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EAST ASIAN REGIONAL STUDIES WITH UiO (Mette Hansen, Vladimir Tikhonov, Mark Teeuwen)

Welcome!

East Asian Studies (society and politics) in the UiO taught in the autumn, 2003, encompass the Korean part (KOR1501: taught by Vladimir Tikhonov - Onsdag, kl. 16.15-18.00, Sem.rom. 2 Sophus Bygges hus), as well as separate "modules" on China (KIN1501: Torsdag, kl. 12.15-14.00) and Japan (JAP1501: Mark Teeuwen - Tirsdag, kl. 10.15-12.00, Sem.rom. 454 P.A.Munchs hus). The present homepage is intended to be used for posting notices about assignments, making available classroom handouts, and providing the students with valuable links to the East Asia-related Web resources. You are kindly asked to look up here before coming to the classroom!

We sincerely wish everybody to enjoy the course. If there are any questions, please, never hesitate to contact us electronically, using the addresses below

Email us!

Vladimir Tikhonov

Mark Teeuwen

Mette Halskov Hansen

Related Links:

KOR1501, Koreas samfunn og politikk:
OBLIGATURISK HJEMMEOPPGAVES INNLEVERINGSDATOEN.
Obligatory report - which constitutes the examinational work - is to be submitted in 3 type-written copies to the "Ekspedisjonskontor" of the Institute of East European and Oriental Studies (NT, 11th floor) before November 22nd, 12.00 at the latest. The topics for the report are given to the students on lecture on October 29, and also the notice will be posted on this web-side. The report's recommended length is approximately 3000 words. It is recommended to use the lecture materials, together with the additionary research materials mentioned in the "forelesningsoversikt", as the main references. The report should include the list of references, and also the number of words in the report should be indicated.

V.Tikhonov's personal homepage

V.Tikhonov's presentation and handouts

Internet East Asian Studies Textbook

An On-line Course on Chinese Cultural history

Links to the pensumlists, on-line handouts, etc:

35th WEEK'S LESSONS:

To the 35th week, August 25-29:

1. For the Korean part: on Onsdag, August 27, we are going to speak about what constitute the formative experience for both South and North Korean polities: the colonial period in Korean history and its political and legal system.The part of pensum to read is: B.Cumings, pp. 148-154, 162-184, 185-236, 337-347.
2. For the Masterseminar i �stAsia studier: On Torsdag, August 28, we will speak about Social Darwinism as an ideology of European colonial expansion.

36th WEEK'S LESSONS:

To the 36th week, September 1-5:

1. For the Korean part: On Onsdag, September 3, we are going to take the troubled politics of post-colonial South Korea. The parts of pensum to read are: B.Cumings, pp. 347-393, 398-419, A. Nahm, pp. 257-262, 288-317.
2. For the Masterseminar i �stAsia studier: On Torsdag, September 4, we will speak about the effects of Japanese imperialism in Korea and Taiwan. The parts of pensum to read are: The Construction of Racial identities, pp. 105-110, East Asia and the World Economy, pp. 88-97, 105-111.

37th WEEK'S LESSONS:

To the 37th week, September 8-12:

1. For the Korean part: On Onsdag, September 10, we are going to speak about the history of South Korea's foreign relations - mainly with USA and Japan. The part of pensum to read is: B.Cumings, pp. 456-495.
2. For the Masterseminar i �stAsia studier: On Tordag, September 11, we will compare the models of state's societal and economical management in Meiji Japan and its "followers", South Korea and Taiwan. The parts of pensum to read are: The Political Economy of the New Asian Industrialism, pp. 136-182; East Asia and the World Economy, pp. 1-32, 57-87, 139-160.

38th WEEK'S LESSONS:

To the 38th week, September 15-19:

1. For the Korean part: As on Onsdag, September 17, we are going to speak about South Korea's social realities on micro-level (informal networks, rules of acquirement and use of "social/network capital, and so on), please, read the following passage from the pensum book:
A.Nahm, pp. 331-339. (the content of this passage is not exactly what we are going to speak about, but it provides useful background knowledge on S.Korea's post-colonial social history)

It is also strongly recommended to read Yi Chaeyeol's article on the Koreans' social networks, which is - luckily - available on the internet: http://kuces.unesco.or.kr/archives/data/word/ NO22.doc
A foreigner's perspective on the social life of a Korean university may be found in the following essay for the Korea Foundation Newsletter by a French doctoral candidate.

