This course examines the development and place of genres, focusing on crime and detection in traditional China and the fate of these genres in Modern China. Students will investigate the legal system that forms the background of these stories and compare it with pre-modern and modern legal systems in the West. Students will see how the “facts” of cases are proven, how the “motivation” of criminals is established in the Chinese works, and how the ultimate fate of criminals is worked out. 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 sub-genres 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 these materials, students will gain new perspectives on Chinese literature, culture, and society, and also a chance to think about the issues concerning law and order in the US from a new vantage point.

Class Format:

Two 90-minute meetings weekly