transforming it still today.

Asians in America -- A cultural history of Asian immigrants in the United States from the 1850s to the present, focusing on family structure, gender, generational differences, religion, and education. The implications of the Asian experience for understanding mainstream America.

Robert Weller
rpweller@bu.edu

China: Tradition and Transition -- This course examines daily life in China and Taiwan, tracing how opposed economic and political paths transformed a common tradition. Topics include capitalism and socialism; politics and social control; dissidence; gender relations; religion, arts, and literature; and pollution.

Merry White
corky@bu.edu

Modern Japanese Society: Family, School, and Workplace -- This course approaches contemporary Japanese society through a focus on family, school, and workplace. The readings and lectures treat these institutions historically and in terms of the contexts they provide for the individual.

Asian Development: The Case of Women -- How women's lives in China, Japan, and India have been affected by economic development and social change. Women's education, health, child rearing, and labor force participation are considered in the context of socioeconomic and cultural influences.

Mohammad Mughal
mughal@bu.edu

Heritage of Asia -- Outstanding archaeological sites and monuments in Asia, highlighting their cultural significance, uniqueness, and diversity. Includes selected sites in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

Asian Gods and Goddesses -- Representation, meaning, and mystery of gods and goddesses of South and East Asian cultures, from prehistory to the present. Mother, fertility, and tree goddesses; deities of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. Examines evidence from archaeology, rock engravings, religious shrines, and other sources.

Civilizations of Central and South Asia -- Topics vary. Intensive coverage of particular periods of South Asian history, from the Neolithic to the Iron Age (7000-600 B.C.) as selected by instructor. Prereq. CAS AR 101, Sophomore standing, or consent of instructor.

Robert Murowchick
remurow@bu.edu

Archaeology of Ancient China -- This course examines the archaeology of ancient China from the Neolithic through the Bronze Age (7000 to 221 BCE). Particular attention will be paid to the interaction between technology and the acquisition of political, religious, and social power.

Associate Professor of Asian and Chinese Art

Arts of Asia -- An introduction to the art of architecture of Asia from earliest times to the twenty-first century. Focus on the context of production and use in relation to the cultural, political, religious , and technological forces of each era.

Arts of China -- Introduction to the major tradition of Chinese art, from the Neolithic period to the present. Topics include bronzes, tomb sculpture, painting calligraphy, ceramics, and gardens.

Chinese and Japanese Calligraphy: History, Theory, and Practice ) -- Introduction to the history, theory, and practice of the art of Chinese and Japanese calligraphy. The related art of seal carving is also introduced. No knowledge of Chinese or japanese is required.

Chinese Painting Colloquium -- This course introduces the major tradition of Chinese art, from the Neolithic period to the present. Topics include bronzes, tomb sculpture, painting, calligraphy, ceramics, and gardens.

Alice Tseng
aytseng@bu.edu

Arts of Asia– An introduction to the art and architecture of Asia from earliest times to the 21st century. Focus on the contexts of production and use in relation to cultural, political, religious, and technological forces of each time period.

Arts of Japan -- A thematic study of the art and architecture of Japan from prehistory to present. Focus principally on painting, prints, sculpture, and architecture produced in major cultural centers of each period.

Modern Japanese Architecture -- An introduction to the major architects, buildings, theories, and critical issues of Japanese architecture from 1850-1970. Focus on the development of new forms in response to interchanges with the West, new technologies, earthquakes, nationalism, international wars, and colonialism.

Seminar: Topics in Asian Art -- Prereq. CAS AH 111 and CAS AH 112 and two courses at the 200 level or higher, or consent of instructor. Topic of focus varies by year; check with AH Department for update.

Japanese Print Culture -- Prereq. CAS AH 111 and CAS AH 112 and two courses at the 200 level or higher, or consent of instructor. A course focusing on the print culture of Japan from 1750 to the present. Formats to be studied include: woodblock prints, photographs, illustrated novels and magazines, postcards, posters, print advertisements, and manga. A central exploration is the function of printed works as both artistic expression and instruments of mass communication.

Colloquium: Arts of Japan -- Course to be taken in conjunction with CAS AH 326.

Seminar: Asian Art -- Topic of focus varies by year; check with AH Department for update.

Geography of Asia -- Geographic survey of the Asian Pacific Rim and South and Southeast Asian economies. Emphasis on their environmental bases, historical and cultural traditions, and economic and developmental characteristics. Current themes in population, resource adequacy, levels of development, and problems of regional organization are explored.