2. For the Masterseminar i �stAsia studies: As on Torsdag, September 18, we are going to speak about colonial and early post-colonial economy in South Korea and Taiwan, please, read the handout you were given beforehand: the topic is too complicated to understand without preparations. The part of pensum book you are supposed to read is:

The Political Economy of the New Asian Industrialism, pp. 44-69.

Good links to East Asia-related stuff:

a) JAPAN:

1. Internet guide to Japanese Studies-related materials.
2. Internet Japanese language textbook.
3. I nternet guide to Japanese society and culture.
4. Internet Chronology of Japanese History.
5. Internet Chronology of Japanese Anarchism
6. On-line working papers of The European Institute for Japanese Studies - a real goldmine of English-language information on East Asian economy!
7. A Scholarly Site on Japanese Post-Modern Culture.

b) GENERAL on East Asia and KOREA:

1 . Norwegian "Asianettverket" - very useful for all practitioners of Asian Studies here in Norway.
1a. A very useful site on Post-Colonial theory, from Emory University.
2.Internet Portal Site of South Korea's State Information Service
3 . Prof. R.J.Fouser's Portal Site for Korean Studies (especially well represented are literature and linguistics)
4 .Yun Mia: the site of a Korean-American female novelist
5 . Kevin O'Rourke's translations of Korean poetry
6 . South Korean Peace Movement
7 . South Korean Human Rights Foundation.
8 . South Korean English newspaper: <The Korea Times>.
9 . South Korean English newspaper: <The Korea Herald>.
10 . Korean progressive news in English: jinbo.net.
11. Site commemorating Chang Junha (1918-1975), Korea's famous dissident intellectual
12. Site devoted to Sin Ch'aeho (1880-1936), Korea's famous nationalist thinker and writer.
13. CyberKorea - a good practical collection of links, addresses, and information for a foreign traveller to the country.
14. Korea.com - other good site for travellers.
15.Koreainfogate - all on Korea for travellers, English news service.
16. Poori.net - portal site focused on traditional ethics and modern civics teaching in South Korea.
17. Labour Movement Information Agency (Korean only).
18. Korean Democratic Labour Party's Internet Newspaper (South Korean Social-Democrats).
19. On-line organization for supporting conscientious objection to the military service and introduction of alternative civil service in South Korea.
20. On-line anti-militarist "cafe" - protest movement against South Korean conscription laws.
21. On-line support organization for Na Donghyuk - Seoul National University student who announced his refusal to serve in the army once called up, and demanded that the government would permit COs alternative (non-military) service.
22. Central web-site of Korea's anarchists - contains also lots of anti-militarist materials.

c) CHINA (TAIWAN):

1. Various Taiwan-related links on the Taiwanese Governmental Portal.
2 . The World of T'ang Poetry: 300 T'ang poems digitalized (Chinese only).
3 . World-wide Maoist documentation project.
4 . "The Story of Taiwan" - Taiwanese governmental account of country's development (very detailed).
5 . "Taiwan in the 1950s" - a nice cyber exhibition of old photos.
6 . "Formosa in the 19th C." - seen by the Western and other travellers.
7 . Taiwan Government's Information Office.
8 . Collection of digitalized documents pertaining to Taiwan.
9 . Taiwanese business information on china-biz.org.
10. Academia Sinica - Taiwan (English information). Possesses vast collection of digitalized Chinese sources.
11. Electronic Tripitaka (Buddhist Scriptures) in Chinese.
12. Chinese Buddhist canon series: digitalized Tripitaka
13. Chinese Philosophical E-text Archive.
14. CHINA THE BEAUTIFUL: Portal site on Chinese culture, with abundant e-text resources (classic poetry, etc.)
15. Full text of Confucian Analects in original and several other languages.
16. Other English version of The Analects: "Sayings of Confucius".
17. Originals and English translations (each character is linked to an on-line dictionary page) of some selected Chinese classics, including the Analects and T'ang poetry
18. An EXTENSIVE COLLECTION of CHINESE PROSE, POETRY, PHYLOSOPHIC WRITINGS and FICTION, mostly in original (<The Romance of Three Kingdoms> and some other pieces are in English too).
19. Some of Li Bai (Li Po) poetical masterpieces in English.
20. An outline of CHINESE HISTORY, up to 1300.
21. CHINESE MODERN HISTORY research site at UCSD: book reviews, extensive bibliography, articles, etc.
22. SUN YATSEN's Hawaii period explored (lots of photos and documents)

39th WEEK'S LESSONS:

