Faculty of Oriental Studies
Setting conventions for the Final Honour School in Oriental Studies 2015
The formal procedures determining the conduct of examinations are established and enforced
by the University Proctors. These conventions are a guide to the examiners and candidates but
the regulations set out in the Examination Regulations have precedence. The examiners are
nominated by the Nominating Committee in the Department and those nominations are
submitted for approval by the Vice-Chancellor and the Proctors.
1. Numbering of papers follows that in the Examination Regulations 2014. The
Examination Schools website (http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/exams) gives
information on the provisional start date of the examination. The date, time and
location of individual papers will be published not less than 5 weeks before the start
of the first examination. For the order of papers in the examination itself, please refer
to the Examination timetable. Academic dress must be worn for all parts of the
examination including the viva if applicable.
2. In order to maintain the anonymity of the examination, candidates are instructed to
write their candidate number, not their names or Bodleian card number, on their
scripts and submitted works. Candidate numbers can be obtained from the Student
Self-Service.
3. All submitted works should be typed or word- processed in double spacing and
should conform to the standards of academic presentation prescribed in the
"Guidelines for writers of Theses".
4. All submitted works (dissertations, take-home essays etc.) have to be securely held
together (no paper clips) with a cover sheet stating the degree, paper title, term and
year of submission, your candidate number and word count. Dissertations have to be
securely bound. Two copies of the works have to be submitted to the Examination
Schools unless otherwise stated. A declaration form should be included in a sealed
envelope and included with the two copies of the submitted works in a larger
envelope. The larger envelope should have your candidate number at the front and
addressed to Chair of Examiners, (name of degree), Examination Schools, High
Street. The Chairman of Examinations in Oriental Studies would like to advise
candidates to obtain a signed receipt from the Clerk of Exam Schools for their
submitted work (e.g. if you are submitting dissertations or take-home essays).
Remember to write your candidate number and not your name on all submitted work.
5. As well as two hard copies of the dissertation, which it is compulsory for candidates
to submit, we also request candidates to submit if possible a copy of their dissertation
on a CD or flash drive (memory stick) in PDF format.
6. When submission of written work is required, the penalty posed in case of late
submission without the prior permission of the Proctors will range from outright
failure of the submitted work (i.e. where it is considered that the extra time has given
unfair advantage to the candidate and thus may be equated with cheating) to a
percentage reduction in the mark awarded, as deemed appropriate by the examiners.
Please refer to the Guidelines for Setting and Marking.
7. Candidates should note that if they have any complaints or queries concerning the
examination process, including results, these should be directed in the first instance to
their colleges and not to the examiners or any member of the teaching staff.
8. Candidates may be examined by viva voce (oral examination) and so candidates
should be prepared to travel to Oxford up until the final examiners’ meeting
(normally last week in June or first week of July).
1
In deciding to conduct a Viva, examiners and assessors should bear in mind that:





1.
The reason for holding a Viva must be clear and is when examiners are otherwise
unable to determine the class of the submitted papers.
A Viva must not be used as a means of assessing suspicions about possible
plagiarism.
A candidate must be given 2-3 days notice of the Viva.
The Viva must be scheduled to take place before the final examiners’ meeting.
A candidate who attends for a Viva can only improve on a class mark as a result of the
Viva.
Modern Chinese I
Part A: Prose translation (70%)
This section consists of two passages in English, which should be translated into
Chinese. Each piece will be approximately 250 English words.
Part B: Composition in Chinese (30%)
Candidates are asked to write a Chinese composition on one of three given topics. The
length of the composition should not be less than 400 Chinese characters.
2.
Modern Chinese II
Part A: Unseen translation (75%)
This section consists of three newspaper articles from mainland China, Hong Kong and
Taiwan to be translated into English. Each article will be no more than 600 Chinese
characters in length.
Part B: Reading comprehension (25%)
Candidates are asked to answer questions in English after reading an article in Chinese
of approximately 1,000 Chinese characters.
3.
Oral
See separate conventions.
(Please note: the Oral examination is weighted as one half of one examination paper.)
4.
Classical I
The paper will be set in two sections, both of which must be attempted.
Section A: Zhuangzi
2
Two passages will be set for translation into English. Candidates should translate both
passages (30%). Three further essay questions will be set, of which candidates should
answer one (20%).
Section B consists of two subsections: 1. Philosophy and 2. Historiography.
Candidates should choose one subsection. In each, two passages will be set for
translation into English. Candidates should translate both passages (30%). In each
subsection, three further essay questions will be set, of which candidates should answer
one (20%).