(Writing Seminar) The Empire Strikes Back: Colonial Uprisings in the Modern World -- This writing-intensive course will examine how various colonies - focusing primarily on Ireland and India - have historically responded to and challenged British imperial rule. We will devote significant attention to the arguments and tactics used by colonized peoples to resist domination, in the process examining the tensions inherent in the idea of "empire" itself. We will also consider the vexed legacy of imperialism to both colonizer and colonized, and weigh the ethical and moral responsibilities of countries to intervene in crises in the regions they once controlled.

Eugenio Menegon
emenegon@bu.edu

Introduction to Early Chinese History -- The development of Chinese civilization through the traditional, medieval, and early modern periods; emphasis on intellectual history and political, social, and economic institutions.

Introduction to Modern Chinese History -- History of China from the Opium War through the Chinese revolution to the post-Mao era. Analysis of the traditional continuities and political, economic, social, and intellectual changes stimulated by modernization and revolution.

Merchants, Pirates, Missionaries, and the State in Maritime Asia, 600-2000 -- Oceans connected the peoples of coastal Asia, Africa, and Oceania for centuries, before the arrival of Europeans in the 1500s. This course examines the commercial, religious, cultural, political and military dynamics of maritime Asia up to the present, showing the region's historical and current importance.

Continuity and Change in Late Imperial and Modern China -- Examines late imperial China, including political institutions, ethnic classifications, family and gender relations, cultural trends, and military traditions and their persistence into the Republican and Communist eras. Explores revolution, change, and Chinese adaptation of ideas and institutions from abroad.

Associate Professor of International Relations

Politics and Social Change in Postwar Japan (meets with CAS PO 569) -- This course will examine the relationship between politics and social change in postwar Japan. Electoral reforms hold out the promise of a reconfiguration of the political landscape in Japan, and the course will examine the prospects for broad political change in Japanese politics.

Japan in International Politics (meets with CAS PO 579)-- International and domestic influences on Japan's international behavior in the past as a predictor of Japan's future role in international politics. Covers Japan's role in the Cold War, post-war Asia, and the management of the global economy. Examines viability of post-Cold War U.S.-Japan relationship.

International Relations of Asia-Pacific (meets with GRS PO 789) -- Focuses on the international relations of the Asia-Pacific region. Analysis of issues that have defined regional relations: the impact of the cold war and its aftermath; the impact of regional economic growth and dynamism; and the emergence of contention over regional identity and its relationship to global politics.

The Pacific Challenge -- This course is intended to provide undergraduates with a broad introduction to the diversity and development of Asia and the various challenges -- economic, political, and cultural -- that Asia poses for the United States and the world. The course will begin with a broad look at the Confucian tradition and the impact of that tradition on the contemporary world, then look at the central countries in East Asia -- China and Japan -- before looking at the rapid changes being brought about by the emergence of the so-called "mini dragons" (South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore) and "new mini dragons" (Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand).

China: From Revolution to Reform (meets with CAS PO 369) -- This course is intended as an introduction to the political and economic development of contemporary China, with particular attention to the dynamics of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The course will also examine how the interplay between China's domestic politics and the outside world has affected China's development as well as the dilemmas involved in trying to reform a socialist economy.

Foreign Policy of the People's Republic of China (meets with CAS PO 578) -- The intent of this course is to give a broad understanding of the course of Chinese foreign policy since the establishment of the People's Republic in 1949 as well as to take a more intensive look at some of the major problems in Chinese foreign policy in the contemporary period. Most of the second half of the course is devoted to understanding China's international behavior in the contemporary period, including its emergence as a major economic power, its situation as an Asian and global actor, and its difficult relationship with the United States.

Problems and Issues in Post-Mao China (meets with CAS PO 558)-- The purpose of this course is to examine in depth the development of politics in Post-Mao China. We will ask why the process of reform broke down in June of 1989 and why it has been revived, at least in the economic sphere, since then. We will also examine Tiananmen for what it can tell us about Chinese politics. Finally, we will look at a variety of changes occurring in Chinese society and speculate on the course of future developments.

William Grimes
wgrimes@bu.edu

Associate Chairman
Associate Professor of International Relations

Contemporary East Asian Economics (meets with CAS EC 368) -- This course considers the economic development of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan from the end of World War II to the present. It emphasizes the institutions and historical conditions that both contributed to and slowed development in the three economies. It considers similarities and differences in their experiences of economic development, and examines some of the challenges facing each economy today.

Southeast Asia in World Politics -- This course looks at the changing role of Southeast Asia in world politics, with a concentration on the five original member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. It focuses on four major questions. First, what explains the recent successes and setbacks in economic development seen in these countries? Second, what are the political institutions that have either helped or hindered development? Third, what are the potential sources of domestic and regional instability in Southeast Asia? And finally, what are the prospects for regional cooperation in a world dominated by wealthy and militarily powerful countries?

