Address: 205 Royal Parade, Рaхkvillе, N.2
Head of Department: Professor H. F. SIMON, B.A. (Lind.), M.A.
The Department of Oriental studies was established in 1961, thanks to a gener- ous grant of the Myer Foundation. In 1965 the department offers courses in Chinese I, II and III leading to a major orda sub-major of the ordinary degree and in Parts I, II, III and IV of the honours school of Chinese. Japanese I is available for the first time this year and Japanese II and III will be offered in 1966 and 1967 respectively.
A non-linguistic survey course of the history and political institutions of China and Japan, East. Asian Studies I, is offered by the Centre of East Asian Studies (cf. below p.155).
COURSES IN CHINESE
The Chinese are proud of a civilization which is second to none. One of the most remarkable features of this civilization is that it has been carried in the one language by the one people over a period of some 4,000 years. We have a wealth of literature in many fields which covers the last two and a half millennia of this period as well as inscriptions on bronzes and oracle bones which go back much further. A knowledge of written Chinese will put within one's reach what is probably the largest corpus of literature known to us in any one language.
But it is necessary to distinguish three main forms of written Chinese: classical, mediaeval and modem. Classical Chinese has a structure and vocabulary broadly based on the written language of the 5th Century B.C. Mediaeval and modern Chinese, on the other hand, are based on the spoken language current at the time at which the texts were written. There are, therefore, fundamental and strongly marked differences of structure, style and vocabulary between the three forms.
Modem . Chinese may be dated from the beginning of this century, whilst mediaeval Chinese may be said to have its early beginnings in the 6th century A.D.
and to have produced its first major creative works, the plays of the Yuan period, in the 13th century. The terms "modem" and "mediaeval" are, therefore, used in a
150
rather special sense dictated by the nature and structure of the written material.
Classical Chinese continued to be written throughout these periods and is still being written today.
As a spoken language, Standard Chinese—or as it is often called, Mandnrin, or Киоyii or Putunghua—is now spoken and understood throughout China and in most of the overseas Chinese communities in the various countries of South-Еаst Asia. It is, therefore, a satisfactory medium of communication with the majority of the 700,000,000 of Australia's Chinese neighbours—rather more than one-fifth of the world's total population. Standard Chinese is based on the Peking dialect and the pronunciation taught will be that of Peking.
The rapid emergence in the latter half of this century of China as a great world power has added considerable urgency to Western studies of Chinese and of Chinese civilization. From their early beginnings as a peripheral and esoteric pastime, these studies have now developed into an increasingly normal and central pursuit at most of the major universities in the West. Australia s geographical position makes such a development particularly desirable and important.
As a result of this development, some opportunities now exist for careers in the academic world as well as in government and business for graduates In this field. A knowledge of Chinese either of major or sub-major standard coupled with suitable qualifications in such fields as History, Political Science or Economics is particularly useful in this respect.
ORDINARY DEGREE
(Details for the honours degree are set out at the end of this section.) Group 1(a)
31. CHINESE PART I
A course of 6 hours per week consisting of 4 lectures and 2 tutorials.
Na previous knowledge of Chinese is necessary for this course and its main emphasis will be linguistic. Students will receive a thorough grounding in Standard Chinese in its spoken and written form. There will also be some introductory lectures an Chinese poetry. Candidates who intend to proceed to Chinese II must also take East Asian Studies (cf. p. 155) since a pass in this subject is a pre-requisite for Chinese II.
Holders of the G.C.E. in Chinese and graduates of Chinese middle schools or similar or higher institutions, where the language of instruction is Chinese, are exempted from Chinese L Such candidates will take East Asian Studies and Chinese II and III as a major for the ordinary degree. They may take Chinese II as an additional subject in group 1(a) of the ordinary degree.
Similar exemption- may also be given at the discretion of the head of the department to other candidates who have recognized professional qualifications in Chinese.
SYLLABUS
Phonetics and syntax of the Peking dialect.
Translation from and into Standard Chinese.
Dictation, calligraphy and conversation.
Introduction to Chinese poetry.
