Culture is formed in society and constantly changing throughout history. In China, a vast country with a territory 25 times the size of Japan, culture varies considerably from region to region.
In this course, students are required to read literature on local histories (in Chinese) and examine the cultural differences among the major regions of China (North China, Central China, and South China). More specifically, based on the local historical documents, we are going to collect and analyze information regarding geographical environment, food, marriage, beliefs and customs, dialects, etc. In this process, students will be able to learn the multiple meanings of culture and understand the complex relationship between culture and local society in China.