The State and Public Purpose in Asia (meets with CAS PO 562) -- This course examines comparative political economy in East Asia. It addresses three main questions: First, how can we best understand the growth patterns of the capitalist economies of Northeast Asia? Second, what has been the relationship between state, government, and labor in these economies? And third, how have patterns of political inclusion or exclusion affected the types of economic policies and outcomes actually observed?

Japan in International Politics (meets with CAS PO 579)-- International and domestic influence on Japan's international behavior in the past as a predictor of Japan's future role in international politics. Covers Japan's role in the Cold War, post-war Asia, and the management of the global economy. Examines viability of post-Cold War US-Japan relationship.

Japanese Political Economy (meets with GRS PO 759)-- This course investigates Japanese political economy, including such issues as labor-management relations, industrial organization, industrial policy, and financial regulation. It seeks insights into state-society relations and the nature of the Japanese state from a variety of angles, both theoretical and empirical. The goal of the course is to give students a comprehensive view of Japan's state and private sector, how they work, and how they interact.

First-Semester Chinese -- Essentials of structure, oral practice, introduction to the writing system. Lab required. Four hours weekly.

Third/Fourth-Semester Chinese -- Review of structure and grammar, practice in conversation and writing, introduction to reading. Lab required.

Third Year Modern Chinese -- Readings in modern Chinese. Readings and discussion in Chinese of selected nonliterary and literary materials, including newspaper articles, short stories, and essays. Regular compositions and lab work (tapes and films) required. Prereq. CAS LC 212.

Fourth-Year Modern Chinese I --Advanced training in speaking, reading, writing, literary readings for expanded vocabulary. Chinese language films and cultural topics assigned for discussion. Written work. Prereq. CAS LC 312.

Fourth-Year Modern Chinese II -- Advanced-level readings in modern Chinese. Discussion in Chinese of literary materials in various forms and styles. Special attention to works written between 1919 and 1949. Regular compositions and lab work (tapes and films). Prereq. CAS LC 411.

Chinese Reading and Writing I -- An intensive course covering first-year Chinese in one semester for students who speak Mandarin fluently but possess limited or no reading and writing skills. Emphasis on reading, writing, and analysis of grammar. Lab required. Four hours weekly.

Chinese Reading and Writing II -- An intensive course covering second-year Chinese in one semester for students who have completed LC 116 or students who speak Mandarin fluently and possess some reading and writing skills. Emphasis on reading and writing and analysis of grammar. Lab required. Three hours weekly. Satisfactory completion of CAS LC 216 fulfills the CAS language requirement. Prereq. CAS LC 116.

First/Second-Semester Japanese -- Introduction to spoken and written Japanese and to fundamentals of Japanese grammar with oral drills and written exercises. Lab required.

Third/Fourth-Semester Japanese -- Elaboration and refinement of the fundamental skills introduced in CAS LJ 111, 112 with an introduction to reading and composition. Lab required.

Third-Year Modern Japanese I/II -- Reading modern texts. Development of writing and speaking skills. Regular compositions required. Readings from newspapers and journals on contemporary social, political, economic, and cultural topics. Second semester (LJ 304): selections from fiction and nonfiction. Prereq. CAS LJ 212.

First-Semester Korean -- Elementary grammar, conversation, reading, writing.

Second-Semester Korean -- Continuing class from LK 111; grammar, conversation, reading, writing. Prereq. placement test or CAS LK 111.

Third-Semester Korean -- Development of communicative skills acquired in the first year. Readings in Korean. Writing exercises involving more complex grammatical patterns. Prereq. CAS LK 112 or placement test.

Fourth-Semester Korean -- Further review of the structures of Korean. Practices in conversation involving specialized topics. Advanced readings from Korean culture. Frequent compositions. Satisfactory completion of LK 212 fulfills the CAS language requirement. Prereq. placement test or CAS LK 211.

Third-Year Korean -- Readings in modern literary writings and journalism. Essays and discussions on issues in politics, society, and culture. Vocabulary building, advanced grammar, and enhancement of speaking ability. Prereq. CAS LK 212 or consent of instructor.

Culture of the Samurai -- Study of the culture of the samurai class, from its medieval origins to its dissolution in early modern times. Special topics include war tales, warrior arts, the warrior code, and Zen Buddhism. The course will also consider myths concerning the samurai that arise in
literature and, in more recent periods, cinema and other popular
Entertainment.

Preceptor in Japanese

Japanese Press -- Development of skills in formal Japanese through reading of periodicals. Emphasis on formats, styles, and idioms used in journalism. Vocabulary building. Television news programs and documentaries viewed for improvement of aural comprehension. Assignments geared to individual needs and interests. Prereq. CAS LJ 303.

