Socio-cultural problems of China 3600-7-SI1-ZSKCH2

The goal of this course is to provide students with a wide perspective on the basic social and cultural problems of China, and their geographical background. The topics discussed during the lectures include:
-The geographical environment of China, and regional and climatic diversity of the country
-The cultural and linguistic diversity of the regions
-The Chinese traditional customs and their roots – traditional morality and ethics -Folk beliefs and popular mythology (folk Taoism, Buddhism etc.)
-Religions of China (Taoism, Buddhism, popular religion, Islam, Christianity etc.) -The national identity, state identity, Chinese nationalism, ‘hanism’
-Chinese ethnic groups and their problems, minority regions, the Chinese state policies towards the minorities
-The state administration and its functioning, administrational division of the country and social management policies of the state
-The political life of China and Taiwan – the single party system in mainland China and the specific features of Chinese communism and multi-party system of Taiwan – a Chinese democracy
-The Chinese knowledge of the outside world
-The problems of economic development of China
-The environmental problems of China
-Demographics of China; population control and the imbalance of the sex ratio, internal and external migrations -Modern and contemporary Chinese culture – high and popular
-Media in China, the role of modern media, Internet and its censorship, the function of social media

Course coordinators

Mateusz Reichel

Type of course

obligatory courses

Mode

Classroom

Learning outcomes

Knowledge:
-has detailed and organized knowledge of socio-cultural issues in China and Taiwan within the scope of the natural environment and ethnic, demographic and political situation K_W09, H1A_W04
- can name and characterize basic cultural phenomena of China and Taiwan K_W10, H1A_W04
- has organized knowledge of the natural, geopolitical and economic environment and their importance for the historical and contemporary situation of China and Taiwan K_W11, H1A_W04
- is aware of the linguistic variety and its influence on the cultural and political situation of the world K_W14, H1A_W09
Skills:
-can indicate sources of cultural differences between the countries of the Orient or Africa K_U02, H1A_U05
- can use the knowledge of the history of China and Taiwan to analyze and interpret events taking place in the modern world K_U04, H1A_U02, H1A_U05
- can appropriately place China and Taiwan in the context of circumstances pertinent to natural, geopolitical and economic environment K_U05, H1A_U05
- can use the knowledge of socio-cultural issues of China and Taiwan in typical professional situations K_U09, H1A_U04
- can properly function in the linguistic and cultural environment of China and Taiwan K_U17, H1A_U07
- has a skill in presenting detailed aspects within the scope of cultural issues of China and Taiwan in Polish and in standard modern Chinese taking into consideration the intellectual tradition of China K_U21, H1A_U09
Social competences:
-understands the need to learn all one’s life K_K01, H1A_K01
- can set appropriate goals and ways to achieve them in the context of academic, professional and social activity K_K04, H1A_K03 - has awareness of the cultural distinctness and its religious, philosophical, traditional and historical roots and its significance for understanding modern world K_K05, H1A_K04, H1A_K05
- sees the need for dialogue between cultures K_K06, H1A_K04, H1A_K05
- is aware of the significance the culture of China has for the culture of the world K_K07, H1A_K05
- acts in aid of sharing and promoting the cultural and linguistic heritage of China K_K08, H1A_K05, H1A_K06

Assessment criteria

Grade based on a written exam, based on the knowledge gained during the lectures and from the assigned literature.

Bibliography

Chiny. Przemiany państwa i społeczeństwa w okresie reform 1978 -2000 , red. K. Tomala, Warszawa 2001. Blunden C., Elvin M. Chiny, przekład z ang. Mieczysław Jerzy Künstler, Warszawa : Świat Książki, 1997. Burski K., Tradycje i sztuka kulinarna Chin, Warszawa, 1995.
Fairbank J.K. Historia Chin, nowe spojrzenie, przekład z ang. T. Lechowska, Z. Słupski, Gdańsk 1996. Feng Youlan, Krótka historia filozofii chińskiej, Warszawa, 2001
Granet M., Religie Chin, tłum . J. Rozkrut, Kraków 1997.
Künstler M.J. Języki chińskie, Warszawa, 2000.
Künstler M.J. Mitologia chińska, Warszawa, 2001
Liao Yiwu, Prowadząc umarłych. Opowieści prawdziwe. Chiny z perspektywy nizin społecznych. Wołowiec 2011. Mencjusz i Xunzi. O dobrym władcy, mędrcach i naturze ludzkiej, wybór, wstęp i tł. Małgorzata Religa, Warszawa, 1999 Pimpaneau J. Chiny: kultura i tradycje, Warszawa, 2001
Pomfret J. Lekcje chińskiego. Warszawa 2010.
Sławiński R. Westernizacja kultury chińskiej – blaski i cienie w: Kultury pozaeuropejskie i globalizacja, Warszawa 2000. Spence J.D. The search for Modern China, Londyn 1990.
An extended list of literature will be provided during the first lecture.