5.
Classical II
Four passages will be set. Section A will comprise two prepared passages drawn from
Yangzhou shi ri ji, Tamhon yon'gi or the selection of Ji Yun (Yue wei caotang biji) and Yuan
Mei (Zi bu yu) stories of the supernatural. Section B will comprise two passages of
unprepared pieces of late imperial narrative prose. Candidates should translate all four
passages. All questions will be weighted equally.
6.
Modern China
Eight essay questions will be set. Candidates should answer three questions. Questions will
be given equal weighting.
7.
Dissertation
Dissertations should be submitted to the Clerk of the Schools at the Examination Schools, not
later than noon on Friday of 10th Week of Hilary Term. Dissertations should not exceed
15,000 words, including footnotes, but excluding the bibliography and any appendices
If possible, candidates should submit a copy of their dissertation on a CD or flash drive
(memory stick) in pdf format together with the two hard copies. Remember to write your
candidate number and not your name on the dissertation. For submission and formatting
instructions, please refer to paragraph 3 and 4 above.
EITHER: CHINESE WITH SPECIAL TEXTS: Papers: 1-10
8. Special Option I: Texts
China and the World
There will be 8 questions based on the 8 sections listed below. Candidates must answer 5
questions, including at least two from Part A (pre-49) and two from Part B (post-49). Each
question will comprise one passage that they must translate and elucidate as necessary. (All
questions will be weighted equally.)
3
Part A
Section 1
Huang Qing zhi gongtu 皇清职贡图, Fu Heng et al. comps. (Shenyang: Liao Shen
shushe chuban, 1991), pp. 102–115. (Selections: descriptions of European nations
and their peoples from the 18th c.).
Yin Guangren 印光任 and Zhang Yulin 張汝霖, Aomen jilüe 澳门记略 (Shanghai:
Shanghai shudian chubanshe, 2003) pp. 28–32. (Selections describing foreigners in
Macao).
Section 2
Yingshi Magaerni fang Hua dang’an shiliao huibian 英使馬嘎爾尼訪華檔案史料匯
編 [Collected archival materials on the English envoy Macartney’s visit to China]
ed. Zhongguo di yi lishi dang’anguan 中國第一歷史檔案館. Beijing: Guoji
wenhua chuban gongsi 北京: 國際文化出版公司, 1996, pp. 176–77. (Memorials
concerning the Macartney mission).
Yapian zhanzheng dang’an shiliao 鸦片战争档案史料 (Tianjian: Tianjin guji
chubanshe, 1992) vol.1 no 4 (JQ20.3.23), pp.18–19 and no.170 (Daoguang 19.7.24),
pp. 673–675.
Section 3
Timothy Richard, ‘Chuang zao feiqi’ 創造飛器. (“Building a flying machine”,
Baptist Missionary Society Archives, Regents Park College).
Liu Dapeng 刘大鹏, Qianyuan suoji 潜园锁记 [Notes from Qian garden] (excerpts),
pp. 27–30, 32–35. (This is the essays headed: Jin min lian yihequan 晋民练议和拳
[Shanxi people practice Boxing] pp. 27–9; Funü lianxi hongdengzhao 妇女练习红
灯照 [Women practice as Red Lanterns], pp. 29–30; Jiaomin 教民 [Christians] pp.
32–33; Zhou xian guan ou (qu) min ru yangjiao 州县官殴（驱）民入洋教
[Prefectural and county level officials beat (drive) people to join the foreign
religion], pp. 33–34).
Qiu Jin 秋瑾, ‘Jinggao zimeimen’ 敬告姊妹们 [Warning to my sisters], in Qiu Jin ji
秋瑾集 [Collected works of Qiu Jin] (Shanghai: Shanghai guji chuban she, 1991,
pp. 13–16.
Section 4
Chen Duxiu 陈独秀, ‘Dong xi minzu genben sixiang zhi chayi’ 东西民族根本思想
之差异 [The differences in the fundamental thought of East and West], Xin
qingnian 新青年 [New Youth] 1.4 (1915), pp. 1–4. (Shanghai Yadong tushuguan
1962 reprint, pp. 283–6).