Preceptor in Chinese

Chinese Civilization (in English translation) -- An interdisciplinary introduction to Chinese culture, including social life, thought, literature, and fine arts. Emphasis placed on the major cultural and social developments from prehistory to the nineteenth century that have a particular relevance to understanding modern China.

Topics in Chinese Culture -- Topics focus on particular aspects of Chinese culture such as food, costume, education, religion, philosophy, and film in order to examine Chinese culture from its beginnings to the present. Topic for Spring 2007: Food Culture. As study of food in Chinese culture including artistic and literary representations, history of agriculture, food preservation and preparation, medicinal uses, restaurant culture, and food as a commodity.

Basics of Classical Chinese -- Basic grammatical components of classical Chinese with emphasis on word and phrase construction, particles, and sentence structure. Original texts from ancient mythology, philosophy, literature, geography, medicine, science, and technology. Prereq. CAS LC 212 or CAS LC 216, or consent of instructor.

Masterpieces of Japanese Literature (in English translation) -- This course is an introduction to the major works and genres of Japanese literature from ancient times through the 19th century. Provides a background in Japanese literary traditions as well as a broader understanding of Japanese culture. Some of the major works to be read are: The Tale of Genji; The Tale of Heike, an epic war tale; traditional poetic forms including haiku and its predecessors; The Pillow Book and poetic diaries; traditional theater forms (noh, bunraku, kyogen, and kabuki); humorous prose. Related works from the visual arts will be introduced through a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts collection.

Self and Society in Modern Japanese Literature -- Literary representations of the shifting and complex terrain of Japanese modernity. Particular attention to the self and its apposition to society through major novels of the twentieth century. Included are works by Tanizaki Jun'ichiro, Mishima Yukio, Oe Kenzaburo, Murakami Haruki, and Yoshimoto Banana. Texts in Japanese and English; lecture and discussions in English.

Japanese Women Writers (in English translation) -- Japan has an early tradition of women writers that has continued to influence contemporary Japanese fiction and the way it is understood. Concepts such as "female-style literature" (joryû bungaku) have often shaped the study of Japanese literature as a whole. This course introduces major works by women writers from the Heian Period (ninth to twelfth centuries) to the present day along with secondary reading in the history and criticism of Japanese women writers. Although previous coursework in literature or Japanese culture is needed, there is no language prerequisite for this course. Supplementary materials in the original Japanese will be provided and used where appropriate.

Mariko Itoh Henstock
henstock@bu.edu

Instructor in Japanese

Japanese Civilization (in English translation) -- Survey of Japanese history, art, and contemporary culture.

Jaemin Roh
jmroh@bu.edu

Modern Korean Culture through Cinema -- This course is an introductory course on modern Korean culture and society from the Korean War (1950-1953) to the present. Two films portraying traditional Korean society will also be screened to provide deeper understanding of pre-modern Korea, making connections to modern Korea. The screening of one film each week will be followed by discussion and analysis during the regular class meeting. Students will observe how the global changes in the 1970s and 1980s influenced Koreans' lives, consider Korean social issues of the 21 st century, and briefly review the development of the contemporary Korean cinema industry throughout the course. Students will also learn socio-cultural aspects and value systems of modern Korea.

Indian Literature and Film -- Topic for Fall 2007: "Love in Indian Literature and Film." Gendered roles of lovers in Indian Literature and their expression in contemporary Bollywood films. Study of social and historical contexts for the evolution of character types such as the pining heroine, mystic, madman, and star-crossed lovers.

This course is an introduction to Comparative Literature in an East Asian context. It is organized around the simple question: “What makes a good story in East Asia?” We begin with an overview of fundamental Western theories of narrative structure, narrative voice, and the relation of narrative to “truth,” and then turn to an examination of the ways in which East Asian narrative forms challenge and enrich our understanding of these issues. Readings include classic premodern narratives from Japan, China, and Korea such as The Tale of Genji, The Dream of the Red Chamber, and Nine-Cloud Dream as well as representative modern works such as Yi Kwang-su’s Heartless, Natsume Soseki’s Kokoro, and Lu Xun’s The True Story of Ah Q. Learning about narrative forms that differ markedly from modern Western norms will help students identify and analyze the kind cultural work narratives do.

Catherine Yeh
yeh@bu.edu

Master pieces of Chinese Fiction (in English translation) -- A survey of Chinese fiction from the classical tradition to modern times. Readings from significant works, illuminating issues in Chinese history and culture: Dream of the Red Chamber, Three Kingdoms, Outlaws of the Marsh, and modern classics.

