Intellectual Change in Early China: Warring States and Han

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/intellectual-change-early-china-the-warring-states-han

Introduction

**Course Review: Intellectual Change in Early China: Warring States and Han** **Overview:** The course “Intellectual Change in Early China: Warring States and Han” offers a fascinating exploration of the cultural, philosophical, and socio-economic transitions that took place in China during critical historical periods: the Warring States (481-256 BCE) and the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE). It is structured as a sequence of four courses, drawing on a multidisciplinary approach to tease apart the complexities of rationality and paradigm shifts in Chinese cultural history. Educators in this course propose an engaging narrative that ties together the evolving modes of rationality—philosophical, bureaucratic, and economic—with significant cultural artifacts such as thought, literature, and ritual practices. By focusing on moments of transformation, students are invited to understand how these changes interplayed with the social and political fabrics of their times. **Modules Breakdown:** 1. **Module 00: A Critical Cultural History of China – Introduction** - This opening module lays the foundation, introducing key concepts essential for grasping the rest of the course. It deftly outlines the principal events and ideological shifts starting from the Warring States period. 2. **Module 01: Attack on Shamanism** - Delving into the conflicts between the intellectual elite and traditional shamanistic practices, this module explores why these ancient beliefs faced scrutiny and challenge. 3. **Module 02: The Emergence of Self-Cultivation Practice** - Here, the course highlights the rise of self-cultivation methodologies, particularly Confucian and Daoist practices—critical tools for personal and moral development that became vital during this time. 4. **Module 03: The Philosophical Preparation of Political Unity** - This module examines the role of transcendence and how the concepts of Heaven and Dao influenced governance and cosmology—an important shift that provided philosophical underpinning to political authority. 5. **Module 04: Han Religion** - Discover the richness of local and imperial religions during the Han Dynasty and how they influenced the development of Chinese culture and morals. 6. **Module 05: Changing Theories of Illness** - Concluding with an analysis of emerging health theories correlating with sociopolitical crises, the course discusses how ideas of cosmology intermingled with the understanding of illness and healing during the second century CE. **Recommendation:** “I recommend ‘Intellectual Change in Early China: Warring States and Han’ for anyone interested in a comprehensive overview of Chinese intellectual history and cultural transformations. The course design is thoughtfully structured, encouraging deep engagement through its multidisciplinary framework. Whether you are a student of history, philosophy, anthropology, or simply have a curiosity about how ancient ideas continue to resonate in contemporary contexts, this course provides invaluable insights. The faculty's expertise and the rich content delivery promise an academic experience that balances rigorous scholarship with accessibility. Enroll if you want to deepen your understanding of how foundational philosophies shaped not only ancient China but also subsequent cultural developments across East Asia. This course is not just about learning historical facts; it is an invitation to reflect on the evolution of thought that continues to influence millions today.”

Syllabus

MODULE 00: A Critical Cultural History of China - Introduction

This module introduces the key concepts that will be used throughout the course and the basic outlines of Chinese cultural history, starting with the Warring States (481-256 BCE).

This module explains why the intellectual elite attacked traditional religious practices like divination and shamanism.

This module presents two forms of self-cultivation—Confucian and Daoist—that emerged during the Warring States.

We are going to learn about the meaning of “transcendence” as seen in the sacrifice to Heaven of the “Son of Heaven” (the king and later the emperor) and in the new cosmology of the Dao (Way) and Qi (vital energy).

This module is about local and imperial religion in the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 BC).

This module states how new theories of healing based on the cosmology of Dao and Qi, in the face of the political and social crisis of the second century CE, made way for a return of ideas of demon-caused illness.