Wusa yundong shiliao 五卅运动史料 [Historical materials on the May 30th
Movement]. (Shanghai: Shanghai renmin chubanshe, 1981) (excerpts), pp. 303–5,
600–1, 685–6. (This is the items headed: Nei wai mianshachang gonghui fabiao de
bagong xuanyuan 内外棉纱厂工会发表的罢工宣言 [Strike manifesto from the
trades union of the Chinese and foreign owned cotton mills], pp. 303–5; Wei Riren
4
cansha Xiaoshadu gongren gao tongbao 为日人残杀小沙渡工人告同胞
[Announcement to my countrymen that the Japanese have massacred workers on
Rue Lafayette], pp. 600–1; Shanghai xuesheng shimin gongren fankang diguozhuyi
da yundong xuanyan 上海学生市民工人反抗帝国主义大运动宣言 [Manifesto for
the Shanghai students, citizens and workers great anti-imperialist movement], pp.
685–686.
Part B
Section 5
Shenhou de youyi 深厚的友谊（漫画）(Beijing: Sino-Soviet Friendship Association,
1950). (Picture book on Soviet expert training women to drive locomotives in
Dalian).
‘Reqing de bangzhu he qinqie de guanhuai’ 热情的帮助和亲切的关怀 in Sulian shi
women shishi de pengyou he laoshi 苏联是我们忠实的朋友和老师 (Beijing: Xin
zhishi chubanshe, 1956), pp. 1–7. (Reports on a visit to Soviet Russia by a
delegation of Chinese schoolteachers in the 1950s).
‘Zhou Enlai zongli zai Yafei huiyi shang fayan’ 周恩来总理再亚非会议上发言. in
Yafei huiyi wenjian xuanji 亚非会议文件选辑 (Beijing: Shijie zhishi she, 1955) pp.
27–33. ( Zhou Enlai’s speech at the Bandung Conference in 1955).
Section 6
‘Dadao xin shahuang’ 打倒新沙皇！Renmin ribao 人民日报 3.3.1969 and ‘Ying
diguozhuyishi zenyang qinzhan wo xianggang, jiulong he xinjie de’ 英帝国主义是
怎样侵占我香港，九龙和新界的, Renmin ribao 人民日报 22.8.1967. (Two
articles from Renmin ribao, one attacking Soviet revisionism and one attacking
British imperialism in Hong Kong).
Jin Dalu 金大陆, Feichang yu zhengchang 非常与正常 (Shanghai ci chubanshe,
2011), pp. 220–224. (Personal memoir on fashion during the Cultural Revolution).
Section 7
Song Qiang 宋強 et al., Zhongguo keyi shuo bu 中國可以說不 [China can say no]
(Hong Kong: Mingbao chubanshe, 1996), excerpt: 美国没有资格在人权问题上批
评中国 [The United States is in no position to criticize China on human rights], pp.
304–315.
Lei Yi 雷颐. “Zhongguo xiandai de ‘Huaxia zhongxin guan’ yu ‘minzuzhuyi’ 中国
现代的‘华夏中心观’与‘民族主义 [The idea of ‘Chinese centrality’ and
‘nationalism’ in modern China], in Lei Yi zi xuan 雷颐自选集 (Guilin: Guangxi
shifan daxue chubanshe, 2000), pp. 299–305.
“Gang bao sheping: mo rang qi bu zhun cheng wei qi shangjuan” 港报社评：莫让
七不讲成为七伤拳 [Social commentary from the Hong Kong press: Don’t let the
seven topics that are not to be discussed become seven injurious blows], Ming Bao
明报, 13 May 2013.
5
Li Linxia 李林霞. “Biao li shan he ‘shui’ wuyin’ 表里山河“水”呜咽 [The true sigh
of the ‘water’ of the mountain streams], Shanxi ribao 山西日报, 6 August 2013.
Xi Jinping 习近平. “Zhongguo meng jiushi renmin de xingfu meng” 中国梦就是人
民的幸福梦 [The Chinese dream is the people’s dream of happiness]. Speech
made at the opening ceremony of the 12th National People’s Congress, 17 March
2013.
Section 8
Lu shi zupu 盧氏族譜 [Lu family genealogy], pp. 20–24 (extract). (Autobiographical
text by a Chinese who came to open a laundry in Manchester in the late 19th
century)
“Gui dongnan zhongdian qiaoxiang” 桂东南重点侨乡 [Important home areas of
Overseas Chinese in southeast Guangxi], from Guangxi tongzhi. Qiaowu zhi 广西
通志: 侨务志, Guangxi renmin chubanshe, 1994, pp. 165–71. (Gazetteer extract
describing Rong county which has a long history of emigration)
“Bai Xueqiao: chuanqi huaqiao nüjigong” 白雪樵：传奇华侨女机工” [Bai Xueqiao:
Tales of an overseas Chinese woman engineer]. Yangcheng wanbao 羊城晚报 21
September 2005.