BOOKS
(a) Prescribed texts:
Chao, Y. R.—Mandarin Primer. Vol. 1. ( Harvard U.P. ) Simon, W. National Language Reader. ( Lund Humphries. ) Simon, W.-Structure Drill in Chinese. (Lund Humphries.)
Kotewall, Robert and Smith, Norman L., (trans.
)—The
Penguin Book of ChineseVerse.
(Penguin, 1962. )(b) Prescribed dictionary:
Simon, W.—Beginners' Chinese Dictionary. (Lund Humphries.) The department will issue a supplementary reading list as well
teaching material in the form of mimeographed sheets. as additional 151
FACULTY 0F ARTS HANDBOOB
EXAMINATION
One 3-hour paper of translation from. Chinese (unseen). One 3-hour paper of translation into Chinese (unseen) together with questions on Chinese grammar and Chinese poetry. An oral examination.
32.
CHINESE PART IIA course of 6 hours per week consisting of
4 lectures and 2 tutorials.Before being allowed to proceed to Chinese II, students must have obtained a pass in Chinese I and in East
AsianStudies I. In exceptional circumstances, permis- sion may
begranted by the head of the department to proceed
to Chinese II andEast Asian Studies I simultaneously. Candidates who are exempt from Chinese . I must satisfy the head of the department that they have a satisfactory command of Standard Chinese.
The emphasis of courses in Chinese II will be divided between language and the study of modem Chinese literature. Classical Chinese will also be introduced at this stage. The mediaeval novel will be studied both in the original and in translation.
SYLLАВUs
Prescribed texts from Modem Chinese Literature.
The Chinese novel.
Translation from and into Modern Chinese.
Conversation and oral practice.
Classical Chinese.
BOOKS
(a) Prescribed texts:
Liu, C. Y.—Fifty Chinese Stories. (Lund Humphries, 1960.) Ba Jin-Jia. (Chap. 15.)
Luu shhmn—Guhshiang.
Iwu
Shyh—Shin GSyсha
иr
Yunn&nq.Mau Tzerdong—Tzay Yanan Wenyih Tzuohtarnhuey-shanqde Jeanghuah.
Buck, Pearl—AU Men are Brothers. (Grove Press Inc., N.Y.)
.Wang, Chichen (trans.)—Dream of the Red Chamber. (Twayne Publications, N.Y.)
(b) Prescribed Dictionaries:
Mathews, R. H.—Chinese-English Dictionary. (Any ed.) . Tzongher Inghwa Hwaing Dais
Тsyrdеат. (Any ed.)(Prescribed and other Chinese texts, together with a supplementary reading list may be obtained from the department.) •
EXAMINATION
One 3-hour paper on translation from and into Chinese (unseen). One 3-hour paper on prescribed texts together with questions on the Chinese novel. An oral examination.
34. CHINESE PART III
A course of 6 hours per week consisting of lectures and tutorials.
The division of emphasis between language and literature will be the same as in Chinese II. The study of classical Chinese will be continued. Sung and Yuan poetry will be studied in the original.
SYLLАВUs
Prescribed texts from Modern and Mediaeval Chinese literature.
Chinese poetry.
Translation from and into Chinese.
Classical Chinese.
Advanced oral work.
.BOOKS
(a) Prescribed texts:
Mau Duenn—Chuentsarn.
Luu Shiunп-Fann. Ay-Nona.
Lao Sheh—Rеnwuhde Miaushiee.
Jenq Jenn-Dwo—Jonggwo Wenshyue Shyy.
Liou Dah-Jye—Jonggwo Wenshyue Fajaanshyy.
Меncius, Book VI, Part I.
(b) Prescribed Dictionaries:
Tsyr Hae. (Jonghwa Book Company.)
Txongher Inghwa Nwaing Dah Tsyrdean. (Any ed. ) Mathews, R.
H.—Chinese-English
Dictionary. (Any ed.) EXAMINATIONOne 3-hour paper on prescribed texts. One 3-hour paper on unseen translation from Modern and Classical Chinese. One 3-hour paper on translation into Chinese together with questions on Chinese literature. An oral examination.
Lectures, Tutorials and Examinations. Attendance at all lectures and tutorials is compulsory and class work and essays will be taken into consideration in the grading of examination results.