Ancient Chinese History
Lecturer: Assoc. Prof. ZOU Jinfeng
School: School of History
Course description
This course, as a general survey on the Chinese civilization, will provide an access to
understand China in the historical context, including the rise of Chinese civilization, the dynastic
history, and ethnical history and thoughts that have significantly influenced the development of
Chinese civilization. Students will be encouraged to investigate some specific issues, which have
been research focuses in recent years, such as the changes in institution, the cultural evolution,
the social transition, and so on.
This course will help students to understand how the traditional China, or in other words,
the classic Chinese civilization has been changed in the interaction between the western impact
and the correspondent response from the old Asian civilization. Topics concerned will include
the collapse of the last empire, the social economical change, China’s efforts for industrialization
and modernization, the evolution of intellectuals, the wars and revolution, and other related
issues.
As one of the earliest civilizations, Chinese civilization has great contribution to the world
history; however, it has also been benefited from the influence from other civilizations. Students
in this course will also be encouraged to seek the uniqueness of Chinese civilization, and the
communication between Chinese civilization and the other civilizations.
Chinese Economy
Lecturer: Assoc. Prof. CHEN Zhihong
School: Institute for International Students
Course Introduction
This course provides insights to why China was so advanced in pre-modern times, what
caused it to become so poor for almost two centuries, how it grew into a market economy, where
its potential is for continuing dynamic growth and what further reforms are needed to complete
the transition to a well-functioning, advanced market economy.
Students can have comprehensive idea about Chinese Economy in terms of agriculture,
industry, economic system in China, countryside economy, urban reform and state-owned
enterprises reform, finance, etc., so that students can have objective judgement about China and
Chinese economy.
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Global Change and Environment
Lecturer: Prof. WANG Haikun
School: School of Environment
Course Introduction
Comprehensive abilities of systematic analysis are necessary to address issues of
environmental problems, such as global climate change and air pollution. In addition to basic
theory and scientific frontier in global environmental change, we will discuss a number of
socio-economic factors that contribute to these issues, and use them to gain insight into specific
environmental problems. After completing this course students are expected to be able to: 1)
explain the scientific basis of the global environmental issues and the technical options available
for avoiding or contending with these issues; 2) discuss the social, economic and political factors
surrounding the global environmental issues covered in class.
Aspects of Chinese Culture
Instructor: Prof. CHENG Aimi
School: Institute for International Students Nanjing University
Course Description:
This course will explore the foundations of Chinese civilization and the dimensions of
Chinese culture. It will pay particular attention to the relationship between Chinese culture and
the present-day life of the Chinese people and to the different elements of the culture which are
under the present social structures, belief systems, literature, arts, customs, etc. The course aims
at providing students with a deeper knowledge of Chinese culture, thus enabling them to better
understand China and to appreciate their experiences in Nanjing or other parts of China during
their Semester or Summer Study Abroad programs.
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Introduction to Thinkers of Ancient China
Lecturer: Assoc. Prof. VAITKEVICIUS Julius (YANG Juliu)
School: Institute for International Students
Course Introduction
This course serves as an introduction to some of the most influential thinkers of
China. As this course is designed to be more interactive than academic, students will
not only learn about the intellectual and historical shell of the subject matter but also
engage with it through class discussion, by relating classical Chinese thought to their
own lives, and by translation and discussion of short passages. Through the course
students will be also introduced to the ideas of Philosophy of Life, and how those
ideas can help us to approach such ancient Chinese thinkers as Confucius, Mencius,
Laozi, Zhuangzi and others. By discussing and thinking about what Chinese thinkers
said, thought or did in the past we also raise questions and look for answers to
question like: What is the meaning of life? Can depression be healed? What is one’s
life mission? How to develop one’s potential? What question would I ask if I met a
sage? Can the heart think?
The Chinese City from 16th to 19th Centuries
Lecturer: Prof. LUO Xiaoxiang
School: School of History
Course Introduction
This course starts from the general discussion of the characters and development
of Chinese cities in late imperial China. The second part focuses on special issues of
urban studies: urban politics, urban space, urban community, urban culture and the
development of new market towns in Jiangnan area. The last part deals with the
modern transformation of Chinese cities in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Students
who successfully complete this course should be able to demonstrate familiarity with
urban life China and describe how they have changed over time. At the same time,
they should reflect critically on spatial, political, social and economic aspects of urban
life in different historical contexts.
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Chinese Foreign Policy
Lecturer: Prof. ZHU Feng
School: Institute of International Relations
Course Introduction
This course is purporting to lecture on evolution of China’s foreign policy since
1949 with focus on its goal, interest calculus, and essential means. The course will
provide students with analytic framework to examine how a rising power addresses its
foreign interests and carry out on its external relations. The course will offer a concise
but explicit interpretation of China’s foreign policy making process and domestic
structure which affect its policy outcomes. The course will also pick up a number of
essential bilateral ties, for instance, China-US relations, China-Japan relations and
China-ASEAN relations, to demonstrate leading characters of its foreign policy.
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