Course Description

This course studies the formation and transformation of late imperial Chinese diplomatic system.  It examines how China established and maintained the tributary system, or the so-called Pax Sinica in East Asia from the 14^th to the 19^th century.  It analyzes the complex process, starting in mid-19^th century, in which China gradually accepted a new international order based on the assumption of nation-state and governed by Western international law.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will:

•Have enhanced awareness and curiosity of the complex issue of cultural difference, political change, and international relationship in early modern East Asia;

•Have enhanced sensitivity towards discourse, narratives, values and hidden agenda in historical records;

•Have enhanced ability to practice the science and art of historical research;

•Have enhanced reading, writing, and oral expression skills.

TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON

For your reference, these is the syllabus for Second Semester, Year 2015-16 (January-April 2016)

Lecture 01 Introduction

Lecture 02        Reading the North China Herald, January 11th, 1895

*   How did newspaper travel and how much did it cost to send a telegraph? See the announcement of arrival dates of overseas newspapers to Shanghai, p. 6.

*   Observation on Japanese press and patriotism: “The Japanese Press”, pp. 25-26; “Japanese Fanaticism”, pp. 31-32.

Lecture 03        Reading the North China Herald, January 18th, 1895:

*     The stock and debt market 120 years ago: p. 100

*     On Japan’s war against China: “Japan’s Work”, p. 72.

Lecture 04        Reading the North China Herald, January 18th, 1895:

*     Advertisement: The Milkmaid Brand Condensed Milk, p. 136.

*     Foh Kung-zau on Chinese patriotism in St. John’s Echo, p. 106

*     Observation on Chinese political sentiment: “China’s Apathy”, pp. 109-110

Lecture 05        Reading the North China Herald, February 1st, 1895:

*     Advertisement: the North China Herald, pp. 160-161.

*     Stock market booming, p. 144.

*     Some kind words for Chinese soldiers and a rebuttal to Japanese media, p. 145.

*     Compared with The Times (1895.02.02)’s coverage of the War http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/cuhk?db=TTDA

*     “The laws of the civilized world”? A clip from 1957 movie A Bridge over the River Kwai directed by David Lean: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3pQubiUXD0

Lecture 06        Reading the North China Herald, February 8th, 1895:

*     Advertisement: The German mineral water Apollinaris and its mysterious agent Carlowitz & Co.

*     The Shanghai Land Investment Co and the real estate boom, p. 212.

*     Xu Run’s ordeal glorious resurrection in the financial crisis in 1883: Xu Run 徐润( 1838-1911), Xu Yuzhai zixu nianpu 徐愚斋自叙年谱 [Self-compiled chronology of Xu Yuzhai] (1927 edition), rpt. Xuxiu siku quanshu (Shanghai: Shanghai guji chubanshe, 1995), Shi, Vol. 558, p. 100

Lecture 07        Reading the North China Herald, February 15th, 1895:

*     Daily life of the Shanghailanders: Ms Elsie Adair’s performance in the Lyceum Theatre, p. 218; Minutes of the Municipal Council’s meeting, pp. 234-235; the Shanghai Public School, p. 242.

*     Currency of Shanghai: Charles Ewart Darwent, Shanghai: a Handbook for Travellers and Residents to the Chief Objects of Interest in and around the Foreign Settlements and Native City (Shanghai; Hongkong: Kelly and Walsh, [n.d.]), pp. v-viii; G. Lanning and S. Couling, The History of Shanghai (Shanghai; Hongkong: Kelly and Walsh, 1921), pp. 393-399; Andrea Lee McElderry, Shanghai Old-style Banks (chʻien-chuang), 1800-1935: a Traditional Institution in a Changing Society (Ann Arbor: Center for Chinese Studies, University of Michigan, 1976), pp. 7-8; John Calvin Ferguson, “Notes on Chinese banking system in Shanghai”, Journal of the North-China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society”. Vol. 37 (1906), pp. 55-82.

Lecture 08        Cancelled thanks to Chinese New Year!

Lecture 09        Reading the North China Herald, March 2nd, 1895:

*     Names of steamer passengers, p. 253.

*     A proposal for a lucrative business: “The Oyster Industry”: pp. 253-254; compared with Charles Dickens, (1812-1870), The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club (Harmondsworth, Eng.: Penguin Books, 1972), p. 307.

*     Sad news about the war and Admiral Ting, p. 255.

*     News about Japanese war loan, p. 255.

*     “Education in Japan”, p. 300.

*     “The Capture of Weihaiwei”, p. 321.

Lecture 10        Reading the North China Herald, March 8th, 1895:

*     “The situation”, pp. 333-334

*     Advertisement: Dr. J. Collis Browne’s Chlorodyne; “Medical News”, Association Medical Journal, Vol. 4, No. 168 (Mar. 22, 1856), p. 244; Leonard W. Sedgwick, “Treatment of Tetanus by Aconite”, The British Medical Journal, Vol. 1. No. 161 (Jan. 28, 1860), pp, 68-69; “Medical News”, British Medical Journal, Vol. 1, No. 159 (Jan 16, 1864), p. 83; also compared with the history of the Seirogan (the pill that conquered Russia)

*     J. G. Ballard’s description of Shanghai in : J. G. Ballard, Miracles of Life: Shanghai to Shepperton, an Autobiography ()

Lecture 11        Reading the North China Herald, March 15th, 1895:

*     News of Oscar Wilde: “A Sensational Case”, p. 375

*     “Terms of Peace”, p. 374.

*     Lam Hok-chung (Lin Xuezhong), Cong wanguo gongfa dao gongfa waijiao: wanqing guojifa de chuanru, quanshi yu yingyong从万国公法到公法外交：晚清国际法的传入、诠释与应用[From international law to international law diplomacy: the introduction, interpretation and application of international law in late Qing] (Shanghai: Shanghai guji chubanshe, 2009).

Lecture 12        Reading the North China Herald, March 22nd, 1895:

*     “Miscellaneous Articles: Monetary reform”, p. 427.

*     “The Revival of Oriental Power”, pp. 427-428.

Lecture 13        Reading the North China Herald, March 29th, 1895:

*     The attack on Li Hung-chang; and a comparison with Shenbao and The Times.

Lecture 14        Cancelled (public holiday)

Lecture 15        Reading the North China Herald, April 13th, 1895:

*     “Ought the Japanese press to be acknowledged?”, pp. 573-574

*     “The creation of public opinion”, pp. 582-583.

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• 如属小组习作，则所有组员均须签署声明；所有组员 (不论有否签署声明及不论有否直接或间接撰写有问题的内容) 均须负上集体责任及受到惩处。
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• 学生充分知悉科目中采用人工智能工具的做法。在经允许下使用某些人工智能工具的情况下，学生已按照科目老师的指示明确注明出处和引文。

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