Chinese Women's Writing (in English translation) -- Close reading of modern Chinese women's writing since 1919 for what the texts reveal of the lives of Chinese women and society. Poetry, fiction, and autobiography.

Introduction to Chinese Literature -- Selected readings from three thousand years of Chinese literature up to the early twentieth century. Poetry, drama, fiction, discursive essay, biography. Portions of each text studied in Chinese.

Director of Undergraduate Advising, Department of Philosophy
Associate Professor of Philosophy

Marx and Marxism -- Philosophical foundation of Marxism and its development. Critical study of Marx's writings stressing questions of philosophy, political economy, science, and history. Emphasis on Marx's theory of relation of praxis to consciousness. Later (including contemporary) Marxists and critics.

Visiting Assistant Professor of Asian Religions

World Religions: Eastern -- Study of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shinto. Focus on the worldview of each tradition and the historical development of that world view.

Buddhism -- A historical introduction to the major themes of Indian Buddhist thought and practice with special attention to the development of Buddhism in Tibet.

Japanese Religion -- Introduction to Japanese religions, including Shintoism and Zen, Pure Land, and Tantric Buddhism. Focus on Zen Buddhism and its cultural expression in both geido (way of the arts) and bushido (way of the warrior). Brief examination of the modern Japanese philosophy of religion.

Zen Buddhism -- A study of Zen teachings and practices as a sect of Chinese and Japanese Buddhism, as a philosophic system, and as a pattern of culture.

Asian Philosophy -- Topic for Spring 2005: Buddhist Philosophy. Major issues, personalities, and texts in the Buddhist philosophical tradition, including early Buddhist scriptures, intellectual developments in classical India, China, Japan, and Tibet, and the encounter with modernity in Asia and the West.

Topics in South Asian Religion -- Specific aspects of South Asian religions within a historical or comparative/ phenomenological framework. Topic for Spring 2007: Buddhist Philosophy. Major issues, personalities, and texts in the Buddhist philosophical tradition, including early Buddhist scriptures, intellectual developments in classical India, China, Japan, and Tibet, and the encounter with modernity in Asia and the West.

Frank Korom
korom@bu.edu

Associate Professor of Religion and Anthropology

Hinduism -- Introduction to the Hindu tradition. Ritual and philosophy of the Vedas and Upanishads, yoga in the Bhagavad Gita, gods and goddesses in Hindu mythology, "popular" aspects of village and temple ritual, and problems of modernization and communalism in postcolonial India.

Culture, Society, and Religion in South Asia -- Ethnographic and historical introduction to the Indian subcontinent with a focus on the impact of religion on cultural practices and social institutions.

Multireligious America -- Introduction to American religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, with an emphasis on developments after 1965, when new legislation opened up immigration and dramatically altered the American religious landscape. Exploration of interreligious interactions: conflict, cooperation, and creolization.

Contemporary South Asian Societies -- The South Asian subcontinent is home to over a billion people, nearly a quarter of humanity. A panoply of languages and religions, the region has a rich and complex history and culture, one that defies simple generalizations. South Asia offers a fascinating context, a laboratory for the study of modernity and its multiple meanings, character and consequences for the everyday lives of people. This course offers a broad introduction to contemporary South Asian societies. With a focus on the conceptual themes of modernity and identity, it explores a variety of selected topics, including South Asian ethnic and political conflicts, movements of women's empowerment, the significance of Bollywood, and the emergence of South Asian diaspora communities.

Performance and Practice of Bali, Indonesia and Indian Classical Music -- Students will read background information on cultural traditions of Bali, Indonesia and the history of Indian classical music and learn to perform Balinese gender wayang (ten-keyed xylophones used in Balinese shadow play music) and Indian classical music on authentic instruments.

World Beat and Entho-Pop: Popular Musics of the Non-Western World -- This course will explore popular genres of non-Western musical cultures and crossover genres that combine musical elements from diverse musical traditions. The exciting phenomenon now known as World Beat will be approached from many different angles as we discuss the distinctive popular musics of different regions including many areas in Africa, Cuba and other parts of the Caribbean, Latin America and in particular Brazil, Argentina, India, Scandinavia, Spain, Portugal, and North America. We will distinguish and analyze both traditional elements as well as foreign influences. Social and cultural influences, political motivations, and the effects of modernization and urbanization as well as widespread acculturation will also guide our investigation.

Religion and Society in East Asia -- Comparative and historical study of the interaction of religion and society in East Asia. Particular attention to the relation of Christianity with the Asian religions and the role of religion in modernization. Also offered as STH TS 846.