June 2015
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong Community College
Subject Description Form
Subject Code
CCN2048
Subject Title
The History and Culture of Modern China
Level
2
Credit Value
3
Medium of
Instruction
English and Chinese (Cantonese)
Pre-requisite /
Co-requisite/
Exclusion
Exclusion
CCN2033 The History of Modern China
Objectives
This subject examines major social, political, and cultural changes in
China from the early 19th century to the mid-20th century. It explores the
genesis, developments and impacts of key historical issues such as the
crises and reforms in the late Qing dynasty, the Western intrusion which
triggered a critical re-examination of China’s traditional culture, the
ideological awakening during the May Fourth Movement, the struggles
between the Guomindang and the Chinese Communist Party, the
radicalism in the early years of the People’s Republic of China, etc. It
also introduces some of the leading scholarly interpretations and debates
concerning modern China.
Intended Learning
Outcomes
Upon completion of the subject, students will be able to:
Subject Synopsis/
Indicative Syllabus
(a)
describe major socio-political-cultural changes in modern Chinese
history.
(b)
explain some key conceptual tools for understanding modern
China, such as reform, revolution, imperialism, nationalism, etc.
(c)
evaluate the comparative strengths and weaknesses of Chinese and
Western cultures and their interactions.
(d)
apply relevant knowledge and concepts to explain contemporary
Chinese issues such as the strong force of Chinese nationalism.
Crises and reforms in late Qing
The Opium War; the Taiping Rebellion; the Self-strengthening
Movement; the Hundred Days Reform; the Boxer Uprising.
The Republic and the warlord era
Sun Yat-sen and Three Principles of the People; the 1911 Revolution;
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June 2015
Yuan Shikai’s revival of the monarchy; warlordism.
Ideological awakening
The May Fourth Movement; democracy and science; rise of Chinese
nationalism; birth of the Chinese Communist Party.
The War of Resistance
Japanese aggression; Wang Jingwei’s peace movement; the GMD-CCP
alliance; the American interlude.
The Civil War and the Communist victory
Role of the U.S.; causes of the Nationalist defeat.
Early years of the PRC
The Anti-Rightist Campaign; the Great Leap Forward; the Cultural
Revolution.
Teaching/Learning
Methodology
Lectures will introduce the theoretical framework, historical backgrounds
and major issues involved to help students master the subject’s content.
Tutorials will conduct in-depth discussions on selected topics. Students in
groups will be required to give oral presentations to further explore the
topics they are interested in. An individual paper will prompt students to
conduct in-depth research while sharpening their critical thinking and
writing skills.
Assessment
Methods in
Alignment with
Intended Learning
Outcomes
A variety of assessment tools will be used to develop and assess students’
achievement of the subject intended learning outcomes.
Specific assessment
methods/tasks
%
weighting
Continuous Assessment*
Intended subject learning
outcomes to be assessed
a
b
c



d
50

Test
15

Group Presentation
15




Individual Paper
15




Class Participation
5




Final Examination
50



Total
100
*Continuous assessment items and/or weighting may be adjusted by the subject
team subject to the approval of the College Programme Committee.
To pass this subject, students are required to obtain Grade D or above in
both the Continuous Assessment and Final Examination.
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June 2015
Student Study
Effort Expected
Class contact
Hours

Lecture
26

Tutorial
13
Other student study effort

Self-study
48

Continuous Assessment
45
Total student study effort
Reading List and
References
132
Recommended Textbook
Hsü, Immanuel C.Y. (2000). The Rise of Modern China. (6th ed.), New
York: Oxford University Press.
(中文版)
徐中約著，計秋楓、朱慶葆譯：《中國近代史》上冊，香港：中文
大學出版社，2001 年。
徐中約著，計秋楓、鄭會欣譯：《中國近代史》下冊，香港：中文
大學出版社，2002 年。
References
Chow, Tse-tsung (1963). The May Fourth Movement: Intellectual
Revolution in Modern China, 1915-1924. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard
University Press.
Fairbank, J. K. & Goldman, M. (2006). China: A New History. (2nd ed.),
Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
Meisner, Maurice (1999). Mao’s China and After: A History of the
People’s Republic. (3rd ed.), New York: Free Press.
Spence, Jonathan D. (1999). The Search for Modern China. (2nd ed.),
New York: W.W. Norton.
林蘊暉、沈志華、錢庠理、卜偉華、史雲、李丹慧、蕭冬連：《中
華人民共和國史》(七卷) ，香港：中文大學當代中國文化研究中
心，2008 年 - 2009 年。
陳永發：《中國共產革命七十年》，台北：聯經出版事業公司，
2001 年 (修訂版)。
郭廷以：《近代中國史綱》，香港：中文大學出版社，1986 年 (第 3
版)。
張玉法：《中華民國史稿》，台北：聯經出版事業公司，1998 年。
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