Course Meeting Times
Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 2.5 hours / session
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Note: This subject meets with 21G.554. For those students, the prerequisite is 21G.504 Japanese IV or the permission of the instructor.
Course Description
This class explores the history, and the mythology, of the famous Japanese warriors, from their origins in classical Japan to their various reincarnations throughout the archipelago’s history. We will start in Japan’s pre-modern era (200–1600 CE) and follow key historical developments such as the rise of the samurai as a recognizable social group, the transformation of Japan into a warrior-governed state, and the ways in which these events reshaped the politics, society, economy, and culture of the entire country. The class will also consider how the samurai identity continued to be reinvented throughout Japan’s history and why, even today, they capture the imaginations of many people not only in Japan but around the world.
Class Goals
- Gain a deep and nuanced understanding of the significance of “samurai” both as a historical phenomenon and a product of global imagination.
- Develop the ability to demonstrate such understanding through clear, accurate, and persuasive writing.
- Share our learning and discoveries as a class through discussions and presentations.
Grading Policy
| ACTIVITIES | PERCENTAGES |
|---|---|
|
Class Attendance and Participation A typical meeting in this class will consist of short lectures and discussions of required readings. Active and consistent class participation is central to the success of our work together and is expected of every student. Consequently, a significant portion of your grade depends on coming to class and making your voice heard. You are expected to contribute to class discussion thoughtfully and frequently, responding not only to my questions, but also to comments made by your classmates. |
25% |
|
Reading Response Posts and Annotations During most weeks, students will be required to either post responses to the instructor’s discussion prompts on required readings or participate in small group exercises such as annotating historical sources. As with Participation, evaluation will be based on completion and quality. |
10% |
|
Three Essays Essay 1 (15%) Essay 2 (20%) Final Essay (30%) For detail on the essays, see the Assignments section. |
65% |
Note on Japanese Names and Pronunciation
In Japanese, the surname precedes the given name. My name, for example, would be rendered as “Nagahara Hiromu.” Please note that many of the assigned readings follow this convention for Japanese names.
Vowels in Japanese are pronounced approximately as in Italian (they are pure vowels). Hence: a as in father; i as in magazine; u as in flute; e as in et cetera; o as in note.
Vowels with macrons (ā, ī, ū, ē, ō) are held longer than those without, but their sound values remain unchanged. For example: kōshō means “negotiations,” while koshō means “pepper.”