“Bai Xueqiao de yi feng xin” 白雪樵的一封信 [A letter from Bai Xueqiao], 19 May
1935.
Modern Literature and Film
Thirteen passages will be set from the texts listed below, of which candidates must
translate five, one from each section.
Section A
1. Lu Xun: “Kuangren riji (Hong Kong: 1970), 13-27.
2. Lu Xun: “Kong Yiji” (Hong Kong: 1970), 28-33.
3. Zhao Tiaokuang: “Diandang”, Xiaoshuo shijie 2/1 (1923): 1-8.
Section B
4. Ling Shuhua: “Xiuzhen” (Singapore: 1960), 18-22.
5. Xiao Hong: “Shou” (Harbin: 1998), 727-741.
Section C
6. Wen Yiduo: “Sishui" (Shanghai: 1949), 99-100.
7. Ba Jin: “Gou” (Beijing: 1986), 46-55.
8. Xiao Hong: “Shimian zhi ye” (Harbin: 1998), 1183-1185.
9. Shen Congwen: “Zhangfu” (Changsha: 1998), 58-61.
Section D
10. Lao She: selections from Luotuo Xiangzi (Beijing: 1985), 196-214.
11. Mu Shiying: “Shanghai de hubuwu” (Changchun: 1998), 261-271.
6
Section E
12. Ding Ling: “Wo zai Xiacun de shihou” (Beijing: 1997), 65-83.
13. Zhang Ailing: “Fengsuo” (Beijing: 1986), 331-345.
Myth of the Confucian Classics in the Warring States Period
Eight passages will be set from the texts listed below, of which candidates must translate five,
taking no less than one from each section. (All passages will be weighted equally.)
Section A
“Wu cheng” 武成 in Shu jing 書經, Xuesheng guoxue congshu 學生國學叢書 series
(Shanghai: Shangwu yinshuguan, 1934), pp. 67-74.
“Shi fu” 世俘 in Jizhong Zhou shu 汲冢周書, Zhonghua zaizao shanben 中華再造善
本 series (Beijing: Beijing tushuguan chubanshe, 2005), pp. 4.8a–11a.
Section B:
“Qiye” 耆夜, edition Rens Krijgsman (2014), based on Li Xueqin 李學勤 ed., Qinghua
Daxue Cang Zhanguo Zhujian (Yi) 清華大學藏戰國竹簡 （一） (Zhongxi Shuju,
2010), pp. 149–156.
“Kongzi Shilun” 孔子詩論, edition Thies Staack, “Reconstructing the Kongzi Shilun:
From the Arrangement of the Bamboo Slips to a Tentative Translation,” Asiatische
Studien / Études Asiatiques 64.4 (2014), pp. 894–895.
Section C:
“Xing zi ming chu” 性自命出, edition Dirk Meyer, Philosophy on Bamboo: Text and
the Production of Meaning in Early China (Leiden: Brill, 2012), pp. 311–323.
Section D:
“Baoxun” 保訓, edition Dirk Meyer 2014, based on Li Xueqin 李學勤 ed., Qinghua
Daxue Cang Zhanguo Zhujian (Yi) 清華大學藏戰國竹簡 （一） (Zhongxi Shuju,
2010), pp. 142–148.
“Jinteng” 金滕” edition Dirk Meyer 2014, based on Li Xueqin 李學勤 ed., Qinghua
Daxue Cang Zhanguo Zhujian (Yi) 清華大學藏戰國竹簡 （一） (Zhongxi Shuju,
2010), pp. 157–162.
9.
Special Option II: Essays
China and the World
Eight essay questions will be set. Candidates must answer three (each question will be
weighted equally).
7
Modern Literature and Film
Eight essay questions will be set. Candidates must answer three (each question will be
weighted equally).
Myth of the Confucian Classics in the Warring States Period
Eight essay questions will be set. Candidates must answer three (each question will be
weighted equally).
10.
Special Option III
Extended Essay
The extended essay, of not more than 5,000 words, will be set on Monday of 1st week of
Trinity Term, for submission on Friday of 2nd week. Essay titles may be collected from the
office at the China Centre from 9 am on Monday of 1st week and should be submitted to the
Examination Schools no later than Friday of 2nd week at 12 pm. For submission instructions,
please refer to paragraph 4 above.