On 39th week, September 22-26, we are generally going to speak about both high-growth development patterns in "capitalist" East Asia during the 1950s-1980s, and South Korea's fast economic growth in the same period . At the 5th lecture of the Masterseminar i �stAsia studies (Torsdag, 25 September, kl. 16.15-18.00), we will compare the patterns of high-growth development in Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, and focus on both the relationships inside this triangle (Japan as "core", and South Korea and Taiwan as "semi-periphery"), and structural reasons why South Korea and Taiwan could escape the trap of full-spectrum dependence on Western TNK, characteristic of South American countries . The part of pensum to read is: The Political Economy of the New Asian Industrialism, pp. 182-203;
Supplementary material: "Japan and East Asian Economic Development in the Post-'Miracle' Era", by Chung H.Lee, Working Paper No. 44, The European Institute of Japanese Studies (June 1998).
Paper may be read at:
http://www.hhs.se/eijs/wp/44.pdf

And at the Korean part lecture (Onsdag, 24 September, kl. 16.15-18.00), South Korean thorny path to the industrial prominence will be examined, with main focus on the governmental strategies and control over economic development. The following part of the pensum is to be read: B.Cumings, pp. 309-336, 363-393, 419-431; A.Nahm, 262-272, 321-339..
Supplementary on-line reading - a good outline of Japanese influences upon the Korean economic model by the "Out Their News" agency.

40th WEEK'S LESSONS:

On 40th week, September 29 - October 3, we are generally going to speak both on Korea's colonial nationalism and on the overall patterns of East Asian education. At the 6th lecture of the Masterseminar i �stAsia studier (Torsdag, Oktober 2, kl. 16.15-18.00), we will discuss the methods, practices, and aims of the colonial educational policy in Korea and Taiwan before 1945, as well as similarities and dissimilarities in the structures, forms, and problems of education in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan after 1945.
Supplementary reading: Under the Black Umbrella: Voices from Colonial Korea, 1910-1945, by Hildi Kang, Cornell Univ. Press, 2001, pp. 36-48 (oral historical materials on the colonial education in Korea).

And at the Korean part lecture (Onsdag, Oktober 1, kl. 16.15-18.00), we will speak both on the general features of the world's nationalistic ideologies, and on the formative experiences of Korean nationalism in the colonial period

For both lectures, I strongly recommend to read the relevant handouts and the additional literature from the literature list (see the "oversikter") in advance.

41st WEEK'S LESSONS:

N.B. As I must travel to South Korea on October 8-12 due to a conference at Ajou University (near Seoul), all the 41's week's lessons are going to be cancelled. For the students of the Korean part, a course in internet-based literature search (October 8, 16.15-18.00, grupperom 9, the 3rd floor, Central Library Building; meeting with course teacher, Naomi Magnussen, is to take place at 16.10 near the library entrance) has been arranged instead of their regular lesson on Oct. 8. Following the students' opinion, we may either leave the 41st week's topics for the students' independent study, or arange the extra lessons afterwards to compensate for the loss of classroom time.
On 41th week, October 6-10, we are going to continue examening Korea's nationalism, and also to discuss common East Asian patterns of gender stratification and family life.
At the 7th lecture of the Masterseminar i �stAsia studier (Torsdag, Oktober 9, kl. 16.15-18.00), we will speak about various common features in the perceptions of gender differences and family life in East Asian countries, and especially about the changes in female lives in post-War Japan. Students are encouraged to read the handout before coming to the class. Students are also strongly advised to attend, for the topics of the obligatory semester report will be given at that lecture.
Supplementary reading: Kaye Broadbent, Tessa Morris-Suzuki, "Women's Work in the 'Public' and 'Private' Spheres of the Japanese Economy", - Asian Studies Review, Vol. 24, Number 2, June 2000, pp. 161-173.

At the 7th lecture of the Korean part (Onsdag, Oktober 8, kl. 16.15-18.00), various forms of Korea's post-colonial nationalism (official, anti-systemic, etc.) will be discussed in depth. Students are advised to read beforehand both the handout and article by Shin Gi-Wook, James Freda, and Gihong Yi, "The Politics of Ethnic Nationalism in Diveded Korea"
(Nations and Nationalism, 5:4, 1999): UHS Tids 320 Nat. Dokid 94ja11103

42nd WEEK'S LESSONS:

On 42nd week, October 13-17, we are going to speak about the development of modern media in Korea, and also about the formative period of East Asian nationalism/racism.
At the 8th lecture of the Masterseminar i �stAsia studier (Torsdag, Oktober 16, kl. 16.15-18.00), we will discuss the process of accepting such notions as "race", "nation", or (modern) "statehood", in East Asia, mostly on the basis of Chinese materials. The part of pensum to read is: East Asia and the World Economy, pp. 112-135; The Construction of Racial Identities in China and Japan, pp. 1-25, 34-53, 96-105, 110-118, 158-177.
Supplementary reading: F.Dikotter, "Culture, Race and Nation: The Formation of National Identity in Twentieth Century China", - Journal of International Affairs, Winter, 1996. Available on-line at:
http://jia.sipa.columbia.edu/Dikotter.html

At the 8th lecture of the Korean part (Onsdag, Oktober 15, kl. 16.15-18.00), we will examine how modern - first of all, print, - media developed in Korea, and what is the situation on the media market in South Korea now. Students, as usual, are adviced to read the relevant handout beforehand.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. Hvordan � skrive en god hjemmeoppgave (land-spesifikk delene)? Klikk her for � lese noen tips for � komme fram med en god hjemmeoppgave, fra Mark Teeuwen. Kildene er forskjellige i tilfelle du skriver om Korea eller Kina, med hovedpunktene er de samme:
1. Finn fram til en problemstilling.
2. Let etter litteratur
3. V�r kritisk overfor kildene dine
4. Bruk overskrifter for � dele oppgaven din inn i avsnitt.
5. Bruk noter.
6. Lag en bibliografi.
7. Oppgaven m� v�re p� max. 3000 ord og innleveres i 3 maskinskrevne eksemplarer.

43rd WEEK'S LESSONS:

On 43rd week, October 20-24, we are going to speak about both post-1945 nationalism/racialism in East Asia and the history of Korea's modern education.
At the 9th lecture of the Masterseminar i �stAsia studier (Torsdag, Oktober 23, kl. 16.15-18.00), we will examine East Asian post-1945 nationalisms and various dichotomous discources ("East/West", "We/Other", etc.) they rest upon. The part of pensum to read is: The Construction of Racial Identities in China and Japan, pp. 25-34, 75-96, 199-213.
Supplementary reading: Yasunori Fukuoka, Lives of Young Koreans in Japan, Trans Pacific Press, Melbourne, 2000, pp. 170-178

At the 9th lecture of the Korean part (Onsdag, Oktober 22, kl. 16.15-19.00), we will scrutinize various aspects of educational systems and ideologies in Korea - both colonial and post-colonial. The part of pensum to read is: A.Nahm, pp. 273-275, 340-343.
The lecture will last one hour more than usual and will end at 19.00, because we need to compensate for the loss of the classroom time caused by the cancellation of the lesson on Oct. 8. This "extra hour" will be devoted to the talks about Korea's post-colonial nationalism.

44th WEEK'S LESSONS:

On 44th week, October 27-31, we are going to speak about both religious history of East Asia in the second half of 19th and first half of 20th C., and problems of gender and family relations in Korean modernity (with focus on current South Korean situation).
At the 10th lecture of the Masterseminar i �stAsia studier (Torsdag, Oktober 30, kl. 16.15-18.00), we will investigate how the discourse of "religion" was either included into or "purged" from the narrative of "modernity" in Japan and China.
Supplementary reading: <How I Became a Christian>, by Uchimura Kanzo, Chapters 6 and 10. (Click here for electronic version)
At the 10th lecture of the Korean part (Onsdag, Oktober 29, kl. 16.15-18.00), we will scrutinise uneasy relations between gender issues and "modernity" in (primarily, South) Korea, as well as today's situation and anxieties of Korean women. Students are adviced to read handouts and relevant literature (listed in the "oversikt"s) before coming to both classes.

45th WEEK'S LESSONS:

On 45th week, November 3-7, we are going to speak about the problems in contemporary East Asian religions, as well as the history of "modernisation" of Korean religions.
At the 11th lecture of the Masterseminar i �stAsia studier (Torsdag, November 6, kl. 16.15-19.00), we will scrutinise the main problems facing contemporary (after 1945) religions in Japan and China. We also will take the topic of migrant labour/underclasses in Japanese and South Korean societies.
Supplementary reading: "Recruited in Thailand - Sold in Japan" - from a HRW report on forced prostitution in modern Japan (Click here for electronic version).
At the 11th lecture of the Korean part (Onsdag, November 5, kl. 16.15-19.00), we will examine both the history of Korean religions' accomodation to "modernity" and the problems of migrant labour exploitation and environment in today's South Korea.
For both parts, students, as usual, are adviced to read the relevant handouts beforehand.