This class will take as its focus on the development and place of genres focusing on crime and detection in traditional China and the fate of these genres in Modern China. We will investigate the legal system that forms the background of these stories and compare it with premodern and modern legal systems in the West. We will see how the “facts” of cases are proven and how the “motivation” of criminals is established in the Chinese works. Attention will also be paid to how the Chinese legal system is represented as well as the broader question of the relationship of fictional literature and reality. The Chinese genres and subgenres of court case literature will be identified and compared with similar/related genres in the West (e.g., the picaresque novel, criminal biographies, crime fiction, the detective short story and novel, “Judge Dee Novels,” etc.). Working through this material, students will get new perspectives on Chinese literature, culture, and society, and a chance to think about the issues concerning law and order in the US from a new vantage point.

Course Requirements:

Brief pre-class assignments, one short subjective paper, two short research papers, one class presentation, class participation

Intended Audience:

Undergraduates interested in Chinese literature, literature about crime and detection, and issues relating to crime, justice, and social control.

Class Format:

Two 90-minute meetings weekly