Linguistics
This is an examination paper, to be sat in the Examination Schools. Twelve essay questions
will be set, of which candidates must answer three (each question will be weighted equally).
OR CHINESE WITH A SUBSIDIARY LANGUAGE: Papers 1–7 above, and 11, 12 and
13.
Japanese
11. Japanese Language
a) Candidates will be required to translate one unseen passage from modern Japanese
into English.
b) Candidates will be required to translate a number of sentences and a passage of
connected prose from English into Japanese.
c) Candidates will be required to provide grammatical analysis of selected examples
from the unseen passage in Japanese and answer general questions on Japanese
grammar.
All questions must be answered (each section will be weighted equally).
8
12. Literature
Prepared Texts in Japanese
Candidates will be required to translate four passages from prepared texts into English
and to provide grammatical or other explanatory comment on specified examples from
the texts. (Explanatory comment involves the elucidation of proper nouns, specialist
terms, ambiguities, etc). Each passage will be between approximately 600 and 800 ji,
and count as 25% of the total.
All questions must be answered.
Texts:
Shinichi Hoshi, 'Jūyō na ninmu' (in Samazama na meirō, Shiincho Bunko, 1983).
Kobo Abe, 'Akai Mayu' (in Warera no bungaku, Vol. 7, Tokyo: Kodansha, 1967, pp.
450-451).
Kunihiro Narumi, 'Daitoshi ni okeru jumin no shūgō kōzō' (in Umehara and Moriya
eds, Toshika no bunmeigaku, Chuo Koron-sha, 1985 (p. 83, line 1 to p. 87, line 1).
Rokuro Kono, 'Moji no honshitsu' (in Nihongo, vol 8, Iwanami Shoten, 1977).
13. History and Culture
Japanese History and Culture
The examination will consist of two parts. The first part will be
(a) Identifications. Short factual identifications of people and events, covering both
modern and pre-modern Japan, will be set. All questions should be attempted.
The second part will be
(b) Essays. Three questions should be attempted, with at least one from each section.
Section (a) will carry 25% and each essay in (b) will carry 25%.
Korean
11.
Korean Texts (Subsidiary)
The examination will consist of four parts. Each part will consist of passages for
translation and commentary. All four parts with translation and commentary must be
attempted and will carry equal marks.
12.
Korean History and Culture (Subsidiary)
Candidates will be required to answer four out of ten questions. Topics covered will
include the language, history, literature, and culture of Korea. All questions carry
equal marks.
9
13.
Korean Language (Subsidiary).
The paper consists of four parts. Part I contains two or three seen articles for reading
comprehension. The candidates should answer the questions in English. Part II offers
three articles for unseen translation, of which the candidates should choose two to
translate into English. Part III comprises five short unseen English sentences for
translation into modern, idiomatic Korean. In Part IV the candidates will be presented
with three topics, of which the candidates should choose one to write an essay in
Korean within the limit of 500 words. Candidates should answer ALL questions.
Candidates should answer ALL parts. English-Korean and Korean-English
dictionaries (the Elite Sisa version) will be supplied. Weighting of the paper is as
follows: Part I: 40%; Part II: 20%; Part III: 10%, and Part IV: 30%.
Tibetan
11.
Tibetan: Prose Composition and Unprepared Translation (Subsidiary)
The examination will consist of three parts: two passages of Tibetan prose or verse to
be translated into English (35% of total marks each), and a translation of ten to fifteen
English sentences into Tibetan (30% of total marks). A glossary with words not
contained in lessons 1–30 of the Manual of Standard Tibetan or in the set texts will
be provided.
12.
Tibetan: Tibetan Culture and History (Subsidiary)
Candidates will be required to answer four out of ten questions. Topics covered will
include the history, society, religions and literature of Tibet and the Himalayas. In the
marking equal weight will be given to each question.
13.
Tibetan: Prepared Texts with Questions (Subsidiary).
The paper consists of two main parts. Part A consists of a translation of two passages
from the classical set text (Readings in the Gesar Epic) and two questions related to
this text. Part B is a translation of two passages from the modern set text (Lunyon’s
Autumn Diaries) and two questions related to this text. Candidates should answer
ALL questions. The translations carry 15% each, the questions 10% each.
Dictionaries are not permitted.
Chair of Examiners: Dr James Benson
Examiners: Dr Robert Chard, Professor Barend ter Haar, Dr Julian Ward (Edinburgh)
Candidates must not under any circumstances contact examiners directly
Hilary Term 2015
10