MANUSCRIPT SOURCES AND THE TRANSMISSION OK KNOWLEDGE IN EARLY CHINA

The course aims to provide the tools for a preliminary study of Chinese manuscripts written on silk and bamboo from IV to I century B.C. and to investigate the ways through which early Chinese texts were compiled and transmitted.

1. Knowledge and understanding:
a) To apply the basic structures of classical Chinese language to the study of Chinese manuscripts.
b) To know the tools to analyze and translate texts of the classical Chinese corpus, both received and manuscript versions.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding:
a) to know how to identify the basic grammatical structures and being able to analyze texts in the light of their contexts.
b) to know how to identify the most appropriate tools to analyze and translate a given text.
3. Making judgements:
a) to be able to analyze, interpret and translate - using appropriate tools supported by basic notions of palaeography, codicology and hermeneutics - ancient Chinese manuscripts and to know how to use properly primary and secondary sources.

Competence of Classical Chinese thought and pre-Han Chinese literature and language; ability to read critical sources in modern Chinese.

The recent discovery of Chinese manuscripts from the pre-imperial period has open new interpretations on the development of philosophical and religious thought in ancient China. The course is focused on the reading and on the philological and philosophical analysis of the most representative excavated manuscripts from IV to I century B.C.

COMPULSORY TEXTS:

1- Andreini, Attilio (a cura di), Laozi, Il Canone della Via e della Virtù, Torino, Einaudi, 2018.

2- Martinelli, Lucia Cesarini, La filologia, Roma, Editori Riuniti, rist. 2006.

Additional material will be provided during the course via MOODLE


Dictionaries:

1) The best option is the Grand Ricci (available in hard copy in our library). Free access to the Grand Ricci Online is granted to all Ca' Foscari students:
Link: http://chinesereferenceshelf.brillonline.com/grand-ricci

The dictionary is also accessible from the database catalogue: http://www.unive.it/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=32451

2) Kroll, Paul W., A Student's Dictionary of Classical and Medieval Chinese, Leiden, Brill, 2014.
Available also via Pleco.
Free accessis granted to all Ca' Foscari students:
https://chinesereferenceshelf.brillonline.com/chinese-english/;jsessionid=B45947AC91981B7D0CFDD07BF006CA9B

3） TLS - Thesaurus Linguae Sericae
http://tls.uni-hd.de/
(start from “Basic Search”…）

4） http://www.zdic.net/


5) Reconstruction of archaic pronunciations by W. Baxter e L. Sagart:
https://ocbaxtersagart.lsait.lsa.umich.edu/BaxterSagartOCbyMandarinMC2014-09-20.pdf

The exam will be oral and it will test the student's ability to analyze from a philological-philosophical point of view some of the texts examined during the course

oral

Excellent (30 cum laude)
The candidate demonstrates an exceptionally thorough and interdisciplinary grasp of the subject matter, which is understood and reworked with complete autonomy and originality. The use of language is masterful, the ability to make cross-disciplinary connections is outstanding, and critical reflection is expressed with clarity, articulation, and persuasiveness.


Very Good (29–30)
The preparation is characterized by broad and in-depth knowledge of the content, reworked with confidence and independence, enriched by personal insights. The ability to reflect and communicate is excellent, though minor imperfections may occasionally appear.

Distinction (27–28)
Knowledge is complete and well-developed, with secure and thoughtful reworking of the material. Reflective and expressive abilities are notable, demonstrating mastery of the subject and clarity in presentation.

Good (24–26)
The candidate shows correct and often complete knowledge of the content, which is understood and reworked with reasonable confidence. Reflective and expressive abilities are good, though some uncertainty may remain.

Fair (21–23)
Knowledge is more than sufficient or fair, with reworking that still shows some uncertainty. Reflective and expressive abilities are substantial or fair, though there is room for improvement.

Sufficient (18–20)
Preparation is marked by sufficient or uncertain knowledge of the content, which still needs to be consolidated and is reworked with uncertainty. Reflective and expressive abilities are barely sufficient or sufficient, with clear potential for growth.

Insufficient (≤17)
The preparation does not reach the threshold of sufficiency: content is known in a fragmented and incomplete manner, comprehension is partial, and reworking is deficient. Reflective and expressive abilities are inadequate, with knowledge insufficient to address the proposed issues effectively.

Ex cathedra: during the course the teacher will guide the students through the grammatical analysis and through the comprehension of selected Early Chinese texts (both manuscripts and received versions) and their contexts.