COURSE TITLE

Qu Yuan and Chuci

INSTRUCTOR

Professor Martin Kern, Princeton University

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The ten-day seminar on Qu Yuan 屈原 and the Chuci 楚辭 introduces the formation and early history of the Chuci anthology; surveys the history of Chuci scholarship and translation; reviews the critical methodological issues in the study of Qu Yuan mythology and nature of the Chuci anthology; and focuses on the close reading of the “Li sao” 離騷 in relation to both the “Jiu ge” 九歌 and the “Jiu zhang” 九章. In doing so, the seminar offers new conceptual and methodological approaches to the “Li sao” and its related texts.

All readings will be provided in PDF form: the original classical sources, premodern and modern commentaries, English translations, and the most recent studies in English. All participants are expected to prepare all assigned readings before coming to class and to be ready to analyze and translate the original poetry into English.

Readings will be provided at the introductory session on June 16.

Classes will be conducted in English.

Participation is limited to 15 students. Students must pre-apply and will be admitted after application review. Zoom sessions will be password-protected

10 sessions of 2 hours each on the following days: June 16-18, 21-25, 28-29

Time: 19.00-21.00 Beijing time